The Beaches of Andalusia

The Beaches of Andalusia
By Diane McCalley

A vacation to the beaches of Andalusia is a trip out of the ordinary. From expansive, sandy beaches to rocky headlines and sandy coves, Andalusias beaches have something for everyone.

Starting from the west is the area of Costa de la Luz. Translated it means Coast of Light. If a place is called coast of light theres a good reason to believe you can soak up the sun to your hearts content. And, indeed you can.

One must see beach is Bolonia Beach, which brags beautiful, soft white sand and clear water, perfect for sunbathing or swimming.

Other beaches of note in Costa de la Luz include the beaches of Isla Cristina. Facilities include showers and toilets, and you can rent Parasols and sun loungers. What makes this beach breathtaking is that it is backed by sand dunes and pine woods.

If you must stray from the beaches of Costa de la Luz, then a drive on the Calle Facinas or Facinas Road is in order. This road, created as a Roman highway, goes through the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, a beautiful national park. Aside from the beauty of the park, visitors have the opportunity to stop at Roman ruins along their drive.

Moving along the coast to the east is Costa del Sol, the most developed coastal area in Andalusia. Again, the word sol (meaning sun) is another clue that sunbathing is a popular pastime here. If youre the type who relishes getting those last rays of the day, try heading to Playa Del Cristo, Estepona, one of the only beaches on this coast to face west, which will ensure the sun worshiper the maximum amount of sunshine.

Playa Del Cristo is also an area known for its family atmosphere. Of particular note for those with children, El Cristo Beach provides a sheltered cove, ideal for the young ones.

Another beach in the Costa del Sol area not is Mistral Beach, which is situated between San Pedro de Alcantara and Puerto Banus. Mistral Beach boasts panoramic views of much of Costa del Sol, and also offers fabulous restaurants.

Moving along toward Granada Province is Costa Tropical, probably the least known of all the coastal areas of Granada. But dont let this stop you, for this area boasts a rocky coastline of isolated sandy coves. Key word here is isolated. That means you dont have to fight all the other tourists for your own piece of Heaven. And while youre there, treat yourself to the great diving opportunities Costa Tropical provides.

Now we come to the most eastern coastal area of Andalusia. If you cant decide whether you want isolation or popular tourist spots, then Costa de Almeria is for you. There are seven golf courses, with more on the way. And since Costa de Almeria offers the best climate in all of Spain, theres a great chance your stay will be picture perfect. And there are plenty of recreational activities to choose from, including scubadiving, windsurfing, mountain biking and caving.

For those seeking isolation, head on over to Playa de los uertos, where you will find expansive, isolated beaches. For the more adventurous among you, try Vera Playa, famous for its large naturist beach. What is a naturist beach, you ask? You might know it by another name - nudist beach. Vera Playa is known as the center of nudism in Andalusia, and there are a number of nudist hotels, apartments and camping facilities to choose from.

Whether its sunbathing (nude or clothed), a round of golf (clothed), a good swim, or just exploring the wonders of nature, Andalusia is a destination you cant miss.

Diane McCalley is a frequent traveler and owner of a Travel Planning website and Location Wedding blog.

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Phuket Jewel of the Andaman Sea

Phuket - Jewel of the Andaman Sea
By Richard Meyer

The largest and most accessible island in Thailand, Phuket, lying off the South West coast, is also one of the most diverse and developed. It is blessed with a wealth of natural resources to entice the visitor. Lime stone cliffs, white sand beaches, rocky headlands, peaceful sweeping bays and a forested tropical interior. Alongside its natural assets Phuket has a range of accommodation and entertainment to offer something for everyone.

Phuket island is about 850 kilometers South of Bangkok. The province covers 590 square kilometers including the additional 39 small islands. The main island itself covers about 540 kilometer square and measures 48 kilometers North to South and 21 kilometers East to West.

As the island is the biggest in Thailand you can find quite beaches and you can party the night away at others. It is all up to what you are looking for.

Phuket is connected to the mainland by two bridges. These cover the narrow strip of water that separates Phuket from Phang-Nga province on the North side of the island. The rest of Phuket borders only the tropical Andaman Sea.

The island is a variety of manly forested mountains stretching North to South and flat plains. However it is the jewel of the Andaman Sea and its palm fringed beaches that has contributed to making it the wealthiest and most visited island in the South. It attracts thousands of visitors a year. Many are content to relax on its many beaches, but for the more adventurous Phuket is a center for diving in the area with world class dive sites a short boat trip away and facilities for all levels.

The year is divided into the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season falls from May to October, with September and October being the wettest. The dry season, from November to April gradually gets hotter and hotter until the rains start again. The most pleasant time to visit, but also the most busy, is from November to February. At this time blue skies and spectacular sunsets are the usual, along with a cooling sea breeze and average temperatures ranging from 23c to 33c.

Phuket also has something to offer those who are looking for more than beach lounging. Phuket town with its Sino-Portugese architecture, markets, temples and friendly small town atmosphere is a place to sample real thai living and enjoy the bustle - just be careful in the narrow streets with all the motorbikes! Phuket island has food and restaurants for any taste and budget. Surrounded by the rich Andaman Sea its no surprise that its sea food is exceptional. Accommodation ranges from five star world class resorts to simple bamboo beach side bungalows with everything in between.

Nevertheless, emphasis is put on the upper sector. Phuket is not just the most popular destination in the South of Thailand but it also is extremely popular among people from Hong Kong and Singapore and other foreigners that are looking for a holiday house. In no other place in Thailand is it as expensive to buy property as in Phuket. Many rich people are living here and the offered property is very much geared to the higher end.

Due to Phuket's world known status as a tourist destination it was rightly or wrongly at the center of the media attention after the tsunami of 2004. In comparison to other provinces in Thailand, Phuket actually received less damage and had a lower death toll. Also, compared to other countries that were affected by the Tsunami Thailand had probably the least problems. Only days after the tsunami many beach front bars were open and ready for business. Since then there has been much attention and help by the Thai government (focusing on the big businesses) and other organizations to get business back up and running and to promote tourism back to the region. Now apart from the warning sirens and 'tsunami evacuation route' signs there is little evidence that the tragic events of the 26th of December, 2004 ever happened.

Richard Meyer is a professional travel writer for Excelloz which is an online travel website that specializes in hotel reservation in Asia and Oceania but soon worldwide. In addition to hotels, Excelloz provides free travel guides and independent hotel reviews.

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Yellowstone Hotels

Yellowstone Hotels
By Thomas Morva

There is a wide variety of lodging options available at Yellowstone National Park to suit all kinds of budgets.

The in-park lodging is operated by Xanterra Parks and Resorts. The accommodation available ranges from rustic cabins to luxury suites. Cabins include the Roosevelt Lodge cabins that are right near the favorite campsite of President Theodore Roosevelt. One of the largest log structures in the world, the Old Faithful Inn, overlooks the Old Faithful Geyser. The newest lodge is the award-winning Old Faithful snow lodge. There are nine different options for in-park lodging.

There are seasonal lodgings as well. During winter, the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel offers accommodation and is accessible by automobile. It serves as the centre for winter sport activities in the park like Nordic Skiing, snowshoeing and ice-skating, and is the starting point for winter explorations of the interior of the park. The Hotel provides luxurious rooms as well as rooms that have the most basic features. In this manner it caters to a range of budgets.

For a more rustic experience as well as one that would be lighter on the pocket, the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins provides winter accommodation as well. The cabins come in two types: the Western Cabin and the Frontier Cabin. The lodge also provides snowcoach tours to the various natural wonders of the park that are a magnificent sight during winter.

Summer lodging includes the Old Faithful Inn and other lodges and cabins as well as campsites, thus providing more options to the tourist. Summer lodging also includes the Grant Village named after President Ulysses S. Grant who signed the park into existence in 1872. The village consists of a complex of six double-storied buildings that contain 50 rooms each. It is located on the southwestern shore of the Yellowstone Lake and is 20 miles away from Old Faithful geyser. It is also located close to Grand Teton National Park.

There are a number of resorts in the areas surrounding the park as well. There are a number of resorts and hotels in cities like Jackson, Wyoming and West Yellowstone and Big Sky in Montana. These hotels and resorts provide regular guided tours and vehicles to explore the park as well as nearby regions.

It is advisable to book well in advance for your accommodation since Yellowstone is still one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country and it can become really difficult to get accommodation during the high tourist seasons. It should be noted that all lodging within the park boundaries are strict no-smoking areas.

For more information on Yellowstone National Park Lodging please visit:

Xanterra Parks and Resorts website:
http://www.travelyellowstone.com

Information on Yellowstone by communities surrounding the park:
http://www.yellowstoneparknet.com

Information on Yellowstone Lodging and tours:
http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com

Yellowstone National Park provides detailed information on Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Vacations, Yellowstone Hotels, Yellowstone Tours and more. Yellowstone National Park is affiliated with Glacier National Parks.

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Finding The Best Student Discount Airfare

Finding The Best Student Discount Airfare
By George Wood

Students are always looking for discounted airfare because they are mostly tight on budget. This is the reason that student discounted airfare is so popular and useful. You can get these tickets directly from the airlines or you can also get them from some travel sites which specialize in student travel.

Student Universe is one such site where you can get discounted airfare. You need to enter your details and your identification proof is also essential. Buyers are supposed to enter the details (especially the email-addresses) of their college or school so that their identities can be verified. Students get big discounts after the verification process is over.

You can also try sites like Travel Cuts or STA. you can make online as well as offline bookings through these sites. As a student you need to have the International Student Identity Card to use the services of this site.

Orbitz is another site where you can get student discounted airfares. You can also get good deals for domestic airfare on this site. You can find a good deal where you will end up saving a lot. Airlines sites also put up tickets at discounted rates. You can buy tickets from them and they will cost you the same as the student discounted rates would.

A student must always make vacations plan well in advance. This way one will be able to buy the tickets at cheap rates. Almost all the airlines offer great discount offers if you make the bookings early. Be a little flexible with your schedule so that you can get the cheapest airfare. Take the flights on weekdays as weekend flights will cost you much more.

There are some special offers also. You can get to know about these special offers from the airlines websites. You may get great discount offers that are actually much better than the ones offered regularly. However you should be careful before going for the offer. Read the fine prints carefully to make sure that there are no restrictions and hidden charges. You need to act fast because such offers disappear very quickly.

One last tip to offer is trying to get connecting flights. These always end up being much cheaper than the direct flight. This allows the sites to use the cheapest airlines throughout each step of your trip, instead of using the cheapest airline and only one airport. This is perfect especially if you are taking an extended flight as you will need to take a break anyway!

All this is possible only when you plan your trip well in advance. It is difficult for a student to get discounted rates at the last moment.

George write many articles about airfares & travel on a shoestring budget. Check his airfare website that the airlines DON'T want you to see. Stop the airline companies from fleecing you of your hard earned money and discover discount airfares!

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Soi Nana: Thailands Bohemian Mix in the Heart of Bangkok

Soi Nana: Thailands Bohemian Mix in the Heart of Bangkok
By Rex Freiberger

Sitting amongst the throngs of Arabic pedestrians, Soi Nana is one of the most culturally diverse, and sensually enticing neighborhoods of Bangkok. Deriving its popularity from the confluence of numerous Arabic and Northern African hotels and restaurants, the area caters directly to the Arabic expatriate community of Bangkok as well as the tourist community of the same geographic make up. Established in the late 1970s around the Nana Hotel, it quickly became a hot spot for the Thailand sex trade, flourishing into what is known today as the Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP). Located across from Sukhumvit Soi 4, this area eventually developed into one of the top three red-light districts of Bangkok, preceded by Patpong and Soi Cowboy.

Located down the street from this now Japanese dominated sex district, Soi Nana has become a popular expatriate hang out, providing ample opportunity for Western and Arabic guests alike to indulge in vast quantities of authentic Arabic foods typically centered around the main staple of the Arabic diet, nan bread. Just walking down the street from The Grace Hotel, through the main road, the sights and smells are more than enough to draw a passerby into a sidewalk caf to sample the cuisines and shishas which have made this street famous.

As expats ourselves, we have come to love this soi as one of our favorite places to end a week of work. It is not uncommon to see us down at Al Ferdoss or .. on a Thursday or Friday evening, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere and unrivaled hospitality. Being able to unwind after a long day of sight seeing and touring the citys wat is not a bad idea either. Whatever your reason may be - if you are interested in experiencing some authentic Middle Eastern and Arabic culture, but are not ready to head to the Middle East, Soi Nana can act as a surrogate for such an experience.

Rex sells his beautiful & funky line of unique handmade handbags at budget friendly prices. Sign up for his newsletter at Siam Sensibilities and get his exclusive Aromatherapy E-book and 10% off all purchases.

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