Your Travel Notes

Archive for October, 2009

Villa And Apartment Rentals In Marbella – Spain

Marbella’s saying is A Way of Life and certainly this luxurious resort town seems to have it all. It is once again rising to the forefront as a favourite location with the rich and famous as well as more ordinary folk who are willing to pay just a little bit extra for southern Spain’s answer to St Tropez.

Not too long ago Marbella sharpened its image even more thanks to a considerable investment initiated by the town’s colourful and controversial late mayor Jesus Gil which resulted in a massive landscaping drive.

However Marbella has a down to earth side as well an air of individuality which can be best appreciated by exploring back streets in the old part of town. Among the prettiest places is the fabled Orange Square which is located just off the main street in the older district and is also home to the 16th century town hall and tourist office where you can pick up a detailed map and any visitor information.

Within Orange Square or La Plaza de los Naranjos as it is called in Spanish expect to meet with stately buildings small shops art galleries bars and bistros and is a hub of activity day and night. Depending on the time of year the colours here can be vibrant with the trees and exotic tropical plants set against a backdrop of dazzling white buildings and a lovely deep blue sky.

Make sure you explore the honeycomb of surrounding narrow streets where homes and shops intermingle to create the atmosphere of a small village rather than a cosmopolitan town. There are numerous excellent restaurants to choose from ranging from those specialising in the predictably pricey exclusive cordon bleu to the gritty individuality of a backstreet Spanish bar where the Serrano ham is gently cured by tobacco smoke and the tapas are both tasty and filling!

When choosing your rental property here prices are not the lowest. It is best to opt for a self catering apartment or a house rental. Self catering holidays offer you more in the way of getting involved with the local national culture.

Whether you are looking for a long or short term rental you should be able to find your ideal villa rental in Marbella.

About the writer:  Katie Warr is a destination rep for Self Property Rental offering a wide selection of Apartment Rental in Marbella!

Vacation In China: Plan Your Holidays

China has become one of the most dreamed destinations for large number of people all around the globe. The reason being is its rich culture history and various tourist attractions. If you are thinking about visiting China it would feasible to solicit the services any tour operator which could assist you in making your travel plans.

China is a huge country with various provinces each having its own distinct scenic spots and wonderful places to visit. If you are new to China are not familiar about these places and do not want to miss them then there are few tour packages that would definitely suit you travel plans and your budget as well. You would definitely want to add these places to your itinerary.

Depending on your requirement interest and budget you can select from a vast variety of tour itineraries. You will not only get to visit different places in China but also some attracting and alluring accommodations as well in some super deluxe hotels and at discounted rates. Moreover these travel packages includes booking the airline tickets and all the other necessary things which you will not have to worry about once getting there. Along with booking the airline tickets and hotel accommodations the common tour packages for a leisure vacation in China could include:

Classic China tours: these tour packages are designed particularly for visiting the must see places of China like the Great Wall of China and various other historical highlights in Beijing the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian Terracotta Warriors and the Bund and Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai.

Wildlife and Nature tours: these tour packages are particularly for those who want to showcase the wildlife and natural landscapes of China. You can observe interesting sightseeing such as the Giant Panda breeding center and beautiful landscapes in Yunnan and also river cruises along the Lijiang River and Yangtze River.

Desert and Adventure tours: Desert and Adventure tours are ideal for hikers and the adventure lovers. Also if you are one who want to observe trekking in Guilin Yangshuo Silk Road travel and Tibet trekking amid local minorities in the rough country of the Yunnan district then these types of tours are the best tour package for you.

City tours are great for weekends and short stays in the famous China cities; these involves weekends in the chronological city of Beijing the commercial city of Shanghai and multiethnic city of Hong Kong ShangriLa in Zhongdian and also the ancient city of Lijiang.

If you are one of those travelers who like different culture and like to experience Chinese culture perchance wine tours and gastronomy would go with your travel experience.

Do not forget for lavish tourists who want to witness China with an elite feel Spa and Golf tour packages are obtainable to make sure that you experience is a superb holiday away from the loud cities. That too is in various far away first class resorts and hotels.

Apart the beach lovers can also experience beach tours. These tour packages can be arranged by various tour agencies that would ensure that you have the best vacation.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Reginald Melchor is a Leisure Travel Consultant.A whole world awaits everyone who need a change of scenery. To find out how to vacation at affordable prices or to earn additional income visit:http://www.earnvacations.com/vacation2easy/landing1/.Visit our blog: http://mmvacations.net/leisure

Unique Sydney: The Delights Of Darling Harbour

No visit to Sydney is complete without a visit to Darling Harbour. Not only does it offer a grand range of facilities for shopping dining and things for the kids to do it’s also the place to go to truly experience Sydney’s aquatic heritage.

Darling Harbour is conveniently located southeast of Circular Quay. You can get there on foot or by monorail but for the full experience you should arrive by boat. After all you’re here to explore Sydney’s seafaring past. You can choose a number of ferries and water taxis which dock at its piers and jetties.

First head for the Australian National Maritime Museum at the northern edge of the Darling Harbour waterfront. The museum includes both in and outdoor attractions including a wonderful replica of James Cooks HMB Endeavour. You can clamber aboard the destroyer HMAS Vampire and the submarine HMAS Onslow to get a real feel for maritime life. You can also explore traditional Aboriginal craft and examine the world’s fastest boat the Spirit of Australia.

Other highlights include a Vietnamese refugee boat that survived the voyage to Australia and a pearling lugger from the northwestern pearling town of Broome.

Among the display are ships’ logs handson exhibits a cinema and computer games. Daily free guided tours are provided in the galleries.

The museum also features the Yots Cafe Bar offering food and local wines and a store hawking maritime books souvenirs games and toys.

For your next insight into aquatic Sydney visit Sydney Aquarium. It’s one of the world’s largest aquariums with over 5000 varieties of local fish exhibited in their natural environments. Altogether the aquarium houses 11000 waterrelated creatures including reptiles and mammals including penguins and crocodiles from Australias seas and inland waterways.

One unique experience here is the “walk on the ocean floor”. This features underwater tunnels allowing a close up view of giant rays gray nurse sharks and seals.

There’s also a section devoted to the Great Barrier Reef with countless fish swarming around coral outcrops.

Sydney Aquarium is open 9.30am9pm daily. The weekend can get very crowded.

Next it’s pleasant to walk along the foreshore of Cockle Bay which was the original name given to Darling Harbour by the early settlers owing to the fertile shellfish found there. It was later the port of arrival for fresh produce and timber from Parramatta and the north coast. The area later became an industrial zone with port and railway yard. After decades of prosperity Darling Harbour declined and was revamped for the Sydney Bicentennial celebrations in 1988.

Stop for refreshments at the Cockle Wharf restaurant and cafe complex and perhaps round off your day at Darling Harbour with an evening cruise. You may see the great container shops nosing their way into port.

A visit to Darling Harbour is convenient and fun. A day out here offers wonderful glimpse of Sydney’s maritime past and how important the harbour is to this city. If you’re tempted to stay you’ll find a wide array of Darling Harbour hotels and guests houses to suit every mood and pocket.

About the writer:  Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Darling Harbour hotels as Quest On Dixon Darling Harbour and Metro Apartments On Darling Harbour.