Saturday, June 19, 2010

World’s Top 10 Beach: Tulum Beach—Cancun

A visit to white limestone sand Tulum Beach will be eye-treat for those looking to soak into crystal blue waters. There is an aura of mystery around the beach as ancient Mayan ruins tell their own story.Tulum is 80 miles southeast of Cancun part of Riviera Maya. Its southern part called Boca Paila is the only beach which can assure you of much needed privacy. Derived from Mayan word 'wall' Tulum has ruins overlooking the beach ,the most prominent being Castillo the castle .It was Mayan civilization's only walled city defending its frontiers from invaders from both sea and land. The tourists can experience the best beach in Mexico along with it explore and admire the architecture of the ancient Mayan civilization. The most interesting being Temple of the Descending God and Temple of the Frescoes presenting beautiful murals. Another interesting place to visit is 'cenotes' which are the freshwater pools located south of Tulum Pueblo. These were part of underground network of rivers which once provided fresh water to ancient Mayan people.

You can reach international airport at Cancun from there it is two hours journey to Tulum.Airconditioned shuttle service is available to Tulum.

The best time to visit Tulum is from December to April. The tropical climate ensures full sunshine and infrequent rains. But being in hurricane zone September and October gets maximum rainfall.

Tulum offers number of accommodations ranging from high-end hotels, smaller cabana hotels and campsites. Most of these hotels are located in Hotel Zone which is an area earmarked on the beach for hotel industry. The most popular are Azulik villas which have 15 private villas constructed from hardwood with unique features like tree trunk bathtubs, massages and waterfront views.

World’s Top Beach: Barcelona—Spain

Barcelona has many popular beaches at Platja Barcelona at Vila Olimpica which was home to 1992 Olympics and Platja de Sant Sebastia which is kid friendly with clean sand, life guards and shower facilities. For more adventurous there is nudist beach Platja de la Mar Bella with coarse sand stretching miles. Barcelona offers you beaches coupled with sightseeing in form of beautiful buildings and cultural centres as any European city. These beaches offer welcome respite from the hectic life styles of the city. You can visit the Sitges which is a popular coastal town. It is favorite with young crowd making it a hot spot. Visit the city when you are tired of beaches .The streets of Gothic Quarter and Les Rambles invites you with neatly lined shops, beautiful houses and street performers. Enjoy the night clubs full of music, food and nonstop dancing.

Barcelona's airport El Prat de Llobregat is directly connected with all the major cities of the world. As it is located seven miles away from city centre you have to take either a cab or train to reach the centre of the city. The city has an efficient metro service and other transport services include bus system, private taxis and funicular which present stunning views of the city. The best time to visit Barcelona is in spring and fall .Summers is hot and humid. August is usually crowded as it is holiday time in Barcelona has many hotels and resorts both for the budget and luxury loving tourists. Hotels which are located near the beaches tend to be on the higher side but they offer the best facilities.

Barcelona's restaurants offer multi-cuisines. You must check Talaia Mar which is best for Catalan cuisine and chef's specialty which is bacon ice -cream. Can Costa offer best seafood and waterviews. For budget travelers there is choice of bread, cheese and smoked sausage or ham.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Top 10 Summer Vacation Destinations

1. Las Vegas, NV / $72.29: Las Vegas hotels each try to outshine each other on the Strip, and with gourmet restaurants, world-class shows, spas, live music and comedy - Sin City truly has something for everyone.

2. Cancun / $183.36: Beautiful beaches, watersports and nightlife make Cancun a perennially popular vacation destination. Cancun hotels range from luxurious all-inclusive resorts to family-friendly hotels.

3. Oahu / $135.95: This Hawaii vacation hot spot has it all - Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head Crater, plus endless shopping and restaurants. And don't forget, President Obama called this island home.

4. Riviera Maya / $248.16: Along this stretch of coastline just south of Cancun, you'll find a slightly quieter Mexico vacation. All-inclusive resorts form their own isolated communities, and you're close to the ruins of Tulum.

5. Chicago, IL / $122.00: Windy City residents know Chicago really shines in the summertime. The beaches are packed with sunbathers and volleyball players, diners fill outdoor tables at the restaurants, and you'll find festivals, outdoor concerts and events in every neighborhood.

6. Dominican Republic - Punta Cana / $210.41: This increasingly popular Caribbean vacation destination boasts long stretches of pink sand beaches and lots of all-inclusive resorts. The island offers accommodations for family travel and budget travel in addition to luxury vacations.

7. New York, NY / $192.62: Foodies, families and theater buffs alike find New York the perfect summer vacation destination. The cities parks, museums and attractions can entertain visitors of all ages.

8. San Diego, CA / $139.74: SeaWorld, Legoland and the San Diego Zoo make this a popular summer vacation destination for families. But with endless beaches and parks, hip hotels and restaurants and much more, San Diego is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who wants to enjoy natural beauty and big city amenities.

9. London / $138.78: If you're looking for a summer vacation that combines history with hip culture, this European capital is it. World-class museums and theater, charming neighborhoods and iconic attractions like Big Ben make exploring London a constant adventure.

10. Puerto Vallarta / $180.70: Even with mega all-inclusive resorts up and down Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta has retained its charm. The boardwalk is a popular spot for watching people and sunsets, and the cobblestone streets are lined with shops and galleries.

Croatia: One of the Most Tourist Place in Summer Holidays

Best time to go: Enjoy mild temperatures and predominantly clear days from May-October.
Croatia one of the Europe’s rising star, which is finally shining brightly! Croatia is now growing as Europe’s Coastal and inland wine producer and the flooding with the new hotels and restaurants on the beach sides. To experience the Croatian life, come in February for the Dubrovnik Carnival, which displays Croatian music, and jousting. Dubrovnik, on the southern tip of Croatia, was walled by the traditional, culture of Croatia but now the walls has been broked, and now the place has many cozy cafes surrounded by the baroque architecture. The beach makes the Croatia a very cool place for holidays stay which include crystal blue water and ride in yachts.

Nepal - Top one Place for Summer Vacations

Best time to go: For outdoor chase, November to April offers the best conditions, while June to August is good season for skiing.

Except for being rich in culture and having many historical shrines, temples, palaces and other landmarks, Nepal is open for tourism business! Even though the country is going through unstable political issues, the Annapurna region surrounding Nepal and the camps on the Everest Mountain is attracting the trekkers and climbers from all over the world. The travelers are also getting attracted to the paragliding in lakeside Pokara and eager to see the impressive animals like one-horn rhino and Bengal tiger in the national parks. The Himalayas are also one of the best attractions to visit or see from Nepal.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

America’s - Ranking the most popular cultural, natural, and entertainment

The Forbes Traveler 25 Most Visited U.S. Tourist Attractions list pits the spectacles of nature against the drama of the man-made. While our list includes the thundering falls of Niagara, it also features the harrowing water-chutes of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Our research suggests that tourists appreciate renowned art collections and sunny beaches in equal measure. Each year, roughly the same number of visitors (about 4.5 million in 2006) explore the hallowed halls of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art as wile away their days off on the sands of Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach.


Theme parks, though, make a strong case for tourists’ taste for the artificial. As evidenced in our survey of the top global tourist attractions, the industry energized by Disney dominates the domestic tourism landscape as well. Seven of our 25 attractions are amusement parks; Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, remains top-mouse in the theme-park world, with 17.1 million visitors in 2007.


Christian Aaen, principal with Economics Research Associates, which recently released its third annual Attraction Attendance Report for amusement parks, says Disney is “still the strongest brand in the theme-park industry, especially for families."


The original Disney theme park, in Anaheim, Calif., opened in 1955 and built what Aaen calls a “destination complex”—an agglomeration of hotels and adjacent attractions that draws in tourists for prolonged stays. Aaen says Disney was the first to figure out that, “instead of selling seven hours, it’s better to sell seven days.”

Top 10 Empire State Building Visitor Tips

Visiting the Empire State Building is extremely popular with travelers coming to New York City. During peak travel season and on weekends, this can mean long waits to get to the 86th floor observatory, but with these insider tips and advice, you can save yourself time and make the most of your visit to the Empire State Building.


  1. Save Time: Buy Your Tickets OnlineThe best way to save time when you're visiting the Empire State Building is to buy your tickets online. Printing the tickets yourself saves on the cost of having them delivered, and means you can use them right away. While you have to select a date when you purchase tickets online, the tickets can actually be used on any date the Observatory is open. Ticket holders can skip the ticket line after clearing security at the Empire State Building and proceed directly to the Elevator line.

  2. Consider the Weather: The views from the Empire State Building are best on clear, dry days. Check the weather in New York City and take that into consideration when planning your visit to the Empire State Building.

  3. Day or Night?: The views from the Empire State Building are impressive at anytime, but keep in mind that during the daytime (especially on a clear day), you'll be able to see the layout of the city and geography of the surrounding area in greater detail, while nighttime viewing offers the excitement of the city's lights. You can experience the best of both worlds by timing your visit during sunset, where you can watch the sunlight fade and the city's glowing lights emerge.

  4. Dress for the Weather: While you'll have access to the shop and interior areas while visiting, the best views are from the outside. If it's cold, plan to dress warmly, as the wind can make it feel even cooler at the top of the Empire State Building. Likewise, the sun can be strong atop the Empire State Building, so take that into consideration, especially during the summer when you might want to wear a hat or bring sunblock.

  5. Begin or End Your Day at the Empire State Building: If you're trying to squeeze a lot of activities into a short period of time, it's good to keep in mind that the Empire State Building opens at 8 a.m. and the last elevator ascends at 11:15 p.m. (the Observatory is open until Midnight). This makes the Empire State Building a good choice for beginning or ending your day, since it's open before most other attractions and closes after many other attractions.

  6. Allow Plenty of Time for Your Visit: Even if you buy your tickets online, there's no avoiding the lines for security clearance or the elevators, so plan at least 2 hours for your visit to the Empire State Building. It can be a good chance to do some reading or work on a crossword puzzle, since there is not much to see while you wait in line. On weekends and when the weather is especially beautiful the lines can be even longer -- you might want to try and arrive very early in the day if you want to keep waiting to a minimum.

  7. Skip Firework Viewing from the Empire State Building: While it may seem like a good idea to head to the Empire State Building observatory to view fireworks on the Fourth of July or other holidays, you may actually want to plan to avoid planning your visit for those days. To see the fireworks you'll have to spend most of the day at the Empire State Building -- it's a popular choice, and they normally have to stop selling tickets mid-day because people have staked out space uptop. Better views are available downtown and near the water.

  8. Be Prepared for the Security Check: Every visitor to the Empire State Building must pass through security screening, so be aware. Glass and bottles are not permitted in the building. Cameras and camcorders are permitted, but tripods are not. There is no coat/luggage check at the Empire State Building, so whatever you bring into the building, you will have to carry with you throughout your visit.

  9. You Can Only Get Married on Valentine's Day: The Empire State Building is only available for weddings on Valentine's Day, and you'll have to apply and be chosen to participate. Applications are due by November 30.

  10. Keep The Kids Entertained: Kids love to see the views from the Empire State Building, but very few of them love waiting in lines. Bring along some crayons and print up some Empire State Building Coloring Pages to keep them entertained while they wait to go up to the observatory.


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