Posts Tagged ‘Hotel’

The Perfect African Safari


2010
07.05

Many people dream of going on safari; seeing animals in the natural habitat and experiencing the beauty of the African landscape. A boutique safari hotel offers luxurious surroundings with an outstanding backdrop.

Where is it?

Many safari holidays are based in South Africa and Kenya. South Africa is one of the largest African countries, located at the bottom of the continent, whilst Kenya is further north on the east coast of Africa.

Where can I stay?

The beauty of staying at a boutique hotel when youre on safari is that it offers you the comfort and luxury you would expect from a city hotel, whilst also allowing you to experience the unique landscape. The Makanyane Safari Lodge in South Africa is set within a huge game reserve and features just eight suites, whose design includes indoor and outdoor showers and glass walls so that your view of the park is undisturbed. Wide folding doors allow you to let the outside in and the hotel organises safari drives and game walks so that you can see everything you came for. In Kenya, Dodos Tower is a luxury boutique way to see big and small game up close. Its expensive, but worth every penny, as a private airstrip allows you to go wherever you want to, the excellent cuisine can be served as you watch the sun go down from your balcony and you are free to drink in the sights and sounds of Kenyas Lake Naivasha.

What can I see?

Safari holidays are designed to let you see big game and other wildlife in its natural habitat. There is nothing more astounding than being in the same environment as animals youve only ever seen in a zoo or on the television. The plains of Africa are home to a huge number of species, but most people want to see elephants, giraffes, big cats, zebras, hippos and birds. Whatever your particular interest, the guides arranged by boutique hotels can tailor your trip to give you the best chance of seeing it. In addition to the animals, dont forget to pay close attention to the landscape itself. The wide plains, lakes and volcanic formations all make for stunning photographs and unforgettable memories and the perfect backdrop for some stunning sunrises and sunsets.

How do I get around?

Once youve arrived at the airport, you will need to drive or take a connecting flight to the game reserve. This can be organised for you by your hotel, who may also be able to arrange your safari tours. These will either be in 4×4 jeeps, or special minibuses. You can also take safari walks with a trained guide, charter an aircraft or take a hot air balloon ride.

How to Finding the Best Deals on Hotel Lodging


2010
05.25

There is no doubt that hotel costs are among the biggest part of any vacation budget, and the failure to find affordable lodging has harpooned many an otherwise well planned vacation. One of the keys to enjoying a great vacation without breaking the bank is striking the best possible deal on the roof over your head.

Fortunately, the internet has made the process of finding a great hotel deal much easier. There are some great hotel, motel, and bed and breakfast deals out there, and the internet has made them easier to find than ever.

Booking ahead is essential, as is shopping around. You simply cannot expect to simply show up at a hotel and get a good rate. Most hotel chains reserve their best room rates, and they limit their numbers. Once those low cost rooms are booked, they are simply no longer available.

It is also important to book ahead because it can be difficult to gauge the demand for lording in a particular area, even if you are familiar with your destination. Special events of which you are unaware could cause a spike in hotel demand, and hotel prices, and leave you either paying an arm and a leg for a place to sleep, or, worse yet, find yourself without a place to stay at all.

It is also important to take advantage of all discounts to which you may be entitled, and not be shy about asking for discounts. Many hotel chains and independent hotels offer discounts to those in the military, senior citizens, and members of travel clubs like AAA. If you think you are entitled to a discount, be sure to ask, and be sure to verify that the discount has been applied when you arrive.

In addition, many hotel chains offer programs that are similar to airline frequent flier programs. These programs reward loyal guests with free nights and other rewards. It is important to sign up for these programs whenever you can. Most of these programs are free, so signing up will cost you nothing, and you could end up with a free hotel stay.

When looking for those great hotel deals, a number of web sites compare hotels by price, star level, and even proximity to certain tourist attractions. It is always best to search several of these sites, since not all hotel chains participate in every comparison site.

There is no doubt that finding a great hotel rate will take some time and some hard work, but it is very important to keeping your travel budget under control. The cost of lodging often represents at least half, and often much more, of the total cost of a vacation. It is easy to see, then, how getting the best possible deal on your hotel can keep your cost level low and your vacation fun level high.

How To Select Your Preferred Bali Hotels


2010
05.19

Bali is a wonderful island situated in Indonesia, the ultimate tourist destination in Asia, is worth a visit. Most people come to Bali for its beach, waves, sun, some come for business, some come for its undying art and culture, some come for its breathtaking landscapes and some for pure relaxation.

Choosing Bali for your holiday destination, of course you should select and decide your preferred Bali Hotel which would match your interests. There are myriad of accommodations to choose from in Bali, from five-star luxury hotels to budget accommodations.

Bali Hotels by locations: Accommodations by the sea (has beach front), in town and hotels are situated in countryside. Or Bali Hotels by interest (boutique hotels, villas, small hotels in traditional Balinese style bungalow and big or leading Bali Hotels).

Every place has its own attractions and features:
Sanur: Famed for its white sandy beach, sun rise, sea activities, close to other places of interest. Is for gracious living, peaceful and quiet. More international but somehow far less cosmopolitan than frenetic Kuta. There are so many excellent hotels here that you can scarcely go wrong.

Kuta: Frenetic, sometime chaotic, noisy, lots of hype, but a great playground. Originally what drew visitors to Kuta was the wide beach and the surf. It still has best sea front on the island. Kuta also famed for its shopping, dine and night lives. Though there are now many first-class hotels and home stays, caters best to the economy traveler who likes to be in the thick of things.

Legian & Seminyak: Lie at the north end of Kuta Beach strip. This is the place to stay if you want the best of both worlds. Conveniently located within 15 minutes from the center of Kuta, yet safely removed from the nerve-wrecking intensity and hype. The villages are perfect for extended vacations. There are several first-class hotels, a great number of intermediate-range bungalow, and inexpensive accommodations.

Nusa Dua & Tanjung Benoa: The area is rather isolated from the rest of Bali. Nusa Dua is providing a total hotel environment, everything you could possibly ask for is available on the premises. White sandy beach and a wide range of sea activities.

Jimbaran bay: Has nice and wide beach, good sunset (weather permitted), and close to Airport. There are two leading hotels, good villas and nice hotels in Balinese style bungalow.

Ubud & environs: The heart of arts and cultures of Bali. There are many small resorts deluxe and intermediate accommodations, most blend of typical Balinese and modern amenities. Situated either in town or in the countryside, most have wonderful gardens and views. Ubud is a paradise for shopping too.

The east: Offer more restful vacation.
Nusa Lembongan: Is a surfing, snorkeling and diving paradise. There are some excellent hotel resorts and some inexpensive hotels.
Balina beach: Buitan Village, this is spacious, gorgeous white sand beach, is one of the major scuba diving centers of Bali. There are a deluxe hotel and some intermediates and budget hotels.
Candi Dasa: The beach (at low tide, at high tide there IS no beach) because it has been eroded by the waves, but Candi Dasa offer restful vacation. There are first-class, intermediate and inexpensive hotels. You will be treated here with the utmost of graceful service.

The North:
Lovina beach: A northern beachfront alternative to Kuta and Sanur, this is a serene and infrequently visited vacation spot. Black sand beaches and quite waters nestles inside of extensive coral reefs distinguish this idyllic beach. Snorkeling is superb here and the reef is close enough that even children and beginner swimmers can feel comfortable here. There are first-class, intermediate and inexpensive hotels.

Western Beaches:
Up along this coast north of Kuta and Legian lies a stretch of black sand beach with a dangerous reef and heavy undertow, these beaches are not ideal for swimming and beginner surfers. At Canggu there are some luxury hotels. Yeh Gangga boast a small luxury resort Waka Gangga is facing the Indian Ocean. Tanah Lot boast a leading hotel Le Meridian and a world championship golf course with breathtaking view of famous Tanah Lot temple and sunset.

Western Interior:
Bedugul: This mountain resort is famous for its air, restful and serene. There are a number of places to stay here, from luxury hotels to budget accommodations (losmen).

The quickest and easiest way to select your preferred Bali Hotels is to go online and visit hotel reservation website. Do a search for the city or place (Indonesia, Bali, Hotels) you are traveling to and you will be presented with a list of available hotels in that area. There are also more information about hotels and rooms facilities. Most luxury hotel has excellent spa facilities.

The wide choice can be confusing especially for first-time visitors and its sometimes difficult to select the right accommodation. So still go online and click travel. Choose your reputable travel agent (contact him by e-mail). Just let him know your personal needs and preferences that he can recommend those hotels he feel suit you best.

My immense thanks to you readers.

Cheap Hotels Can Make That Vacation More Affordable Than You Think


2010
05.14

The key to enjoying an affordable vacation is to finding inexpensive hotels to stay in. This is because accommodation costs are a significant chunk of the total vacation expenditure and by staying in a cheap hotel vacationers can afford to experience more of what a holiday destination has to offer.

Families planning a vacation need to keep their eyes open for the best hotel deals on offer. The Internet is a great resource for finding cheap hotels that offer good food and lodging. One can compare services offered across hotels for a given rate; this knowledge helps while negotiating for accommodation. Hotels can also be compared for nearness from the airports, railway stations, and tourist attractions. It is important to look up hotels on more than one site that list comparisons. This is because not all hotels in an area may be listed on a site. Hotels also list discount deals and vacation deals on their own websites, subscribing to hotel newsletters is another option that helps to keep abreast of rate changes.

Staying in a cheap hotel is a great idea not only for budget vacationers but also for those who may not have budget constraints. Cheap accommodation does not necessarily mean having to rough it out.

A little research will enable one to come up with hotels that provide good accommodation at surprisingly cheap rates. However, there are several things that need to be considered while searching for cheap hotels. Most hotels have the cheaper rooms taken up fairly quickly, so its important to book in advance. Also, hotel rates during the off-season are low; so families can plan their vacations accordingly. If the cheaper rooms have been taken up when one first enquires, there is no harm in checking again after some time. Also, if the hotel tariffs have fallen after one has made a reservation, some hotels will in fact offer accommodation at the revised rates.

Even if a hotels rates appear slightly on the higher side, very often they are negotiable. In fact, vacationers should keep in mind that good bargaining skills can help them get some pretty amazing accommodation deals. In order to be able to bargain skillfully, one needs to first of all communicate with the right person in the hotel, for example the sales manager. Also, it pays to be informed about the facilities that can be had for the rate a hotel is charging and to know the times of the year when the hotel is in demand from business travelers and vacationers.

AAA cards can earn their members discounts of up to 10% on their hotel stay. Points earned on credit cards can also be redeemed by vacationers to contribute to lodging expenses, many hotels that offer cheap rates accept AAA cards and redeem credit card points. Thus, a little planning and careful research in selecting a hotel can enable families on vacation to enjoy the sights and sounds of their chosen destination to a far greater extent.