Top Notch Cruises

If you enjoy travelling and seeing new destinations, I advocate a cruise. I have cruised the Mediterranean and the Baltic and my next cruise will be a Caribbean cruise. I am genuinely looking forward to it. If you have never been on a cruise, start saving up now, because it is luxury like you have never imagined before.

Never having been on a Caribbean cruise before, I do not know how much the various Caribbean islands differ from one another, so I do not know how varied that cruise would be. However, I have cruised the Med and the Baltic and woken up to a different country every day and in both of those seas and every country is very different from its neighbours.

On our Baltic cruise we departed from Southampton and cruised to Gothenburg in Sweden. From there we went to Helsinki and Leningrad (in those days). On the way back, we called into Copenhagen and the Tivoli Gardens. None of those countries was in any way similar to another or even Britain.

Similarly, my Mediterranean cruise left from Minorca in north eastern Spain going east to Sardinia and then north along the southern coast of Europe. Italy, France and Spain. The second week of the cruise left Minorca again and went to Sicily and then south along the northern coast of Africa including Malta.

The luxury on a cruise is practically indescribable to someone who has never been on a cruise. There is no standard higher than five stars, but the cruises I have been on offered superior levels of luxury than any five star hotels I have stayed in anywhere in the world.

Food and shore trips play a major part of cruising. The food is top notch with no mistake. Breakfast on a cruise liner is better than most Americans and most Europeans have for dinner. Whatever you want from prawns to steak, from exotic fruit to porridge. Lunch and dinner are even more sumptuous.

Shore excursions are well prepared too. They include a ferry from the cruise liner to the land and then a coach trip by a local firm to the destination, which could be an historical site or a shopping mall. Most cruisers go on these trips, but some prefer to remain on board and take advantage of the reduced number of passengers and the free food.

I went on every shore tour and thoroughly enjoyed each one. The trips are usually pricey though, but you are part of a trapped audience, so what can you expect?

I thoroughly recommend a cruise holiday to any and every one. You should go at least once in your life, but do not leave it until late in your life because you will want to go again.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with St Croix Hotels. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.

How To Choose A Utah Ski Resort

Many people know that Utah is a breathtaking state. The scenery is impeccable and everything about the state really screams beauty. What you may not know is that Utah is actually a fantastic place for your next ski vacation. There are many different resorts in Utah that specialize in skiing and in order to find the perfect Utah ski resort, you need to know exactly what you are looking for!

You will need to consider which resort you want to ski or ride, and where you are going to stay in town. There are many different options from slope side to rental properties in the heart of residential neighborhoods. Making sure there is a lot to do around your hotel or condo is important, especially if you are interested in easy access to bars and restaurants.

This is one of the main reasons why Park City Utah ski resorts such as Deer Valley Resort are so popular. The area is filled with world class skiing as well as a beautiful resort town with many off mountain attractions. Park City UT is nestled right within the mountains and it truly is one of the few places that have so many options within such a short distance to a major airport.

The nightlife in Park City Utah is certainly popular, especially during the Sundance Film Festival, but that is not all this quaint ski town has to offer. There are also a wealth of high quality restaurants and boutique shopping options available for any budget. You should definitely visit some of the local shops that can help you find the perfect gift to for yourself or loved ones back home.

Looking for the ideal vacation spot is certainly a challenge for a lot of people. This is one of the main reasons why some travelers turn to travel agents and third party booking agencies for advice. While some of those services can certainly provide assistance, you may be able to find the best deals by calling lodging providers directly when traveling to Park City Utah. There are plenty of great resources on the web which you can use to educate yourself prior to making your final decision.

Honestly, when it boils down to price, you should remember that most things are negotiable. Remember that if you wait until the last minute you can usually find some fantastic deals; however, you absolutely run the risk of being limited to second tier options. If you are planning a trip in the near future you may just find that hotels and resorts are so happy to have your business they will offer their best deal right up front.

As you can probably already see, finding the perfect ski resort for you in Utah can be an enjoyable experience as long as you know where to look. Utah is a fantastic place to go on a vacation, especially if you are an avid skier and you are looking for the complete vacation package.

Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica – Mountain Paradise Hotel Overview

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.

Nosara Costa Rica Vacation

When I want to unwind and unplug at the beach I head for Nosara. The feel of this seaside town is relaxed yet upscale, and has some pleasantly familiar tones for a California native like me that echo holistically oriented communities like Santa Cruz, for example. At the same time, it is uniquely Costa Rican with a Guanacasteco flair.

Nosara is part of the proudly independent Guanacaste Province, that was once part of Nicaragua. The focus on wellness is represented well and genuinely in what the area is best known for: surfing and yoga. You dont need to partake of these, however, to completely enjoy and appreciate your Nosara vacation. Thankfully not too many people know about Nosara yet, and I am hoping that this unspoiled gem can stay low key for a long while to come. The town is 40 miles from the nearest paved road, and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Costa Rica. What I really appreciate is the strong sense of community and the commitment to keeping Nosaras water and environment healthy and clean. The Nosara Civic Association was established to represent the interests of the people living in the region in a sustainable way. The community is inviting to locals and foreigners alike, and I simply just feel at ease whenever I visit. Pura Vida is alive and well in Nosara!

My family and I especially enjoy the Harmony Hotel on Playa Guiones:

The ambiance, the caring staff, and the sustainable practices pull it all together in an elegant, yet relaxed environment that leaves all of us refreshed and recharged after every visit.

The cuisine is a natural extension of the focus on health and wellness, with many vegetarian options, no red meat, and plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, as well as just-caught-fresh fish and seafood.

The juice bar has many inventive concoctions including both beverages such as Ginger Lassi (Indian yogurt drink), and fun vegetarian appetizers such as coconut-lime ceviche-delicious! Reflecting a harmonious way of living, the kitchen uses organic ingredients whenever possible.

The rooms are natural, roomy and very private with a great indoor/outdoor feel. One of the best kept secrets is the Harmony House. It is a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom beauty and simply elegant.

The open kitchen, dining and sitting area open onto an expansive patio boasting the best views in Nosara. You can check the surf on Guiones below, while floating in the infinity pool. We stayed with family and had an incredible time.

The Harmony staff even offered to shop for our family dinner we insisted on cooking together in the fully equipped kitchen. It is the best of both worlds: a private beach house , fully equipped and with all the amenities of a hotel. Perfect for families up to 6. The natural wood and crisp white linens work well and the amenities include organic products locally made for you to enjoy during your stay.

The pools are easy on the skin, leaving no harsh chemical burn because the treatment is done with salt water instead of chlorine.

The spa is wonderfully appointed with tantalizing services including a chocolate wrap, using organic cacao and coconut oil.

The coffee rub is amazing and invigorating with great anti-oxidant effect.

The spa also uses organic ingredients as much as possible, for example insisting on organic coffee beans only for the coffee rub from a local family producer.

There are yoga classes overlooking a pond with lotus blossoms, a natural juice bar, ping pong table, and great little store with art supplies, books and many other gems.

The very short stroll to the beach will reveal the long, pristine Playa Guiones with surfing, boogie boarding and a private palapa (with attendant) where you may leave your belongings while you frolic in the sea.

There are many local tours and activities to choose from in addition to the very popular surfing, boogie boarding, yoga and spa treatments. These include kayaking the Rio Garza, Rio Montana, or Rio Nosara, ocean kayaking, bird watching, waterfall hike, Ostional Turtle Nesting, canopy tours, horseback riding, estuary boat tours, among others. One of the best natural highlights is the Lagarta Lodge Biological Reserve Tour, which is very near to the Harmony Hotel. The private reserve is 125 acres along the Nosara river mangroves boasting an abundance of plants and animals including herons, waders, seabirds, motmots, monkeys, coatis, armadillos, anteaters, crabs, iguanas and many others. The best time for animal activity is early morning, and after the tour it is a wonderful option to enjoy the breakfast buffet at the Lagarta Lodge with a lovely ocean view.

Some other highlights include the local eatery/bar/bakery called Cafe de Paris. This is a great spot, right in the heart of town, with a wonderfully diverse menu, yummy bakery and extensive beverage selection. You will find unique German and Belgian beer, along with many tropical drinks, and eclectic international wines. The Black Sheep Pub up in the Nosara hills is a fun place with a great view and vibe. Strolling through the surf shops and boutiques in town, you will find an old fashioned ice cream shop with giant waffle cones and a super wide variety of flavors. You will meet locals, North Americans, Europeans, South Americans all in a very enjoyable, easy setting. If you want to unplug and unwind, with a focus on well-being, you will love Nosara, too.