Sunday, February 13, 2011

Auckland Travel

Auckland Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) so you can see some of New Zealand’s best wilderness walks. We take you far off the beaten track, along a path uncharted even by the most comprehensive guidebooks and deep into the timeless rainforest.

You’ll walk through shaded, pristine valleys and steep yourself in the fresh scents and the pure sounds of the bush. You’ll scale dramatic rocky outcrops to drink in eye-misting, breathtaking views. You’ll hike along the soaring coastal cliff and watch the sea surge and crash on the windswept black-sand beach below.

Our Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) highlights include:
• The Waitakere Ranges, known to local Maori as Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa, or the great forests of Tiriwa, in memory of one of their esteemed ancestors. Time stands still in this ancient rainforest which is home to rare native flora and fauna, towering native trees, secret waterfalls and pristine streams.
• The wild West Coast with its sheer, soaring cliffs and unique black sand beaches pounded by the mighty Tasman Sea.
• Snacks and hot/cold drinks in a secluded bush glade or in a sunny cliff top clearing.


Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) cost NZ $145 per person.

Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) include:
Transport to and from Auckland Central, a full, personal, half day Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tour, snacks, hot/cold drinks and all equipment, plus all taxes and park fees.

Auckland Guided Wilderness Walking Tours (half day) timeframe:
Pick up 10am and return 2pm;
or pick up 2pm and return 6pm.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Honeymoon in Hawaii

There are so many reasons why Hawaii turns up as No. 1 on the list of top destinations for honeymooners year after year. For one thing, once you get outside crowded, touristy Waikiki, it's absolutely beautiful. Serene.

Best Hawaiian Hotels for Honeymooners >

The air is filled with the fragrance of exotic tropical flowers, such as plumeria. Thick banyan trees gracefully drop their branches to the ground, and grow upwards from there. The water is a pristine turquoise blue. The beaches are immaculate, and uncrowded.

And you can try out just about any water sport you ever imagined. After all, surfing began here.

The food is great, too. You can get just nearly anything you like, but preferred local delicacies come from the sea. Fresh mahi-mahi and opakapaka plucked from the Pacific Ocean and garnished with Hawaiian macadamia nuts are heavenly. Maui onions are sweet as can be. And the island's kettle-cooked potato chips are so salty and crunchy, they redefine the meaning of sinfully good.

See More on Your Vacation

It feels like another world, but it's the USA. And it's easy to get around, once you arrive. Don't plan to stay long in Waikiki; it's too urban, too crowded. The kind of place you should see once...and then depart for calmer shores.

Hawaiian Air makes it relatively easy to island-hop and even offers inter-island air-hotel-rental car packages. If you're going to be spending any amount of time here, I suggest you do that.

Four days on one island and three on another could be the perfect amount (if you can't stay a lifetime... which you will consider doing).

Definitely plan to rent a car, and go exploring. There aren't that many roads on the outer islands, so it's unlikely you'll get lost. But it is likely that you'll come upon scenes of exquisite beauty, where you'll feel compelled to pull over and simply marvel at how amazing nature can be, when all her elements are in perfect balance.

You'll have to sleep sometime. And there are many, many places to choose from, in all price ranges. On the next pages, I've compiled a list of what I believe to be the...

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Monet's Garden

Monet’s Garden

Monet’s Garden is open from April to October and is an easy hours drive from Paris. I went last year at the beginning of April which was a huge mistake as very few of the bulbs were in flower. It didn’t really matter because there were cherry trees in bloom as well as some annuals and daffodils but it would have been so much more beautiful later on when the tulips, irises, wisteria, and so many other plants are in flower. You can see the flowering calendar here.

Whenever you go though, it’s still amazing to see the garden which inspired the Impressionist painter. The highlight is the Japanese water garden where you can see the famous Japanese bridge and water lilies depicted in his paintings.

Monet’s Garden is a little tricky to get to using public transport so I suggest hiring a car to get there.

Day Trips from Paris
Chantilly

The town of Chantilly is most well known for being the birth place of Chantilly cream. The French both invented and perfected Chantilly cream and if you’re anything like me you’ll enjoy it at every opportunity when in France. Of course I’m not suggesting you go to Chantilly to spend the day indulging in cream, the reason to take a day trip there is to visit the Chateau de Chantilly.

The chateau is just plain adorable. It’s surrounded by a moat and extensive formal and informal gardens. You can easily spend hours wandering around the woods and that’s exactly what I did.

Chantilly is easy to get to by both car and train so there’s really no reason not to go.

Chateau de Chantilly
Chartres

Chartres is one of the most relaxing day trips you can do from Paris. There aren’t loads of thing to do so there is no need to rush around. Take your time to visit the famous cathedral and then wander around the old town. My favourite thing to do when visiting towns like Chartres is to pick a nice little cafe to sit in where I can people watch or read my Kindle and then move along to the next little cafe and rinse and repeat. There’s not much to do but enjoy a long lunch, do a little window shopping, and cafe hop. What more do you want from a pretty town one hours drive from Paris.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Paris Travel

One of the most beautiful cities in the entire world that present vacationers and tourists great historic scenery and monuments is Paris - the Capital of France. There are quite a lot of interesting places to visit if you are in Paris - the City of Light as it is called by its citizens. You can never want of things to views. For those who love sightseeing Paris is the right place for that. Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe, Notre dame cathedral and others are some of the interesting places to visit.

However, one of the problems facing vacationers which make it difficult for them to have affordable breaks in Paris is the high cost of things in Paris. Indeed, living in Paris is more expensive than cities and Provinces in France. However, having affordable breaks in Paris is a possibility for all those who know how to plan for their trip. You will be having cheap breaks in Paris if you can keep to the following tips.

Before you move into Paris, you need to plan for your break there and then budget for it on time. Do not just go to Paris without making adequate budget for your holiday in Paris. Budgeting is the first secret of having cheap breaks in Paris. The problem many people are having is that they do not know how to budget properly for their trips. Use a sheet of paper and write out things that you may need to buy in Paris in case you want to shop in the city. Surf the internet and find out places of interest to visit. Write down the places you will like to visit. Find out what it will cost you to visit those places including transportation fees. The information you have gotten will help you to in enjoying cheap breaks in Paris.

Your dream of having less expensive breaks in Paris will come true, if you stick to your budget. There is the tendency for people to buy what is not in their budget. Buying against your budget will militate against your effort to have cheap breaks in Paris.

Look for airlines that offer affordable flight to Paris. The cheaper your transportation fee, the brighter your chances of having cheap break in Paris are. Flight fee can increase your budget. Using airline with fantastic packages helps to reduce the cost of your break; thus it is a stepping stone in having cheap breaks in Paris.

Accommodation fee is another thing that can increase your budget. There are various hotels and vacation rentals in Paris. It will be better for you to choose a hotel that is close to the places that you will like to visit. This will reduce the transportation cost and thus making it possible for you to have cheap breaks in Paris.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Niagara Tours and Attractions

IAGARA FALLS TOURS
Maximize your stay in Niagara. See the best the city has to offer in one economical tour package. Convenient pick-up & drop off at Hotel entrance.

Spring / Summer Tour Stops





Skylon Tower

Whirlpool Rapids


Maid of the Mist

Whirlpool

Floral Clock

Table Rock

Horseshoe Falls

Journey Behind the Falls

Bird Aviary








Fall / Winter




















Winter Festival Of Lights
Winter Festival Of Lights

This tour includes:

* Rossi Glass
* Table Rock at the Brink of the Falls
* Disney Light Display
* Skylon Tower
* Niagara Parkway Light Displays

This tour departs the hotel lobby nightly at 6 PM and takes you on a guided trip through Niagara's Festival of Lights.

BOOK TOUR:
Month: Day: Year: # Adults: # Kids:

Hilton Premier Niagara Falls Tour
Hilton Premier Niagara Falls Tour

This tour includes:
Admissions to the following attractions:

Spring Summer Tour

Maid of the Mist Boat Ride
Journey Behind the Falls
Skylon Tower w/free night illumination return pass
Floral Clock
Whitewater Rapids
Butterfly Conservatory

In addition, you'll receive free passes to the White Water Boardwal and the brand-new Niagara Fury (a combined $30 per person value) that you can use at your leisure during your stay at Niagara Falls.

Fall Winter Tour

Imax Theatre and Daredevil Museum
Journey Behind the Falls
Skylon Tower w/free night illumination return pass
TableRock Viewing Point
Whitewater Rapids
Butterfly Conservatory



Your tour guide will offer full-narration along with exceptional door-to-door service, giving you a day sure to provide memories to last a lifetime.
BOOK TOUR:
Month: Day: Year: # Adults: # Kids:

Wine and Dinner Tour
Wine and Dinner Tour

This tour includes:
This tour departs every Friday and Saturday evening at 4:00 PM from the Hilton lobby. The tour includes a visit to four Niagara wineries with an extensive tour at one winery and tastings at all four. You will also enjoy a full sample of Niagara's "world renowned" ICEWINE. You tour comes complete with a succulent dinner at the esteemed Epicurean Restaurant.

You will visit:

*Reif Estate Winery (Ice Wine Sample)
*Peller Estates Winery
*Jackson Triggs Winery (Tour)
*Dinner at Epicurian Restaurant
*Shopping at Niagara-on-the-Lake

(Wineries and restaurants may be substituted due to special occasions)



BOOK TOUR:
Month: Day: Year: # Adults: # Kids:

Niagara on the Lake Winery Tour
Niagara on the Lake Winery Tour

This tour includes:
*This tour departs every morning from the lobby of the Hilton at 10:00 AM. The tour includes a visit to three Niagara wineries with an extensive tour at one winery and tastings at all three. You will also enjoy a full sample of Niagara's "world renowned" ICEWINE. You will enjoy a gourmet lunch at the esteemed Queenston Heights Restaurant.

You'll also be given ample time to visit the many shops and museums in historic Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The tour also offers some interesting and informative facts about charming Niagara-on-the-Lake and the rich history of the surrounding areas.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Travel Australia

2-Nights Snorkel to Adventure

2-Nights Snorkel to Adventure beginning and ending in Cairns.

2 nights from $619 per person




Click Here for Full Itinerary



Featured Destinations

Cairns

Cairns is the sunny garden city where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics Rainforest, mountains and the gulf savannah not too far away. The city's water front boasts a world class marina and wharf used by visiting cruise liners, yachts and tour vessels. Cairns is situated in the Northern end of Tropical Queensland Australia. It's a modern city with a good location to explore some of Australia's vast array of flora and fauna. With a magnificent Casino, Cairns is alive with more activities than a visitor will ever have time for. The principal attraction is the over 60 national parks from the wet tropical rain forests and lush tablelands to the truly wild Cape York Peninsula and the Great Barrier Reef.









Valid Travel Dates


Number of Nights: 2
Vacation Inclusions:

* 2 nights accommodation on board including linen
* Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D) as per itinerary
* Transfers between your accommodation and the boat
* Snorkel equipment

Friday, January 21, 2011

Las Vegas Attractions

Arts FactoryDowntown 105 E Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 676-1111



The Arts Factory Las Vegas is a collection of artists, architects, photographers, graphic designers, & galleries all gathered under one roof and is located near downtown Las Vegas in the Arts District. Facility rental is available. First Friday's event every month is from 6pm-9pm. Free of Charge.


Atomic Testing Museum, 755 E Flamingo Road, Las Vegas

(702) 794-5161. The museum provides multiple viewpoints on the Nevada Test Site and its impact on the nation. An 8,000 square foot exhibit hall with artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, pieces of the Berlin wall and World Trade Centers. Designed to be a highly interactive experience. Touch screens, motion sensitive plasma TV presentations, audio interviews with former workers from the test site, more multi media components.



Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

3600 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas. Bellagio Casino Hotel.



Just beyond Bellagio's gracious lobby lies the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a kaleidoscope for your senses. Open 24 hours. Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



Las Vegas Attractions!



Bellagio Gallery Of Fine Art. Open daily.

3600 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas. Bellagio Casino Hotel.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art presents exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and works on paper by the world's most influential artists. Rotating museum caliber exhibitions, which have featured renowned artists ranging from Picasso to Warhol, offer visitors a rare opportunity to view legendary works of art carefully selected from prestigious international collections.

Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



Bonnie Springs Old Nevada, Red Rock Canyon Ave., Nevada

Open daily 10am - 6pm, plus admission. An old western town, restaurant, shops, Western shootouts, and horseback riding. Petting zoo, cowboys and cowgirls, a miniature train ride, and on weekends and holidays, a "posse" show where the kids can even help track down the 'bad guy". This little old mining town offers simulated gunfights in the streets, an 1880's melodrama in its Saloon, even a public hanging, with an obliging Stuntman swaying in the wind. (702) 875-4191.



Circus Circus Hotel and Casino - Circus Acts

2880 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas



World-renowned live circus acts free everyday! Performances are daily from 11am. Circus Circus Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



Las Vegas Attractions!



CSI: The Experience at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

3799 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas. Survey the crime scene, gather the evidence, solve the case! This dynamic interactive experience offers visitors a hands on challenge to solve a hypothetical crime: 3 murders, 15 lab stations, 15 suspects, 3 killers. Guided by videos featuring cast members from the hit TV show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, alongside real life forensic scientists, you? Recommended for ages 12 through adult. MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Las Vegas



CSN Planetarium & Observatory, Northeast / North Las Vegas

3200 E Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas. (702) 651-4759.



CSN Planetarium & Observatory have educational and entertaining programs year round.





Las Vegas Attractions!