Luxury Travel Archives - Page 4 of 10

March 6, 2015 by Jeremy

Opting for a tailor-made holiday

Have you ever gotten back from a holiday feeling more exhausted than recharged? If so, it’s likely that the way your flights, hotels and/or activities were planned sabotaged the main aim of your time off. By opting for a tailor-made holiday, you can take the elements of your last trip that robbed you of the relaxation that you were supposed to enjoy, and plan them out so that your next one will be the rejuvenating experience that it should always be.

A holiday built around your interests

Have you ever went sightseeing to museums or other points of interest because you felt like you would be letting other people down by missing them? There’s no worse way to burn up your precious holiday time then by spending it by living out somebody else’s high-minded vision of what a travel experience should be like.

In order to build a journey that will appeal to you, a professional travel agent can come up with a customized itinerary that will avoid all of the sights that will bore you to death, while including all of the attractions that will have you engaged and excited from start to finish like the best excursions in Grand Cayman.

Hotels that meet your expectations

Whether you view a hotel as an integral cornerstone of one’s travel experience, or merely as a place to lay your head at night in between adventures during the day, a travel agent can select accommodation options that will meet your needs.

Want to make sure that your hotel has a hot tub waiting to assuage your aching body after a day of intense activity? They can track one down. Do you consider a hotel as a secondary part of your travels, but still wish to avoid a place that has uncomfortable mattresses or unpleasant surprises lurking within? They will do the in-depth research to ensure that your basic pad is clean and comfortable.

Staying for a month? Only have time for a weekend getaway?

Most pre-planned itineraries are built around the standard one to two week holidays that most people these days feel fortunate to be still receiving. However, you might have structured your life in such a way where you can get away for a whole month … or you might be so unbelievably busy that you can only escape for a weekend under the Caribbean sun.

In these instances, your travel agent can keep things simple and limited to the absolute essentials for the time-starved among us, or they can space out activities and include things like multi-day diving expeditions for those that have a wealth of holiday time.

December 2, 2014 by Jeremy

2015 Family Holiday Ideas

STAY AT MARTINHAL IN PORTUGAL

Portugal has become a top family holiday destination due to its fabulous sandy beaches, sun and incredible family friendly resorts such as the exclusive Martinhal resort. The Martinhal resort is set within a protected natural park close to the historic town of Sagres on the stunning unspoilt Western Algarve.

It offers luxurious 37 bedrooms, pools and a wide variety of family villas and villages to cater for different kinds of families. Located along the Martinhal Beach, this family resort is exceptional and purposely built for families. It incorporates children and adult facilities and activities in such an extraordinary manner so that every member of the family has something to do throughout. There is also a wide variety of family friendly meals and warm hospitality from the staff.

BE ADVENTUROUS IN RUSSIA

Russia is the largest country in the world and offers incredibly diverse landscapes that only beckon for adventure. It is rich in culture with cities like St Petersburg and Moscow leading in rich cultural attractions and numerous splendid sights that appeal to the old and young alike.

From the ornate dorms of St Basil’s cathedral to the vast Hermitage and the Winter Palace, it is full of state of the art architectural wonders. It is a year round destination with summers offering midnight sun and white nights in winter. A holiday in Russia is the perfect break for the family who wants to go off the beaten path.

Let your family enjoy an epic journey of traversing through the Trans Siberia Railway from Moscow to Beijing past dense forests, across the wide steppe-land of Mongolia all the way to the Great Wall of China.

This adventurous trip gives your family an opportunity to experience five different time zones, sail in the world’s largest fresh water Lake, camp in a Mongolian yurt and enjoy the ever-changing landscapes.

VISIT THE SUN STATE OF FLORIDA

Ask any child in the world where they would like to go and the answer would be most likely Disney Land. If you are looking for 2015 family holiday ideas, visiting Florida is an excellent ideas, as your kids will get to visit the place of their dreams.

The ‘Sunshine State’ has a lot to offer families including sun kissed beaches, family friendly resorts, historical monuments, charming islands and theme parks.

Visit the home of Disney movies and let your children enjoy seeing their favorite characters and live in the fantasy world for a day. Let your kids loose themselves in the fascinating world of magic, castles and princesses in Disneyland.

St Augustine offers old world charm with its ancient monuments, unique attractions, excellent shopping and spectacular beaches. Miami is popular as a family holiday destination with perfect weather, award winning beaches and celebrity sightings.

Islands such as The Keys, Amelia, Fort Meyers and Sanibel are ideal for families with their wide variety of attractions, beaches, shops, restaurants, villas, hotels and sporting activities.

Florida State has a lot to offer for families whether travelling in luxury or on budget. Though many all-inclusive resorts are expensive, there are other options for families on a tight such as camping, villas, budget hotels and campervans.

December 1, 2014 by Jeremy

Exotic Luxury Breaks To Try In 2015

INDIA

India may only sound simple with its five-letter name but with its diversities in its landscapes, culture, people, religion, time zones and history, you might expect a longer hard to pronounce name. An entire subcontinent with exotic sounds, smells and sights will linger in your memories for a lifetime.

The most iconic monument in India is the token of love, the Taj Mahal, which is a wonder of the world; however, India has a lot more to offer beyond this dazzling monument. It is a land of magnificent castles, palaces, forts, temples, bustling cities and stunning beaches. You can shop until you drop in Jaipur, relax in a houseboat in Kerala, drink tea in Darjeeling, go on a tiger safari in Central India and meditate in the Buddhist monasteries in Leh, Ladakh.

Enjoy luxuries in India’s opulent palace hotels; traverse the country in luxurious train rides, stay in boutique and heritage hotels or retreat to rural homes in the cool hill stations. Greaves India are a renowned specialist for luxury India holidays if you need further advice.

SOUTH AFRICA

Just as the name suggests, you do not have to struggle locating this destination on a world map. South Africa is home to unforgettable experiences, remarkable adventures and incredible scenery; from lofty mountains to vast jungles and stunning coastline and from sun-baked deserts to lush valleys, it is the envy of other African countries.

It is the home of excellent game viewing where seeing penguins and elephants, sharks and lions is the norm. Its National Parks are vast and have some of the best infrastructure in the whole of Africa. Luxurious lodges and tents scatter the parks for the ultimate game viewing experiences.

Cape Town is one of the world’s most picturesque cities surrounded by breathtaking natural scenes including the towering Table Mountain, dense forests, manicured vineyards and the dramatic coastline. It is also soaked in history and culture evident in Victoria and Alfred Water Front, Cape Town’s main hub offering free entertainment, a variety of shops, restaurants and museums. South Africa produces some of the best wines in the world, hence prepare to wine and dine in style.

TURKEY

From ages past, to date, Turkey has been an international destination for centuries. Weary travelers from the East and the West found a haven of tranquility and settled in this Eurasian country. The result is an intriguing blend of cultures, fascinating architecture, interesting history and stunning historical treasures, perfect for a luxury break.

Istanbul is the capital of Turkey a city of contrasts where the old and the new pair in breathtaking harmony. Ancient mosques and Byzantine churches stand side by side as if trying to recite what happened to the world while the modern suburbs of Istanbul flourish.

Turkey has something for everyone; historical buffs can enjoy exploring the ancient castles, palaces and battlefields, cultural fanatics can soak up in culture in museums and the city of Ephesus and for those who cannot resist lazing along the pristine beaches, Antalya and Bodrum will be a fine treat.

As a world famous destination, Turkey has a lot to offer the luxury travelers including luxurious resorts, yachts, villas, boutique hotels and fabulous dining experiences.

November 29, 2014 by Jeremy

Far Flung Locations That Are Worth The Trip

Sometimes it is not worth travelling a long way for your holiday. Particularly when there are so many great destinations close to home. However, there are some places that really are worth the extra time you will spend travelling as what you find when you get there is simply incredible. Here are five far flung locations that are more than worthy of the extra miles.

Burma

Burma is a massive country that is just finding its place on the travellers map. With its magnificent culture and warm and friendly people it won’t be long before this country rivals nearby countries such as Thailand and Cambodia for visitor numbers.

Visit Inle Lake to see how the people live and work on the lake, Bagan to see the thousands of temples and Ngapali beach to relax on the white sands.

Japan

Japan has an incredibly deep history; a truly unique culture and some magical landscapes and that are just waiting to be explored. Cosmopolitan Tokyo has everything you could want from a city break, with spectacular five star hotels and world class restaurants and shopping.

The ancient city of Kyoto will captivate your imagination with its wonderful architecture and the snow-capped Mount Fuji is both dramatic and serene with some wonderful hiking opportunities.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is like a laid back India. Compact in size it is easy to travel around and visit its different areas without having to endure the long bus journeys or internal flights that you do in many destinations.

Colonial Galle is a charming place with some beautiful boutique hotels and fantastic restaurants serving up all the Sri Lankan classics. The hillside city of Kandy and its surrounding hill country was the home to Sri Lanka’s last independent kingdom and there are plenty of cultural sites that enable you to learn all about this fascinating time.

Once you have finished exploring, head to laid back Unawatuna to relax on the beach and enjoy the wonderful climate and delicious seafood.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a paradise for nature lovers with an abundance of flora and fauna unlike anywhere else in the world. It is also a great place to visit for outdoor activities, with the jungles, volcanoes and rivers all providing the perfect backdrop.

Peru

Peru is famous for Macchu Picchu and the magnificent Inca Trail that takes visitors up its steps to see where the Inca population lived in the 15^th century. It really is fantastic, and this alone makes the long trip to Peru worthwhile, but if you have time on your side then Peru has so much more to offer.

Visit the desert oasis Huacachina to try out sand boarding on the rolling sand dunes, Lima to see cosmopolitan Peru at its best and the Cordillera Blanca mountain range for some trekking in stunning snowy mountains.

September 12, 2014 by jfalbelda

Top Tourist Attractions In Croatia

Picturesque sceneries and ancient landmarks, the top tourist attractions in Croatia are a great addition to anyone’s bucket list. Officially the Republic of Croatia, this country in the Balkans and in Central Europe boasts of some of the most beautiful coasts in Europe.

Here are some of the top tourist attractions in Croatia:

Euphrasian Basilica

The 6^th century Basilica is the highlight of the town of Porec, a 2000 year old town in the Istria district. The interior and the architecture of the Basilica feature early Byzantine architecture. While the basilica has gone through earthquakes, fires and accidents, it has still maintained its shape and glory, with only a few repairs here and there.

Mljet

One of the top tourist attractions in Croatia, the Mljet is an island off the southern coast of Croatia. 72% of the island is still covered in thick forests and lush vegetation, while flecks of fields, vineyards and small villages dot the Mljet landscape. Mljet has two salt lakes: Veliko and Malo Jezero. Veliko Jezero has a small island in the middle with an old Benedictine Monastery, which is worth a visit. The easiest way to get here is to check for flights to Dubrovnik and then take the ferry from the mainland to the island.

Diocletian’s Palace

The palace was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian for his retirement. The Roman Emperor spent his last days in the palace, tending on his vegetable garden.

After the Roman’s abandon of Croatia, the palace remained empty for centuries. But in the 7^th century, the Diocletian Palace became the nearby residents’ refuge against invading barbarians. Since then, the walls of the palace have been home to these residents.

Today, shops and restaurants (as well as some of the old homes) can be found inside the walls of Diocletian’s Palace.

Plitvice Lakes

Breathtaking and impressive, the Plitvice Lakes are one of the most beautiful destinations in the whole of Europe. The system of 16, interlinked lakes with unique colors such as azure, green, blue and gray and the surrounding forest is home to a plethora of animal and plant life, including the European brown bear and lynx. The lakes and the surrounding forest were set aside as a national park in 1949, with efforts to preserve its pristine beauty.