7 Great Reasons to Holiday in St Lucia, Caribbean by Tim Burton

St Lucia has a lot to offer for your holidays. The natural beauty of the island is spectacular. From sun sea and sand to nature trails, from glorious food to sea fishing...

1. Nature trails St. Lucia offers a number of nature trails from strenuous to the more relaxed. Climb to the top of the fort at Pigeon Island and admire the tropical sunset. Walk through the Diamond Botanical Gardens and spring at Soufriere until you reach the spectacular sulphurous waterfall.

2. St Lucia Jazz Festival The St Lucia Jazz Festival is a leading event in the St Lucian calendar. The Jazz Festival takes place in May, in spectacular venues such as the historic Pigeon Island, which connects to the mainland via a causeway and surrounded by the Caribbean sea. Performers are sometimes world renowned and is therefore a show not to be missed.

3. St Lucia Food and Rum Festival Want to know about the diverse and brilliant cuisine that is part of the Caribbean experience and the excellence of Caribbean rum? Then this Festival is the one for you. A recent addition to the St Lucian calendar, the Food and Rum Festival covers four days and takes place at the end of October-beginning of November. The Festival features great regional and internationally renowned chefs and mixologists, Caribbean rums and Caribbean food.

The Food and Rum Festival is a gastronomic event which attracts some of the best chefs, rum connoisseurs, food critiques and gourmands from not only the Caribbean, but from around the world and rival some of the best culinary festivals in the world
The Festival features menus from popular chefs, lectures on rum, chef demonstrations, rum tastings of scores of rums from across the region, and concerts held on Saturday and Sunday night.

4. Deep Sea Fishing St. Lucia offers opportunities for some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world. It is a popular recreational activity here, with the sparkling Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It is home to several species of big game fish, such as marlin. If you want mahi-mahi or dourado, you can find those too. You can charter any form of sea-going vessel. There are a number of charter companies on the island that offer whole and half-day fishing excursions on 30 foot boats with modern fishing equipment.

The legendary white marlin dwells off the coast of Saint Lucia. But depending on the time of year, you can catch a variety of fish, including mackerel, barracuda, kingfish and sailfish.

5. Watersports There are plenty of watersports for visitors to St Lucia. You can go go windsurfing, sailing, para-sailing, water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling or sailing. St Lucia has some of the best underwater dive sites in the Caribbean.

Windsurfers will be challenged by the waves at Cas en Bas and Vieux Fort, the most popular spots for advanced and intermediate windsurfers, while beginners will find the calmer waters of the west coast more suitable.

Popular snorkeling areas include Anse Chastanet. Snorkel in the bay at Jalousie and watch bright shoals of fish dart by.

Water-skiing can be enjoyed by the beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers alike. Visitors can try parasailing, which allows riders to view spectacular sights as they soar above Rodney Bay.

6. Cricket Cricket is a very popular sport on the island of St. Lucia, due to its English heritage. The cricket season is from March to August, however friendly matches are arranged throughout the year around the island.

7. Tropical Islands Rainforest St Lucia has the most wonderful rainforest deep in its mountainous interior. Almost 1,800 feet above sea level, lies 19,000 acres of rainforest and the 29 miles of trails that run through it.

The rainforest is a fantastic habitat for rare birds and plants, where rare parrots can be seen and orchids scent the air.

One of the greatest symbols of the rainforest is St Lucia's National bird, the Amazona Versicolor or the Jacquot. Once an endangered species, with protection its numbers have risen. Bird watching is a recommendation since in the mountainous rainforests there are approximately 30 species of birds. You might even spot the rare and beautiful parrot, Jacquot.

About The Author:
Tim Burton writes travel articles for the popular Florida Villas website and Orlando Villas website at http://www.milkriver.co.uk © Copyright 2008 by Tim Burton

Honeymoons And Luxury Holidays In Mauritius by Daniel Millions

I think the famous Mark Twain described the island of Mauritius well when he described it as "heaven on earth".

If you are looking for somewhere different to spend time with your new partner then a honeymoons Mauritius holiday seems to be the perfect solution. This island located in the Indian Ocean just above the Tropic of Capricorn is becoming extremely popular with newlyweds from around the world.

Here they can spend time together getting to know one another and enjoying all that the island has to offer. In fact they may find themselves becoming completely overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells that this island paradise has to offer.

Certainly this is one of the most romantic destinations that a young couple can go to and spend time enjoying each other's company. There is plenty of accommodation on the island to select from and where you stay will depend upon your budget.

When it comes to which is the best time of year to visit this tropical paradise because the weather is reasonable throughout the year you could visit at about just anytime you want. However, between July and September is favored by most tourists as the temperatures and humidity levels are much lower. Whereas through January to April you can expect much more rain than normal.

Certainly if you intend to participate in some diving and snorkeling during your stay then between December and March is perfect. This is the time of year when the waters around the island are at the clearest and you will be better able to view the myriads of sea life that surround it.

A luxury holiday in Mauritius really provides you with all the opportunities to relax and unwind. There are several different ones to choose from on the island and all will help you to forget about the stresses and strains that work and everyday life places upon you.

One such hotel that offers such a vacation is The Royal Palm located on the northwest side of the island in lush tropical surroundings. It is also located close to Grand Baie and is certainly somewhere celebrities, along with royalty and heads of state will elect to stay if they want to get away from it all.

Another location that is proving extremely popular with couples who are looking for a romantic breakaway is Trou Aux Biches. This hotel is found right by one of the islands best beaches and offers you privacy as the accommodation is chalet style properties. These are all situated in tropical gardens but within a matter of minutes you can be strolling along the beach enjoying the views as the sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

However if you are coming to the island to play a few rounds of golf then the hotel you should be looking to book is Paradis Golf Resort. Along with its own 18 hole golf course close by is the Dinarobin Spa Resort and as for food you will be spoilt for choice as it has 7 different restaurants to select from. Certainly you will find yourself spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting the right luxury holiday for you on the Island of Mauritius.



About the Author
Find great mauritius holiday deals and mauritius holiday packages.

Darling Harbour: Top Accommodation Tips by Richard Greaves

Darling Harbour is one of Sydney's prime locations, owing to its convention and exhibition centre, entertainment areas, museums, restaurants and bars, scenic harbour, and its proximity to the bustling heart of Sydney. It's no surprise then that the area offers a broad range of accommodation options to choose from. You've got the grand hotels of the world's major chains, boutique hotels of delicious individuality, and serviced apartments. Here's a look at the best of them. Among the grand hotels of the international chains, you'll find the Carlton Crest Hotel. This 251-room deluxe hostelry stands in the heart of the entertainment district with splendid views Darling Harbour. Business travelers will appreciate the conference facilities at the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour. It features seven function rooms equipped with the most modern AV and staging facilities. You can choose from City View rooms overlooking the Sydney's CBD skyline or Darling Harbour Precinct View. There are also Crowne Plaza Club Rooms with either Darling Harbour or Cityscape views. The Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour is one of the biggest hotels in the whole country with its 630 rooms including 45 suites. Expect the usual quality range of restaurants, meeting and function rooms, and fitness facilities. Situated away from the harbour, the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour is convenient for Chinatown, and the Sydney Entertainment Centre is right across the road. It offers 304 Guest Rooms, 14 Suites, 304 Non-Smoking Rooms, 143 Double-Bedded Rooms, and 182 Single-Bedded Rooms Smaller hotels include the Hotel Ibis Darling Harbour a three-star hotel near the Cockle Bay restaurants, Convention and Exhibition Centre, monorail and tram. The hotel offers 256 rooms. Food and beverage facilities include the iBistro restaurant and the iBar. The whole property overlooks Darling Harbour and the magnificent Sydney skyline beyond. The major hotel chains offer outstanding facilities and service but many prefer the individuality and personalised service that boutique hotels provide. Among the best of the Darling Harbour boutique hotels is the Southern Cross on Harbour. The Southern Cross offers studios and one-bedroom suites with self-catering facilities and entertainment options such as CD players. Another delightful boutique hotel is Clarion Suites Southern Cross Darling Harbour. It offers 52 studio and 1 bedroom suites. Each suite offers self-catering facilities and sophisticated communication facilities such as voicemail and modem access. If you prefer the independence and privacy of service apartments, you'll find what you're looking for in Darling Harbour. There's the Quest On Dixon Darling Harbour Metro Apartments On Darling Harbour, a 4-star property featuring 37 luxurious studio apartments.. Among the luxury facilities offered are valet dry cleaning, breakfast packs, and high speed internet connection. Another gem is the Metro Apartments On Darling Harbour which is composed of two adjacent buildings offering a total of 42 fully-serviced one-bedroom apartments. The first property on Sussex Street offers 33 loft-style units with tall windows, most with harbour views. All units are fully serviced and offer full facilities. So make Darling Harbour your base for exploring Sydney. You'll find all you need there including the best Darling Harbour hotels and serviced apartments.

About the Author
Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Darling Harbour hotels as Quest On Dixon Darling Harbour

Online hotel reservation: The road to happiness is not that far by Raisa Raima

The hurdles of life tend to leave a negative impact on our lives and in an effort to break the shackles and rejuvenate ourselves, we need to spend quality time for relaxing with our near and dear ones.
Some of us tend to make pleasant trips to unknown destinations while the paucity of time and resources put some of us down thinking for an alternative solution. In the present day world, everything is possible. You can get a loan in 5 minutes, get a life partner online and can gift yourself a vacation without burning a hole in your pocket. Nowadays, more and more tour operators and tourism-related companies are striving to increase the number of their customers. In this attempt, they offer budget-friendly plans to win the hearts of their existing as well as prospective customers.
If you are planning to visit a destination then you need to make advance reservations. In the desire to do so, you can take the help of several online portals that offer online hotel reservation facilities. These portals offer cheap hotel reservation beside complementary plans and schemes.
The customers of these portals can easily avail cheap hotel bookings by just logging into the respective website and search for their preferred destinations. As soon as they do that, they are redirected to the safe payment gateways for making payments. Once the payment has been made, a confirmatory message confirms the online hotel reservation with a unique number.
One thing is for sure, a spirited and well spent holiday can make a lot of difference to your living habits besides bringing you closer to your near and dear ones. This will help you to further strengthen the existing bonds within no time.
The cheap hotel booking provided by the genuine websites is reliable and you will not be left stranded on an unknown place if you plan and make an advance reservation. However, if you are a prospective customer looking for hassle-free holidays then you must give due attention to certain things. You must check the genuineness of the website and read customers' feedbacks. The advice and recommendation of existing customers, relatives, friends and colleagues can also come handy in this regard.
Stay away from those endless queues and get things done in an effective and reliable manner by making a smart choice of online hotel reservation.

About the Author
The author is a specialist in retail writing. Her writing skills reflect the outcome of years of exposure to the retail industry. Working with retail giants as a consultant has enriched her knowledge base and her passion for writing got fire. She can be read regularly on RetailsDirect.com. For details please visit: www.retailsdirect.com Cheap Mobile Phones

MALAYSIA, TRULY ASIA

A fortunate group of teenagers from Europe was part of an Asia-Europe Exchange Programme, which brought these students away from their homes in Europe to rich and eclectic Malaysia. They found themselves in two contrasting homestay programmes, giving them a diverse and guided experience of the country. This out-of-class enrichment programme sent the students back home with a new wealth of knowledge, countless fond memories, many more additions in their address books and a taste of a unique home away from home.

Blonde and lanky Franziska from Germany is very well travelled for a 15-year-old girl. Surprisingly, most of this travelling has been done with her peers while her parents carried on with their lives at home. She spent a week in Malaysia recently and was bubbling over with excitement during her short stay.
“When I looked at the pictures of Malaysia, it was so different, I could not imagine myself actually being here! But now that I am actually here, (she opens her hands and presents her surroundings) it’s so beautiful!” says Franziska with a big bright smile.

The students and their peer hosts spent much of the week on field trips exploring the city and then they spent two days in the countryside witnessing a completely different Malaysian landscape and culture. Ms. Leonora Peers, who planned the week, needed to show these students enough pieces of the country for them to feel the rich tapestry that the country is made of. Not an easy task for such an eclectic and colourful place.
Their first field trip was to Bukit Melawati in Kuala Selangor. Bukit Melawati is a hill perched over the mouth of the Selangor River, the backdrop for two forts built in the late 18th Century. This is the point from where the tin rich Selangor Sultanate tried to defend itself against Dutch invaders, who had stormed Melaka.
After dusk the students witnessed the magic of Kuala Selangor’s fireflies that live among the mangroves. The insects surrounding them looked like millions of stars, constantly blinking and moving within reach. Wei Lyn, a Malaysian student in the group shared that it was such an incredible sight that she and her friends thought that they might have been fake “…but they were definitely real because they were flying around us, it was just unbelievable.”

The next day took the teens into the thick of Kuala Lumpur, the eclectic and cosmopolitan city. The day began in KL Tower where the entire city could be seen from the observation deck. “This city is so green,” chirped Franziska. KL Tower is the perfect place to plan one’s trip from, an audio guide points out places of interest and explains some of the eccentric architecture and historical sites.
They then went to the famous Petronas Twin followed by a trip to China Town, where the shopping made the teens bleary eyed. It was one of Gotje’s favourite days because the twin towers were so opulent and then China Town was such a stark contrast, with the temporary carts holding merchandise parked in front of colonial era shop-houses.
Diversity is what Malaysia is all about. It would be hard to believe that China Town is in the same country as the state-of-the-art museum of Royal Selangor Pewter, which is another expression of opulence in design and intelligence. The students even got to make their own little bowl in The School of Hard Knocks, an interactive module of the museum, which allows visitors to experience the complexity of making a pewter object.

MALAYSIA IS A TRULY WONDERFUL COUNTRY. FOR MORE INFO YOU CAN VISIT http://travel.tourism.gov.my/ I LOVE MALAYSIA!!

Chiang Mai Hotels: Epitome of Comfort and Luxury by Manjeet Dagar

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand. The city is well known for its beautiful mountain, over 300 temples and a cultural and historical charm. There are many hotels in Chiang Mai to stay comfortably and in peace. Set in tranquil surroundings, the Chiang Mai Hotels speaks high of comfort and luxury. The hotels in Chiang Mai offer modern, friendly and international standards of amenities and services.

Chiang Mai has many things to offer to travelers- food, shopping, nightlife and of course accommodation. Chiang Mai accommodation options are located close to the major tourist attractions of the city and come with wide array of facilities and recreation options. There are cheap budget hotels as well as luxury resorts in Chiang Mai. Whether a business or leisure traveler, you will find every kind of hotel to stay comfortably.

Among the hotels in Chiang Mai, De Naga Hotel features excellent rooms, dining and recreational facilities including an outdoor swimming pool. Another hotel to look for in the city is the Chedi Chiang Mai Hotel. This hotel is one of Chiang Mai's best located hotels for leisure and business guests. The 5-star Chedi Chiang Mai Hotel offers comfort and ensures a pleasurable stay in the city.

For business travelers, the Maninarakorn Hotel is ideal. The hotel is just a 10 minutes drive from Chiang Mai's international airport and the railway station. It is close to the central business district. The famous night-bazaar is also near the hotel. Tourists can also book a room at the Raming Lodge. This accommodation option in Chiang Mai has cozy rooms coupled with a range of amenities and services to make you feel at home away from home.

As a popular city in Thailand, Chiang Mai is blessed with natural scenic beauty. There are lovely waterfalls, hot springs and caves to see and explore.

Among the Chiang Mai Hotels, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is known for its warm hospitality and friendly services. It is a luxury hotel located on 60 acres of natural landscapes, surrounded by beautiful paddy fields and plantations.

If you want to spend less money on accommodation in Chiang Mai, you should look for the budget hotels in the city. Baan Gong Kham is a nice, friendly hotel with a typical Thai style of architecture. The decoration of this hotel is done with a variety of wood to give it a simple look. Travelers will get all kinds of amenities and services to feel comfortable and stay happy.

Baan Lamyai is a lovely guesthouse located at Sunpatong in Chiang Mai. One of the top-class hotels in Chiang Mai, the property features spacious rooms and provides modern facilities at a reasonable price. K.Mai Baansuan Resort is one of the popular Chiang Mai accommodation options. From the hotel, visitors will get a breath-taking view of the Maekok River. Other well-known budget hotels in the city are New Mitrapap Hotel and Queen Victoria Inn.

About the Author
Log on to AsiaRooms. Our extensive database will enable you to locate the finest hotels in Chiang Mai.

New York Vacation & Tourist Spots by Gokhan Ozbal

Home to a mid-19th century American art movement, Hudson River School, Author James Fenimore Cooper, the Statue of Liberty and much more, New York State welcomes hundreds of travelers all around the world each year. This is because of the reason that each region of the state has its own character and aspects.

A state of the United States located in the northeastern region, New York plays an important role not only as a state itself but also as a state of the whole country. It has always been, mainly New York City, a gateway for immigration to the United States. The state is one of the most populous one. As a travel destination, New York offers various sights and attractions to see. Among them, some have worldwide fame.

The capital of New York is Albany. Among the cities of the state, New York City is the largest one. Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Schenectady, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Utica, Ithaca, Mount Vernon, Cooperstown, Kingston, Geneva, Hudson, Tonawanda, Elmira, Binghamton, Jamestown, Johnstown are some of the names of the cities of New York.

New York State regions are: Chautauqua-Allegheny, Niagara, Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands Adirondacks, Central Leatherstocking, Saratoga-Capital, Catskills, Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City.

New York City offers cultural attractions, museums, parks, lots and kinds of shops and restaurants. The city is home to world famous attractions such as Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Museum of Modern Art, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Chrysler Building and much more. And all of these are mustsee places for the travellers.

The Adirondack Region presents mountains for hiking and skiing, Adirondack State Park for camping, golfing, lakes and ponds for trekking and forests for exploring.

The Capital-Saratoga Region houses the capital city Albany. This region presents art and culture. It is adviced to visit this region in autumn. The USS Slater, Proctor's Theater, Brookside Museum, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Petrified Sea Gardens, Empire State Aerosciences Museum are among the places to visit.

The Finger Lakes Region is a popular travel destination which is a fantastic and stunning one. The region offers fun activities for the whole family. Also there are lots of wineries here. In The Finger Lakes water sports are available such as wind surfing, water skiing, sailing and snorkeling.

The Chautauqua-Allegheny is a beutiful region. It owns a rich history. There are wineries here, too. Also this region houses the hometown of Lucille Ball. The Lucy-Desi Museum, The Chautauqua Institution, Jamestown Audubon Nature Center, Panama Rocks Scenic Park are among the places to visit.

Long Island is a mustsee region. It combines natural beauty with historical charm. Long Island means miles of beautiful beaches. It is a popular tourist spot. The beaches include Fire Island National Seashore and the world-famous Hamptons. They are all amazing places to visit. Do not forget to see the lighthouses.

Outdoor activities are available in The Hudson Valley region. The place makes one remember the Hudson River School of Painting and well-known writers which have importance for American culture and literature. There are museums and performing art centers in here.
No matter what the season is, The Catskills offers various activities such as hunting, skiing, climbing and much more. Woodstock, Catskill Game Farm, Apple Pond Farming Center are among the places to see.

The Thousand Islands-Seaway Region is the water link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. One must take a boat tour while visiting this region. Boldt Castle, Aqua Zoo, The Frederic Remington Museum, Fort Ontario and the Oswego Harborfest are among the spots to visit.

The Central-Leatherstocking Region is home to The Baseball Hall of Fame and for sure Author James Fenimore Cooper. There are essential attractions in the region that must be visited such as Glimmerglass Opera House, the Fenimore Art Museum, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum etc.

The Greater Niagara Region owns and offers the great and charming falls.The region is popular all around the world and has always been visited for years.The parks locates in this region make the visitors enjoy themselves.

Each region of the state presents more than told here. In order to get more information, it is better to watch the videos about New York which travelovideo.com offers to the site visitors.

About the Author
Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos - the place to watch travel videos online for free. Visit Travelovideo.com to view NewYork travel videos and places to visit in New York.