The 10 Must See Chateaux To Tour In The Loire Valley In France

The royalty of France, seduced by the temperate climate and the game-filled oak forests erected their sumptuous homes here in the Loire Valley. They surrounded themselves with the greatest architects and artiests of this era. This is the country of a thousand castles. The valley is full of not only royal castles and renaissance palaces, national museum and large magnificent chateaux, but also medieval castles and fortresses, small fairy tale manors, private chateaux, medieval cities, churches, abbeys, and cathedrals. Many chateaux and stately homes are open to the public: some are state owned, such as Chambord and Blois; others are private, and still lived in. A large percentage of them run son-et-lumiere shows during the tourist season. Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau de Chambord are definitely worth a visit and are near to Blois.

Chateau du Clos Luce
Chateau du Clos Luce is where Leonard de Vinci spent the last fouryears of his life. You can visit his study, salons, kitchen and bedrooms, the chapel and see frescoes painted by his pupils. His drawings and paintings are set out in the park of the chateau with giant models of the most spectacular machines he invented with voice-overs of Leonardo da Vinci and his disciple Melzi.

Le Chateau du Clos Luce: 30 minutes from us, at demeure de Leonard de Vinci,Amboise 37400 Tel: +33(0)2 47 57 00 73 Open: daily except 25 December to 1st January

Chateau Blois
Chateau Blois is almost like four separate chateaux rolled into one – so diverse are the architectural styles at play here. The Medieval heart is centred around the Salle des Etats Generaux which is where the court and council were based. Flamboyant Gothic flair is evident in the Louis XII wing whereas Renaissance architecture is the dominant style in the Francois 1 wing. It is in the Francois 1 wing that you’ll find Catherine de Medici’s private rooms complete with array of poisons. This was also the spot where the Duc de Guise was brutally murdered in 1588 after he was thought to be planning a Catholic uprising against Henri III. Apparently, it was Henri who carried out the deed himself only to be murdered himself a year later by a monk. Lastly, the Gaston d’Orleans wing will satisfy any cravings for Classical architecture. Evenings are a particularly good time to visit Blois especially if you book to see the ’son et lumiere’ shows that recount the chateau’s turbulent past.

Chateau de Blois: Place du Chateau, Blois, 41000 Tel: +33 (0)2 54 90 33 33 Open: Closed on 25th Dec and 1st Jan

Chateau Azay le Rideau
The Azay le Rideau Castle, one of the purest creation of the Renaissance, was built on an island of the Indre River, an ideal setting for an architectural gem. The son-et-lumiere spectacles held in the park during the summer tell some of the history of the Chateau and are not to be missed if you are there at the right time.

Chateau de Chenonceau
Le Chateau des Dames built on a bridge across the river Cher is one of the more beautiful chateaux of the Loire with elegant turrets, arches and stately avenues bordered by plane trees. It’s romantic feel is further heightened by the fact that its stylised and symmetrical structure is reflected in the waters of the Cher.

Chenonceau owes much of its design and beauty to four women in particular. It was Catherine de Briconnet who first started the trend and was largely responsible for its early Renaissance style. Catherine then passed the baton to Diane de Poiters (mistress of Henri II) who was responsible for the formal gardens to the left of the chateau as you approach it. Unfortunately Diane de Poitiers was forced to relinquish ownership of Chenonceau to Catherine de Medici (the embittered wife of Henri II) who offered Chateau de Chaumont in exchange. Not entirely a fair swap! Later the castle was inherited by Louise de Lorraine, the bereaved wife of Henri III Catherine’s favourite son. Louise painted her bedroom ceiling black and white out of respect for her late husband.

Madame Dupin also had a pivotal role in the development of Chenonceau in the 18th century and was responsible for encouraging literary events to be held here. The likes of Rousseau, Voltaire and Montesquieu all spending time here. Today Chenonceau is a profitable business run by the Menier family who are known as respected chocolatiers.

Chateau de Chenonceaux: Chateau de Chenonceau, 30 minutes from Blois, Chenonceau, 37150 Tel: +33 (0)2 47 23 90 07 Open: Closed 25th Dec & 1st Jan, 1st May

Chateau du Chaumont
Chateau du Chaumont is located on the southern bank of the Loire River about 20 minutes west of Blois. It was the first chateau at Chaumont-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, France. Originating in the 11th century, it was built by Eudes II, Count of Blois.

In 1560, the castle became the property of Catherine de’ Medici who entertained numerous astrologers there, including Nostradamus. On the death of her husband, King Henry II, Catherine used her power to take over the much coveted Chateau de Chenonceau from her husband’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers. As certain legalities had to be met, Diane was forced to accept the Chateau de Chaumont as payment for her beloved Chenonceau. Diane de Poitiers lived at Chaumont for only a short time when the castle was sold.

The chateau holds an international garden festival covering a different theme each year from April to October.

Chateau de Chambord
Chambord is truly royal in its great scale, its grand air, its indifference to common consideration (Henry James). It combined the dream of King Francois I with the imagination of Leonardo de Vinci. The result is a real mathematisation of architecture, a grandiose creation : 440 rooms with 365 fireplaces, a fabulous double staircase, and a unique roof terrace

Chateau de Chambord: 15 minutes south east of Blois, Domaine national de Chambord, Chambord, Tel: +33 (0)2 54 5040 00 Open: Closed on 25th Dec, 1st Jan and 1st May

Chateau de Cheverney
Chateau de Cheverny is unmistakedly the most lavishly furnished of all the Loire Valley Chateaux. Built between 1604 and 1634 little has changed. Its present owner is a direct descendant of the original owner and his 70 hounds or so are still used for regular stag hunting. Some of the chateau’s masterpieces include paintings by old masters, tapestries from Paris and Holland plus Louis XIV’s commode and unforgettable grandfather clock. The 1640s interior decoration, consisting of panelling, painted ceilings, and fireplaces, and paintings by Jean Monnier, is among the finest of its kind.

There are two interesting facts pertaining to Cheverny. Firstly, serious Tintin fans will note that Herge based the mythical Moulinsart on Cheverny. If this appeals, check out the Tintin exhibition situated directly opposite the chateau. Secondly, the 18th century Orangerie served as a hiding place for the Mona Lisa during world war 2. From here, you’ll be able to take in the majesty of the park and its canals which are open to the public from April to November.

Chateau de Cheverny: 16 kilometres south-east of Blois, Cheverny, 41700 Tel: +33 (0)2 54 79 96 29 Open: Open daily

Chateau de Beauregard
Chateau de Beauregard was mostly built at the same time as Chateau de Cheverny as a hunting lodge for Francois I. It is famous for its Galerie des Portraits which comprises over 327 portraits of Kings and their lovers plus famous dignitaries from 14th to seventeenth centuries. Take note of the unique flooring that is covered in seventeenth century porcelain tiles.

Chateau de Beauregard: 6 kilometres south of Blois, Cellettes, 41120 Tel: +33 (0)2 54 70 36 74 Open: Closed Wed in winter months and entirely for the month of January

Chateau de Villandry
Villandry was one of the last of the very big chateaux built around 1536 in the Loire valley during the renaissance. It houses some interesting and very valuable antiques and furnishings but it is probably best known for its Italian Renaissance garden created by Doctor Carvallo. As well as being very ornate and decorative, the gardens produce fruit, vegetables and herbs which are sold locally to raise funds for the maintenance of the chateau.

Chateau de Villandry
Villandry was one of the last of the very big chateaux built around 1536 in the Loire valley during the renaissance. It houses some interesting and very valuable antiques and furnishings but it is probably best known for its Italian Renaissance garden created by Doctor Carvallo. As well as being very ornate and decorative, the gardens produce fruit, vegetables and herbs which are sold locally to raise funds for the maintenance of the chateau.

The Valley of the Loire is a splendid region awarded world heritage listing because of its magnificent chateaux.

We Need to Remain in Touch while we Travel?

According to a recent survey apparently one in five of us take our Laptop Computers with us when we go on holiday. The umbilical chord that some of us feel with the Office nowadays is so much that the stress drives the remaining four in five people out there to take their mobile phones with them when they go on holiday indicating that extensive periods away from the office and not in touch are a little bit much for some people.

Apparently it is a growing trend that growing numbers of us are interrupting our relaxation on holidays to stay in touch with the office and, more remarkably, purely just stay in touch with gossip.

One in five of us carrying out certain work tasks while we’re on holiday and the same amount checking real face from time to time just to monitor any inward calls. The addictive power of email and the lure of staying in touch is so strong that equal amounts of people check their e-mail while they’re on holiday.

The problem or solution depending on your outlook to the whole situation is Cole’s by the fact that nowadays 87 easy to stay in touch with the office from satellite locations or even holidays. Today’s world of ever increasing sophistication and mobility in our workplace means that it’s easy to stay in touch when we are away from the office.

Research has cited a number of reasons for why we have the desire to remain in touch with the office while we are on holiday.

“I’m the final guy, so I make sure my customers are happy,” said Don Schneider, 43, a plumbing contractor from Buena Park, California, who also runs an online business that supplies video equipment for plumbers.

Schneider says he limits his holiday check-ins to about a half-hour daily and tries to do it unobtrusively so he won’t annoy family and friends, making calls from his hotel room or car.

Whether this is significant or not but it would appear that the higher educated and higher earners amongst us were the most likely to stay in touch and carry out work related costs lost on holiday.

The bottom line it would appear with regards to staying in touch with the office for any extended period is that although it was nice to be on holiday it is all so nice to relaxation wise to be on holiday and know that everything is okay back in the office.

Staying out of touch with the office can actually cause more harm than good in that more executives nowadays are reporting the fact that it is difficult not to keep in touch.

People under age 40 were likeliest to check their personal e-mails, voice mails or other messages from vacation spots. But people checking for work-related messages tended to be a bit older, perhaps reflecting the greater work responsibilities that can come with age.

“Men in their late 40s and early 50s, middle managers, feel they can’t afford to miss something, and a vacation is secondary to them in terms of importance,” said Geoffrey Godbey, professor of leisure studies at Penn State University.

Whether we choose to believe it or not but according to academics there are also aspects of work that we enjoy.

The final issue at stake is that to remain in touch with the office whilst we’re on holidays is it because we actually like the office?

With regards to this topic it certainly is a case of what this space.

Safaris Are Great in Botswana

Maun is the primary international link with Botswana via Johannesburg and Harare and secondary links through Gabarone, Windhoek, Victoria Falls, Nairobi, DaresSalaam, Lilongwe, Lusaka and a few other regional airports.

Light aircraft charters are a common feature of safaris in Botswana, Maun and Kasane are the main internal hubs, with most of the camps having their own airstrips.

Botswana has a long and dry winter period from May to December, January to April is the wet season. Safaris in Botswana can be very sensitive to seasonal changes depending upon what youd like to see.

In Okavango Delta the floods arrive at Mohembo in December with a peak between January and March, sometimes as late as May. The flood in Maun usually reaches its peak in July or August, sometimes as late as September. Best game viewing is generally July to October. Some areas of the Delta experience heavy winds during August and September and some of the seasonal camps are closed during the wet season.

Moremi is good all year but best during the dry months from May to October.

Chobe The riverfront at Kasane and Linyanti is good all year best from May to October. The Savuti area is best from November to May if the Savuti channel floods or water remains in the Mababe Depression then May to October is excellent. Midwinter can be very cold and the worst heat is encountered from September until the rains start.

Kalahari during winter, the days are hot with night time temperatures at sub-zero. Summer temperatures are scorching. Best tackled March to October.

Arguably southern Africas most popular safari destination. A hugely unpopulated territory that enjoys political and economic stability and is blessed with impressive wildlife and wilderness areas.

Botswana is well suited for both first time African visitors and safari specialists seeking remote and secluded safari getaways.

Botswanas prized safari destinations include the Okavango Delta and Moremi Chobe National Park and Savuti the remote Linyanti/Chobe river system, the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Pans.

Safari accommodations in Botswana are comparable with the best elsewhere in the region. This applies as much to lodges and seasonal camps as it does to the few specialist mobile safari operators.

With few exceptions, lodges are located in private concessions outside but in close proximity to the actual Park and Reserve boundaries.

One of the major attractions is the generally small size of accommodations with most of them accommodating on average 16 or less guests at any one time.

Original Castles and Palaces in Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe.

Germany is ideal for family holidays everyone feels at home here from toddlers to grandparents.

There is an abundance of affordable places to stay with lots to offer, from homely holiday apartments and farm accommodation to scenic campsites and youth hostels, plus of course countless hotels that welcome children and babies with open arms.

Experience new things, have fun and relax. Vibrant cities with amazing architecture, fabulous shopping and pulsating nightlife. Enchanting medieval villages and traditional wine villages with friendly festivals and regional specialities. Picturesque countryside which is perfect for walking or simply relaxing in. Castles, palaces and abbeys that are the epitome of German romanticism. Fun and sport, wellness and relaxation. A land of a thousand possibilities.

From 6 July to 2 September 2007, the Travemunde sand sculpture festival invites to an impressive journey through global history. 75 international sculptors transform the beach into a gorgeous landscape of sculptures.

When the BallinStadt Emigrant World opens to the public on 5 July 2007, visitors can experience all about emigration. The interactive edutainment exhibition offers thrilling and informative aspects of expatriation for young and old.

The World of Sport focuses on Stuttgart. 2007 will be a special year for Stuttgart as the European Capital of Sport, as no other city hosts as many world championships in mens handball, gymnastics, cycling and formation dancing, to forget the World Athletics Final, which will be held in Stuttgart for three years running from 2006 to 2008.

The castles and palaces which Germany has to offer you are all original. There is not just a handful of well preserved ones, but several hundred from all epochs and of every genre. Each has its own long a thrilling history, which is being kept alive within its walls.

A tropical atmosphere beside the Rhine, giraffes on the North Sea coast, dolphins in the South and pandas in Berlin. In Germany you will find an amazing selection of animals from around the world, all cared for in the interest of world conservation, in some of Europes best wild animal parks and zoos.

Shopping made in Germany is a wonderful experience. Germany has a huge range of different places to shop, from the traditional atmosphere of its town centres to more than 400 shopping malls, each like a world of its own. The one thing they all have in common is a colourful mix of shops, boutiques, restaurants and cafes. Nearly all Germanys towns and cities have pedestrians areas with large department stores and shopping arcades.

Nicaragua is an Vibrant and Individualistic Country

Wedge shaped Nicaragua may be the largest country in Central America, but it is also one of the least visited.

Even after more than a decade of peace, Nicaragua is synonymous in the minds of many with civil war. This reputation, when coupled with the dilapidated infrastructure of a country that has fought its way not only through a bloody conflict but also an American economic blockade, scares many off. Still, many travellers who spend any time there find much to their surprise that Nicaragua is their favourite country. Perhaps because it doesnt yet fully cater for the tourist experience, Nicaragua is an incorrigibly vibrant and individualistic country, with plenty to offer travellers prepared to brave Nicaraguas superficial obstacles of economic chaos, cracked pavements and crammed public transport.

Nicaragua is unique in Latin America in having pulled off a bona fide revolution of the people. The revolution of 1978 and 79 and the civil war that followed in the 1980s, while ravaging the country, has also given it one of the most dramatic of recent histories. At times it seems that every Nicaraguan has both horrifying and uplifting personal stories to tell. And even though Nicaraguas long suffering people would rather forget many aspects of the war, the countries political past continues to inform every minute of its present.

During the 1980s Nicaragua was the destination of choice in Central America for young, socialist minded internationalists foreign volunteer workers who came to the country to aid the Revolution by working in the education and health sectors. From 1996 onwards, the government discontinued many of the programmes that brought the internationalists to Nicaragua and tourism slumped, which was bad news for the countries hotel owners and tour operators. Recent years, however, have seen tourist numbers increase as part of the general upturn in interest in Central America.

Nicaragua offers few traditional tourist attractions almost no monuments or ancient temples remain, and earthquakes, revolution and war have laid waste to museums, galleries and theatres.

For years the country has suffered from a chronic lack of funding, and high inflation and unemployment have also impoverished Nicaraguas infrastructure.

However, no one visits Nicaragua and remains immune to the countries extraordinary landscape of volcanoes, 17 in all, lakes, mountains and vast plains of rainforest.

A smattering of beaches the majority of them on the Pacific Coast continues to attract the budget surfing and backpacking crowd, while culture and the arts are very much alive in Nicaragua, and it is here you can buy some of the best value high quality crafts in the isthmus.

More than anything, though, the pleasures and rewards of travelling in Nicaragua come from interacting with the inhabitants of the countries complex society. Its people are well spoken, passionate, engaged and engaging. Nicaraguans tend to be witty and exceptionally hospitable. The best thing you can do to enjoy Nicaragua is to arrive with an open mind, some patience and a willingness to practise your Spanish.

Singapore is a Densely Populated City

With a population of more than three million living in an area of 600 square kilometres, Singapore is one of the worlds most densely populated cities. Housing is expensive due to the scarcity of land, and most Singaporeans today stay in high rise apartments that cost as much as a bungalow in nearby Malaysia. This translates to expensive lodging.

Interestingly, however, the number of hotels has been snowballing and occupancy rates average more than 80 per cent. Visitors to the island can choose from a good range of accommodations. Hotels prove the popular choice, and they are concentrated in two main areas the Colonial District and the Orchard Road shopping belt.

When you come to Singapore, do what the locals do and eat what the locals eat if you have the stomach for it, that is. The cheapest of meals available come from neighbourhood coffee shops an open air floor space with tables and chairs where customers order from the stalls and wait to be served or take it with them and hawker centres large open spaces with built-in tables and chairs where customers give the stall operator their table numbers and their order is served.

Singapore Zoo, hailed as one of the most beautiful zoos in the world, takes visitors on jungle journeys where they can admire the flora and fauna of the various regions of different Countries for a total ecological and Cultural experience.

In the far north of the island, Singapores world class zoo has 3,600 animals, representing 410 species including the endangered white rhino, Bengal white tigers and even polar bears. Wherever possible, moats replace bars, and the zoo is beautifully spread out over 28 hectares of lush greenery beside the Upper Seletar Reservoir. As far as zoos go, this is one of the best in the world. Some of the animal displays might be a little circus like, like the elephant rides and the sea lion performance, but most are magnificent particularly the white tiger, elephant, crocodile and, best of all, baboon enclosures. Feeding times are well staggered to allow you to catch most of them as you walk around.

Its also possible to get up close to a number of animals, including an otter, a reticulated python and one of the zoos famous orangutans at the Jungle Breakfast or Tea at 9am and 4pm respectively.

The zoo has plenty of decent food outlets and the even boasts award winning, clean and creatively designed outdoor toilets.

Warm and fairly humid summer temperatures throughout the year approximately 30 during the day and 23 in the evening. There is no distinct wet and dry season. Most rain falls during the northeast monsoon November to January and showers are usually sudden and heavy.

Cooking like in Afghanistan

Connoisseurs know that Afghanistan is one of those regions that blend inside them all the savory and tastes around it. However, food in this country is neither salty, nor as spicy as in other, more Western civilizations. A perfect blend of refinement and exoticness makes the travelers fall in love with the exquisite tastes of Afghanistan.

This specific domain is almost sacred in the land of Afghans. Although in Western civilizations food might be considered a way of quenching the stomach, the Afghan people treat food with an utmost respect. Guests are seen as a blessing inside the Afghan culture, and although it might seem weird and rude to a Westerner to receive unannounced guests, this is by no means a reason of annoyance to an Afghan. In Afghanistan, unannounced guests are so frequent that not having food prepared for more persons that one family has is unheard of. The same is to leave from an Afghan house with hunger torturing your stomach. This simply never happens, no matter how poor or how unprepared the host was. It is always an honor for an Afghan to have company for a meal, the guest will be seated in the best place, served the first of all and given the best food the house holds, even if the rest of the members will remain hungry.

The traditional meal in Afghanistan happens on the floor, where everybody sits on colorful cushions, called toshak. In summer, the “table” is moved outside, while in winter, it is moved around sandali, the Afghan heating method. Food is always shared, two or three persons having the same rice platter, while stews, quorma or vegetables are individually portioned. Pickles and fresh nan accompany the food.

Further, all foods have a story and a reason for being served. Qaabuli Pallow, for example, the king of the Afghan meals, is a special dish, served to special guests, on special occasions. Letee is served to young and new mothers because of its light and nutritious characteristics, Dogh is a summer food, while Mahi is especially cooked for the New Year’s. Afghans believe that food and nourishment is elemental in nature and can produce different reactions once inside the body. The mystical nature of food is shown by certain meanings or sayings that go around the country- for example, stepping on a slice of bread is sinful.

Eid-E-Qorban is one of the biggest celebrations in Muslim countries. It marks the end of a hajj, and it lasts four days. During this feast, tea, nuts, sweets, and sugared almonds are served to the guests, while pastries like halwa-e-swanak, sheer payra, goash-e-feel accompanies them. New Year’s Eve is always important for Afghanistan, and together with the mentioned Mahi, the people prepares kulcha Naurozee, a type of biscuit made of rice flour, miwa Naurozee, a compote, Shola-e-shireen, a sweet rice dish, or sabzi chalau, a chicken based dish. Samanak is also prepared for New Year’s and it is an ancient recipe made of wheat, especially planted in small pots, for this occasion.

A birth of a child is another reason for celebration in Afghanistan, especially if it is a boy, and foods start to flow, as a mystical appendix of the joyous event. Aush, ashak, kebab, pilau, Humarch, letee, kachee, or the sweet bread named roht are only some of the delicious foods prepared for this event.

Engagements and weddings have a special meaning, and for these occasions, Afghanis cook sweet foods. Firni, shola, jellies, and all sorts of pastries are cooked for this event, and a lot of sweet tea and fruit are served with them.

Afghans are very proud of their cooking and rarely visit a restaurant, as the food is sacred and must be prepared inside the shrine of the home. The recipes are not about exact measurements, or exact ingredients, but rather about patience and the joy of cooking something delicious. The amounts of spices that can be found in this area add complexity to each recipe, that might taste different in each household. Creativity is the main feature of the Afghan cuisine and the love with which they are prepared.

Take A Wilderness Break In Alaska For A Unique And Tranquil Vacation

A wilderness break could be the most relaxing vacation you’ll ever take, and the vast number of wildlife refuges and national parks spread across the United States means that the majority of American residents are unlikely to run out of inspiration for a new wilderness holiday idea. But if you’re keen to experience a unique break in the wild, why not visit Alaska? The sheer variety of arctic wildlife and national forests in Alaska means that you’ll be in for a wilderness vacation that will never get boring.

Fly out to Anchorage and take a trip to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – a wildlife park in north-eastern Alaska that stretches over nineteen million acres. Out of this, eight million acres were officially designated as a US Wilderness Area in 1960, before the expansion of the refuge in 1980. As a wilderness zone, the area is fascinating as it incorporates six different eco-zones and spans some 200 miles.

With a variety of barrier islands and coastal lagoons to be found on the northern boundary of the refuge, visitors will find rare arctic fish, like the dolly varden and arctic cisco. You’ll also find a range of polar bears and hunting seals during the winter, while the caribou often emerge during the summer in order to seek refuge from insects.

Move further south and you’ll find the arctic coastal plain stretching towards the foothills of the Brooks Range – a mountain range that spans a horizontal region from the wildlife refuge towards the east into Canada’s Yukon Territory. The tundra vegetation characteristic of this region means that the region is predominantly habituated by migratory birds and insects. However, September sees the influx of tens of thousands of snow geese before their ultimate southerly migration, while musk oxen live here year-round.

Vacationers in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge who travel further south will encounter a range of interesting wildlife: popular birds that habituate Alaska’s arctic region during the summer include peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, golden eagles, harlequin ducks and red-breasted mergansers. However, dall sheep, wolves, grizzly bears and arctic ground squirrels often are all resident in the region throughout the year.

If you’re keen to indulge in the tranquillity afforded by the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, you’ll find a number of hotels in Anchorage in which you can stay. From here, you’ll be able to find many Alaska tour operators that offer wilderness treks for tourists – so you can be sure that your Alaskan adventure has all the benefits of a professional vacation in the wild!

Alaska Cruises Offer Luxury And Adventure

Tired of taking the family to Disneyland for vacation? Then why not try an Alaska cruise? They offer beautiful scenery, cruise luxury and Alaskan adventure for those who want it.

But not all Alaska cruise trips are alike. You first need to decide what you want on your cruise. If you like to be pampered in the lap of luxury then you’ll want to take advantage of one of the many Alaska luxury cruises. Here you can relax in the spa, have a wonderful massage and enjoy all the amenities of a first class resort. You will dine on the best foods, available at almost any hour. Just like most cruises, Alaska cruises are the ultimate in pampering guests.

Alaska cruises have something for everyone in the family. Along with the usual cruise amenities of pools, games, exercise, meeting new people and fun, Alaska cruises offer interesting scenery you won’t find at home. On your cruise, not only will you’ll be amazed by majestic glaciers but you might spot brown bears, eagles, humpback whales or sea lions.

If you want adventure, there are many cruise packages that can satisfy your needs as well as offer typical cruise amenities.

One popular Alaskan adventure is sea kayaking. You can pick from tours in choppy waters or, for the more tame at heart, a calmer course is offered. Sea kayaking gives you an opportunity to get outdoors and see a lot of the coastline which is abundant with local wildlife.

Hiking is another popular excursion that you can try once your cruise ship docs. You can choose from any number of guided hikes using different trails and going out for different lengths of time. It’s a great chance to get out in the wilderness and experience nature Alaska style. If this isn’t enough for you, you can even work in some rock climbing while you are off ship.

The best time to take an Alaska cruise is in the summer where you will be able to enjoy Alaska in fairly mild weather. There are 2 basic paths that cruises take one goes throught the inside passage which visits Alaskan panhandle ports and the other through the Gulf of Alaska visiting more glaciers and northern points. Be sure that you check the weather and pack accordingly!

Top 5 Places to See on Holiday in Venezuela

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, one of my jobs is to ensure every client has the best tour possible, so here is my top 5 places to make sure you include in any Holiday in Venezuela.

1. Located at the Northeast of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is Margarita a Caribbean island. It has become one of the most popular tourist places in Venezuela not surprising when there is an average of 320 sun filled days. Where better to be if you want to try windsurfing and other water sports.
Being an island, Margarita is surrounded by a host of beaches. So whatever your choice there will be a beach for you, secluded or crowded, waves or no waves.
The mountainous island of Margarita offers tropical palm trees and is a natural, beautiful paradise.

2. Merida lies in the fertile valleys between the mountains and supports a lot of agriculture, including coffee plantations, sugar cane, flowers. It also supports tropical plants like palm trees, orchids, fruits and the Golden Rain tree. Merida is one of the cheaper places to visit in Venezuela. Merida has a diverse variety of landscape, such as snowy mountain peaks, natural rainforest, highland moors, waterfalls and lakes.
This diversity makes the location very attractive to those interested in wildlife, bird lovers, backpackers and climbers alike. The mountain peaks ay be covered in snow the climate is like spring for most of the year making for lovely warm days. Night time is a little cooler. Rainfall is usually during the months of May to September.

3. Canaima National Park, is Venezuela’s second largest national park. There are mountain forests, thick woodlands that amazingly join sheer cliffs. There are some stunning waterfalls that cascade from the beautiful flat topped mountains, but most stunning of all is the famous Angel Falls. You have 2 choices in how best to see the Angel Falls. If you wish to navigate the Carrao and Churun river (an upstream trip that can take 3 ½ hours) and a one hour hike in the jungle you will be able to experience the base of the falls. Or for the more adventurous, which ever way you look at it, you can view the Falls in a small aircraft. Either trip is worth the visit as a trip to Venezuela is not complete without seeing the Angel Falls.

4. Fishing for piranhas ( and coming home with all my fingers) on the Venezuela’s Orinoco Delta with howler monkeys watching you from the jungle canopy is not an experience one achieves every day and neither is meeting a Warao Indian family and seeing them in the process of making superb woven baskets.

There is nothing more awe inspiring than walking through the vibrant and alive jungle in a world that seems lost in time.

5. The Guacharo cave is enormous and interconnected by narrow passages. The only light source was the lantern that the guide had who led the way.
The cave is home to the very interesting Guacharo (Oil bird) which is very unique in behaviour. This large bird is nocturnal and uses it’s bat like sonar location in poor light. It has long whiskers and a wingspan of over a meter and only leaves the cave at night to search for fruit.
The birds make a strange shrieking noise and it is a good job that you know that it is them as I could imagine it would be quite terrifying if you did not know otherwise.
There are far too many tourists in the cave at any time for my liking but this did not take away from this amazing experience. One thing is for sure if you are visiting the caves make sure your footwear has good grips as the bird droppings are very slippery. There are some running taps at the entrance but I would also advise making sure that you have some wet –wipes.

Phuket as a Luxury Holiday Destination

Bestowed with the titles of ‘Pearl of the South’ and the ‘Pearl of the Andaman’ – Phuket is the largest island of Thailand, situated about 900 km south of Bangkok, the nation’s capital.

Phuket is incredibly varied, and is especially noted for its magnificent scenery, fantastic coves and beaches, eye-catching tropical sunsets, glorious coastline, awe inspiring tropical gardens, superb coastline, rocky as well as sandy beaches, tall cliffs, dense forests, scintillating waterfalls, warm blue sea, and ancient temples, among many others.

Khao Rang, Chalong Temple, Phuket Aquarium, Phuket Butterfly Farm and Aquarium, Thai Village and Orchid Farm, Phromthep Cape, Saphan Hin, Phuket Sea Shell Museum, and Phuket Fantasea, are just few among many of its tourist attractions.

For wildlife lovers, attractions such as Sirinat National Park and Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary are available. Phuket also offers endless options to enjoy a variety of activities, such as bungy jumping, golf, elephant trekking, Thai boxing, tenpin bowling, and mountain biking.

Likewise, nightlife in Phuket is lively and colorful, and is truly a memorable experience, with a plethora of Thai Style bars and pubs, nightclubs, massage parlors, discotheques, and superb restaurants to choose from.

Phuket is also noted for its antique buildings, reflecting European culture. In addition, Phuket stand out for its delicious Thai cuisine such as sumptuous pastries and exotic which are among some of the best in the world.

Above all, worth mentioning are all of the 17 relatively untouched exceptionally beautiful sandy beaches of Phuket, Patong Beach, Nai Han Beach, Kamala Beach, Surin Beach, Karon Beach, and Kata Beach being the prominent.

Majority of them render excellent options to enjoy a range of recreational activities such as deep sea fishing, kayaking, swimming, canoeing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. However, the beach activities are usually centered around Patong and Kamala Beaches. Also, Phuket is regarded s a paradise for speed boat riding and yachting, for which evidences are much famed festivals such as Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.

Perhaps for these reasons, more than a million holidaymakers flock to this awesome destination, and Phuket is considered the Asia’s one of the most sought after beach holiday destination. Since tourism is the main industry of the place, Phuket caters to accommodations needs of tourists of every taste and budget.

In other words, no matter you are families, business trippers, honeymooners, or backpackers, Phuket caters to all types of vacationers and tourists, with its hundreds of hotels, resorts, bungalows, and villas.

For budget conscious travelers, choices such as boutique resorts and discount accommodations including bungalows coupled with superb rooms and landscaped gardens are made available. Al though named discount accommodation, many of these resorts and bungalows are replete with superb facilities like sea facing rooms with bathroom and private balcony, air conditioning, IDD telephones, and sometimes even mini bar within the room. Similarly, facilities and options are limitless for those who can spend lavishly as well as looking for world class accommodations and first class amenities and services.

Luxury accommodation in Phuket include beach front hotels and resorts, which are mostly within easy reach of private, unspoiled sandy beaches overlooking the crystal-like blue waters of the Andaman Sea. Usually, the rooms come complete with ultra modern as well as most sophisticated facilities such as king size or queen size beds, balcony with sea as well as lagoon view, color TV with music channels and international cable TV, tea and coffee making facilities, complimentary in-room safe, elevated platform with table and cushions, bathroom with hairdryer and sunken bath, and round the clock room service.

Further, many of these hotels and resorts render such facilities as indoor as well as outdoor tennis courts, volleyball nets, golf courses, squash courts, archery range, fitness centers, and video games, apart from facilities like swimming pools, library, and restaurants.

For those looking for private secluded but at the same luxurious accommodation, one of the best options would be to choose beach front villas and condominiums, replete with endless exclusive facilities and amenities such as ocean view rooms and private infinity pools. Likewise, if you are a weary vacationer, then go for a hotel or resort coupled with luxurious spa facilities providing rejuvenating as well as refreshing body massages, sauna sessions, herbal treatments, and mud baths. There are also hotels and resorts rendering fabulous facilities for newly weds and honeymooners.

Apart from these, majority of the luxury hotels and resorts provide special arrangements in the form of packages to enjoy a plethora of activities varying from canoeing trips and white water rafting to jungle walks and trips to underwater terrain as well as marine life.

With these amazing choices and world-class accommodations coupled with sumptuous cuisine and the service of friendly people, make your holidays in Phuket really luxurious!