27Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

The Most Impressive Castle-Hotels

Looking for an extra special venue to spend a romantic vacation? Why not pick a beautiful old castle? Imagine peering down a turret to a moat, or perhaps even a long walk in the secluded woods. Initially considered cold and draughty, developers and restoration experts have modified castles around the world to ensure holidays in it are possible for anyone, not just reserved for celebrities. Here is a list of the most impressive castle hotels in the world. 1.Amberly Castle, Great Britain – Queen Elizabeth I bought the castle. Oliver Cromwell stormed the castle’s walls. Now turned into a luxury hotel, it comes complete with antique furniture, a tennis court and Jacuzzi. 2.Burg Gutenfels Castle, Germany – this castle keeps to its age-old charm and is not richly decorated like…

26Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

Mancation – a Holiday for Real Men

Travel

Taken from the movie 'The Break-Up' [2006], the term 'Mancation' has spread like wildfire across the American hotel business. The concept of gender-specific vacations, as Jayne Clark, USA Today puts it, has "been around since the first caveman took his club and went hunting with the others in the tribe." Hotels and resorts initially tailor made packages for all-girl getaways and have now moved onto promoting all-male trips, male-bonding vacation packages which include practically everything from poker to extreme sports to spa treatments. All-male vacations mostly offer golfing, however, unique programme have been developed to accommodate trends in the industry, with the latest mancation packages offering yoga, sexual reawakening, culinary tips, and even spiritual healing. An online survey indicates that males take at least one mancation every year. An estimated…

25Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

Consider hopping between islands when visiting Hawaii

Travel

When booking your Hawaii packages, you might want to hop between islands. After all, one of the great things about visiting Hawaii is that there is so much diversity between the different Hawaiian Islands. You can spend one day on a world-class beach in Maui and the next day enjoy a round of golf or the urban charm of the former pineapple fields of Lanai. Panda Online can help you enjoy the wide range of options you have available during your Hawaii travel. Along with getting you to Hawaii, we can also help you with your transportation needs getting in between the various Hawaiian Islands. We have the best deals on inter-island flights between all of the islands. We have great deals on flights through Island Air, one of the…

21Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

The best floating hotels

Travel Tips

Floating hotels have coined a new word - combine a boat and a hotel. What do you get? The Botel. Botels are an interesting alternative to expensive cruises, but still give you the chance to enjoy your holiday at sea, and what can be more relaxing than hearing the waves lapping around you? The LogInn Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden - located in the Baltic Sea, this botel is a restored old ship. Cozy suites, while keeping with modern tastes still hold the charm of a bygone era - while family suites are also available. The Ankarhaket restaurant offers up a fabulous breakfast that you would not miss for the world. Prices for suites on this botel start at €88 a night. Botel Ristorante Matylda, Prague, Czech Republic - restored from a…

20Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

The top 4 beaches in Turkey

Travel Tips

While Turkey's beaches are not one of its best-kept secrets, it boasts some of the most gorgeous places - some of them, still unknown to tourists. Close to 15,000,000 tourists throng to Turkey for their holidays every year. Here is a little guide of sorts to the top four beaches in Turkey. 1. Patara - found not far from the resort village of Patara (Gelemis) this beach strip is around 20km long. The gorgeous white sandy beach is the perfect place to let yourself go, with a two-bedroom averaging around $25 a night. Around 1.5km from the beach, are interesting antique ruins, which include an amphi theater, necropolis and even ruins of a basilica. 2. Ölüdeniz - Here you can find good hotels and restaurants. The Turkish name for the…

14Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

Underwater Hotels

Hotel Trends

New luxury underwater hotels are popping up everywhere. From ordinary to bizarre, these hotels are just something else and are a 'must-visit' for every avid traveler. Top on the list of underwater hotels is the Jules Undersea Lodge in Florida, USA. Named after the famous maritime tale, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, it is the first underwater hotel in the world. Located at a depth of 21ft in a small mangrove lagoon, the hotel was previously a research laboratory. Equipped with all the necessary facilities, it will cost you from $375 a night including breakfast and lunch. Built by a man with an imagination, The Utter (Otter) Inn in Sweden is a one-room inn. Guests can sleep 3m below the surface of Lake Mälaren, found around 1km from the shore.…

14Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

Tourists return sick from holidays more regularly

Travel Tips

The Mondial Assistance Group, which deals with global tourist insurance, in a recent research study, found that close to 5% of travelers visit a doctor during an overseas trip. World Health Organization data paints a grim picture, with 50%-75% of tourists returning from the tropics complaining of health problems. The data shows increased health problems during the winter season. Sudden changes of climate, weakened immune systems and even an unusual atmosphere can be difficult on a tourist, ruining their holiday abroad. This is not what you expect when buying exotic tours to destinations like Egypt and Thailand. The Mondial Assistance Group estimates that close to 5% of tourists visit doctors during trips abroad or as soon as they return. Most tourists are victims of unhygienic conditions or do not practice…

08Nov 2009 by admin No Comments

The most ‘Piratic’ islands of the Caribbean

Travel Tips

The movie 'Pirates of the Caribbean' brought with it an increased interest in pirates and their lives. Tourists, most of them die-hard movie fans visit the Caribbean Sea area not just for its great beaches and sunbathing, but also to dive into what we call the 'piratic' past. Here are a few of the most 'piratic' islands of the Caribbean. Tortuga, Haiti - Famous pirates include Henry Morgan, Francis L'Olonais and Pierre Legrain. It is here that Jack Sparrow hired his crew for the search of the Black Pearl. Port Royal, Jamaica - This area was used as a base to attack passing by French and Spanish vessels. It is also called the 'most sinful place on Earth'. In 1692, an earthquake destroyed the port and killed thousands of pirates.…