Showing posts with label travel experience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel experience. Show all posts

Montevideo Travel Guide

11:02 PM | Labels: , , ,

Worlds Travel Guide

Montevideo






Perched on a peninsula jutting out into the River Plate, Montevideo's mix of Old- and New-World charms has been captivating visitors for centuries.

The city’s Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) is a throwback to the past, with narrow cobblestoned streets, historic buildings and atmospheric plazas. Across the mouth of the River Plate, pavement cafés are plentiful, particularly around the pedestrianised avenue Peatonal Sarandí.

Moving east, Montevideo’s city centre boasts wide, tree-lined avenues, soaring skyscrapers and the bulk of the city's accommodations, while the long seafront promenade known as La Rambla is dotted with clean beaches either side of the upmarket neighbourhood of Carrasco.



Montevideo is a curious mixture of old-fashioned formality and laid-back South American style. Uruguayans may seem reserved at first, particularly if you're coming from Argentina where people are much more openly effusive. This thin veneer soon wears away, however, revealing a warmth and curiosity that makes the locals the highlight of many people's visit.



Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/montevideo#ixzz16w41E5Ip

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Posted by Allon

Steamboat Ski Resort

4:58 AM | Labels: , , ,




Steamboat ski resort sits in the heart of the Wild West, full of steakhouses and bars where ranchers rub shoulders with international tourists and ski bums.

The ski resort of Steamboat is a thoroughly modern place, although the age-old view down the rolling Yampa valley looks like something out of a cowboy movie. It has a reputation for its abundant lightweight "Champagne powder" snow (a term it has trade marked) and has been much in demand by different corporate owners over the past decade. It was purchased most recently by Intrawest, which owns the famous 2010 Winter Olympic venue of Whistler and a handful of other leading North American ski areas.

You've got the option of staying in this now well-established but still ever-growing community around the lifts, or in the town; the former has the ease of doorstep skiing, the latter the comfort of doorstep shopping and nightlife.

Location:

Steamboat is located to the northwest of Denver in the US state of Colorado's Rocky Mountains.


Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/ski/steamboat#ixzz16loDsv5E

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Copper Mountain

1:45 AM | Labels: , , , ,





Copper is a purpose-built resort in Colorado, which in recent years has been transformed into a cosy wood and stone affair with an array of bars and restaurants.




Copper is excellent for families with its slopeside condo accommodation connected by pretty walkways and squares.There’s a good range of skiing on some of the world’s highest slopes and the resort is handily placed for the towns of Frisco and Silverthorne, and other various ski areas.






Location:

Copper is located on I-70, an easy drive from Denver in the Colorado Rockies.


Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/ski/copper-mountain#ixzz16Nevw43y

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Hangzhou Travel Guide

11:33 PM | Labels: , , , ,




Overlooked by tea plantations and forested hills, and sat beside the gorgeous West Lake, Hangzhou is one of China's most cherished cities. Wealthy and increasingly modern, Hangzhou offers a pleasant stay, but it's the classical beauty of West Lake, Hangzhou's draw-card attraction, which pulls in the punters like almost nowhere else in China.

Almost the definition of a classical Chinese landscape, West Lake - created from a river lagoon in the 8th century - has inspired generations of writers, painters and poets and it continues to mesmerise. Hazy hills rise above the willow-lined banks, forming crinkled silhouettes punctuated by solitary pagodas, while tiny boats float lazily by. You’ll need a couple of days to fully savour what’s on view but the inclination is to take root - like one of the lilting West Lake willows - and stay put.




Hangzhou is also a famous tea-growing centre and tours can be made to nearby Longjing Village, which bestowed the name for the city's most famous export: Longjing tea. The surrounding hills also house China's only tea museum.

For centuries a cultural melting pot, Hangzhou offers museums, galleries and theatres showcasing everything from silk making to calligraphy. But modern influences also abound; chic cafes skirt the lakeshore, foreign brands fill many of the shopping centres and western-style bars serve drinks long into the night.

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Swaziland

11:43 PM | Labels: , , ,






Snuggled between Mozambique and South Africa, tiny Swaziland is one of the smallest countries in Africa. It is also one of its gems. Largely free of the racial tensions of its large neighbour, and ingrained with a strong sense of national pride, the country is emblazoned with a rich cultural heritage.

If you're here during the Incwala or Umhlanga festivals this will probably be the highlight of your trip to Africa. The friendly, laid-back people are perhaps the country's greatest draw, and despite their own hardships take pride in their hospitality.

The country's protected nature reserves and parks are characterised by some of the most beautiful landscapes in southern Africa. There are myriad opportunities for wildlife watching and the experience is far more low-key than in the large parks of nearby South Africa. It's also one of the best places in southern Africa to spot the elusive and near-extinct black rhino in the wild.


Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/swaziland#ixzz16BRnbGzA

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Top 10 unusual pubs

1:08 AM | Labels: , , , , ,




From a miniscule pub that proudly counts a mummified cat as part of the décor to a bar occupying a former public lavatory, Britain has a wealth of unusual drinking establishments bristling with weird histories, odd features and wonderful stories. Here are 10 of our favourites…


Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, London, England
Secreted in an alley off Hatton Garden, Ye Olde Mitre Tavern is a snug, welcoming and ancient London pub that was once in Cambridge. Yes, that’s right - as the ancient seat of the Bishops of Ely, the pub, Ely Place to the east and the nearby St Etheldreda’s Church were all technically part of Cambridgeshire. Well into the 1970s, thieves fleeing raids on Hatton Garden jewellers would hide out here beyond the jurisdiction of the London police. Nowadays, its tucked-away location still lends it a timeless, otherworldly charm and the beer, staff and atmosphere are as good as the history.

The Crooked House, West Midlands, England
The jaunty Crooked House slants alarmingly sideways – a bit like the leaning tower of Pisa but with better ales. In fact, the irregular beams, sloping floors and agreeable sense of drunken wonkiness are caused by mining subsidence. The crazy angles inside create an optical illusion that makes beer bottles appear to roll up hill; you’ll feel drunk before you’ve touched a drop.

The Temple of Convenience, Manchester, England
Pop in for a pint at this former public toilet. It can get cramped and could charitably be described as a bit of a dive but it’s got one of the best jukeboxes in town, a great selection of continental beers and a loyal crowd of regulars, students and party people.

The Nutshell, Bury St Edmunds, England
This pocket-sized pub claims to be the smallest in Britain and with room for only 10 drinkers it can feel very cosy. Quaff a pint or two in a space no bigger than your average family bathroom. If the mummified cat that hangs from the ceiling ever fell off, there’d be no room to swing it.

The Well House, Exeter, England
This excellent city pub is built over an old Roman well which you can still see in the basement. But the Well House also holds a more grisly secret. The intertwined bones of a man and a woman that are on display are said to be those of a monk and his lover who threw themselves into the well when their illicit affair was discovered.

Lord Nelson, Norfolk, England
Admiral Nelson’s local still has the benches that were graced by the naval hero’s behind as well as stone-floors, real ales and a warm welcome. Try the homemade ‘Nelson’s Blood’, a rum-based tipple inspired by the story of sailors taking sneaky sips from the barrel in which his brandy preserved body was shipped home from Trafalgar.

Haunch of Venison, Salisbury, England
The Haunch of Venison has been around since the 14th century. Its two bars have several unique features including England’s last surviving complete pewter bar top and the ‘horsebox’ - a small bar reputedly used by Churchill and Eisenhower during the planning of the D-Day landings. The House of Lords bar proudly displays a severed, mummified hand said to be that of a cheating cards player.

Canny Man’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
"No credit cards, no mobile phones, no cameras and no backpackers" reads one of the grumpy signs that adorn this curmudgeonly pub in Morningside. The owners are legendarily grouchy to strangers but this is part of the charm in a pub where the décor looks like the collection of a Victorian kleptomaniac and you write your food orders on betting slips. Sit amidst the crazy hoard of bric-a-brac, sample one of hundreds of whiskies, including one blended by the pub itself, or retreat to the sunny garden.

The Old Forge, Inverie, Mallaig, Scotland
The most remote pub on mainland Britain has no roads in or out and can only be reached via a 7-mile sea crossing from Mallaig or an 18-mile hike across mountainous country. But the Old Forge is certainly worth the trip. You’ll find superb Scottish folk music with ceilidhs, regular gigs and impromptu sessions and some terrific local seafood. The menu includes Loch Nevis Langoustine, Isle of Skye Crab, Smoked Mallaig Haddock as well as homemade haggis, game and Aberdeen Angus steak.

The Skirrid Inn, near Abergavenny, Wales
This historic inn stands in the shadow of Skirrid Mountain near Abergavenny and claims to be the oldest public house in Wales. During the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 the Skirrid doubled as a courtroom and place of execution. Almost 200 rebels were hanged here from a beam in the pub’s stairwell. You can also see the slab on which the bodies were placed. Despite this grisly history you’ll find a warm welcome, comfortable accommodation and, if reports are to be believed, the odd ghost.


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http://www.worldtravelguide.net/holidays/inspire-me/united-kingdom#ixzz165whIt51

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Cook Islands Travel Guide

11:05 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , ,




Tiny and remote, the Cooks comprise of 15 islands scattered across the heart of the South Pacific. These beautiful islands boast some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, a host of activities to choose from and a warm climate year round, making the islands an attractive and increasingly popular holiday destination to suit all tastes and budgets.

Think of the Cook Islands and the ‘picture perfect’ beach scene of white sands, lapped by clear turquoise waters springs to mind. Those in the know have realised that there is much more on offer on the fifteen tiny yet action -packed paradise islands!

Whilst ‘Island Time’ keeps the pace of life decidedly relaxed, many intrepid travellers choose to spice up their stay by adding some of the adrenaline rushes the Cooks have to offer.

Sightseeing
Walking and hiking remains one of the most popular options for a little gentle exercise and the 32 km main Island of Rarotonga can be crossed in just four hours. Most hikes on the island follow valley roads, some becoming a little more strenuous with the inclusion of mountain peaks and island landmarks such as the unique rock formation of Te Rua Manga (The Needle).

Walks through the centre of the islands are breathtakingly exotic, as the route leads the intrepid explorer through the largely uninhabited heart of the tropical rainforest, resulting in some close encounters with Mother Nature! The smaller, exquisitely beautiful island of Aitutaki offers hikes up Mount Maungapu for stunning views over the glittering lagoon which encircles the tiny island, this must be one of the most breathtaking vistas imaginable.

Water activities
Ocean-going canoes have long played a part in the history of the Cook Islands and to this day have a huge cultural significance. The local festival Vaka Eiva takes place in November, and is a popular event amongst locals and visitors alike. Those hardy types who fancy taking on the waves themselves can hire sea kayaks in both the seas off Rarotonga and the more relaxing waters of Aitutaki’s lagoon.

Diving is a real joy in the clear and calm South Pacific seas and reefs around the islands, where divers will see a spectacular variety of tropical fish, sharks, manta rays, barracudas and incredible 40 feet sea cliffs. Visibility is generally excellent (30-40 metres) and the water is a tempting 25C to 30C year round. Those wanting to take their PADI course can do so whilst for those who are happier bobbing on the surface snorkelling is the ideal way to see amazing sea life such as brightly coloured tropical fish and breathtakingly intricate corals. Many resorts have snorkelling equipment for guests to use.

Historically, surfing has always been a central part of ancient Polynesian culture, and the sport remains popular on the islands, with some spots on Rarotonga being especially suitable. Reliable surf can be found at Avana on the East coast of the island, and Rutaki Passage on the south coast. As Rarotonga has mostly reef breaks it is also becoming increasingly popular with boogie boarders.

For those travellers who prefer their adventure to be a little more sedate, a boat trip is the perfect way to view the islands and their exciting seas; glass bottomed boats and semi submersibles allow for unrivalled viewing of aquatic life, and are an exciting and unique way of sightseeing. For fast and breathtaking adventures on the open seas, high speed tours can be taken to see the whales off Rarotonga from July to October and make for an action packed day out.

Atiu Island
Atiu Island, also known as Enuamanu (land of the birds) lies 187 kilometers northeast of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The island population of 569 is divided into five villages that radiate out from the centre of the island on a flat-topped central plateau. Surrounding the plateau is a ring of taro water gardens and then the jungle clad makatea (fossil coral reef). Notched into the cliffs of makatea are over 28 beaches untouched and almost unvisited except by those seeking a beautiful, quiet, and secluded spot.

Visitors to this secluded island can try their hand at cave exploration in untouched burial caves with guided caving expeditions available so that visitors can view the spectacular stalagmites and stalactites as well as the indigenous bird, the Kopeka. In fact, Atiu is also called Enuamau, which means ‘island of birds’ and for good reason as on this island you will find an abundance of different and exotic birds

Traditions are extremely important in Atiu, which is the only place in the Cooks Islands where the Tumunu ceremony still takes place. This is an elaborate ceremony where a local brew is drunk and also involves music, prayer and short introductions from each participant, visitors frequently participate in the tumunu!

Atiu Villas
Atiu Villas are situated on Atiu Island on the outskirts of the central villages. Atiu Villas are unique in that the chalet style villas are made almost entirely of local native timbers and materials and feature the polished woods of local tropical trees. Friendly hosts, Roger and Kura, will help organise visitors’ transport, tours, activities or their complete relaxation. A restaurant and bar are located on site, serving mouth-watering two course evening meals to guests.

Gina’s Garden Lodges
These four spacious, well-appointed lodges are located in secluded grounds and nestle in one and a half acres of flowers, plants and trees, as well as a featuring a large swimming pool to cool off in!

The lodges are a short 10 minute walk from Tautu Village on the Eastern side of Aitutaki Island.

Gina's Akaiami Beach Lodge
Whilst Gina’s Garden Lodges are located on the mainland, Gina's Akaiami Beach Lodge is on Akaiami Island situated five miles across the lagoon from the mainland. Akaiami Island is a coral island situated on the outer coral reef of Aitutaki lagoon, boasting a sweeping sandy lagoon beach and a more rugged, coral ocean beach - perfect for snorkeling!

Guests can relax on the colonial style veranda, enjoy the view of the palm trees framing the sparkling lagoon, take a dip in the lagoon or try their hand at flyfishing, snorkelling and even kiteboarding! To ensure complete guest privacy only one booking is accepted at a time for this property.

Castaway Villas
Castaway Beach Villas is an intimate and vibrant beachfront resort on the sunset coast of Rarotonga, offering self catering rooms plus a full service restaurant and two bars (poolside and beachfront).

Castaway Beach Villas are operated by a dedicated team of Cook Islanders who pride themselves on delivering the best Cook Islands hospitality. Guests are invited to sit on the deck to watch the humpback whales swim during the season of July to November, snorkel in the lagoon at high tide to view the magnificent coral gardens, or even an exhilarating kayak ride in the surf.

So how do I get there?
It’s simple… Air New Zealand offers a direct service, from London Heathrow to Rarotonga via Los Angeles. For more information visit www.airnewzealand.co.uk or call 0800 028 4149. An increasing popular option is to buy a round-the-world-ticket making the Cook Islands just one of the many stop-overs you take.

Air Rarotonga is the national carrier that operates regular scheduled flights from Rarotonga to eight of the outer islands in the southern and northern groups. Aitutaki can be reached from the main island of Rarotonga in just 45 minutes!


Read more:
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/holidays/activity-adventure-holidays/cook-island-adventure-holidays#ixzz15zbeJSFy

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Posted by Allon

Marrakech Travel Guide

12:51 AM | Labels: , , ,


Snake charmers, magic potions and hidden palaces: Marrakech brings the most outlandish travellers' tales to life. The pink city has waylaid desert caravans since the 11th century, as visitors succumb to the charms of its bluesy Gnaoua trance music, steamy hammams and multi-course feasts.

Visitors to Marrakech often disappear down a maze of winding alleys and emerge days later, relaxed and refreshed from their stays in spectacular riads (courtyard guesthouses). Adventure awaits in the medina (old city), with its fondouks (artisans' workshops), seven zaouias (saints' shrines) and stalls ladling up steaming bowls of snails and sheep's head soup.

The focal point of Marrakech is its celebrated square, the Jemaa el Fna. Towering over the scene is the stately Koutoubia minaret, a template for Hispano-Mauresque architecture and a reminder of the importance of Islam to the lives of the city's residents.

Always a byword for the exotic, the city that lured hedonists and idealists in the 20th century now attracts fashionistas and trendy couples in search of the souks, spices, spas, chic bars and clubs and riad life.

Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/marrakech#ixzz15iUIFm2c

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Helsinki Travel Guide

9:19 PM | Labels: , , ,



Affectionately known as the 'Daughter of the Baltic', Helsinki sits at the arrowhead of a peninsula, surrounded by an archipelago of 315 islands, perfectly placed between its two great trading cousins, Stockholm and Moscow.

Helsinki's population just teeters over half a million, and with its tallest city centre building only 12 storeys high, Helsinki seems almost provincial. However, statistics reveal that the city is one of the fastest growing areas in the European Union. Within the last decade, over 100,000 inhabitants have moved into greater Helsinki and by the year 2030, government statistics predict over 1.3 million people will be living within the region.

The city's distinctive 'East meets West' culture is symbolised in the contrast between the cool, clean lines of Finlandia Hall and the rich golden 'onion' dome of Uspenski Cathedral. The centre of the city, the neoclassical mini-St Petersburg built by German-born architect Carl Engel, is easily explored on foot and most of the main sights are within walking distance of the centre.

The pace of Helsinki life varies with the seasons. In the summer, the Finns revel in 20-hour-long summer days whilst in winter, city evades the harsh wniters by going underground and becoming a creative hive of productivity.

Perhaps it is the balance between these two climatic extremes that conspires to make Helsinki one of Europe's most creative and technologically progressive capitals.


Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/helsinki#ixzz15bmkGHub

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Hamburg Travel Guide

9:08 PM | Labels: , , ,




The second biggest city in Germany, Hamburg has the cosmopolitan feel, the conspicuous consumption and most of the cultural accoutrements of a north European capital.

Culturally Hamburg is said to have more in common with its trading partners and neighbours in the Low Countries, Denmark and even England, than it does with southern Germany. Its people are famously modest, yet worldly and usually very helpful.

Visitors will find Hamburg easy to get around thanks to its compact centre and excellent transport system. There are relatively few major landmarks, and nothing of iconic status except perhaps the red-light district of St Pauli where Hamburg sailors traditionally took their R'n'R. This is a double-edged sword for the city, yet one it has handled well in recent years, bringing in new and respectable nightlife while retaining the edgy atmosphere of the district's former existence.

It is easy to forget that music (and not just sex) has always been a major part of the area (the Beatles among many other luminaries paid their musical dues in St Pauli) and on weekend nights the Reeperbahn and surrounding streets throb with activity.By contrast to the seamy port area, the city's major open space, which begins right in the very centre of town, is the Alster Lake.

On a warm summer's day do as the locals do and take a cruise from the Binnenalster (Inner Alster) to the Aussenalster and its parkland fringes. Within just a few minutes you will have swapped the steely grey metropolis for a balmy world of green and blue.



Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/hamburg#ixzz15bknbglE

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Reykjavik Travel Guide

8:59 PM | Labels: , , , , ,












Reykjavik's location, set on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by a lunar volcanic netherworld, with the shadowy hulk of Mount Esja in the background, is both romantic and beguiling.





Countless travel articles are published focusing on Reykjavik's nefarious nightlife and thousands of tourists a year fly to the city to seek out the legendary bars and clubs. Considering that beer prohibition only ended in 1989, this is particularly impressive but the locals seem to have made up for lost time and the scene in the city centre at weekends is one of hedonistic mayhem.

During the day, Reykjavik is a far more sedate place with trim houses, rubbish-free streets and an easygoing pace of life. There are bountiful cultural attractions, countless cafes, six geothermal swimming baths and a myriad of day trip opportunities into the stunning hinterland. Cultural festivals are also currently multiplying and maturing, as Iceland begins to establish its cultural identity.


Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/reykjavik#ixzz15VqvGlB9

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Travel Tasmania

8:44 PM | Labels: , , , , ,






Lush rainforests, soaring peaks, white-sand beaches and dense bushland characterise Tasmania, Australia's island state. Enchanting forests feature the world's tallest and rarest trees, and some of the most beautiful spots in Australia are to be found on this, the smallest of the country's six states. Situated south of mainland Victoria in southeast Australia, Tasmania was named after a Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman, who sighted the island in 1642.




Today, it is home to half a million people, of which nearly half the population lives in and around the state capital, Hobart. Tasmania harbours distinct wildlife, many of which are endangered or extinct elsewhere; the infamous Tasmanian devil, the spotted-tail and the eastern quoll are the three biggest carnivorous marsupials on the planet.

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Travel Guide Picks Wellington In Top 10 Capitals

2:58 AM | Labels: ,

Travel Guide Picks Wellington In Top 10 Capitals
The naming of Wellington as one of the world's top 10 cities will provide a wonderful boost to the city's reputation and tourism industry according to the Wellington Employers' Chamber of Commerce.


Lonely Planet has just named Wellington the 'coolest little capital in the world' and ranked it the 4th top city in the world to visit in 2011.


"This is a huge tribute coming from such a respected publication. It is well deserved. It is also great news in that it will attract significant international interest in Wellington," said Chamber President Richard Stone.

"Tourism is an increasingly important part of the Wellington economy and this accolade will provide a welcome lift.
"It will also raise general awareness of Wellington internationally, increase its exposure as a place to do business, and draw attention to the range of talent we have here.

"Wellington is one of the fastest growing visitor destinations in the country. Yet most of Wellington's visitor growth, relative to other parts of New Zealand, has been in the domestic market. This will surely attract the increased international visitors we need.

"Coming ahead of the Rugby World Cup and just after confirmation that the Hobbit is to be filmed here, the announcement is well-timed. However, the industry must not rest on its laurels.

"We need to continue to invest in accommodation space and tourism infrastructure if Wellington is to meet its full potential as a tourist destination. Improved international air links - including long haul flights are needed. "The Chamber has an active workstream in place focused on working with the retail and hospitality sector to enhance its growth potential in the current environment.

"We would like to congratulate Wellington's tourism industry especially Positively Wellington Tourism for this wonderful accolade," Mr Stone concluded.

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Los Angeles Travel Guide

12:07 AM | Labels:

Los Angeles is the USA's second largest city after New York. It has been called everything from La La Land to Tinseltown but is most commonly known simply as LA.
Sprawling along the Pacific coast of southern California, its coastline stretches 122km (76 miles) from Malibu to Long Beach. Inland, the city fills a vast, flat and once arid basin ringed by the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains.Arriving by plane gives a good first impression.
Out of this vast flat grid of streets and buildings rises a cluster of imposing skyscrapers. These mark Downtown, 26km (16 miles) inland from the coast. Northeast is Pasadena. To the west and northwest are Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Century City and the wide San Fernando Valley. To the south is Long Beach. Along the west coast are Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Marina del Rey.
Founded in 1781 by Mexican settlers, over the centuries, LA grew from a cow town to a Gold Rush boomtown to an oil town. In the 1920s, the fledgling film industry decamped from New York in search of sunshine and Hollywood was born. Today, all the major studios are here and the city is the world's undisputed king of film-making.
Disneyland may be the city's major attraction, but LA is also home to world-renowned cultural institutions from the Museum of Contemporary Art to the LA Philharmonic and the stunning Getty Museum.
LA is exuberant - there are few places in the world where the phrase 'Express Yourself' is taken so literally. Hippy health fanatics exist happily alongside some of the most glamorous and wealthy people in the world. Most visitors come to enjoy world-class shops and restaurants, lie on beaches bathed in almost constant sunshine and simply to people watch.


Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/los-angeles#ixzz13jH4BxVd

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Posted by Aston

My First Post

3:49 AM | Labels:

I have seen a lot of people who are fond of traveling and sharing their experience among their friends.Those who are good at photography take a lot of pictures during their travel and uploading them in social networking sites.It depends upon the person interests and I would prefer reading their experiences because it provides me a totally different feeling to know what the place is all about.Movies like Vanilla Sky(Newyork) and Wings of Desire(Berlin) gets me itching to strap my traveling boots on are those that takes you through those cities.There are many exciting posts to come,stay tuned

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