Showcasing the top 10 highest hotels in New York City. These tallest New York hotels offer amazing views of the New York skyline to gaze in awe at from the comfort of your bedroom.
All too often the focus of a winter break is to head off somewhere hot and sunny and tropical, leaving the cold far behind. However, Winter can be a magical season, all frosted trees, cozy drinks in warm bars and twinkling lights. This year, instead of escaping the cold, embrace it in one of these 5 enchanting destinations.
This all inclusive holiday advert from First Choice is great timing as many of us are dreaming of sun, sand, sea and sangria after the busy Christmas period and winter weather (especially here in the UK!). Most summer family holidays are booked this time of the year so First Choice have got their timing and audience spot on! The advert basically tells the story of a man who's booked a First Choice All Inclusive holiday. He goes from home-to-plane-to-hotel in a dreamlike celebration amid much high-fiving and cheering from friends, fellow customers and First Choice staff. The whole advert is based around the feel-good factor you get when you go on an all inclusive holiday. It's that peace of mind that everything's included in the price - flights, transfers, accommodation, food and drink.
Because he has paid upfront, he can indulge, safe in the knowledge he won't be forking out every five minutes or constantly counting the pennies.
Accidents and inevitable injuries can occur at anytime, which is why it is extremely wise to invest in a good travel insurance cover. Travel insurance can in fact make all the difference to a traveler if any one of the above is to occur. Without travel insurance the above quandaries can become very costly ones.
As well as medical concerns, travel insurance also covers the likes of personal belongings. These usually have an excess value, which is why it is wise to read the small print prior to investing in such a policy. It is also wise to shop around, as there are arrays of companies that offer travel insurance and not all are the same.
Shopping around will allow you to source the travel insurance cover that is best suited to all of your needs.
Travellers will need to carry around a lot of expensive belongings. These include the likes of credit cards, debit cards, money, luggage and passports. All of these are much needed items and will be very expensive to replace without any kind of travel insurance.
Travel insurance therefore acts as a safety net and should most definitely be considered. Be sure to look at as many different options as possible - check out http://endsleigh.co.uk for example.
Whether you are taking a long trip or a short break, any one of the above situations can occur at any time. This is why it is important to keep your back covered at all times. This way you will be able to really relax and enjoy your time away.
When taking out a travel insurance policy, you should ask as many questions as required in order to determine that this is the best possible policy to suit both your needs and your budget.
Some people may end up paying a lot more or a lot less than they in fact need to and end up with the wrong cover all together. This is why it always important to read up on the company in question.
Where is the coolest place to stay and see the Northern Lights? Our vote goes to Hotel Igloo Village Kakslauttanen in Finland. The Northern Lights can be seen anywhere above 60 degrees north latitude but this place is special and these pictures show...
Hotel Igloo Village Kakslauttanen, Finland
Surrounded by Lapland's exotic and stunning scenery, Hotel Igloo Village Kakslauttanen offers 31 first-class log cabins in Lapland. Hotel Igloo Village Kakslauttanen is located in the Saariselka fell area amidst beautiful Finnish Lapland scenery in the vicinity of Urho Kekkonen National Park along the road leading to Nordkap and the Arctic Ocean. Just look at these pictures to see how stunning this place is...
Imagine yourself sleeping in an Igloo made of Snow. It is totally quiet. Lights inside ice illuminate the Igloo. These make the atmosphere so exciting that never get bored of marvelling it, until you fall to deep, comfortable sleep in your warm down sleeping bag.
When sleeping in the Glass Igloos the customer is able to marvel the amazing northern lights and the millions of stars in the sky. The experience is also unforgettable when there is a snowstorm.
Kakslauttanen is a cool place for seeing the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, as in the area there are not so many electric lights outside and it is north enough so that the probability of them is very high from late August to late April.
Every January we find ourselves busy planning travel for the year ahead and 2012 is no different. After a busy Christmas period coupled with the dreary winter weather we enjoy so much here in England, we long to feel the sunshine on our backs!
Amongst our travel plans for 2012 include a 4 night break in Dubai for our friends wedding, 2 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, 1 week holiday in Spain and a New York Christmas city break. We're currently busy researching cheap flights to these destinations and then looking to book accommodation, travel insurance etc nearer the time of our travels.
Of course you are! We spotted this well-timed competition being run by Sol Hotels, who are offering you and three of your nearest and dearest to be whisked away to the Canary Islands for 4 nights. Sol Hotels are part of Melia Hotels International who were was founded by Gabriel Escarrer Juliá in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca. They are the world's leading hotel chain for holidays. You can choose what you want to experience on your holiday with your partner, friends, or as a family with your children.
Located in the principal tourist destinations of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, Sol Hotels have comfortable rooms, a wide range of restaurants and bars, spectacular swimming pools and extensive activities programs designed for young and old. This is why they are popular.
It’s safe to say that in the past year Mexico has suffered as a prospective travel destination as a result of the ongoing problems caused by the widely publicised war between rival drug gangs. This bad press has had an adverse effect on tourism in the country, but before you discount Mexico as a potential holiday destination altogether, take a look at this list of 5 great holiday destinations that are still very much safe to visit (but remember…don’t forget your travel insurance !) .
1. Mexico City
The first port of call for any Mexican excursion should be the magnificent Mexico City, the countries capital city and home to over 21 million people.
Whilst staying the city be sure to visit the Zocalo plaza, one of the world’s biggest public spaces and the heart of the city.
Amongst the bustling streets, packed with historical buildings and monuments, you will also find a vibrant modern city with plenty of shops, bars and cafes to spend your foreign currency in.
2. Copper Canyon
In stark contrast to the crowded streets of Mexico City, the next destination that we would heartily recommend you visit is the breathtaking Copper Canyon.
Although almost completely anonymous in comparison to its American brother – The Grand Canyon – the Copper Canyon, a group of Canyons in the Chihuahua region of Mexico, is actually larger and in some places deeper than its US counterpart. Portions of Copper Canyon are deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The entire canyon system stretches approximately 900 miles. The name “Copper Canyon” comes from the bronze-like color of the canyon walls. While copper is mined in some parts of the canyon, silver and gold are more common.
3. Oaxaca
Widely considered to be the most ethnically diverse area of Mexico, the Oaxaca state in the South-eastern region of the country is home to an incredible patchwork of cultures and traditions, with over 15 different ethnic groups still present and thriving in the region. Alongside this incredible ethnic diversity, the Oaxaca region is home to some of Mexico’s most beautiful scenery.
The name of Oaxaca comes from the Nahuatl word Huayacac. Its roots are Huaxin (kind of acacia) and Yacalt (peak, edge, top), top of the acacias.
It is 1,550 meters over the sea level with a yearly average temperature of 29,3°C (maximum) and 12,5°C (minimum).
The weather varies a lot because of the irregular surface of the soil. It is hot and dry in the coastal area near the Pacific; humid and hot in the Pacific Coast; and it varies in the Sierra Madre, being mild in the rest of the State and cold in areas with an altitude higher than 2,000 meters above sea level.
4. Monterrey
As Mexico’s second richest, and more importantly in the countries current situation, its safest city, Monterrey represents another great opportunity to experience Mexican urban life.
Monterrey has a huge amount on offer for tourist willing to explore, such as the Grutas de Garcia caves which are located roughly 30km from the city and are comprised of an astonishing system of caves that date back to more than 50 million years ago.
5. Puebla
If you think you might find Mexico City a little hectic, perhaps consider a trip to Puebla – a city widely considered as being Mexico-city-lite.
With a paltry 1.5million residents compared to Mexico City’s 21 million, Puebla is no more than a village in comparison but is still packed with cathedrals, museums and beautiful historic architecture to enjoy, in a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than the capital.
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is a stately mosque of stunning Moroccan architecture and amazingly only took 6 years to construct! It was built for the 60th birthday of former Moroccan king Hassan II and is the largest religious monument in the world after Mecca and is a must see for anyone in Casablanca.
The craftsmanship of the mosque is stunning featuring all local materials with the exception of chandeliers which were made in Murano, Italy. The mosque is the seventh largest in the world and is built right into the Atlantic Ocean. Its minaret is the world's tallest at 210m. The mosque was completed in 1993 after great expense and artistic labor, and the result is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. Its gleaming newness and tremendous wealth is a stark contrast against the rest of Casablanca.
The Hassan II Mosque is open to all Muslims at daily prayer times and for special Friday services. Non-Muslim visitors may enter the mosque on guided tours, which take place several times a day in English.
The most distinctive characteristic of the Hassan II Mosque is its spectacular location (see aerial view below) on a platform over the Atlantic Ocean. Uniquely, part of the mosque's floor is made of glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea. Unfortunately, this wonderful feature is mainly for royal use and is off-limits to visitors.
Above, an automated sliding roof opens (on special occasions) to the heavens. Thus the faithful of Casablanca can indeed contemplate God's sky and ocean in accordance with Hassan's wishes.
At 689 feet, the Great Mosque's minaret is the tallest structure in Morocco and the tallest minaret in the world. At night, lasers shine a beam from the top of the minaret toward Mecca, "to point the way to God." The building was designed to withstand earthquakes and has a heated floor and electric doors.
The style of the Hassan II Mosque displays strong Moorish influences, bringing to mind the Alhambra and Mezquita in Spain. Horseshoe arches prevail both outside and in, and the walls and columns of the interior are delicately carved in a variety of intricate patterns.
There is a huge women's gallery on the right as you face the prayer area, which is beautifully carved of dark wood. The prayer area in the back is spacious and carpeted in red. Downstairs are Turkish-style baths and fountains for washing.
Tour Cost
You can tour this amazing mosque for 120 Dirham (at the time of this review that is about $15 USD).
Video of Hassan II Mosque
Getting there
You can get flights to Casablanca from all major cities of the UK including London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
The Red Sea in Egypt is now a firm favorite with scuba divers from around the world. Named as one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World', the Red Sea is superb for diving here we feature 5 of the best places to dive in the Red Sea.
The Red Sea is the habitat of over 1,000 invertebrate species, and 200 soft and hard corals. It is the world's northernmost tropical sea.
1. Sharm El Sheikh
The Thistlegorm was a British Merchant Navy ship sunk on 6 October 1941 near Sharm el Sheikh and is now a well known and popular dive site. Combine that with a dive or 2 on the Ras Mohammed reef and you have got some of the best boat diving in Egypt.
2. Dahab
Numerous options for shore dives combined with warm, clear water make Dahab a popular spot in any dive itinerary. The Blue Hole and the Canyon have to be the top 2 advanced and technical dive sites and The Islands is an awesome dive for all levels of qualification. Boat trips to southern dive sites are becoming more popular.
3. Sha’ab Abu Nuhâs Reef in the Straits of Gubal
This great reef is also known as the “ships graveyard”. Numerous wrecks are within 40m of the surface and the top 3 have to be the Carnatic, Ghannis D, and Chrisoula K. These wrecks are spectacular and make fantastic material for the underwater photographer. Liveaboards out of Hurghada will get you there.
4. Hurghada
The Giftun Islands has been a marine reserve for a few years now and this has to be one of the best boat dives in the Hurghada area with the chance to swim with dolphins in their natural habitat. Explore picturesque coral formations sticking out from the main reef wall decorated with soft corals. Good drift diving abounds.
5. Marsa Alam
A relatively new dive spot, the dives and bays around Marsa Alam are home to excellent corals, large turtles, Guitar sharks and occasionally pods of dolphins. The coral reefs along the Marsa Alam coast are a real treasure trove for any diver. Well worth the extra effort needed to get there.
There are so many choices when it comes to booking your diving holiday in the Red Sea. One we have used is Red Sea holidays with holidayhypermarket. What we would recoomend is to get yourself online and shop for the best deal.
As cool places go, there's nowhere in the world quite like Western Australia and here we feature 10 of our favorite things to see and do in this amazing part of the world. Offering a charming mix of nature and coastal experiences, including World Heritage-listed national parks, swimming with dolphins and even the country's whitest beach, Western Australia has a little something for everyone. So without further ado, let Travelphant take you on a journey around 10 of the coolest things to see and do in Western Australia.
1. Kings Park and Botanic Gardens
Larger than New York's Central Park, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens is visited by over 6 million people annually. The park and gardens are one of the largest inner-city parks in the world at more than 400 hectares (988 acres). You need about 3 or 4 days to cover the park which includes Western Power Parkland, DNA Tower, Botanical and Water Gardens, War Memorial and Lotterywest Playground. Showcasing some of the world’s most unique flora, here you will find towering trees, natural bushland, lakes, grand lookouts and sculpted botanical gardens.
Kings Park and Botanic Gardens - Entry is free and they are open all day, every day of the year.
Here's a short video showcasing the park and gardens.
2. Bungle Bungles
350 million years in the making, the amazing Bungle Bungles range in the World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park, Western Australia is the most unique range in the world and a must see either by foot or even better...a flight over it!
A flight over the Bungle Bungles is an exhilarating experience!
3. Ningaloo Reef Ningaloo Reef is one of the best places in the world for swimming with the largest fish in the sea, the gentle Whale Shark which grows up to 52.5 feet long.
Ningaloo is one of very few regions in the world where Whale Sharks gather regularly in coastal waters and are easily accessible to visitors.
Western Australia has one of the longest whale-watching seasons in the world, running from June until December each year and stretching the length of the West Australian coast. The largest population of Humpback Whales in the world migrate along the pristine waters of the Kimberley coast, using the area as a breeding and calving ground. In many places along the coast you can see whales from shore, or join one of the many whale watching tours.
4. Turquoise Bay, Western Australia
The aptly named Turquoise Bay is one of Western Australia's best beaches. Located near the town of Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef featured above is just a few meters away and is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon relaxing, swimming and snorkelling.
Try your hand at the popular drift snorkel by swimming out to the reef on the southern end of the beach, then letting the current wash you north to the sand bar. You'll see colourful coral and plenty of fish - more than 500 fish species reflecting every colour of the rainbow live in and around the reef.
5. Monkey Mia
Monkey Mia is famous for its amazing 40-year wildlife ritual where wild dolphins come close to the shore every day to the delight of visitors. It's one of the best and most reliable places for wild dolphin interaction in the world – the dolphins visit almost daily, not just seasonally.
If you are lucky enough, you might even spot a baby dolphin!
6. The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
10 minutes north of Walpole on Western Australia’s south coast is the first walk trail of its kind in the world. At 600 metres (656 yards) long and 40 metres (44 yards) above ground, it has been specially designed to minimise impact on the forest. Walking amongst the tall forest trees is a breathtaking experience.
Take a walk through the Valley of the Giants, the only place in the world where you can see the giant tingle tree, and you’ll be in awe at the Tree Top Walk – a 420m steel walkway that is 40m above the ground!
7. Lucky Bay
Located near Esperance in Western Australia, Lucky Bay is Australia’s whitest beach and rated one of Australia’s best beaches for its pure white sand, clear turquoise water and perfect swimming conditions.
Lucky Bay is officially the whitest beach in Australia
The following video is quite possible one of the cheesiest tourism videos we have seen in a while but it does do the job in showing off just how stunning this area is.
8. The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles at Nambung National Park, near the town of Cervantes, Western Australia are regarded as one of Australia’s most unique landscapes. You can walk amongst these incredible limestone spires that rise eerily out of the sand, some several metres tall.
9. Karijini National Park
Karijini National Park has some of the oldest rock formations in the world dating back a mind blowing 4 billion years. The park is one of Australia's largest and most spectacular with amazing gorges and waterfalls. A visit to Karijini National Park is a must when holidaying in Western Australia and is best accessed by joining a 4 wheel drive tour from Exmouth, Karratha or Port Hedland.
10. Perth
Perth, the capital of Western Australia is an amazing city whether you visit by day or night. It's the perfect place for a special day out or stay with excellent shopping, eating out, entertainment, culture, leisure and sport are all within close proximity to each other.
If you believe this following map, you would think the only interesting thing in Western Australia is the sharks!
Flights to Perth
Perth has an airport which is the 4th busiest in Australia and flights to Perth are are available from all the leading airports in the UK.
For more information visit the Perth Airport website.
Ever wondered which hotel Ant and Dec stay in when filming 'i'm a celebrity get me out of here' in Australia? Well we can reveal it's the 5 star luxury Palazzo Versace hotel on the Gold Coast (surfers paradise), Queensland, Australia.
The Palazzo Versace is the world's first Versace hotel. The 5 story luxury hotel opened its doors on the 15th of September, 2000. It has 205 classical hotel rooms, 72 privately owned condominiums, 3 award-winnin restaurants, health spa Salus per Aquum and a private marina.. It also incorpoarets a Gianni Versace boutique and a private marina, all on a historic site at the edge of the Gold Coast Broadwater.
Room Facilities:
Media Hub - iPod docking and laptop plug and play facilities
Complimentary broadband internet access
CD/DVD Player
Sony LCD television
Tea and coffee making facilities, complimented with Versace china
Luxe pillow menu
Black Versace robes and slippers
Bespoke bathroom amenities
Dual spa bath
Hotel Facilities
Water Salon experience, with treatments around a 65m heated outdoor lagoon pool with a pure white sand beach
Spa and Fitness Centre
3 award winning restaurants
Lounge Bar
Flexible conference space with a capacity of up to 500
Planning on taking a holiday to Mexico in the near future? Before you start digging around for your passport, changing up your travel money and buying new swimming shorts, take a look at this collection of some of Mexico’s most unique and interesting tourist destinations, which may give you some great ideas for places to visit on your holiday.
The Call of the Quetzal
If you take a trip to Mexico’s famous Chichen Itza, the archaeological ruins of a Mayan civilisation which is situated in the Yucatan state of Mexico, then you may be lucky enough to hear the fabled ‘Call of the Quetzal.’
The Quetzal is a bird that was sacred to the Mayan’s and it is said that if you stand in the right place by the main pyramid in Chichen Itza you can hear a bird-like call.
This has been explained by some to have been created by the Mayans by building a series of air passages that create the bird like sound when the wind passes through them.
El Castillo
Staying in Chichen Itza, we have ‘El Castillo’ - a step pyramid that is also known as the Temple of Kukulkan.
What makes ‘El Castillo’ (Spanish for castle) so interesting is that during the spring and autumn equinoxes, when the sun rises and sets the shadow of a serpent can be seen moving along its side as the sun strikes part of the pyramid – illustrating the Mayan’s incredible understanding of the sun and ability to carefully calculate its arc.
Cuexcomate
Mexico’s Puebla City holds the honour of being home to the world’s smallest volcano, Cuexcomate. Standing at a less-than-impressive 43 feet tall, it is widely considered to be the smallest volcano on the face of the earth.
The volcano is no longer active and its inside is now home to a spiral staircase, allowing tourists to investigate its interior.
Compare Cuexcomate to the Ojos Del Salado volcano which sits on the border between Chile and Argentina, measuring an impressive 22,615 feet tall, it is easy to see why the Cuexcomate is such an interesting and uniquely miniature volcano.
Arbol Del Tule
The Arbol Del Tule is a tree situated in the town centre of Santa Maria Del Tule, around 9km east of the city of Oaxaca. It is widely regarded as having the widest trunk of any tree in the world.
The tree has a circumference of nearly 38 feet around its trunk and is roughly 116ft tall. Although the exact age of the tree is unknown, it is believed to be around 2000 years old – making it one of the oldest trees on the planet.
10 Luxury Ski Resorts in Europe
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Skiing used to be an elite exclusive sport which only the very wealthy
could afford but today it is accessible to everyone with a varied mix of
travel opti...
for the year ahead and 2012 is no different. After a busy Christmas period coupled with the dreary winter weather we enjoy so much here in England, we long to feel the sunshine on our backs!
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