Archive for September, 2009

bangkok hotels
arki0121 asked:


We are going to Bangkok in July with our two children (7 & 3) and plan to stay in Bangkok for a week before heading to Phuket. In Phuket, fortunately, we will be able to use our Mariotte points and that will cover our stay for 5 nights at the JW. Now we still have to work on the one in Bangkok. Does anybody have any tips on any current promotions / discounts of the Oriental, Conrad, Peninsula, Four Seasons, Shangri-La and etc.? Thanks.

bangkok hotels
Alina B asked:


Any hotels around the Airport in Bangkok? I have to transit there before heading to Indonesia. I don’t want to spend much money on that though. Preferable for only budget ones or any special rates I can get?

bangkok hotels
fffrrreeeddd asked:

I wanted to know where on Sukhumvit Road area I can stay for 1500 - 2500 baht and not pay a “joiner fee” at night if I bring a girlfriend back. Please be specific - and speak from experience!

Paris is a city famous around the world for, amongst other things, it’s history, elegance, class and style, and, for those reasons, it attracts millions of visitors throughout the year who want to stay there and experience it. Where to stay in Paris is a tough question to answer because there are so many fabulous places there to choose from.

Probably the best way to begin to choose is to decide what district you would prefer to be in. With twenty different districts, it may be a good idea to narrow your search to the left or right bank in order to keep your search short. Next, bring it down to districts founded on the inn or hotel which suits you the best in a particular district.

The left and right banks allude to the left and right side of the Seine River, which runs through central Paris to cut it in half. The “left bank” refers to the southern section of Paris, and the “right bank” refers to the northern half, since the River Seine runs westward.

Knowing this route will be helpful when you are trying to figure out where to stay in Paris. You’ll find that while both banks form the staple of Paris, they are quite different in feel and culture.

If you are into art, fashion, and the Bohemian lifestyle, the left bank is for you. It is the embodiment of Parisian popular culture and provides a great variety of interesting stores, historical markers, shops, trendy people and architecture. In Paris there is a great selection of exciting hotels, bed and breakfasts and inns, and some are affordably priced.

The right bank is where you will find the sophistication and refinement one thinks of when Paris is mentioned. It is also the business district where you will find the Champs Elysees and the L’Arc de Triomphe. It’s quite metropolitan, with affluent neighborhoods, and awe-inspiring contrasting architecture, both from classical and modern times.

About the Author:

Are London Hotels Overpriced?

Author: Rajul Chande

Is it really so hard to get a reasonably-priced hotel in London?

Visitors to London often complain about the high price of hotels. Are they right to do so?

Expensive is a relative term. You can have a wonderful priceless experience or spend little and find it poor value. Value is not easy to define.

So what does the hard data say? London comes 5th in the ranking of the world’s most expensive hotels, lagging behind Moscow, New York, Dubai and Venice (the source for this is Hotels.com).

Another survey by Hogg Robinson showed London hotel prices in 10th place (not as dear as New York, Mumbai and Stockholm among others).

London is only expensive because lots of people want to visit the city for business and pleasure, which naturally keeps prices high. That is the bad news.

But there is good news too. You can still grab value for money in London hotels but only if you search carefully. To achieve this, you should use independent blogs (such as London Hotels Insight) rather than hotel or booking websites which just want you to reserve any hotel as quickly as possible.

Ready for more good news? A separate survey (from the Economist) looked at the most expensive cities for all spending (beyond just hotel prices): this discovered that Paris and Copenhagen for example are a lot more expensive than London.

So while London hotels and London may seem expensive to tourists, this must be seen in the context of other leading city destinations.

The most important advice is to always book your hotel in London after searching out the best price on the internet. If you book based on just one website’s pricing, you will almost always be missing out on the best rate.

Do not be taken in by those so-called “best rate guarantees”. They are usually covered by plenty of legal wording to make it as hard as possible for you to enforce them.

The author of this article is an “insider” within the London hotel market and knows for a fact that some hoteliers charge different rates through different websites.

There is just one way to ensure that you obtain the very best London hotel deal: you need to use a “meta-search” tool which compares lots of different websites at the same time (preferably more than 20 or 30 sites). It is now as easy to do a one-click search of many websites for the best deal as it is to search a single website.

For example, the blog on London hotels linked below searches 30+ online booking websites to identify the best London hotel rate within a matter of seconds.

Everyone should use a hotel meta-search engine to get the best London hotel rate. By spending as little as possible on the hotel, it really frees up your budget to enjoy London to the max!

About the Author:

Rome’s Archo di Constantino, also called the Arch of Constantine in English, was built to commemorate the victory of Emperor Constantine over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Built in 315 CE, this is the most recent still extant truimphal arch in the city.

The arch is an impressive twenty one meters high, twenty-five and a half meters wide and nearly seven and a half meters deep, sporting three distinctive archways. The center one is eleven and a half meters wide and six and a half meters wide, and is the largest of the set, flanked by smaller arches.

The design is similar to the Arch of Septimus Severus, located on the Roman Forum. Both include a main section with detached columns, and an attic, or upper portion (not the top part of the house, as we use the term today). The attic sports a main inscription.

A visit to the famous arch is simple to do in Rome. Located across the ancient Road of Triumph, or Via Triumphalis - the road used by victorious emperors returning to the city - this arch says a lot about what Constantine wanted his rivals to think.

The arch is near to the Colossum, and can be easily visited by taking the Metro. It’s easy to add the Arch of Constantine into a tour of the ancient ruins of Rome, too, since there are many in this part of the city.

Depending on the angle and lighting you’re viewing the arch from, you may notice that some parts are a different color, and that it looks like it’s made out of different kinds of stone.

This is because the Arch of Constantine wasn’t built from scratch - it was made from other monuments in Rome. Borrowed pieces are especially evident in the lower portion of the arch.

The lower portion of the arch is solid marble blocks, with a staircase located high up in the thickness of the arch and hard to access from the ground. The attic is brick with a marble facing.

Some people have said that this kind of borrowing was done in order to make construction go faster or to make up for the lack of skill of builders. It’s hard to say exactly why the arch was made this way, but it provides another interesting historical detail.

The arch itself ended up as part of another building in the Middle Ages, when it became part of a family stronghold. It wasn’t until the eighteenth century that people began to excavate and restore it, with the last restoration happening in the late 1990s.

Your trip to Rome will probably include a number of ancient structures, so don’t forget to include the Arch of Constantine. While you’re near the Colossum, take a few moments to appreciate this interesting piece of Rome’s history.

About the Author:

Waking to backdrop of mist-covered mountains that overlook turquoise waters is a dream that can come true in Bali. This island paradise is the place where the surreal is real and relaxation is the order of every day. Getting here, however demands care in the planning. Fortunately, there are ways to make booking a Bali resort and lining up activities a pleasure.

Perhaps the most stress-free and effective way to facilitate travel in this luxury destination is to turn to the Internet for Bali holiday packages. When a reputable company assists in the planning and booking, it will become immediately possible to schedule a romantic Bali holiday complete with all the trimmings or a family vacation on a lush Bali beach.

Before turning to the Internet blindly in search of hotels in Bali, there are things to consider to help ensure an outcome that will result in a vacation of a lifetime. They include:

* The specialty of the travel service - Bali is a unique destination that is not intimately known to all travel Web site operators. To ensure that access to the best Bali hotels, attractions and activities is included in the planning, it is wise to consider the specialty of the service under consideration. The best companies are highly experienced in Bali travel and will specifically say so.

* The customer service provided - It doesn’t matter if the planning stay will involve a say at the Hard Rock Hotel Bali or a more intimate Bali villa, chances are questions about little details will arise. A good service will make sure its clients have access to topnotch customer service to address queries and concerns. Customer service should extend beyond the site to include actual people with real telephone numbers and physical addresses. E-mail enquiries will, of course, be offered, as well.

* The destinations offered - While Kuta Bali might be one of the best-known destinations in this tropical paradise, it is not the only one worth considering for a holiday. Solid services that truly know Bali understand that adventure awaits throughout the island. With this in mind, they offer accommodations in a variety of towns, including Nusa Dua, Ubud, Seminyak and beyond.

* The activities provided - Making every second of a Bali beach holiday special does demand careful planning. This goes beyond hotel selection to include activities and destinations of interests. A good travel service will assist on this front by offering its clients the ability to book tickets for attractions and tours, as well.

* The budget conscious - Spending time in the paradise that is Bali does not have to cost a small fortune. A travel service that truly knows this destination will be fully aware of that fact. With this in mind, the best will make certain its clients have options to fit just about any budget. From family friendly Bali hotels to more expensive Bali private villas and everything in between, they will offer it all.

Planning out a stay in a Bali resort does not have to be difficult. When a reputable online travel service that specialises in this destination helps, no stone will be left unturned in advance of arrival,

Bali is an island of dreams known for its picturesque natural beauty and romantic backdrops. Whilst it certainly is one of the world’s best destinations for couples, it is also ideal for family vacations. No matter the age of visitors, a Bali holiday will be filled with adventure, breathtaking sights and a chance to take in educational opportunities all along the way.

There are a number of reasons that combine to make Bali vacations an excellent choice for family adventures. When this Indonesian island is the destination, families of all sizes and age compositions will find these factors stand out to make Bali a good selection:

* The weather - Whilst there is a monsoon season that runs between December and March, Bali is practically postcard perfect in weather throughout the year. With temperatures that range between 20 and 33 degrees Celsius, there is little reason to fear having to spend days inside Bali hotels to wait out inclement weather. Even during the rainy season, the storms tend to come in the evening hours.

* The outdoor fun - Going to Bali without exploring its natural wonders would be like travelling to America’s Disney World without ever once going on a ride. It just wouldn’t make sense. The outdoor activities for families that visit Bali are almost endless. From the pristine white sand beaches to the breathtaking mist-covered mountains, Bali and the great outdoors just go hand-in-hand. Those on a Bali holiday will find they can do such things as swim, water ski, white water raft, hike, bike, horseback ride, golf and even go on tours of volcanoes. There is no end to the potential for outdoor fun when a Bali holiday is on tap.

* The attractions - From the monkey forest and the elephant safari to the many museums, shops and restaurants, Bali has no shortage of attractions that are well suited for family adventures. The island’s many attractions are almost all considered very family friendly.

* The accommodations - Bali accommodations are designed not only for couples, but also for families. If a little more room is needed than an average hotel might offer, Bali villas and apartments can give families the space they need to spread out.

* The history - The island’s history dates back thousands of years into the past. Visitors here will find that temples built over a thousand years ago still stand and that historic sites can be taken in throughout Bali. From the temple Pura Besakih on Mount Agung to the Tanah Lot, young visitors will have plenty of opportunities to learn about the Indonesian culture through the years.

* The pricing - A Bali holiday does not have to cost a fortune to be incredibly memorable. Families will find that Bali accommodations are quite reasonable in pricing as are many of the main attractions on the island.

Whilst Bali is an excellent vacation destination for couples, it offers families plenty of excitement. A Bali holiday can suit visitors of all ages who will be blown by the island’s natural beauty, many attractions and history that lives on.

Heaven in Bali Island

Author: Tibb

Making a dream holiday in Bali become a real-life adventure does not necessarily demand the kind of funding that most people believe. The reality is Bali on a budget is doable without having to skimp on the sights, sounds, flavours and fun this beautiful island destination has to offer. When the right steps are taken in advance of booking an accommodation in Bali, budgeted cash will stretch farther.

Amazingly beautiful, Bali looks like carved out of a painter’s brush-strokes. The mesmerizing culture fused with the sandy beaches and the volcanic mountains gives Bali its unique identity. No doubt that Bali is Indonesia’s hottest destination! Travelers from around the world flock to Bali to catch a glimpse of its colorful culture.

Encapsulated in enigma, Bali’s soul lies deep rooted in religion, which is expressed through Balinese dance forms preserved over centuries. The tradition flows not only through the soul stirring dance forms, but beautiful paintings and even decorative weaving.
Bali is a fairly large island spanning 144 kilometers from east to west and 80 kilometers from north to south and so, offers decent sightseeing opportunities.

A trip to Kintamani Volcano will give you decent view of the countryside in Bali. On your way to the volcano, you can visit the mysterious 11th century Elephant Caves Temple. Bali is a pocket of Hindu religion in Indonesia, and the city features around 20,000 temples. However, the nine directional temples or Kayangan Jagat are the important ones to be considered. Also, there are some world-class amusement parks and several Hot Water Springs in Bali which you surely won’t want to miss. As for beaches, Kuta Beach is the most famous beach in Bali and a favorite among tourists for its beautiful sunsets.

Bali has some decent scuba diving hotspots like Amed, Nusa Dua, and Tulamben which provide a close peek at the beautiful soft coral reefs and marine creatures. Bali is also known as surfer’s paradise due to the exotic surfing beaches it has. Bali is also fast gaining reputation as a sought after golfing destination due to its three top class 18-hole championship golf courses. Still pondering what to do, then there’s paragliding for you to glide over Bali’s spectacular coastline. There is still another kind of adventure which might light up your eyes and that’s exploring the island on a bicycle. What’s more, it’s the easiest! Cycle dealers are easy to find and you can opt either to buy or take one on rent. If cycling around the picturesque island tires you down, it’s about time for some relaxation! Bali has some amazing spas which offer the traditional Balinese massage which is usually done with oil which is not without some immense health benefits. Recreation habitually follows relaxation and what more can be more beautiful than the Balinese dance forms, barong or “lion dance” and the spectacular “monkey dance” known as Kekak. It’s sure to put you in a kind of trance.

Searching for hotels in Bali is the easiest part. Bali caters to all types of visitors on varying budgets. Traditional, as Bali is, it offers you a host of choices as far as hotels and resorts are concerned and you’ll find all the modern facilities to ensure a luxurious stay. There are also fabulous resorts in Bali which are nothing less than amazing and you might like to consider from the luxury resorts in Newport and Rhodes Island. The best way to explore Bali is rental cars and that way, it takes around 3 days to cover most of the tourist destinations. Metered taxis and bemos (mini vans) are the other ways to move around Bali.

Bali is an Indonesian Island located in between the islands of Java and Lombok. The Island is the most popular tourist area within the country.
Holiday destinations like Bali can make your holiday a memorable one. Being an island, most hotels in Bali are located on or very close to beaches, in quiet holiday resorts. Whilst it certainly is one of the world’s best destinations for couples, it is also ideal for family vacations.

Bali the picturesque island of Indonesia attracts travelers for its cultural wealth and scenic beauty. Bali is known for sun kissed beaches, beautiful rice terraces, active volcanoes, tropical forests as they form some of the attractions of Bali. Bali has been influenced by different cultures in the past and this now reflects in its architecture, religion, cuisines, food, dress, etc. The colorful Bali abounds in festivals, ceremonies, drama, dance and music. Bali is also referred as a paradise due to its tourist attractions.

Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia and is known for its arts, dance, painting leather work, and music. The island is also the home to number of Hindu community who are a minority in Indonesia. The three most popular regions in Bali that attract travelers from all over the world are Kuta, Nusa, and Sanur as they are replete with nightclubs, bars, restaurants souvenir shops and other tourist attractions.

Bali offers the tourists with different pursuits plenty to explore. The adventure travelers, the religious travelers, the leisure travelers, all would get to enjoy Bali. The rivers in Bali during the wet seasons offer opportunity for river rafting.

Bali people are known for their hospitality and warmth that makes the stay of the visitors comfortable. The accommodations in Bali are many and cater to the needs of the travelers from all across the world. The travelers from different backgrounds and needs would get accommodation of their choice in Bali. The Bali hotels cater to the style and budget of the travelers from all across the world.

The Bali hotels range from spa resorts, stylish hotels, to budget accommodation to suit all types of travelers. The Bali hotels are located near to all the popular tourist destinations on the island to cater to the needs of the travelers. Some of the popular areas are Kuta, Lovina Beach, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Jimbaran, etc.

The hotels groups in Bali include Aerowisata , Hyatt , Le Meridien, Intercontinental, Oberoi, Sofitel , Novotel, Mercure , Nikko , Westin, etc. The hotel groups in Bali are world renown and offer quality services. The five star accommodation and the luxurious resorts are known for their location and services. The budget hotels in Bali offer good value for money and cater to the needs of the travelers. The accommodation in Bali is world class and offers the traditional Indonesian hospitality to make the stay of the visitor memorable. The visitor would get ample choice to select from the hotels in Bali according to their budget.