For me, a romantic vacation involves exploring a totally different physical and mental dimension. I enjoy Maui’s isolation and natural beauty of remote mountains, forests, beaches, waterfalls. I’m also a bit of an adrenaline junkie, with a passion for adventure activities like snorkelling, body surfing, caving, exploring ruins and mountain trekking.

Madeira is frequently dismissed as a genteel resort for retirees who enjoy sipping tea on the terrace. Very pleasant I am sure. But there is another side to Madeira that is altogether more exciting and challenging.

A tiny volcanic island in the Atlantic, on the same latitude as Casablanca, Madeira is a wonderland of jagged mountains, deep ravines and towering sea bluffs. The exact opposite of the overdeveloped Spanish resorts, Madeira has masses of unspoilt wilderness and offers sensational hiking.

The trail between the 6,000 feet twin summits of Picos Areeiro and Ruivo traverses over mountain-top ridges, along rock ledges, and though tunnels carved into hillsides.

Other great treks follow the sea cliffs between Lorano and Boca de Risco, which rise to 1,200 feet, and the walk from Baia d’Abra to the eastern tip of the mountainous Ponta de Sao Lourenco peninsula, with its awesome views of rock stacks in the ocean hundreds of feet below.

Many trails follow narrow paths at the side of the 1,400 miles of levadas (irrigation channels) that criss-cross the island, sometimes passing through mountain tunnels and emerging into forests and meadows bursting with wild flowers. Most trails are rarely used. When trekking on the Levada do Serra de Sao Jorge, above the mountain village of Lombo de Urzal, I never saw another person all day. Only lots of birds and butterflies.

Other natural wonders include the lava caves at Sao Vicente, volcanic rock pools on the ocean-edge at Porto Moniz, and the towering natural amphitheatres deep in the forest at Caldera Verde and Caldera do Inferno.

Stars pepper the night sky, the full moon is reflected in the calm water of a pool dotted with mangrove saplings. The surrounding hills are dark silhouettes; the only artificial lighting is from the windows of this building, an old farmhouse, part of a terrace that was once a rural hamlet.

Surfing is not romantic per se – the half-drowned look is not usually your best – but staying in a surf shack is, especially one called Bob and Betty’s Boat Beach Bungalow in Seal Rocks, a sleepy beach hamlet with just 18 permanent residents. Owned by the couple behind surf brand Hot Tuna, Bob and Betty’s is a cute former fishermen’s shack with two bedrooms, overlooking Boat Beach, three and a half hour’s drive north of Sydney. When you’re not frolicking in the surf, getting water up your nose, you can chuck tuna steaks on the barbie, walk to the nearby Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse and visit other beaches.

The truth is, it’s a fool’s errand to strain too arduously over romantic scenarios: a friend dragged her boyfriend to Capri in the hope he’d propose; he went down on one knee, but only because he’d lost a contact lens.

Avoid old haunts

When you’ve finally arrived somewhere really tasteful, it’s very important not to say that you remember being there with Roger/Chloe. It’s especially important not to mention Roger/Chloe if all that’s known about the ex is that they were an absolute monster/gymnast in bed. If Roger/Chloe is mentioned more than once, your two days of romance will become two days of epic sulking.

Money can buy you love

Saying you’re going to Paris is one thing. Saying you’ve found a Polish coach that will take you there for a tenner via Krakow is another. Remember, the journey is the most romantic part of the trip – once you’re there you have to trudge around art galleries getting cold and hungry. Buy champagne for the train. Take taxis. Snuggle up.

Don’t think about marriage

Stop speculating on places the question might be popped. Men know what women are thinking and will deliberately avoid all dangerous situations such as being alone with you in front of a beautiful sunset/landmark or having to bend knees for any reason. And men – just because it’s a leap year, doesn’t mean she’s going to pop the question either.

Try not to speak the language

When you’re being romantic you should really only be focused on each other. If one of you is talking fluently to taxi drivers, waiters and total strangers and the other doesn’t understand a word, it rapidly tends to feel like you’re on two separate holidays.

Nothing but sweet nothings

Two days is a long time. Everything will go smoothly as long as you don’t talk about your job, your parents, your friends, football, cats, food, comedy, politics or Christmas. Chat about the pigeons. If in doubt, kiss.

It’s the hotel equivalent of the Smart car, making the most of every inch of space.

may not be the only hotel in the world to feature clean lines and a brown-and-white colour scheme, but it’s a stroke of contemporary cool unique to these parts. What’s so unexpected about the Charming House, as DD724 is also known, is that there is an incredible warmth to the rooms. Stylish yet cosy modern furnishings are softened with touches such as the loosely knitted wool blanket knotted at the end of the bed. You glance from a wide-screen TV to an open window revealing a scene that Canaletto would be inspired by.

HORSEBACK RIDES UPCOUNTRY

There are many horseback trail rides offered on Maui, but only one offers the traditional Hawaiian paniolo cowboy adventure. Piiholo Ranch borders the paniolo town, Makawao, and lies at the edge of the Upcountry rainforest. Owned and operated by Peter Baldwin, Piiholo Ranch horseback rides share the family’s tradition in cattle ranching and cultivating the land for more than one hundred years.

A lush landscape of towering eucalyptus trees is spectacularly impressive. You’ll find yourself hypnotized by green Kikuyu and Pangola pastures. Feast on the panoramic vistas, so seculided there’s not a roof in sight. From Haleakala Crater to the blue Pacific, Piiholo Ranch provides a horseback ride with plenty of open range to move freely and see spectacular views from a 2,000-foot elevation. You’ll see many native plants and indigenous trees of Hawaii, and sometimes colorful, endemic forest birds. The Baldwins have also developed a preserve and nursery for the Hawaiian Nene goose (the endangered state bird).

Days that the ranch moves cattle present a unique opportunity for guests to get involved. Ranch hands call the cattle through the gates, allowing you to participate in moving the herd from one pasture to another. If you’d like to experience a cattle drive, it’s a good idea to phone ahead and schedule your ride.

Piiholo Ranch has a variety of horses, from retired polo ponies and roping horses to stouter types which can accommodate larger riders. The wranglers expertly match a horse to your height and weight, then give basic horseback riding instruction. Rides are limited to six people, ensuring that guests have a quality adventure and can easily talk one-on-one with the charismatic wranglers.

Required attire is long pants, layered top or jacket, and closed-toe shoes. To book a ride, call (808) 357-5544 or visit www.piiholo.com

If the Hotel Bel-Air were a woman, she would possess a Balanchine body, cheekbones to die for, a persuasive patrician nose and a ripe, sensual upper lip. Did I mention the deeply satisfying Spanish soul? Perhaps this is why such legendary women – from Marilyn Monroe to Oprah Winfrey – have felt so at home here, staying for months, even years on end.

Presidential Suite

There are luxury hotels, and then there’s luxury itself. If one understands luxury as the simple notion of pristine privacy and contemplative seclusion, then this 12-acre estate is heaven on earth. This place practically invented the concept of the “extended stay”. Guests return year after year to find themselves truly at home: the housekeeping staff has lined up family photos as they left them, the fridge stocked with savory favorites, keepsakes polished up and put back into place.

To continue its reign over American hospitality, the hotel recently completed a $20 million renovation. Managing Director Carlos Lopes tells me how the hotel “customized” suites for certain long-stay guests. “We host guests that have loyal for more than a decade, so naturally their input played a huge role in the renovation,” he explains. “This is their home away from home; we offer monogrammed bathrobes and linens, kept in cedar storage until the guest returns”.

My suite feels more like a hidden bungalow, brilliantly positioned in the lush canyon landscape. The thriving shrubbiness of the private terrace is added bliss, where I enjoy a hushed and serene breakfast. Something as simple as a morning meal becomes ritual; a hushed moment where one can contemplate lofty ideas. The suite feels utterly personal inside, the home of a cultivated character, exuding the energy of a lively mind: noteworthy books on the shelves, a real writing desk, and a tempting music library. There’s even a champagne locker, for those special evenings in when just any old vintage won’t do.

There’s a thin line between discovering solitude and feeling intolerably alone. From the Bel-Air Restaurant’s guaranteed great people watching to a private stroll through the 8,600 square foot herb garden – the hotel’s layout gives me options on how sequestered or social I feel like being. And as I expect, the monastic serenity does not preclude gracious, top-tier service. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff – they have an amazing eye for detail. It’s a relaxed sanctuary, a place where everything seems to work without the need for rules.

In a glorious morning room filled with orchids, lilies and amaryllis, I sink into the deepest of armchairs. Exertion is not an option within the hotel itself, but for those who wish to swim for their supper, there’s of course the iconic oval pool where Marilyn herself wiled away many a sun-kissed afternoon. After lunch, an in-suite Shiatsu massage offered the perfect complement to the sublime surroundings. With a top drawer roster of sixteen massage therapists at the concierge’s disposal, the hotel offers an extensive range of services: Acupressure, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Sports, Swedish and Reiki. With an atmosphere of luxuriating gardens, turtling doves, salons that coddle the weary guest, this is the sort of hotel in which to entertain the fantasy of never having to leave.

Langdon’s Body Embrace This tip to toe treatment will touch on all aspects of face and body leaving every inch of you, buffed, massaged and nourished. It begins with a deep body scrub and warm towel rinse. A warm remineralising gel is then applied and the body wrapped in warm sheets. A mini hydrating face treatment including cleanse, exfoliation and mask with a scalp massage allow you to drift peacefully.A light hydrating cream completes the facial. Then receive a full body Thai inspired massage of acupressure and long slow strokes with a combination of hands and hot lavender boluses. Conditioning lotion and oils leave the skin silky soft. The complete body therapy.

]]> http://travelbig.com/2012/05/langdon-hall/feed/ 0 http://travelbig.com/2012/05/the-art-of-relaxation-joya-spa-in-montelucia/ http://travelbig.com/2012/05/the-art-of-relaxation-joya-spa-in-montelucia/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 03:28:02 +0000 tbadmin http://travelbig.com/?p=243 Continue reading →]]> Katie Hess comes with so many ringing endorsements I feel I’ve got tinnitus. She is a rising star in the world of holistic healing, celebrated by the staff at Joya Spa at the InterContinental Montelucia in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

She’s got the loveliest smile, fresh green eyes and a soft voice. He looks like an Asian Elton John. I can see why he would have appealed to Princess Di.

My first time seeing Katie was quite dramatic. We both woke up buzzing with an incredible energy, and an amazing feeling. As is common, many small miracles occur while spending time with Katie. I experienced a profound glimpse — a completely open and non-judgmental heart towards the thousands present. Other great experiences and revelations would come to me. This is when she more fully embodies the Divine Mother, and when she is at her most powerful. During Devi Bhava, one can ask to receive a mantra, and thereby accept Amma as one’s guru. I took the plunge, and my life was forever changed.

Lisa is a charismatic, the passion and intensity  burn brightly with conviction; they won’t rest until all of their friends and acquaintances are enrolled in the cause as well.

They act as I would if I were to say, “Flower essences have made me so spiritual, so calm, so relaxed. You have to try them!” Would you be convinced that I was spiritual, calm, and relaxed?

Lotus Wei flower essences helps to correct this imbalance. Those who take it, while still deeply committed to and enthusiastic about their chosen paths, no longer require that the entire world follow them. They can listen to other opinions, and express their own with love.

Lisa is lion-hearted friend passionate commitment to a cause. Leos are particularly moved to defend the helpless and those who are the victims of injustice. The Vervain flower Essence can be helpful in keeping them from emotional and physical exhaution.

*’Wei’, pronounced ‘way’, is Chinese for action. We realize that life is short, and life is precious. We are all about action, the effortless action of awakening our true beauty, loving-kindness, compassion, and innate wisdom. We are all connected in an interdependent web; our happiness depends upon your happiness. World peace begins with inner peace. Through our ‘wei’ of life with meditation, tai chi, yoga, heart-expanding flower essences and chocolate, mindful-awareness, and appreciation for the preciousness of life, we wish to bring about more happiness, clarity, and joy for all.

Offering flower essences to one of the
Princesses of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, 2006

Testing flower essences in British Columbia on the new moon solar eclipse

I suppose I’m an obvious candidate for detox. I’m not an alcoholic or drug addict, but I do have lots of toxins running through my body. I drink a fair amount of booze, oceans of coffee, eat a ridiculous amount of chocolate, drink loads of milk, love my potatoes like there’s no tomorrow.

He sits me down, checks my incomplete notes and asks me to tell him about myself. I say that work is important to me, I get annoyed if I don’t do it well, that I don’t have specific goals in life, I have a compulsive personality, am a depressive and have nightmares. He looks through the notes before reaching his conclusion.

Most important, though, he wants to treat me, the person, not just simply the symptoms.

synchs amazingly with Lisa

He talks about his life; how he was brought up in Jewish areas of London in Hendon and Edgware by religious Hindi parents, how he went to India to do his medical degree, returned to England to study osteopathy, started to work with dancers, ran an osteopathy practice that serviced every musical in the West End, was introduced to Princess Diana and helped her through her bulimia and depression, turned to complementary medicine, and eventually bought the practice here with the help of his parents. Lisa’s a great talker.

I particularly like Janine’s story. “Joshi has even given hope that I should not give up finding a lifelong partner,” she writes. “I really do feel a new woman.”

How do I feel about alternative medicine? Agnostic, I suppose, but not cynical. Betty the healer, who lives down the road, once cured my broken toe over the phone long-distance when she was in Scotland. Do I believe in healers? Not really, but the evidence was there in the diminished pain and bruising. Acupuncture used to do my headaches good till it stopped doing so. Cupping? Who knows?

He cups me, and then leaves. I feel lonely. I want him to stay with me and talk about my aches. I can hear him chatting downstairs. I’m a bit suspicious. He comes back upstairs. He seems out of breath. I’m very suspicious.

What did he do for her? “I just cupped her twice and gave her some of my herbal tonics. The director Jonathan Kent has worked with me for years – in the middle of rehearsals if anybody as much as coughs, he’ll shout, ‘Joshi, can somebody get Joshi?’ I look after a lot of the international royal families and I do run a very private discreet practice.” He pats me on the knee, indicating it’s time to go.

There’s a photo of Dr Joshi on the mantelpiece. He’s holding up two Persian cats in front of him, which makes him look like he’s wearing a doubleheaded fur stole. Dr Joshi used to be married, and has a nine-year-old daughter, but now he lives alone with the cats (Tom and Jerry) and a housekeeper.

I ask why he has so many famous patients. “Word of mouth. Somebody is feeling better and if they are at a dinner party they say, ‘Oh, I know just the man you’ve got to see’, and they respect me and they like me as a person, and they know that I’m a genuine guy. It’s lovely – one of my famous lady patients was doing a movie and I got a call from her saying, please, could you come and see another very famous Oscar-winning actress because she’s got this terrible headache. And I had to go and treat her in a caravan in the middle of Sainsbury’s car park off Finchley Road.”

Who was it? “Don’t say …” Then he stage whispers, “Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.”

Day 21 Liberation. I’m grinning manically at Dr Joshi. He weighs me. I’ve lost half a stone over the three weeks. Which is nice, whatever the kids say. But as for feeling fresh and revitalised, I don’t. I’m just exhausted. What have I discovered about myself? It is good to be less toxic, but ultimately I think this diet is primarily a means to radical weight loss that likes to think of itself as something superior and scientific. And the headaches, sweats and depressions? Exactly the same, thank you very much.

We talk about the difference between conventional and complementary medicine, and I ask him why he bothered to complete his medical degree after Diana died when he never intended to practice. Well, he says, it just felt right, he trusted her advice. “And because it gives you a certain amount of credibility in the western world.”

Perhaps it would be best if Dr Joshi drops the Dr and returns to simple Joshi, despite his medical training. Whatever – he is charming, a good businessman and obviously has a winning bedside manner with celebrities. As for me, I hope I do manage to cut down on the nasties, and think there’s every chance. After four half-hour sessions, at a cost of £400, I’m chuffed that I did manage to give up so many things that I’ve always regarded as indispensable. A couple of people have me I’m looking well. As for the promise that I’d find chocolate disgusting after abstaining for three weeks, there’s only one way to find out. I buy myself a huge eight-chunk bar of Whole Nut, and devour it in one. Ah, wonderful.

As described above, flower remedies and essences have many and varied uses, but act mainly on the higher emotional levels. The body is affected very much by the emotions and the mind, and by healing at a deeper level flower remedies can shift illnesses, either alone, or more often in combination with other forms of treatment. For example, skin problems may manifest in animals during times of anxiety and stress, such as when a new pet or a human baby, enters the household. The physical symptoms may be due to jealousy, anger, resentment, loneliness or other emotions, but by careful questioning an idea of what may be going on can be determined and a remedy mixture made up to address the root cause of the problem. In the meantime the skin may also need to be treated, but the end results with addressing the issue at both these levels are much better than merely treating the skin alone.

Flower remedies can help a lot with behavioral problems, such as biting and aggression. It is important to combine the remedy with training and behavior modification, and both these approaches are enhanced by the use of flower remedies. Fear, which is a common problem in animals, also can be helped by suitable remedies, and a combination of Rescue Remedy and the fear remedies mentioned above will often help in situations such as fear of thunderstorms, or general lack of confidence. Animals that have been rescued or abused in the past often benefit wonderfully from the use of appropriate flower essences, and they can help to restore their confidence and build trust.
All of the information regarding these flower essences that we give on these webpages, and elsewhere, is not to be taken as any form of “claim” or guarantee regarding any particular outcome for any particular person or group of persons. Because of the nature of flower essence therapy, the response of each person to flower essence treatment will be unique to that person, and we are therefore unable to make any specific claim regarding any response to treatment.

The fact that each of these flower essences is labelled as being for help with a particular issue or condition; is not to be taken in any way as any form of “claim” as to what the outcome will be for each person who uses any of these essences. Nor are these flower essences to be considered to be a form of “medicine” or “medical treatment”. Flower essences are not “medicine”, and they work in a totally different way to pharmaceutical drugs and to herbal medicines and dietary supplements. Flower essences work at the subtle energy level, and each person’s response to flower essence treatment is different, depending upon the complex interaction of thousands of factors that are unique to each person.

The basis upon which we label these flower essences as being for help with a particular issue or condition is that this is what is in the “definition” of each of these essences, which is obtained by an intuitive process, which is the traditional manner for defining what a new flower essence is for. The individual response of each person who uses each of these essences will be different, and we can give no guarantee of any particular outcome, nor do we make any form of “claim” regarding any of these essences. The information we give is purely for informational and educational purposes only, given in good faith, to the best of our abilities, and offered in good faith for your information, but not as any form of claim or guarantee.

Flower essences work at the subtle energetic, emotional and spiritual levels, and definitely not at the physical biochemical level that is the way that herbal remedies and pharmaceutical drugs work. They therefore cannot be compared to herbal remedies or drugs, as they are totally different in their makeup, their manner of working, their manner of manufacture, and their basic paradigm or philosophy. Flower essences therefore cannot in any way be considered to be “medicine” as they do not work in the way that medicines are generally accepted to work.

Flower essences are totally inert chemically, they have no direct physical biochemical or metabolic affect on the body of a person or animal, and our flower essence blends contain no biochemically active ingredients.

If you are looking for a “medicine” type of treatment, then we would strongly suggest that flower essences are not for you, and we would recommend that you look at other alternatives like herbal remedies or pharmaceutical drugs.

ist of patients includes Kate Moss, Geri Halliwell and the Duchess of Cornwall. They are enthusiasts of his particular combination of Eastern and more traditional forms of healthcare, which has seen him hailed as a pioneering healer who can help those whom conventional medicine has failed.

But the glittering reputation of Dr Ali, Britain’s best-known champion of integrated medicine, is about to receive a stern examination. He is facing a High Court lawsuit from a former patient who claims that treatment at the central London clinic where Ali practises led to him needing to have both legs amputated.

Morning and evening yoga were the only fixed points of the day. Most of us beginners, yoga guru Liz Lark got us breathing and stretching. ‘Yoga helps untangle the threads of the mind leaving you with a tabula rasa, and although you get new footprints, perhaps they’re fainter and then yoga can erase them once more, ‘ Liz explained.

Individual healing sessions punctuated the afternoons. Russian bio-energy healer Alla Svirinskaya realigned our chakras and auras. Healing goes back at least five generations in her family on the maternal side. She has a thriving London practice with patients ranging from the Duchess of York to Donna Karan. She treats her patients by running her hands above their body, as she believes that illness, injury or stress all start in the energy field first before affecting the physical body. ‘I listen to my hands and read the Braille of the body. Each organ has a certain charge of energy around it with its own frequency and vibration,’ she said. She told me my energy was blocked in my heart chakra, which is consistent with grieving. I felt lighter and stronger after our sessions.

Craniosacral therapy was on hand from Jenny Smith. This is a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork that influences the brain and spinal cord. Much of the session is spent with her hands cradling the back of your head. I felt little immediate effect, but she certainly released something, as that evening I found myself in floods of tears as we did yoga on the deserted beach. The beauty of my surroundings was a fitting place to release my sorrow in losing a much loved and loving father.

Frequent massage was provided by local girls who had been trained by Richard Jordan, an American therapist who came to the nearby town of Nosara a few years ago.

Now you may think this is all so much gumbaggley – my husband’s word for anything smacking of alterna tive eastern mysticism – but we all felt better with each day that passed: calmer, more relaxed and less wrinkled both inside and out.

We ate deliciously and healthily: succulent fruit, salads, ceviche, beans, vegetable bakes and fish. The mahi mahi was divine, although I was a little put off when Abby told me that they are fish that mate for life and when you catch one, you simply have to wait for its partner to appear to double your catch – is that why you have to say its name twice? There’s something unseemly about eating things that can fall in love.

In a spectacular act of subversion, one of our party released the bilingual resident parrot Tuesday from her cage. She showed her gratitude by falling in love with him and jealously attacking his fiancée whenever she came near. It looked like the wedding might be off.

And so we passed our days in healing pursuits, eating temple food and resisting the temptation of alcohol. Abby taunted us with the glowing ruby of his wine glass and, without succumbing, we all hungrily sniffed the cork of his bottle. Who says we holy types don’t know how to have fun?

The week passed without a quarrel, apart from an ugly spat between a margay and the parrot. Beg, borrow or steal the money to go, or indeed, earn it and save up; this is once-in-a-lifetime stuff. I can’t remember seeing such an unspoilt and beautiful country. It’s expensive and it is a long way away, but it’s worth it and so are you.

It didn’t specify whether this had to be the meaningful loss of a loved one, or whether any old fruit loop with an unrequited crush might find a picture of Brad and Angelina triggering myocardial infarction.

Days at Montelucia drift lazily into one another; it’s part of the magic of the place. I wasn’t there when the hotel was full, but it’s difficult to imagine that it would ever feel cramped or busy. If it did then you’d make for the dunes.

Dinner was in one of the fabulous cubby holes dotted around the hotel grounds, away from other guests. They create the fantasy that this might be a private house or dinner party. And for me it was; I met a wonderful group of people from Bolivia, Norway, Egypt and the States and we partied late into the night over fierce red wine and some really good vegetarian cuisine (meat dishes are available too).

I sought sanctuary in the simple luxury of a real hammam. There aren’t many hotels in America that can lay claim to a true hammam experience, let . Extraordinary turquoise waters bubble up from the seemingly bottomless wells then trickle into a series of stone cisterns and on into the palm-shaded gardens. It was magical.

Many resorts offer destination wedding packages, which will save you a bundle compared to the cost of having your wedding closer to home, when all the related costs are taken into account. Many Carribean resorts offer wedding packages that are all inclusive, not only for the bride and groom, but also for the guests that have travelled to the wedding destination as well.

Some hot wedding destinations this year include the Mayan Riviera, which is always a big favorite as there is so much to do for your guests and the price is affordable. Los Cabos is a great choice for wedding couples looking for nightlife and a beautiful town. Stunning beaches and beautiful scenery.

Puerto Vallarta offers easy access from Toronto and the west coast of Canada and USA. Charming towns and villages wit character and lush countryside. Plenty to do.

The Dominican Republic is also a very popular wedding & honeymoon destination, for it’s stunning Beaches and affordable resorts this is a great option.

When you plan a Wedding Holiday your guests will be an important factor in your choice of destination.

Are there children attending? Do you want a quiet intimate boutique resort or a huge resort with several hotels in one? Is food a priority? Is the beach important? How many people do you expect???

You may want a chapel on the beach for a Catholic wedding, a beach wedding in the sand, a large beach reception with dancing and entertainment and much more.

For the Private traveller, there are many private travel experiences to be had. Private Jets can be booked at most major airports, and will take you anywhere in the world that you want to go in style. Private Cruises are also available on smaller cruise boats, either for you alone or a group of your closest friends. For travellers who wish to enjoy the company of a small group, a private cruise, expecially a priviate river cruise is the way to go!

Some companies even take the concept of private travel to the extreme lenght where the vacation you book is completely personalized to what you want to do! The private travel companies will consult with you on where you want to go, how you want to travel when you are there, and what the specific tourism sites you want to see are. If you have ever been frustrated on a group tour, this sort of private travel tour is the way to go…you can spend as much time as you like at your preferred travel destination on a private travel tour.

Private travel tours are available to be booked all over the world, and especially in tourist hotspots such as Egypt, Europe and Africa. Private travel in Europe is especially hot right now. Are you interested in medieval history? Book a private travel tour, and see the sights you want!

Private travel is a travel trend that is only going to increase in the future, as people demand more personalized private travel tours that deliver the exact personal travel experience that they are looking for!

Other Israeli airlines such as Arkia and Israir operate flights from central locations in Europe. There are no direct flights to Israel from distant locations such as Australia or South Africa, or from countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel. It is therefore a good idea to reserve a connecting flight from these places, or to arrive in Europe and then purchase a ticket to Israel.

Several shipping lines offer scheduled sailings from Europe to Haifa Port. Another option for arrival by sea is to join a Mediterranean cruise which includes Israel in its itinerary. Passengers can board in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey or Egypt and enter Israel through Haifa Port, Tel Aviv, Ashdod or Eilat. After the passengers and vessels complete border and customs clearance procedures, they can continue to any of Israel’s marinas. (Besides those mentioned, there are marinas in Jaffa, Acre, Herzliya and Ashkelon.) Arrival via private yacht is also possible and requires reservations several weeks in advance for a berth in the marina of choice.

Hotels of all types and prices are available in the large cities and in vacation cities such as Eilat and Tiberias. Reservations can be made through a travel agent or on the Internet.

Tel Aviv

Most of the hotels in Tel Aviv are located along the promenade on the beachfront. These include large hotels belonging to the international and national franchises which offer a full range of services and facilities.

Eilat has a warm, sunny climate throughout the year, making it an ideal place for vacationers to enjoy the sun and the beach.

There are dozens of hotels in Eilat–most of them within a short drive or walking distance from the beach. All the hotels have swimming pools and are located close to restaurants, clubs, bars, and entertainment centers.

One popular ski resort travel destination is Squaw Valley, in the Tahoe area of the western USA. Ski Vacationers in this area are often treated to ski resort packages that give them free lift tickets in off-peak hours of the ski season, as well as luxurious ski chalet accommodations. You can book many of these ski vacations over the web, just visit the respective ski resort web site or ski resort tourism area site that you are looking for, and look for the area that is called ski resort package deals. It’s surprising what some of these resorts offer for the active skier who hunts on the web for a good travel deal!

Most ski resorts offer skiiing vacation packages that can be tailored to your individual needs. If you are planning a family ski vacation, the resport will often offer other activities for your children when they decend from the slopes. If you are single and active, most resorts also offer evening activities in the ski resort chalet or ski village for those who still have enegy to burn. When picking a ski resort for your skiiing vacation, make sure that you choose a ski resort that meets your needs in your off time as well.

Nevada and British Columbia offer some great skiing vacations, at some of the most luxurious ski resort destinations available. The feeling of skiing all day, and then soaking in the ski resort hot tub at the end of the day is amazing, and is a very different experience then just driving home at the end of day pass. When staying at a ski resort, you also get to experience the nightlife scene, which can range from a quiet evening around the ski resort chalet fire, to a night of clubbing (if that is your thing!). The bottom line is, ski resort vacations are alot of fun, and no matter you budget, there are ski vacation deals out there for everyone!

River cruises ply the waterways of essentially every continent including the world’s three largest rivers: the Amazon, Nile, and Yangtze.

From its beginnings in the mountains of Qinghai Province, the Yangtze flows to Shanghai on the East China Sea. The Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, flowing 3,690 miles – longer than the car trip on Interstate 80 from New York to Los Angeles.

The heart of this cruise runs through what is known as the Three Gorges with walls that rise as high as 1,000 feet above the riverbank. The site is also a cradle of ancient, Chinese civilization where travelers take in thousand-year-old temples, spectacular mountain vistas, and local village life.

Europe presents a variety of options for river cruising. From the rich history of the Rhine and the Danube to the untouched Douro that meanders through Madrid and Northern Portugal. Glide through colorful waterways and visit many of the gems often overlooked by other travelers. Enjoy the atmosphere of Amsterdam. Discover the wine country of France, the renaissance of northern Italy, the spectacular castles along Germany’s Rhine River, the romantic Danube as it flows to Vienna and Budapest, and many other treasures of the Old World.

Russian river cruises are also very popular. They take you to the center of one of the most fascinating cultures in the world. Cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg through picturesque waterways. Explore medieval towns, quaint villages, and the breathtaking scenery of a country locked behind the Iron Curtain for most of the 20th century.

The Statue of Liberty is a major tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable icons of the United States. Many of the city’s ethnic enclaves, such as Jackson Heights, Flushing, and Brighton Beach are major tourist shopping destinations for first and second generation Americans up and down the East Coast.

The majority of hotels are in midtown Manhattan. However, there are also hundreds in excellent locations all around the city. Try looking up in the West Village, SoHo, the Upper West Side. The best way to get a good price is to shop around, in advance, with plenty of time.

Accommodations in Manhattan are ridiculously expensive averaging between $150 and $200 (and up) a night for a standard room, BUT there are affordable options you may want to consider such as short-term apartments for travellers or travellers hostels. There are a number of apartments around the city that are being rented on a short term basis. Instead of staying in a hotel room, you get a fully furnished apartment with a small kitchen for the same price or sometimes cheaper. If you are traveling on a budget this will be your best option. There are many inexpensive hostels in the city, starting at about $20 for a bed in a dorm.