Villa Traveller

Most of the time I prefer to stay in villas – it suits me better. Occasionally, though, you come across a holiday destination so out of the ordinary that it must be explored. This article, written by Christian Arno, describes a very unique Spanish holiday experience that I am longing to book.

“No matter which season you choose for travelling, there is nothing more delightful than a Spanish vacation. This is truly a top destination providing something for everyone, whether you’re after beaches or sweeping plains, lively clubs or impressive cathedrals. It is much more than just bull fighting, bull running, flamenco and tomato fights that make this small country so exotic.

Spaniards have always tried their best to make the country attractive and unforgettable for tourists. Spain has the usual selection of modern hotels and hostels, but if you travel off the beaten track you can easily discover many alternative kinds of tourist accommodation.

Within this category, the Spanish paradors particularly stand out. The word “parador” literally means “stopping place”. Paradors form a chain of historic buildings converted into lodging places all around the country. They stretch from Galicia in the North West through Catalonia to Andalusia in the south, the Canary Islands and to the Spanish cities of North Africa.

It was the idea of the Royal Tourist Commissioner Marques de la Vega-Inclan in 1926 to set up paradors in places of special interest or remote locations with two purposes.

• Firstly, it would help provide inexpensive accommodation to travellers in remote areas.
• Secondly, it would keep all the run-down monuments and historic buildings in good condition which would otherwise be left to fall apart.

You can call it an irony of fate, but nowadays paradors are respectable high-standard hotels with all mod cons. They preserve their previous elegance and at the same time ensure your absolute comfort. The Spanish parador is also where you will discover Spanish cuisine of the highest calibre.

So, if you like to be pampered and realise that staying at one of Spanish paradors is just what you have always wanted, the next step is deciding what kind of parador will make the most of your holidays. Below are just a few of the many options available to tourists.

Each suggestion is accompanied by an example – one of paradors offered by Keytel International, the UK’s only official representative for the Paradores.

• 1) Perhaps you wish to enjoy the atmosphere of Medieval Spain, staying in a medieval castle. Example: Cardona – the fortified 9th century enclosure, conceals a 2nd century tower and an 11th century church along with spectacular bedrooms, some with four-poster beds. Located on a vantage point of the fortified town and inside the solid stone walls, we find furniture inspired from medieval times in the drawing rooms.
• 2) Then, it may be a Monastery or a Medieval Hospital, where walls have been oozing religious spirit for many centuries. Example: Guadalupe – the 15th century hospital of St. John the Baptist reflects religious spirit of absorption and reflection on the former Monastery of Nuestra Seňora de Guadalupe. The unique orchard forming the garden, its secluded swimming pool, arcade and white walls, announce the spacious interior, whose bedrooms recall the original religious function.
• 3) You may prefer a stay in the Spanish countryside with colourful views of Spanish landscape and fresh country food. This option is gaining in popularity as tourists wish to leave the busy city life behind. Example: Keytel Int. offers a great number of country-side paradors. One of them is located in Albacete, in central Spain, near to Madrid Airport, La Mancha Country House. The stamp of Cervantes influences the character of this Parador, the calmness of its luxuriant garden, its swimming pool, and attractive corridor. Its décor offers the privacy and calm necessary to escape from daily routine in relaxed working sessions in the Sancho Panza and Dulcinea rooms. The local cuisine covers everything from “pisto manchego” (fried vegetables), partridge in “escabeche” sauce and a puff-pastry sweet, “Miguelitos de la Roda”.
• 4) If you are not a fan of history and ancient architecture, you are free to choose a parador built in the modern style. Located in areas of great natural beauty, close to entertainments and shopping centres they are built to accommodate modern requirements and convenience. Example: El Hierro – The Parador is located on the most recent and least populated of the Canary Islands. This is also the place, where up until a century ago, the “O” meridian line passed through. The Parador rises up, by the sea, with whitewashed walls and wooden balconies. Comfortable bedrooms complement an interior with an elegant, colonial tone along with a garden with a swimming pool. These unique buildings create the perfect atmosphere for your holiday, matched only by the welcome you will receive from the Spanish people.

For further reading on the paradors of Spain, go to http://www.keytel.co.uk/parador.php where you can browse over 100 Spanish paradors to suit all tastes. I wish you a great time during your holiday. Good luck!

Why stay in an Orlando Vacation Home?

Think back to your last Florida vacation with the family. If you stayed in a hotel, you most likely had a room with 2 queen sized beds, and perhaps a small kitchentte. The hotel probably had a restaurant and a swimming pool, but not much else. If you have small children, you may have found it difficult to get them to sleep while the adults were still awake, perhaps watching television and talking in the same room. You most likely found any excuse to get out of the hotel room, even if you would rather stay put, simply because you couldn’t stand being “cooped up” any longer.

Now, it’s true that hotels have some advantages over other types of accommodations. They are usually close to plenty of area attractions and entertainment. They typically have restuarants on-site, so there’s no need to go far to find a meal. And of course, there’s daily maid service. However, when you consider the cost of the room, and the cost of eating out 3 meals a day, in addition to travel and other expenses, you may decide it’s time to consider a different form of accommodation for your next vacation.

Vacation Homes Advantages

Vacation homes have been gaining in popularity over the past 5 years or so, especially in the Orlando – Disney area. The reason for this surge in popularity among vacationers is simple – for the same cost as a moderately priced hotel room you can now book an entire home for your family, complete with up to 6 bedrooms and a private pool! These homes offer guests much more space and privacy than a hotel room. Each family member can have his or her own bedroom, and often their own bath as well. These homes usually come very well equipped with everything guests need to feel right at home. Linens and towels, hair dryers, irons, washers and dryers are all provided. Best of all, guests can save a lot of money by using the fully equipped kitchen to prepare some or all of their meals in their home rather than eating every meal at a restuarant.

Many vacation homes also comes with game rooms, large screen TVs, DVD players, and even an Xbox or PlayStation to keep the kids ( and adults ) entertained.

How to Book a Vacation Home

Don’t know where to go to book a vacation home? The most common way guests find a home to book is online. There are many, many management compaines have websites dedicated to Orlando vacation homes . Or you can visit your local travel agent. Many travel agents are contracting with management companies to book home from them for their clients. Or, you can simply contact the owners directly and cut out the “middle man”. Like management companies, many owners have their own websites dedicated to promoting their vacation properties.

About the Author
Karyn Kudrna has been working in the Orlando area travel industry for the past 5 years. For more information on vacation homes by owner or Orlando vacation home or villas, please visit her website at http://www.finestdisneyhomes.com.

Most tourists think of beaches and cheap alcohol when Spain is mentioned, but this holiday Mecca has another very different side and it is to be found in the north of the country.

Beyond the stifling heat, endless bars and towering hotels of the Costa’s there is another Spain where overseas tourism is limited, the sound of a foreign voice still turns heads and every shop, business and even tourist office closes for the afternoon siesta. The place is Galicia, alternatively know as green Spain, wet Spain and the region of rivers.

Galicia lies just above Portugal and has scenery and people that are distinct and different from those of the country’s southern provinces. Galicia has a seasonal climate, plenty of rain in winter and, unfortunately, sometimes some in summer as well. The scenery is a combination of lush meadows, dense forests and mountainous vistas and the coastline is filled with many picturesque bays. Galicia has more beaches than any of Spain’s other regions, but it also has a drawback in the form of cooler sea temperatures.

History and culture are two of the big draws for tourists thinking of visiting this region of Spain. Galicia is a Celtic nation and still has the ruins of ancient Celtic settlements called Castros as well as a multitude of churches, cathedrals, monasteries and convents.

In keeping with the rest of Spain’s regions, Galicia is itself subdivided into provinces of which there are four. The best known and most visited of these provinces is that of “A Coruna”. The “A Coruna” province also holds the famous city of “Santiago de Compostela”, famed for its massive cathedral and holy pilgrimage known as the “Way of Saint James”. The provincial capitol of “A Coruna” has also become increasingly appealing to holiday makers and possesses the world’s oldest lighthouse dating back to Roman times. It is also a beautiful city with a harbour surrounded by tall buildings composed of many windows giving it the nickname of the “glass city”.

Leaving A Coruna, Galicia’s other provinces are Pontevedra, with the regions largest city Vigo, Ourense with a medieval old town and Lugo, whose capitol has a complete Roman wall surrounding it. The big cities though are not the only attractions of Galicia and many would argue that it is the towns and villages, many of which are on the coast, that represent the real spirit of the region. A large number of these towns still operate as working fishing villages and in some respects their way of life has changed little over the last century. Examples of these towns include Muros, A Pobra do Caraminal and the larger Ribeira .

Finally any visitor to Galicia will sell themselves short if they fail to sample some of the regions famous seafood. The speciality of the area is “pulpo” (octopus), but if that does not appeal, try “calamares” (fried squid rings) with a squeeze of lemon. Shellfish are also part of the staple diet in Galicia and the many crustaceans, of which “percebes” is a particular example, will give you an indication of a Galician delicacy.

About the Author
Webmaster for galiciaguide.com, the nets biggest English language guide to the region of Galicia in Spain.

For a complete guide to Galicia’s regions, main cities, towns and tourist attractions visit galiciaguide.com, the webs largest English language Galician resource. Here you will find 250 pages of content and more than 400 photographs describing and depicting Galicia.

Interested in taking a trip to Florida? Consider North Florida for the next vacation destination. Although most of Florida’s most famous attractions are in the south, the northern part of the state, extending from Pensacola to Jacksonville, offers travelers plenty of what they expect from Florida with a twist of Southern Charm.

The area surrounding the bustling metropolis and unofficial capital of South Georgia of Jacksonville is full of fun activities and sights for the whole family. Amelia Island, home to the Ritz Carlton and the Bausch & Lomb ATP tournament, is a resort community set within beautiful natural beauty. Between hundred year-old live oaks, the marshes of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean is a nature-lovers paradise, a tennis players dream, and the perfect place to get pampered. Travel south to Ponte Vedra Beach, home of the Tournament Players Championship at Sawgrass. Golf lovers will find a plethora of the most prestigious and world-renowned golf courses while the family will enjoy its beautiful beaches and tranquil lifestyle. Following the coastline will take visitors to St. Augustine, the nations oldest city, and home to great shopping and beaches. Take a stroll down St. George Street for old city charm and shopping and stop for a bite to eat at Opus 39, 95 Cordova St, Fiddlers Green, or Saltwater Cowboys, all St. Augustine favorites. Jacksonville itself is home to great attractions, including Alltel Stadium, home to the Jacksonville Jaguars professional football team, the Florida Theatre where you can see concerts, plays, and shows year round, and the beautiful St. John’s River.

Traveling west on 1-70 takes you through Florida’s plantation region and Tallahassee, the state capital. This is not the home of palm trees and famous beaches, but antique live oaks, sprawling plantation homes, and freshwater springs. With beaches within a 30-minute drive and plenty of lakes, there are plenty of areas to play and with two state universities in town there is plenty of arts and cultural events to enjoy. This area of Florida is so different from the rest, yet many visitors to the state are not aware of all that the area has to offer. Preservation of the past and respect for its natural beauty is what keeps the Tallahassee area ready for more generations to enjoy.

The Florida Panhandle is situated between the southern borders of Georgia and Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico, making it culturally and historically more similar to the Deep South than the rest of the state. The Gulf Coast beaches, known as the Redneck Riviera, are renowned for white sand beaches and warm waters. The emerald color water extends from Pensacola Bay to Panama City, including beaches such as Gulf Breeze, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Seaside, Perdido Key, Navarre, Sandestin, Grayton Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, and Seagrove. Deep-sea fishing is the activity of choice with Destin known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”; of course, eating the catch of the day may be more popular. There are seafood and oyster houses on every corner catering to families, couples, or large parties. Seaside, made famous by the movie “The Truman Show”, is known for its quaint pastel-colored homes and is the perfect place for a family summer vacation. Panama City is the Spring Break capitol and was named “The Best Beach in America” by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. Enjoy great beachfront restaurants and exiting nightclubs at night while basking in the sun during the day. Families will love both its warm temperatures and warm personalities of the locals. Gorgeous beaches, natural beauty, world-class golf and tennis, southern hospitality, superb vacation rentals, and warm Florida sunshine make North Florida the perfect spot for any vacation.

About the Author
Caroline B., Breckenridge, Colorado, United States
More Details about Florida Vacation Rentals here. Caroline Brame writes travel articles for RentalsExpress.com. For more information on Florida travel, as well as, other vacation destinations, please visit http://www.RentalsExpress.com.

Forget a motel, forget an RV you have not had the best vacation you have ever had until you have stayed in a Mountain Cabin. Mountain Cabin Vacation

Mountain cabins are usually found in the best locations situated in beautiful mountain settings and range from brand new to rustic charm. What more could you want from your mountain cabin.

You may be thinking rustic charm may mean old fashioned but today many mountain cabins are fully equipped with all the latest mod cons such as wonderful log fires, hot tubs, cable TV and fully equipped kitchens. One of the best features though of a mountain cabin, is unsurprisingly, the mountains. I suppose that goes without saying that you would expect mountains next to a mountain cabin, after all it seems sensible, but until you have visited some of the best places to vacation in the US you may not have been to the mountains before and boy are you missing something.

So try us folks up here in the mountains where the air is clean, the views are superb, the food is great and the activities are unparalleled.

Mountain cabins come in all sizes from single one bed roomed mountain cabins which are great for single couples, especially anyone on their honeymoon, to large 10 bedroom affairs which are great for group activities such as team building ventures.

One of the biggest attractions in vacationing in a beautiful mountain cabin is the peace and quiet you can find in a secluded cabin, yet most things are on your doorstep. You are so close to nature, with trails to walk and hike, short backpacking trips, skiing in the winter months, lakes for swimming, sailing and fishing and just plain good fresh air.

So stop thinking about mountain cabins, stop planning to rent a mountain cabin, stop dreaming of having a vacation in one and just do it. Book one and book one this week. Plan your next vacation in your own mountain cabin in some of the best mountain scenery in the US.

Ric Wiley is an author and publisher. Check out his latest information on vacation sites at http://www.mountain-cabins.info and http://www.lake-tahoe-first.com

Amusement Business Magazine has revealed the top ten theme parks in North America for 2004 based on attendance figures. As expected, six of those ten are owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Although no numbers were released for theme park visitor count elsewhere, it’s safe to assume that the brand also dominates internationally, as its newest theme park HongKong Disneyland just opened. Here is how the list looked with a short overview of its attractions.

And don’t forget to check out the Australian theme parks too. There is a great range down under as well.

1. The Magic Kingdom at Disney World (FL)

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 and is located 30 minutes south of Orlando. Cinderella Castle, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain are just some of its popular attractions. Kids will be thrilled getting autographs from Disney characters at Mickey’s Toontown Fair. 2. Disneyland (CA)

The world’s most famous theme park recently celebrated its 50th anniversary called the “Happiest Homecoming on Earth” which was attended by, among others, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Indiana Jones Adventure and Haunted Mansion have been hailed by critics to be the parks best rides.

3. Epcot at Walt Disney World (FL)

Originally called EPCOT Center (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) when it opened in October 1982, the park was envisioned to be a futuristic city with controlled environs. Now, it is known to be a “learning-oriented” attraction in where science and international culture blend.

4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World (FL)

The park functions both as a full-service production lot and theme park. Five major sections make-up the park: Hollywood Blvd., New York St., Mickey Ave., Animation Courtyard, and Sunset Blvd. Of all the rides here, Tower of Terror has been said to be the best of the modern-day attractions. The freefalling thrill ride is based on the classic television show The Twilight Zone.

5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World (FL)

This 500-acre theme park focuses on animals and dinosaurs. The people behind it are quick to point out, though, that it is not a zoo since there certainly is a lot more to see and do here than animals on display. It’s Tough To Be A Bug and Tree Of Life are the top picks among the attractions.

6. Universal Studios at Universal Orlando (FL)

Universal’s Revenge of the Mummy ride is widely proclaimed to be among the best rides ever with coasters reaching top speeds and gut-displacing drops. It also gets props for effectively incorporating story into an action-filled ride with stunning special effects. Another reason for its success is the family-oriented approach Universal chose which means it’s relatively docile compared to its predecessors.

7. Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando (FL)

Undoubtedly, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is the number one reason visitors keep coming back to this theme park. Merging 3D graphics with the most advanced motion base simulation technology, this ride takes visitors on a whole new level of fun and excitement that even the most jaded ride enthusiast will come out totally blown away.

8. Disney’s California Adventures (CA)

Soarin’ Over California is the perfect attraction for anyone who has always dreamed of flying. This attraction simulates a hang glider “soaring” over California’s best known locations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, and even Disneyland itself. It has become one of the most visited attractions in the two Disney parks it is featured in. Scents corresponding to the places shown on screen are incorporated into the wind effects for added realism.

9. SeaWorld Florida (FL)

Aside from the usual marine shows, SeaWorld also boasts its own roller coaster and making it floorless gives the ride an added thrill factor. It’s also the tallest of its kind in Central Florida. There are motion simulator rides, a marine life exhibit, and, at Discovery Cove, visitors can swim with dolphins. Truly, a far cry from the whale-splashing attraction it used to be.

10. Universal Studios Hollywood (CA)

The rides and attractions at Universal Studios are all tied with Universal’s movies. There is also the famous backlot tour on a tram that visits famous film sets and complete special effects. The most recent addition to line-up is Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds set. Guests can also be part of the studio audience at television show tapings. About 35,000 visitors come to Universal Studios daily, majority of them also from Southern California. It is also the largest film studio-theme park in the world.

Original Source: Articles-Galore.com

Researched, Supplied and Written by Lee Asher of TravelBug DownUnder
A Comprehensive Guide to Visiting and Traveling within Australia