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Sunshine Coast Tours Are The Best Way To See The Region

February 24, 2010 by  
Filed under Destinations

At first you may be tempted to fly into the Brisbane Airport , pick up a car hire and hit the road for the Sunshine Coast , and don’t get me wrong, this is a wonderful way to see the region, if you know where you are going and are prepared to do such. But if navigation is not your thing, then you might want to more carefully consider taking advantage of the many guided tours of this region.

You will find that finding your way around a new region can be, let us say, a bit difficult. And choosing the right tourist attractions to see and finding unique places to explore can be difficult. Especially if the only experience you have with the region is via the internet. Search engines may effectively pick up on the most relevant websites to your search terms but you certainly can’t ask them to direct you to things that will interest you while on holiday.

When you are partaking in a guided tour you will have a vacation experience that you may not be able to have on your own. There are various tours available included those that take you on a exploration of the Noosa Everglades and others that take you to enjoy the many Sunshine water sports and activities. All the tours are reasonably priced and most include a special event., access to National Parks and even meals.

All tours can be easily accessed on the internet, before you leave for your vacation. Therefore, when you arrive at the Sunshine Coast you can have your vacation planned out already. All you need to do is search for Sunshine Coast Australia Tours and all the information you desire will be at your fingertips.

Even if you don’t want to take one every day, try to arrange one tour of the Sunshine Coast region at the beginning of your holiday. This will give you a better lay of the land, and will allow you to decide which areas you want to go back and see more of.

When you are looking for sunshine coast information log onto www.sunshinecoastinformation.com.au. Whether you are looking to stay in one of the numerous Mooloolaba Hotels or wanting to know about local happenings all you need can be found on this site.

Affordable Travel – 7 Ways To Save On Your Next Vacation

May 25, 2009 by  
Filed under Travel Deals

Staycations are all the rage these days, and while you certainly can find lots to do without traveling to the other side of the earth, sometimes you just need to get away and have a relaxing vacation far away from car pools, grocery shopping and home maintenance.

Fortunately, this is a great time to travel. Thanks to the current economic situation, you can find great deals on everything from air travel to hotels to cruises to home rentals, both here in the US and worldwide.

Here are 7 ways to get even more out of your travel budget:

1. Go where the dollar is strong. This year, that means Europe (the UK, Iceland and Turkey in particular), New Zealand, India, South Africa, Mexico and Chile. Exchange rates fluctuate though, so keep an eye on them.

2. Frequent flier programs. Always sign up for frequent flier (or frequent guest) programs, even if you don’t think that you will travel on that particular airline or stay in that hotel chain again. You never know what happens in the future – companies merge or get bought up, and you can also transfer miles/points between airlines/hotels. Make sure using your frequent flier miles is worth it though, especially this year with all the great deals around. Save them for times when you truly cannot afford a ticket, or for that dream trip around the world.

3. Stay in a private home. If you’re traveling with a group, renting a villa or condo instead of staying in a hotel can save you all quite a bit of money. Staying in somebody’s home also means that you will have more space (especially in cities with hotel rooms the size of broom closets) and usually access to amenities like a washer/dryer and sometimes outdoor space as well. Eat breakfast at home every day, and you’ll save even more. Keep an eye out for last minute deals and specials too – I’ve seen many offers like “pay for 5 nights, stay for 7″ or “chef included”, as well as large discounts.

4. Don’t miss out on a great deal. Make sure you hear about any last minute deals and discounts as soon as they are announced. Sign up for RSS feeds, newsletter and email alerts from relevant sites on the Internet such as airlines, travel magazines, online auction sites, chambers of commerce, home rental companies, and travel sections of newspapers. Did you hear about JetBlue’s $14 San Francisco – New York tickets earlier this year? You don’t want to miss out on something like that!

5. Give travel auctions a shot. At sites like Luxury Link, winning an auction can mean huge savings on stays at luxury resorts, villas or castles, with many extras included as well (staff, private chef, all meals, etc.). Also keep an eye out for occasional auctions, such as Abercrombie & Kent’s “once in a lifetime trip” auction earlier this year, where winners saved up to 60% on dream trips to exotic locations.

6. Travel slightly off-season. You can save a lot by going just a little bit before or after the majority of people do. Try traveling mid-May to the end of June and the beginning of September to mid-December in the Caribbean, anywhere in Europe in the spring or fall, or to the larger cities, such as Paris, London or Madrid in August when the locals have fled the scene for some time at the beach. If you ski or at least don’t mind the cold, winter is a great time to find cheap flights to Europe. Stockholm is spectacular with a snow cover, and with the sun setting around 3 pm in December, candles are everywhere, giving the city a cozy, fairytale atmosphere.

7. Call home for free. If you bring your laptop (or iPhone), make sure to download Skype and ask your friends and family to do the same. It is a free service (as long as you call Skype to Skype; a Skype to landline or cell phone call does come with a charge), and all you have to do is download the software, set it up, get a headset or USB phone, connect to the Internet, and you’re good to go. You can talk to friends all over the globe this way – and it’s totally free.

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Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica – Mountain Paradise Hotel Overview

May 14, 2009 by  
Filed under Hotels

Mountain Paradise hotel is really located in a paradise. There is a perfect balance between nature and luxury. It is a place that reflects a totally Costa Rican environment. Mountain Paradise Arenal hotel is a picturesque place to enjoy all that is Costa Rica. Below you will find an overview of this beautiful hotel in Arenal Costa Rica:

There are 40 suites with three styles of rooms available. Rooms have wireless Internet and the hotel will provide laptop computers for those clients who need then during their stay. The 24 Junior Suites have the choice of a king or queen sized bed. For entertainment there is a flat screen T.V. and cable. For comfort it has air conditioning and a whirlpool. Most important is the private garden and stunning view of the Arenal volcano Costa Rica.

The Master Suite has two bed rooms. One with a king sized bed the other with two single beds. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi and hydro massage shower. There is also a kitchen and mini bar. This suite comes with a pool are and garden to relax in. The big bonus is the personalized meal service for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Premium rooms all come with My Home Intelligent Systems. This is a smart system that lets a guest control all the internal commands in the room with a remote control.

The Arenal hotel offers free transport to La Fortuna and the thermal waters. There are some holiday making tours available from Hotels Arenal Costa Rica. There is a walk or hike along the Las Colada Trail to the Arenal Volcano. It starts with a drive to the active north-western side of the Arenal volcano Costa Rica. The hike traverses the rain forest and a large lava flow that formed in 1992. The hike gives unique opportunities to see the variety of nature in the area as well as the lava formation. Arenal lake can be seen from the top of the flow formation. Red hot lava rolling down the side of the mountain can be seen at the viewing area at the end of the hike.

Most Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica offer horseback riding, perfect for admiring Costa Ricas beautiful landscape. The tour offered by Mountain Paradise hotel includes trained horses that go to the entrance of the La Fortuna waterfall. The ride includes traveling through private farms, forest and over hills. At the waterfall there is a short walk to the river. The swimming in the crystalline waters is worth the trip. A horseback volcano tour is also offered. It involves 3 hours of horseback riding through farms to the Arenal Volcano Costa Rica.

The Venado cave tour is an underground adventure through passages and chambers. There are stalactites, stalagmites, bats, spiders and the rock formation La Papaya to enjoy. Expect to get wet and muddy. There is also evidence that the caves were once at the bottom of the ocean.

There are many tours offered by Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica. Cano Negro Wildlife refuge is a great place for bird watching or just enjoying the exotic wild life native to the wetlands. Rio Celeste tour goes from La Fortuna to Rio Celeste in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. The Arenal hanging bridges is an easy 1.9 mile hike that includes crossing nine fixed bridges and six suspension bridges.

The Mountain Paradise Arenal hotel variety of tours offers many of the attractions in the Arenal region in one day. There is so much to do and see in the Arenal region. The views are stunning. Nature draws people out of the Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica.

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San Jose Costa Rica Boutique Hotel with a Stunning View of the Central Valley

April 30, 2009 by  
Filed under Hotels

The Alta Hotel is a small and comfortable place to stay. It is away from the hustle and bustle and yet only about 20 minutes from the airport. It is small, special, intimate, elite and fashionable Costa Rica luxury hotel. It is strategically placed on the mountainside above San Jose. Below is a brief overview of the hotel:

This location is the real reason to stay here. This Costa Rica luxury hotel provides one of the most spectacular views of the Central Valley and San Jose. From the first floor up the units have private balconies that give an amazing view. The covered terraces are a perfect place to watch the sunset. The main floor has garden patios to enjoy.

The architecture of this luxury hotel in Costa Rica also makes it stand out. The high ceilings and winding staircases provide excellent ambience. There are curves and high arches everywhere. The interior hallway winds down from the reception through the hotel. This Costa Rica Boutique Hotel has a relaxed old world but elegant atmosphere.

The rooms are well priced and comfortable to stay in. It is a fashionable but exclusive Costa Rica luxury hotel with only 23 units available. The limited number of units results in personalized quality service. The Alta hotels employees take the time to make guests feel relaxed and well cared for. The service is friendly and personal.

Sixteen of the units are deluxe rooms. They are double rooms with a queen sized bed or twin beds. They each have a luxurious bathroom. There are 6 junior suits. There is a king or queens sized bed in each one. The attached living room also has a sofa bed. There is one master suite. It has a king size bed and an additional sofa bed. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi and steam bath. The master suite is part of the penthouse. The penthouse covers the entire upper floor. It has three bedrooms. The master one with the king size bed and two with queen sized beds. There is a living area and a dinning and reception room.

There are other attractions to this five story luxury hotel in Costa Rica. There is an elliptical swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and exercise room to enjoy. There is room service from 7 am until 10 pm. The hotel restaurant provides in-room or balcony dining service.

The restaurant, La Luz, is an elegant place to dine. There are hand-forged lamps and fresh followers. The floor is made of tropical hardwoods and the ceiling is hand-painted. Dinners can enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley through large glass windows. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Local residence will often come in to enjoy the fantastic food. A fusion of Costa Rica, continental and California cooking styles.

The Alta Hotel is a small but high end luxury hotel in Costa Rica. It is a top of the line Costa Rica boutique hotel. It is endowed with old-world luxury. It is situated to provide an unbelievable view. It is a great place to have a short stay for business or pleasure.

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