Spending yearly vacation in a fantastic country would be the dream of every vacationer. But, for an enjoyable vacation, an effective plan must be devised, which should include everything vital to make a vacation memorable. In other words, you should ask yourself a number of questions before devising an effective plan for vacation, such as which destination would you like to go for vacation, what are the activities you are planning during your vacation, whether you are interested in exploring new places or culture of a place, or would you like to enjoy adventure trips, and so on. However, it would be quite confusing for a common man to plan a vacation. Here comes the importance of tour agents. No matter what your tastes are, they will take all steps to make your vacation an enjoyable as well as a wonderful experience.
With umpteen destinations to choose from, one of the best destinations preferred by most of the people across the globe is Hong Kong/China destination. China is the world's third largest country, with great cultural and ethnic diversities. As per the records of the World Tourism Organization, China is the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world, and is estimated to become the first in the next 15 years.
In addition to being home to the Great Wall - one of the Seven Wonders of the World, China has to its credit a continuum of tourist attractions, with 23 provinces, four municipalities, five autonomous region, and two administrative regions. Beijing - the capital city of China - comes with such renowned attractions as Temple of Heaven Park, the Summer Palace, and the Imperial Palace Museum within the Forbidden City, which in turn is the world's largest palace complex. Along with cities such as Macau, Shanghai, and Lhasa - Hong Kong is also one of the much famed tourist places in China.
Now we will discuss some of the top attractions in the city of Hong Kong. The city boasts of such a great number of attractions that it takes months to explore all of them. Just few among the Hong Kong attractions are the peak tower with Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and rooftop observation area; Man Mo Temple; Wong Tai Sin Temple, an ancient shrine famed for its fortune-tellers; the Bank of China Tower, one of the tallest building in the world that is noted for its architecture; the Avenue of Stars, which is graced and illuminated with tons of twinkling lights; the Clock Tower - one of the oldest landmarks that is situated on the site of the old Kowloon Station; Hong Kong Park, featuring a 1400 sq mt conservatory, air-conditioned sports center, and Olympic Square; and Statue Square, a popular pedestrian in the central district. Equally important are such attractions of Hong Kong as Hong Kong Disneyland, Central District that is home to many government buildings, Ladies Market, Repulse Bay, and Mongkok that is much favored for its teaming activities.
Hong Kong also offers excellent opportunities to enjoy a range of activities. Taking a helicopter ride, riding the peak tram, riding the cable car, riding the century-old tram, and taking a harbor cruise are just few among them. In addition, superb facilities are made available to enjoy exciting and interesting sport activities like sedan chair race, horse racing, swimming, and wind surfing. Also, worth mentioning is the night life in Hong Kong, with its British as well as Irish themed bars, dance clubs, and modern bars offering live music shows and fun. Nightlife in Hong Kong is mainly spread throughout three areas in Kowloon: cocktail bars in Tsim Sha Tsui, pubs on the Ashley Road, and clubs on the Prat and Chatham Roads. Apart from this, Hong Kong boasts of a chain of music clubs and theaters, each of them ensuring fun and entertainment in a relaxing environment.
Above all, Hong Kong hosts a great number of festivals and events, such as Chinese New Year; Birthday of Che Kung, dedicated to Che Kung - the general of the Sung Dynasty; Spring Lantern Festival; and Hong Kong International Film Festival, which is to honor Asian film festivals as well as eminent film makers. Also, great is the gastronomy of Hong Kong. Hong Kong's hall mark is perhaps its world-class cuisine, covering regional, English, continental, and western. An array of restaurants, pubs, bars, and eateries can be seen here.
So what all to dream? Just plan your vacation with us and feel relaxed. All you have to do is to logon to our website and share your interests and likes and dislikes with us.
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/discover-the-perfect-vacation-in-hong-kong-and-china-200182.html
09 September 2007
07 September 2007
Welcome to Costa Rica
by Aazdak Alisimo
Costa Rica, the Rich Coast, was named by its earliest Spanish settlers in anticipation of the gold and treasure they would discover there. Instead, they found a greater treasure.
Costa Rica is a tiny gem of the country that is located in Central America between the countries of Nicaragua and Panama. Its total size is about the same as the States of New Hampshire and Vermont combined and its population is just over 4 million people. It has slowly been gaining a reputation as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the entire World. This reputation has been earned for a variety of reasons.
Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the World. Its tiny land mass is sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The result is over 800 miles of unspoiled beaches. The country is divided by a central highland that bisects the country like a stone backbone. The mountains are covered in many areas by lush tropical rain forests that contain one of the most diverse ecosystems anywhere. Costa Rica proudly claims the largest species density in the World and ecotourism has become a leading industry.
Costa Rica is one of the most peaceful countries in the World. It has no standing army. The army was abolished by the Constitution and Costa Rica has become a leader in the struggle for human rights and peaceful co-existence. This attitude is reflected in the daily life of the people of Costa Rica and the overall pace of the country. Its people revere a peaceful, joy filled life surrounded by friends and family. This attitude is reflected in the unofficial motto of the country, Pura Vida, or the Pure Life.
Costa Rica is one of the most progressive and stable countries in Latin America. It has a commitment to universal education and has encouraged technological development while retaining the devotion to Pura Vida in daily life. This has made it a popular choice for foreign investment.
Costa Rica is a country that seems almost too good to be really true. From its pristine beaches on two coasts to its five active volcanoes to the mind boggling diversity of its native flora and fauna, Costa Rica seems more a fantasy created in the mind of an artist than a real country located only a short air journey away from the United States.
http://www.costaricavacationtravelinformation.com/
Costa Rica, the Rich Coast, was named by its earliest Spanish settlers in anticipation of the gold and treasure they would discover there. Instead, they found a greater treasure.
Costa Rica is a tiny gem of the country that is located in Central America between the countries of Nicaragua and Panama. Its total size is about the same as the States of New Hampshire and Vermont combined and its population is just over 4 million people. It has slowly been gaining a reputation as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the entire World. This reputation has been earned for a variety of reasons.
Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the World. Its tiny land mass is sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The result is over 800 miles of unspoiled beaches. The country is divided by a central highland that bisects the country like a stone backbone. The mountains are covered in many areas by lush tropical rain forests that contain one of the most diverse ecosystems anywhere. Costa Rica proudly claims the largest species density in the World and ecotourism has become a leading industry.
Costa Rica is one of the most peaceful countries in the World. It has no standing army. The army was abolished by the Constitution and Costa Rica has become a leader in the struggle for human rights and peaceful co-existence. This attitude is reflected in the daily life of the people of Costa Rica and the overall pace of the country. Its people revere a peaceful, joy filled life surrounded by friends and family. This attitude is reflected in the unofficial motto of the country, Pura Vida, or the Pure Life.
Costa Rica is one of the most progressive and stable countries in Latin America. It has a commitment to universal education and has encouraged technological development while retaining the devotion to Pura Vida in daily life. This has made it a popular choice for foreign investment.
Costa Rica is a country that seems almost too good to be really true. From its pristine beaches on two coasts to its five active volcanoes to the mind boggling diversity of its native flora and fauna, Costa Rica seems more a fantasy created in the mind of an artist than a real country located only a short air journey away from the United States.
http://www.costaricavacationtravelinformation.com/
06 September 2007
2007 Holiday Hot Spots
New competition from former Eastern Bloc countries have focused the minds of the tourist boards in traditionally favourite holiday destinations for Europeans in recent years - and it appears they could be doing a good job as many of the most chosen areas for this year are pretty much the same as ten and even twenty years ago.
The biggest winner this year among the holiday resorts seems to be Spain with six out of the top twenty destinations either being regions of the mainland like the Costa del Sol, or one of the Spanish Balearic or Canary islands, such as Ibiza and Tenerife.
Among city breaks Paris ranks highly, as it always does, while London has suffered with a high pound resulting in visitors from the US dropping this year - and a boredom factor setting in - with some Americans not visiting a second time as they feel they have 'done it' after seeing Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. While some will venture as far afield as Windsor Castle, some twenty miles out of London, and some Oxford, few venture to other parts of England, preferring to catch the Eurostar to Paris with a two city trip.
Far flung destinations reaching the top twenty include Egypt and the Dominican Republic. Florida is in the doldrums for European visitors despite good value with the Euro and British Sterling both doing well against the US dollar. But getting in and out of America is becoming a real chore for many visitors now. If it isn't bad enough queueing at Disney for the rides with children in tow, a long wait in line at immigration after a ten hour flight is not the best start to a holiday - and with EuroDisney a far easier option visitor numbers are unlikely to recover any time soon.
But it appears no matter what new destinations come up for holiday possibilities, Spain and her islands are resilient to the challenges, and when they are challenged aren't afraid to advertise to past tourists to visit again, and for new ones to visit for the first time.
Mallorca as an island has been promoting itself to the UK market by including a team distributing information at London's Victoria Station. Trains from Victoria run several times an hour to London's Gatwick Airport, allowing easy access to Mallorca for Londoners.
The Balearic Islands of which Mallorca is part consist of three islands, as well as Malloca there is Menorca (the smallest island)and and Ibiza. Menorca has a season that traditionally is at its peak early May to end September, but is now trying to extend that from mid April to mid October.
As part of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has welcomed many visitors back to live full time on the island. Menorca property has proved popular too, for those looking for a gentler pace of life than big sister Mallorca.
Property prices in Mallorca are similar to Menorca property, with a range of apartments and villas in both rural and town locations, and with twenty golf courses plenty of golf course developments too on Mallorca.
Menorca has just the one golf course, recently extended to eighteen holes, and is located in Son Parc, which has a choice of hotels, apartments and villas for holiday makers.
The cost of flying to Mallorca has come down in recent years from most European countries due to low cost airlines, especially in the island's core tourist areas of the United Kingdom and Germany, and last year easyJet started direct flights from London's Gatwick Airport to the sister island of Menorca, as well as serving Mallorca itself.
Despite competition from other destinantions, Mallorca looks set to remain a favourite holiday spot for some time to come.
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/2007-holiday-hot-spots-209692.html
The biggest winner this year among the holiday resorts seems to be Spain with six out of the top twenty destinations either being regions of the mainland like the Costa del Sol, or one of the Spanish Balearic or Canary islands, such as Ibiza and Tenerife.
Among city breaks Paris ranks highly, as it always does, while London has suffered with a high pound resulting in visitors from the US dropping this year - and a boredom factor setting in - with some Americans not visiting a second time as they feel they have 'done it' after seeing Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. While some will venture as far afield as Windsor Castle, some twenty miles out of London, and some Oxford, few venture to other parts of England, preferring to catch the Eurostar to Paris with a two city trip.
Far flung destinations reaching the top twenty include Egypt and the Dominican Republic. Florida is in the doldrums for European visitors despite good value with the Euro and British Sterling both doing well against the US dollar. But getting in and out of America is becoming a real chore for many visitors now. If it isn't bad enough queueing at Disney for the rides with children in tow, a long wait in line at immigration after a ten hour flight is not the best start to a holiday - and with EuroDisney a far easier option visitor numbers are unlikely to recover any time soon.
But it appears no matter what new destinations come up for holiday possibilities, Spain and her islands are resilient to the challenges, and when they are challenged aren't afraid to advertise to past tourists to visit again, and for new ones to visit for the first time.
Mallorca as an island has been promoting itself to the UK market by including a team distributing information at London's Victoria Station. Trains from Victoria run several times an hour to London's Gatwick Airport, allowing easy access to Mallorca for Londoners.
The Balearic Islands of which Mallorca is part consist of three islands, as well as Malloca there is Menorca (the smallest island)and and Ibiza. Menorca has a season that traditionally is at its peak early May to end September, but is now trying to extend that from mid April to mid October.
As part of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has welcomed many visitors back to live full time on the island. Menorca property has proved popular too, for those looking for a gentler pace of life than big sister Mallorca.
Property prices in Mallorca are similar to Menorca property, with a range of apartments and villas in both rural and town locations, and with twenty golf courses plenty of golf course developments too on Mallorca.
Menorca has just the one golf course, recently extended to eighteen holes, and is located in Son Parc, which has a choice of hotels, apartments and villas for holiday makers.
The cost of flying to Mallorca has come down in recent years from most European countries due to low cost airlines, especially in the island's core tourist areas of the United Kingdom and Germany, and last year easyJet started direct flights from London's Gatwick Airport to the sister island of Menorca, as well as serving Mallorca itself.
Despite competition from other destinantions, Mallorca looks set to remain a favourite holiday spot for some time to come.
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/2007-holiday-hot-spots-209692.html
Liveaboard Diving Komodo - Indonesia
Sveinung
During this very lucky trip, coming through the Komodo Channel, four DUGONGS surfaced next to the boat!! These gentle animals showed no fear, just slowly swam north. A wonderful sight, and a first for most of us on the boat. We were also greeted by lots of Bottlenose Dolphins and a pod of Pilot Whales. As I said, a lucky trip, and I haven't even started with the underwater stuff yet…
Both Crystal Rock and Takat Toko were at their best, with several Dolphins (this time UNDER water, mind you…), lots of sharks and walls of fish. Stunning!
As if it wasn't hard enough to find a Pygmy Seahorse, there are a few minuscule Denise Pygmies around at Satonda Island. They're only as big as the tip of a toothpick, and extremely well camouflaged. I filmed "one" of these little fellows, only to realize later, when we watched the day's footage on the big TV, that there were actually TWO of them, head-to-head. Very cute!
Critter-loving guests got a mouthful at Pink Beach and Cannibal Rock. Nudibranchs everywhere, many Frogfish, Mushroom Coral Pipefish and an Indian Walkman. Just to mention a few.
Best nightdive this trip was at Torpedo Alley, with the highlight beeing a super-rare Bobbit Worm.
Last day we dived at Moyo Island, with Pelagic Triggerfish, loads of Longfin Bannerfish, a Turtle, Mantis Shrimps and two BIG Banded Seasnakes.
A wonderful trip, with good conditions through-out. Can hardly wait to go back out!
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/liveaboard-diving-komodo-indonesia-209903.html
During this very lucky trip, coming through the Komodo Channel, four DUGONGS surfaced next to the boat!! These gentle animals showed no fear, just slowly swam north. A wonderful sight, and a first for most of us on the boat. We were also greeted by lots of Bottlenose Dolphins and a pod of Pilot Whales. As I said, a lucky trip, and I haven't even started with the underwater stuff yet…
Both Crystal Rock and Takat Toko were at their best, with several Dolphins (this time UNDER water, mind you…), lots of sharks and walls of fish. Stunning!
As if it wasn't hard enough to find a Pygmy Seahorse, there are a few minuscule Denise Pygmies around at Satonda Island. They're only as big as the tip of a toothpick, and extremely well camouflaged. I filmed "one" of these little fellows, only to realize later, when we watched the day's footage on the big TV, that there were actually TWO of them, head-to-head. Very cute!
Critter-loving guests got a mouthful at Pink Beach and Cannibal Rock. Nudibranchs everywhere, many Frogfish, Mushroom Coral Pipefish and an Indian Walkman. Just to mention a few.
Best nightdive this trip was at Torpedo Alley, with the highlight beeing a super-rare Bobbit Worm.
Last day we dived at Moyo Island, with Pelagic Triggerfish, loads of Longfin Bannerfish, a Turtle, Mantis Shrimps and two BIG Banded Seasnakes.
A wonderful trip, with good conditions through-out. Can hardly wait to go back out!
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/liveaboard-diving-komodo-indonesia-209903.html
04 September 2007
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort - Hilton Head Island, SC
by Rich Neste
Imagine a world-class vacation resort with private residences, and Hilton Head Island's Palmetto Dunes is the happy result. This resort borders the Atlantic Ocean and has even been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top Eleven Family Resorts!
Fifty four holes of championship golf wind through the Palmetto Dunes community in Hilton Head Island. Spread over three courses, golfers enjoy these challenging links designed by George Fazio, Arthur Hills, and Robert Trent Jones.
The Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center boasts 25 courts. 23 are clay and two are prime Nova ProBounce; eight of the courts are lighted at night, and instructors offer private lessons and adult/junior clinics. Since 1975, Tennis Magazine has ranked the center among the top 50 in the nation.
Over 11 miles of connecting lagoon systems are great for kayaking through Palmetto Dunes. Guided tours are offered on a complementary basis by the community's naturalist. These lagoons are also a great place to do a little fishing and crabbing!
Shelter Cove Harbour, bordering Palmetto Dunes to the west, offers canoeing, deep-sea fishing and sailing charters, and other water sports. The deepwater marina on Broad Creek is accessible from the Atlantic; its 15.5 acres contain 170 boat slips for 120-ft boats. Shopping, dining, entertainment and bike paths create many diversions for residents and vacationers alike.
Luxury Vacation Rentals and Resorts:
If you are planning a vacation for your family this summer and still are not sure where to go, I recommend going to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The first thing I would do is look to book one of the beautiful Hilton Head Island Vacation Home, Condo or Villa Rentals online. This luxury getaway is just forty five minutes away from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
Befitting a resort-residential combination community, Palmetto Dunes contains numerous upscale vacation facilities including the Marriott, Hilton and Disney resorts and several luxury hotels in Hilton Head Island.
Highly popular is the Hilton Head Disney Resort, which offers over 120 villas/studio units occupying 20 three-story buildings on its own island in Shelter Cove. The main resort building has a uniquely-shaped heated swimming pool, a waterslide, a wading pool, and a large whirlpool spa. It also has a shuffleboard court, horseshoe pits, and bocce games. Part of the island's Disney Resort is its 13,000 square foot Beach House, covering 3.5 acres of oceanfront land, complete with a temperature-controlled, 50-foot-long swimming pool, a children's soft-floored pool/play facility, arcade games, dressing rooms, covered parking, and a poolside bar.
The Marriott at the oceanfront has more than 500 recently restored guestrooms with a balcony for every accommodation and wireless high-speed Internet. Its popular pool deck features a picturesque two-part swimming pool.
The Hilton at Palmetto Dunes also has balconies attached to each room, as well as separate adult-only and family swimming pools, Hi-Speed Internet, and the Ocean Tides Spa.
Palmetto Dunes Real Estate:
Housing options in Palmetto Dunes include private real estate as well as houses and villas ("Villas" is the local term for condominiums.) that are marketed for rental. As a distinctive feature Palmetto Dunes has two security gates manned 24 hours a day. Access into the private residential areas, as well as the resort areas, is strictly controlled. Views include woods, golf course, lagoon, or oceanfront.
Home prices range from $600,000 to $6.5 million, making this plantation one of the island's most exclusive. Villas are priced between $150,000 and $4.5 million. Complexes include Windsor Court, Captain's Walk, Somerset, Hampton Place, Villamare and the Townhomes at South Shore, among others. A few home sites are available for sale in Palmetto Dunes. Lot prices range from the $400,000s upward, as high as $7 million for an oceanfront parcel.
Short History:
The Hilton Head Agricultural Company owned the only 1,900 acres of hunting land left on Hilton Head not already owned by developers Hack, Fraser, or McIntosh,. The tract finally sold in 1967 to the Palmetto Dunes Corporation (outbidding Fraser) for $1,000 per acre.
The Palmetto Dunes community was intended to outshine any previous island projects as a much more intense vacation experience. While other plantations were either major resort destinations or private residential areas, Palmetto Dunes' founders incorporated both ideas by building a second internal gate separating its private residential sector from the ritzy vacation areas.
Later, in 1971, Phipps Land Company and Trans International Properties Corporation of New York together purchased and incorporated the resort. (PLC had earned a success as the first major financial provider for Sea Pines Plantation). Palmetto Dunes was subsequently sold to Greenwood Development Corporation (formed in 1978 by Jim Self of Greenwood Mills) in 1979. Ownership and management of the community was finally conveyed to the Palmetto Dunes Property Owners Association on January 1, 2006.
Whether you are looking to spend your vacation, to celebrate your wedding in Hilton Head Island or to live here, you will enjoy exclusive and preferred tennis, golf and amenity privileges unique to this piece of paradise called Palmetto Dunes - Hilton Head Island.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=603524
Imagine a world-class vacation resort with private residences, and Hilton Head Island's Palmetto Dunes is the happy result. This resort borders the Atlantic Ocean and has even been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top Eleven Family Resorts!
Fifty four holes of championship golf wind through the Palmetto Dunes community in Hilton Head Island. Spread over three courses, golfers enjoy these challenging links designed by George Fazio, Arthur Hills, and Robert Trent Jones.
The Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center boasts 25 courts. 23 are clay and two are prime Nova ProBounce; eight of the courts are lighted at night, and instructors offer private lessons and adult/junior clinics. Since 1975, Tennis Magazine has ranked the center among the top 50 in the nation.
Over 11 miles of connecting lagoon systems are great for kayaking through Palmetto Dunes. Guided tours are offered on a complementary basis by the community's naturalist. These lagoons are also a great place to do a little fishing and crabbing!
Shelter Cove Harbour, bordering Palmetto Dunes to the west, offers canoeing, deep-sea fishing and sailing charters, and other water sports. The deepwater marina on Broad Creek is accessible from the Atlantic; its 15.5 acres contain 170 boat slips for 120-ft boats. Shopping, dining, entertainment and bike paths create many diversions for residents and vacationers alike.
Luxury Vacation Rentals and Resorts:
If you are planning a vacation for your family this summer and still are not sure where to go, I recommend going to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The first thing I would do is look to book one of the beautiful Hilton Head Island Vacation Home, Condo or Villa Rentals online. This luxury getaway is just forty five minutes away from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
Befitting a resort-residential combination community, Palmetto Dunes contains numerous upscale vacation facilities including the Marriott, Hilton and Disney resorts and several luxury hotels in Hilton Head Island.
Highly popular is the Hilton Head Disney Resort, which offers over 120 villas/studio units occupying 20 three-story buildings on its own island in Shelter Cove. The main resort building has a uniquely-shaped heated swimming pool, a waterslide, a wading pool, and a large whirlpool spa. It also has a shuffleboard court, horseshoe pits, and bocce games. Part of the island's Disney Resort is its 13,000 square foot Beach House, covering 3.5 acres of oceanfront land, complete with a temperature-controlled, 50-foot-long swimming pool, a children's soft-floored pool/play facility, arcade games, dressing rooms, covered parking, and a poolside bar.
The Marriott at the oceanfront has more than 500 recently restored guestrooms with a balcony for every accommodation and wireless high-speed Internet. Its popular pool deck features a picturesque two-part swimming pool.
The Hilton at Palmetto Dunes also has balconies attached to each room, as well as separate adult-only and family swimming pools, Hi-Speed Internet, and the Ocean Tides Spa.
Palmetto Dunes Real Estate:
Housing options in Palmetto Dunes include private real estate as well as houses and villas ("Villas" is the local term for condominiums.) that are marketed for rental. As a distinctive feature Palmetto Dunes has two security gates manned 24 hours a day. Access into the private residential areas, as well as the resort areas, is strictly controlled. Views include woods, golf course, lagoon, or oceanfront.
Home prices range from $600,000 to $6.5 million, making this plantation one of the island's most exclusive. Villas are priced between $150,000 and $4.5 million. Complexes include Windsor Court, Captain's Walk, Somerset, Hampton Place, Villamare and the Townhomes at South Shore, among others. A few home sites are available for sale in Palmetto Dunes. Lot prices range from the $400,000s upward, as high as $7 million for an oceanfront parcel.
Short History:
The Hilton Head Agricultural Company owned the only 1,900 acres of hunting land left on Hilton Head not already owned by developers Hack, Fraser, or McIntosh,. The tract finally sold in 1967 to the Palmetto Dunes Corporation (outbidding Fraser) for $1,000 per acre.
The Palmetto Dunes community was intended to outshine any previous island projects as a much more intense vacation experience. While other plantations were either major resort destinations or private residential areas, Palmetto Dunes' founders incorporated both ideas by building a second internal gate separating its private residential sector from the ritzy vacation areas.
Later, in 1971, Phipps Land Company and Trans International Properties Corporation of New York together purchased and incorporated the resort. (PLC had earned a success as the first major financial provider for Sea Pines Plantation). Palmetto Dunes was subsequently sold to Greenwood Development Corporation (formed in 1978 by Jim Self of Greenwood Mills) in 1979. Ownership and management of the community was finally conveyed to the Palmetto Dunes Property Owners Association on January 1, 2006.
Whether you are looking to spend your vacation, to celebrate your wedding in Hilton Head Island or to live here, you will enjoy exclusive and preferred tennis, golf and amenity privileges unique to this piece of paradise called Palmetto Dunes - Hilton Head Island.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=603524
Find Cheap Travel - 4 Secrets for Savings
by Jed Jones
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page, " said St. Augustine. Truer words were never spoken, and travel is indeed one of the great pleasures of life that broadens our horizons. And yet, most of us of course face the reality of a limited travel budget. Here are 4 secrets for finding inexpensive travel, listed in order from conservative to adventurous.
Secret #1: Check at least three travel Web sites: The Web-savvy among us already know that checking online travel Websites like Travelocity, Expedia, and HotWire before embarking upon a trip is a no-brainer. These sites are all information aggregators that compare information from multiple vendors, so visiting any one of these is already a smart move when planning a journey. But, take it another step and cross-check the best deal you find on any one of these with your results from the other two: you just may save $200-$300 or more on plane tickets by shopping around. Note that these sites can penalize you more severely for schedule changes or cancellations than when you purchase directly from the airlines.
Secret #2: Look for package deals: Most people intuitively search for airfare, then a rental car, and then a hotel, all as separate items - even though in the back of our minds we know that buying package deals instead could save us $100s or $1,000s. To save more money, try doing a search for available package deals before committing to buying individual items. By being a bit more flexible with your airline or hotel preferences, you can stand to save big.
Secret #3: Travel seasonally: Hawaii is beautiful in October and Colorado is an awesome destination even in the middle of summer. Consider traveling during the off-peak season to see world class destinations at a huge savings.
Secret #4: Be a true adventurer: Try this one for size: arrange to take some time off (by yourself or with a special friend or family member), pack for a vacation, and then the day or two before leaving, check the Internet for last-minute travel deals. Airlines, hotels, and resorts would rather have you for half the price than have vacancies and make zilch. Take advantage of this fact. Of course, by doing this you give up the ability to choose your destination, but you are guaranteed to save a lot of money. And, the delightful surprises you can encounter on this type of trip can make this type of travel all the more fun.
www.dont-sugar-coat-it.com
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page, " said St. Augustine. Truer words were never spoken, and travel is indeed one of the great pleasures of life that broadens our horizons. And yet, most of us of course face the reality of a limited travel budget. Here are 4 secrets for finding inexpensive travel, listed in order from conservative to adventurous.
Secret #1: Check at least three travel Web sites: The Web-savvy among us already know that checking online travel Websites like Travelocity, Expedia, and HotWire before embarking upon a trip is a no-brainer. These sites are all information aggregators that compare information from multiple vendors, so visiting any one of these is already a smart move when planning a journey. But, take it another step and cross-check the best deal you find on any one of these with your results from the other two: you just may save $200-$300 or more on plane tickets by shopping around. Note that these sites can penalize you more severely for schedule changes or cancellations than when you purchase directly from the airlines.
Secret #2: Look for package deals: Most people intuitively search for airfare, then a rental car, and then a hotel, all as separate items - even though in the back of our minds we know that buying package deals instead could save us $100s or $1,000s. To save more money, try doing a search for available package deals before committing to buying individual items. By being a bit more flexible with your airline or hotel preferences, you can stand to save big.
Secret #3: Travel seasonally: Hawaii is beautiful in October and Colorado is an awesome destination even in the middle of summer. Consider traveling during the off-peak season to see world class destinations at a huge savings.
Secret #4: Be a true adventurer: Try this one for size: arrange to take some time off (by yourself or with a special friend or family member), pack for a vacation, and then the day or two before leaving, check the Internet for last-minute travel deals. Airlines, hotels, and resorts would rather have you for half the price than have vacancies and make zilch. Take advantage of this fact. Of course, by doing this you give up the ability to choose your destination, but you are guaranteed to save a lot of money. And, the delightful surprises you can encounter on this type of trip can make this type of travel all the more fun.
www.dont-sugar-coat-it.com
03 September 2007
Cool Down And Stay The Night With A Ghost
by Adam Longfellow
If you are tired of the summer heat, you may want to think ahead to something a bit cooler. Whether you are getting away this summer or planning for the fall, we found some places that just may chill you to the bone. Across the country and around the world, there are many places where you can stay the night alone, with a loved one or perhaps with someone of a ghostly nature. From bed and breakfasts in stately old buildings around New England to high-end ocean resort hotels in California, you can explore a bit of history and maybe even feel the past come back to you.
There are places in almost every state in the United States, in all different price ranges and levels of luxury. For one example, and perhaps one of the most haunted, there is the great Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach, CA. This ocean liner, now permanently docked at the Port of Long Beach, was commissioned in 1936 and journeyed a thousand Atlantic crossings. Many incidents of strange rapping noises, moving objects, disembodied voices, and ghostly apparitions have been reported by staff, guests, and investigators on the docked ship. The First Class Swimming Pool, said to be the most haunted place aboard, is haunted by the ghosts of two women who drowned there. One is dressed in 1960s clothing and the other wears 1930s attire. The forlorn ghost of a little boy who fell overboard near the pool has also been sighted in the passageway.
In Washington D.C., there is a hotel with some classic haunting stories that appear to be linked to the inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge did not attend his own inaugural ball in 1925 because he was mourning the death of his 16-year-old son. Every year since 1937, on Jan. 20 (Inauguration Day) the lights in the Grand Ballroom flicker and dim at around 10 p.m., the time that the first guests were announced for Coolidge's inauguration. Hotel staff have past reported of finding a plate of exquisite hors d'oeuvres and a glass of fine wine in Grand Ballroom balcony. Neither item had been served at any function on that day. And one elevator refuses to move from the eighth floor to the lobby level until 10:15 p.m. -- the approximate time Coolidge would have arrived at the ball from his waiting room.
If smaller places are more to your interest, there is the bed and breakfast at the Farnsworth House Inn in Gettysburg, PA, one of the most haunted areas in America. The loss of life at Gettysburg was tremendous, and the entire area is steeped in heavy energy, and riddled with restless ghosts almost anywhere you go in town or around the countryside. The Farnsworth House Inn offers more than just a bed and some sleep. Several of the rooms are haunted with six actually being cited on their web site.
There is the unsolved mystery at the Lizzie Borden Bed And Breakfast in Massachusetts. Several ghosts and tragic stories abound at The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. The Stanley Hotel and Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado is a popular one because Stephen King wrote part of "The Shining" while staying there. The ABC mini-series was also filmed there on location. Any ghosts you find there are friendly and probably the original owners playing piano or hanging out in the Billiard room. There aren't any evil spirits lurking about.
Looking for the best recommendations for one night or want to know where they can get a real fright? Ghost encounters are never for certain. In fact, most of these places only have a few documented events spread out over many years. And many of these seem to be from people who didn't know the stories or didn't believe in ghosts before something happened to them. It's more about the history, the imagination and what you think could happen while visiting. You just never know what may be around the next corner, in the shadows or what may wake you up at night.
If you are looking for something really different in this world, try spending some time at places with occasional visitors from another world. Plan ahead if you are looking to stay around the end of October as many of these places are busy or have special events for Halloween. Some of them wish the ghost would move on and others relish the added attention and business. Many of the larger hotels will not deal with reserving of a particular room tied to a ghost story, but you may get lucky. Or unlucky depending on your point of view.
www.allstays.com
If you are tired of the summer heat, you may want to think ahead to something a bit cooler. Whether you are getting away this summer or planning for the fall, we found some places that just may chill you to the bone. Across the country and around the world, there are many places where you can stay the night alone, with a loved one or perhaps with someone of a ghostly nature. From bed and breakfasts in stately old buildings around New England to high-end ocean resort hotels in California, you can explore a bit of history and maybe even feel the past come back to you.
There are places in almost every state in the United States, in all different price ranges and levels of luxury. For one example, and perhaps one of the most haunted, there is the great Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach, CA. This ocean liner, now permanently docked at the Port of Long Beach, was commissioned in 1936 and journeyed a thousand Atlantic crossings. Many incidents of strange rapping noises, moving objects, disembodied voices, and ghostly apparitions have been reported by staff, guests, and investigators on the docked ship. The First Class Swimming Pool, said to be the most haunted place aboard, is haunted by the ghosts of two women who drowned there. One is dressed in 1960s clothing and the other wears 1930s attire. The forlorn ghost of a little boy who fell overboard near the pool has also been sighted in the passageway.
In Washington D.C., there is a hotel with some classic haunting stories that appear to be linked to the inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge did not attend his own inaugural ball in 1925 because he was mourning the death of his 16-year-old son. Every year since 1937, on Jan. 20 (Inauguration Day) the lights in the Grand Ballroom flicker and dim at around 10 p.m., the time that the first guests were announced for Coolidge's inauguration. Hotel staff have past reported of finding a plate of exquisite hors d'oeuvres and a glass of fine wine in Grand Ballroom balcony. Neither item had been served at any function on that day. And one elevator refuses to move from the eighth floor to the lobby level until 10:15 p.m. -- the approximate time Coolidge would have arrived at the ball from his waiting room.
If smaller places are more to your interest, there is the bed and breakfast at the Farnsworth House Inn in Gettysburg, PA, one of the most haunted areas in America. The loss of life at Gettysburg was tremendous, and the entire area is steeped in heavy energy, and riddled with restless ghosts almost anywhere you go in town or around the countryside. The Farnsworth House Inn offers more than just a bed and some sleep. Several of the rooms are haunted with six actually being cited on their web site.
There is the unsolved mystery at the Lizzie Borden Bed And Breakfast in Massachusetts. Several ghosts and tragic stories abound at The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. The Stanley Hotel and Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado is a popular one because Stephen King wrote part of "The Shining" while staying there. The ABC mini-series was also filmed there on location. Any ghosts you find there are friendly and probably the original owners playing piano or hanging out in the Billiard room. There aren't any evil spirits lurking about.
Looking for the best recommendations for one night or want to know where they can get a real fright? Ghost encounters are never for certain. In fact, most of these places only have a few documented events spread out over many years. And many of these seem to be from people who didn't know the stories or didn't believe in ghosts before something happened to them. It's more about the history, the imagination and what you think could happen while visiting. You just never know what may be around the next corner, in the shadows or what may wake you up at night.
If you are looking for something really different in this world, try spending some time at places with occasional visitors from another world. Plan ahead if you are looking to stay around the end of October as many of these places are busy or have special events for Halloween. Some of them wish the ghost would move on and others relish the added attention and business. Many of the larger hotels will not deal with reserving of a particular room tied to a ghost story, but you may get lucky. Or unlucky depending on your point of view.
www.allstays.com
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