Save Money on Holidays
This year is going to be a time of cutbacks for many people, but cancelling your annual holiday can do more harm than good. Everyone needs a break and it’s possible to save a lot of money and still have a great vacation. Here are some tips for getting the best price on your trip abroad.
First stop is the internet. Price comparison sites and travel websites allow you to find the best deal on your flights, accommodation, car hire and even travel insurance and currency. If you’re prepared to be flexible you can take advantage of the very best deals. For example, there are usually discounted rates for last-minute bookings, and if you’re prepared to fly from particular airports you could pick up some really cheap flights.
If you can, choose which attractions you’re going to visit beforehand and look for discount codes for tickets. Many websites have voucher codes and you can often save money for booking in advance. You may also find that buying family passes is cheaper than single tickets, or that an annual pass is the best option if you plan on visiting the same attraction several times during your holiday.
Instead of staying in a hotel, the cheaper option is to stay in a private holiday home or vacation villa. This has all the facilities for self-catering so you can eat cheaply, and you usually pay for the whole house and not just per person so it’s an especially good money-saver for larger groups of holiday-makers. You can also cut out travel agent’s fees by booking directly with the villa owner, and there are often last-minute deals to be had.
A huge cost people often incur on holiday is their phonecalls – many people don’t realise just how expensive it is to make calls abroad, so it’s well worth investing in an international sim-card. These cards are inexpensive and all you do is put them into your phone. You top them up with pre-payment for your calls and you can take advantage of local rates.
Finally, try to plan free activities to do on holiday. Many people are perfectly content to use their private swimming pool or sunbathe but there are lots of other free things to do too. Use the internet to find free events in the area and you might be surprised by what’s on offer!
5 Holiday Destinations for Single Men
For most unattached men, the word “single” brings a dual, or should that be duel, feeling. Being single is synonymous with freedom, but on the flip-side, very few men look forward to a lifetime spent alone. Thankfully, there are many destinations for a single vacation where a guy can tackle this conundrum on his own terms, in due time, but always after a hot experience in paradise. Here are five places that are custom-made for a singles holiday.
Medellin, Colombia:
Made for: Adventure-seekers, and romantics
The draw: Endless jungles, and seduction as a culture
The terrain surrounding this ancient city is one of the most diverse in Colombia and a great vacation for singles. It has tall mountain peaks, jungle highlands and lowlands, deep gorges and canyons, and amazingly hypnotic farming areas. Every type of terrain offers the opportunity for extreme guided excursions.
Places like the Abbura Valley are unmatched in the world for seasonal color. Temesis offers endurance hikes and waterfall rappelling only minutes from the city. Of course, there are thousands of private places like Los Katios National Park, where the jungle meets a crystal clear pool, perhaps with a cave or hot spring. This is the ideal spot for a single guy to entertain a lovely local girl, or fellow traveler in a dream-like setting.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Made for: Fit men who can dance and who crave noise
The draw: 24 hour socializing and parties
Party Mecca for single men is Carnival, and Rio is its home base. Almost all year long, people in this city throw back the curtains for tourists. This is especially true for single guys who are extremely comfortable with leaving their self-loathing behind the moment the step off the plane. Festa (Portuguese for feast/celebration), is ingrained in Brazilian culture. In the ancient world, all roads led to Rome.
In Rio, all roads lead to the beach, or a world class nightclub. There are the classics like Ipanema and the Copacabana, but other venues are becoming popular, especially if you have a favorite beach activity. Praia Vermelha is a surf hub, and Praia da Barra da Tijuca is famous for motor sports and parasailing. After working on the tan,go for dancing, drinks, and booty-watching at clubs like Leviano with its massive mosh pit, and Casa Rosa for laser-lit, edgy interaction. Rio might well be the perfect place for singles to holiday.
Bangkok, Thailand
Made for: Urban-oriented, tryst addicts
The draw: Food, adult entertainment, and more food
Men from all over the world find Bangkok to be a fascinating study in opposites. There’s no argument that adult entertainment in all forms is a major draw, but local laws and customs must be respected at all times. It’s absolutely possible to find any type of entertainment that you want, but it must be enjoyed on the culture’s terms. Bangkok is like a single traveller’s fantasy theme park, but definitely… ahem, lives up to its name.
The people of Bangkok are exotic creatures in familiar westernized, U.S. and Euro-style packages. They are very accommodating to the expectations of single male tourists, and have the inviting currency exchange rate to boot. Restaurants like Xing Fu satisfy a guy’s stomach.
Fitness and outdoor gyms help a guy retain his muscle tone while away from home. Elephant riding in the Khoa Yi National Park provides opportunities for selfies to make friends jealous. Adult clubs, lounges and hotel concierge like will certainly where out a single guy’s eyes (if not his entire body). As a single guy wrestles with the notion of settling-down in life, he can get the “wildness” out in this huge bachelor party of a destination.
Ibiza, Spain
Made for: History-lovers, mermen
The draw: Genuine locals, The Mediterranean
Ibiza is an island getaway steeped in old world culture including religion, sport, and cuisine. The deepest blue imaginable comes from an interface with the Mediterranean Sea, and the deepest brown is found in the eyes, hair and skin of some of Europe’s most alluring women making it the dream holiday for singles.
A network of inviting villages each have town centers emerging from a catholic chapel like the Capilla de la Virgen de Lourdes, or a school or monastery. As far as social activities, anything having to do with playing on the sand or in the water is available.
This area is very family friendly, so singles fun remains extremely intimate and low key. Single men should try offering a lonely local girl a glass of wine followed by a conversation on art, and a paddle board session afterward.
Cancun, Mexico
Made for: Penny-pinchers, beach bums
The draw: Oceanside recreation, tequila, tans
This resort city is obviously popular with the college Spring Break crowd for reasons that also appeal to any single man. Every dinner plate, public transport, cabana, fishing charter, beach chair rental, and bottle of Jose Cuervo is affordable. This means single guys in every stage of life can find a way to have fun. Spend a few days hiking in the Yucatan inland camping near the Chichen Itza Pyramid, then join a beach rave with some new Mexican friends for the rest of the trip.
Maldives Holiday Island Resort
Who hasn’t fantasized about spending a quality time in a calm, mystical and luxurious resort on an island, most of us might think about this magnificent idea, but how to achieve this difficult task. People across the world have a variety of options related to various travel destinations, but the beauty of Maldives is truly spectacular. Made up of nearly 1,200 small coral islands, it’s a paradise on earth while being the home to the world’s best resorts. Maldives Holiday Island Resorts offer its travelers a chance to taste its delights.
These highly princely resorts have all those amenities and services that customers would want to have. Equipped with spas, saunas, whirlpools and swimming pools, Maldives Holiday Resorts feature a range of recreational facilities and bungalows.
Island resorts aren’t just private playgrounds for the rich and famous; they’re also for the budget-conscious travelers. Therefore, depending on the depth of your pockets, you can enjoy scuba diving, jet ski, canoeing, windsurfing, snorkeling and excursion. Moreover, travelers with children should try and choose Maldives resorts with a kids club, if possible.
Among the several famous Maldives Holiday Resorts, some of the names that stood tall for their uniqueness are: Kurumba Village Resort, Banyan Tree Resort, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, and Angaga Island Resort & Spa. As the Maldives is a popular holiday destination among honeymooners, resorts are often booked a year in advance, so it’s best to make reservations as early as possible.
No matter, which resort you choose, the amazing feel of watching the sunset from a deserted, palm-fringed beach will take you in the world of dreaming imaginations far from the maddening crowd of metrocities. So, experience the leisure in an oasis of peace and tranquility secluded from the rigmaroles of life on Maldives Holiday Island Resorts.
A Travelogue on Virginia Beach
Vacationing during the summer is one of the most awaited fascinations of the year. In a country like USA there is no end to finding a scenic and tempting place to spend a holiday. The recent wonderful experience which I thoroughly enjoyed was of Virginia Beach.
Picturesque and eventful, Virginia Beach is located on the Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. With its awesome beach view, three-mile long boardwalk, and a variety of water activities, Virginia Beach allures almost three million tourists every year.
Choosing a comfortable hotel yet at a reasonable price was probably the first thought that came to my mind while planning for the vacation. In Virginia Beach, some of the best options for hotels that lured me were:
Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast, one of the only two Victorian cottages left in Virginia Beach, luxurious and comfortable.
Courtyard by Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront South gives you amazing ocean view, with a clean, luxurious environment.
The Capes Hotel, where you can enjoy private oceanfront balconies, indoor pools, deluxe rooms, and jacuzzi suites.
La Quinta Inn and Suites, Virginia Beach, comfortable stay with friendly staffs.
After several thoughts, I chose The Capes Hotel for all the luxuries they provide at an affordable cost. After settling down with a good hotel, my mind was set on the exciting variety of activities to be enjoyed in the city, the water activities being the most fascinating one.
Rudee rocket, a seventy foot long yellow vessel, gives you a wild, wet, fun filled experience, taking you for a fantastic dolphin watch in the middle of the ocean. Rudee Inlet Jet Ski Rentals, where you can ride your way along the Virginia Beach ocean front on the one-two or three seated boats. You can enjoy the thrilling kite boarding and of course there are various attractive water parks.
But the most amazing experience that I had, inspite of my husband’s constant and scary warnings, was of para sailing. The fun-filled, exciting take-off of the parachute followed by a breathtaking view of the Virginia coastline while flying high in the sky, was simply indescribable.
Virginia aquarium and marine science centre, which is a 800,000-gallon aquarium with sharks, harbor seals, and other live species, along with a number of its educational and enticing programmes, makes a perfect place to hang out both for children and for adults.
Vacationing without good food is inconceivable. Some of the best options would be Pulcinella Italian Restaurant for excellent pizza, Timbuktu for American and seafood, Neighbor’s Pizzeria for pizza again and La Herradura for great Mexican food. Exclusively for seafood, you can always try Steinhilber’s Thalia Acres Inn, Coastal Grill, and Hot Tuna Bar and Grill, where the fish is fresh and the dishes are consistently superb.
Virginia Beach, with all its fantastic stay, great food, captivating view, and exciting activities, can really be your next great holiday destination.
Windhoek Tours – The Best Start to Namibia Tours and Holidays
At the heart of Namibia lies the largest city, Windhoek which doubles as the capital city of Namibia founded in the 1840s. Central Namibia is on the Khomas Highlands (at 1700m above sea level) on which the German-influenced capital, Windhoek is found.
As the largest city in Namibia, Windhoek is home to several businesses, organization headquarters, and education institutions and of course a large population. Some of the Namibia People live in the vibrant city include the Owambo, Kavango, Herero, Damara and Nama, San and Europeans.
The city has very friendly weather with warm days and cool nights all through the year. With temperatures at 20ºC in the summer and 5-18ºC in the winter months of June to August, Windhoek has semi arid climate that suits tourism activities.
Traveling to Windhoek is by road, train and flights. Windhoek has two airports but Hosea Kutoka airport is the main airport in Namibia handling flights from South Africa and other destinations on South African Airways or Air Namibia which is the national carrier. Tours around the city are on 4X4 and led by expert tour guides often lasting about 3 hours.
Windhoek offers a range of activities and tourist attractions providing something interesting for every Namibian traveler. Much of the city streets are a blend of old German architecture and modern buildings. For your historical tours in Namibia, there are four museums in Windhoek.The Alte Feste is the national museum is the oldest building form 1890 housing some important memorabilia and photos of the early colonial times.
Other interesting surviving buildings include the Trans-Namib Railway Museums, the National Art Gallery, St George’s Cathedral, St. Andrews. Mary’s Cathedral and many others. Visiting each of these sights on Namibia day tours makes a very insightful trip into the history and growth of Namibia as an independent state.
All Namibia safaris begin in Windhoek with tours to the beautiful Daan Viljoen Game Park west of the city. Some of the sights here include gemsbok, kdu, mountain zebra, springboks, warthog and over 200 birds. The Zoo Park is yet another fascination for day tours in Namibia with rare sight of the elephant fossils from the Stone Age 5000 years ago.
Post Street Mall is an open air market providing a variety of African crafts, souvenirs and gifts. It is a good place to start off your shopping expeditions in Windhoek. Penduka Craft Village in Katutura is a non-profit project for rural women across the country. Support the women by buying one or two items there.
Windhoek has plenty to offer for holiday accommodation from Luxury Windhoek Hotels to budget Guesthouse and self catering accommodation. Modern luxury facilities are available from Kalahari Sands Hotel, Heinitzburg Hotel and Windhoek Country Club Hotel.
Olive Grove Guesthouse from the city center with up market accommodation and facilities like Health spa, spacious lounge and swimming pool. There are many other Self catering apartments, safari lodges, Bed and Breakfast and private homes for Windhoek Namibia accommodation.
Savor the wide array of restaurants such as the ever popular Joe’s Beerhouse and Am Winberg. Get the best African dishes at La Marmaite one of the best local restaurants in Windhoek. Club Thriller is a taste of fine West African music and a few upbeat contemporary rhythms.
