News and Reviews of Hotels

Archive for September, 2008

Baltimore For Weddings

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Baltimore is the ideal location for a wedding.  It is the largest city in Maryland and is only 40 miles from the US capital Washington DC.  It is a major seaport and in the past was a manufacturing center.  Today Baltimore has a bustling service industry and there had been major inner city redevelopment and renewal.

Baltimore has so much to offer brides and grooms who are planning their weddings.  The options range from downtown weddings on the waterfront at the Inner Harbor, to classy hotels in Fells Point.  Other options include outdoor weddings near the Patapsco or on a boat in the Chesapeake Bay.

The wedding party has much to offer families and friends attending their Baltimore wedding.  The area boasts several national and state parks for those interested in sightseeing.  The Inner Harbor has many attractions and restaurants as well as open air concerts, street entertainers and parades. The city is also well equipped with historic attractions as well as museums and theaters .  Out in the ocean boats and yachts can be chartered for sailing or fishing.

Visting Wales

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

The country of Wales is located to the west of England and is part of the United Kingdom.  It is a small country steeped in history and lots of wonderful attractions.  It is renowned for it’s green rolling hills and valleys, mountainous areas, castles, daffodils, rugby, male-voice choirs and mining towns.

There’s lots to do in Wales and this makes it a wonderful tourist destination.  Because it is a small country you are never far from the sea or the mountains.  Snowdonia national park is the most famous mountain area.  In the countryside you can walk, cycle and horse ride.  The rivers are popular for fishing and boating.  The cities, towns and villages are full of history and culture and make great places to explore.

Wales is known as the ‘land of castles’ and has perhaps the most in the world per head with 641 of them!  As well as castles there are Roman forts dating back to when the Romans ruled the country.  Legend has it that King Arthur and Merlin were based in this area long before the Romans.

For visitors there are many Wales bed and breakfasts around the country that offer outstanding hospitality and make ideal bases to tour the country.  As well as breakfast make sure to sample some of the wonderful local food such as laverbread (seaweed pancakes with bacon), homemade cheese, black beef and mountain lamb.  Because you are near to the sea there is also an abundance of seafood including the local favorite - fresh cockles.

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and like most capitals has lots of things to do.  There is a vibrant nightlife featuring clubs and dancehalls alongside more traditional options like pubs and restaurants.  There is plenty to do in the city and if you get lost for ideas be sure to ask the friendly locals.  Many people speak both English and Welsh which is one of the world’s oldest languages.  As Wales is one of the six Celtic nations the Celtic heritage is evident in many aspects of life here.  You will enjoy the unique hospitality of this ancient and cultured land.

Planning a Vacation to Singapore

Thursday, September 11th, 2008

Singapore is one of Asia’s most modern and affluent countries. It is a busy port and has a vibrant finance and banking district. The population is multi cultural made up of many nationalities. The majority of the population is Chinese, Malay and Indian.

Singapore is famous for its skyscrapers, modern buildings and transportation system. It is an ultra clean city with a law abiding citizenship. During the 1990s the policing and restrictions were strict and were made prominent by stories of punishments for spitting or chewing gum. However recently the laws have become more lax and this has increased its appeal as both a business center and a tourist destination.

As a tourist destination Singapore excels. It offers fine dining, fantastic shopping and the many choices of the best hotels in Singapore. The hotels range from simple pensions to five star hotels in Singapore. There is an array of galleries and museums to visit and the world famous Singapore Zoo. Other places to visit include the Orchard Rd shopping area, the Raffles Hotel and Chinatown.

Because the city is multi cultural there is a magnificent choice of restaurants and other dining experiences. These range from street hawkers to the highest quality restaurants. Chinese, Indian and Malay influences are evident in a lot of the foods.

All in all Singapore is a must see place on a trip to Asia. Because it is modern and safe many tourists use it as their home base while visiting other Asian countries. Its airport is one of the world’s best and is close to the city. This helps to make Singapore a tourist’s delight.

The Island of Mallorca

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

Mallorca is an island off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the largest of Balearic Islands. The other main islands of the Balearics are Menorca and Ibiza. The Balearics and Mallorca became a beacon for tourists during the 1960s and is now one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe. Over 15 million visitors visit the island annually. It features many activities and attractions and is popular with people of all age groups.

The main city in Mallorca is Palma which is close to the main airport. The airport has flights from most of the major European cities. Palma is home to a magnificent Gothic cathedral dating from the 14th century.

The island is famed for its blue waters and fantastic beaches. It has a warm summer with low rainfall making it ideal for tourism. In summer the average daytime temperature is 73 degrees.

There are over 2500 restaurants on the island catering to all types of diners. There are many types of hotels on the island including four (4) star hotels Mallorca and five (5) star hotels Mallorca. Mallorca has moved away from mass tourist destinations to include some fine hotels and resorts. Due to the large amount of tourism there are some great deals available for visitors.

The north coast of the island is rugged with some cliffs and two large bays. Most of the large scale tourist destinations are on the south west of the island. The island has so much to offer aside from beaches and water sports and offers many great places for cycling, walking and birdwatching.

Hotels in Formentera and the Balearic Islands

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008

The Spanish island of Formentera is located in the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands are a chain of islands that are very popular with tourists (Check out the best Balearic hotels). Formentera is the smallest of the inhabited islands and is located 2 miles south of the party island of Ibiza. It can be reached by boat from Ibiza and also from the Spanish mainland. There is no airstrip on the island or few paved roads which means it is more off-the-beaten track than its larger neighbors.

Formentera is renowned for its wonderful quiet beaches which are pretty rustic and also allow nude sunbathing. The land is very flat which means that it is great for diving. The island has a population of just under eight thousand and has approximately 40 hotels, guesthouses and hostels, including a few big resorts. The Formentera hotels range from high class to rustic.

Mopeds are perhaps the best way to get around Formentera and the main roads are wide and straight and relatively quiet. There are several shops that rent mopeds. Be aware that some areas of the island can be pretty rugged. All in all Formentera is a great place to relax and chill out.

Ibiza Boutique Hotels

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Ibiza is a Mediterranean island located of the coast of Spain. It is part of the Balearic Islands. It’s largest city is Ibiza Town.

Ibiza is a well known tourist destination and has become renowned as party island due to the large amount of clubs that exist in Ibiza Town and Sant Antoli. These are the home of some well known nightclubs including Privilege and Eden. Many of the world’s top Djs perform at these clubs throughout the year.

The island is also famous for its beaches as it has some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean. The quieter beaches can be found on the north of the island. The beaches on Ibiza are calm and clear and great for diving or snorkeling. Many of the busier beaches offer jet skis, parasailing, pedaloes and other forms of entertainment.

Hotels on the island are prevalent. These include a fine range of Ibiza boutique hotels. The quality of hotels has grown as the Spanish Tourist Office has attempted to change the image of the island from a clubbers destination to a more family-oriented, up-market, cultured destination.

Large portions of Ibiza are World Heritage sites and protected from commercialization. These isolated beauty of these sites have become popular with artists and photographers. Film makers are also attracted to these locations.

Ibiza has two prime seasons – hot, busy summers with many tourists and long, quiet and cooler winters where tourists are few and far between.