You will find these resorts usually at the province of Gangwon-do. This is the place in Korea that gets the most massive amount of snowfall. And despite of it being not in the city, you will be surprised on the number of people coming here from all across the globe! It may not be the city but I myself would choose it as I am really up for some white and cool atmosphere. And today is your lucky day because I’m here to share with you some of the best ski mountains in this country where you could enjoy snowboarding on its amazing white slopes.

1. Jisan Forest Resort

This is probably one of the most convenient place to go skiing in South Korea because not only is this just 40 minutes away the city of Seoul, but you can always come here even if they are already booked! Both skiers and snowboarders will love this resort as they have 7 main ski slopes as well as 3 sub-slopes that you could all enjoy. No need to wait for a long line because they have 5 fast lifts and they also have an escalator as part of their facilities for tots and first timers.

2.  Star Hill Resort

Another resort that is near Seoul is this one and the advantage of skiing and snowboarding here is that it’s so near the city that you won’t even need to pay extra to stay overnight. It’s just 32 km away from the City Hall of Seoul! Now that’s even more convenient. About the slopes on this resort, you will see private lifts on each of its slopes so again you won’t have troubles waiting in line. There are actually more people coming here since it’s just really near the metro.

3. Bears Town Resort

This resort is also near Seoul about almost an hour away from it and it’s highly recommended for the professional and advance skiers. Although first timers are still welcome, as they have designated 3 slopes exclusively for them but most of the slopes that are here are for the experts. Lots of families come here since it has become famous for its 400-meter length sledding hill. Find this resort at Pochean, Gyeonggi-do to be exact. The view on this resort is also amazing since you’ll get to see the Sanjeong Lake and the Garden of the Morning Calm.

4. Konjiam Resort

You will surely enjoy skiing and snowboarding if the space is more massive than the usual and if you’re looking for a space like that, then there’s no other place but to visit the Konjiam Resort. It is so far the largest one in the area. It is so huge that they’d have to put a limit on the amount of their daily skiers! Make sure that you make it to the first 7,000 people for that day to enjoy this resort. You are sure to enjoy their 11 slopes that are divided for beginners, intermediate, advance and of course the pros! And I advice to experience their spa as well for a complete relaxation after all the skiing that you’ll be doing!

5. Yangji Pine Resort

Now the last but certainly not the least is the Yangji Pine resort, which is located at Yongin is also a must to visit. They also have a sledding hill as well as 10 slopes according to your capacity to ski. What I love about this resort is that they even offer some ski and snowboarding lessons! You don’t need to be scared if this is going to be your first time because the experts around can definitely guide you.

Written by www.globaltravelguide.co.uk

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Dancing is particularly popular in Bali and the area is famous for its traditional dances, several of which do not have music as backing, which makes them very interesting for visitors. One dance is conducted to the rhythm of a chanting monkey. Indian religions and beliefs have a heavy influence on Indonesian culture and in the past many Hindus have come to Bali because it is an island with a great deal of Hindu culture

If you are coming to stay in Bali you would do well to stay in one of the islands excellent resorts. If you want to come to somewhere with perfect beaches and a turquoise sea then you should stay in Nusa Dua. This resort also has the best accommodation on the island and the hospitality and service at the resort is exceptional. For people who enjoy golf there is an excellent golf course just 20 minutes from the resort.

There are many great attractions on the island and one of the most popular is Nusa Lemongan which is located in the south-east. Ubud is another great location and is a historic town located in the centre of the island. It is famous for its dance, music and fine arts. If you are seeking Indonesia’s art scene then this is the place to be and you will find many connoisseurs and collectors in the area.

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Officially Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vietnamese is a long coastal state in Southeast Asia.  It is bordered by China, Laos, Cambodia and the South China Sea. Vietnam gained in the 10th Century of independence from China and was ruled by dynasties.

Around 1880 it came under French domination.  It was conquered in 1941 by Japan, and was divided in 1945 into the communist North Vietnam (Hanoi capital) and the Western-backed South Vietnam (capital of Saigon).  After the Vietnam War in 1976 came unification and Saigon was renamed after the late leader of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam’s land surface is roughly that of Germany. The land includes the vast plains of the river deltas of the Red River and Mekong River, the entire eastern coast of mainland Southeast Asia and the long mountain ranges and plateaus of the hinterland. The north-south extension is about 1650 kilometers, the east-west width is 600km, while the narrowest part of central Vietnam is only 50km wide. The coastline has a length of over 3400km.

The geography of Vietnam is also described as “bamboo pole with two rice-bowls.”  In the north and south lie two fertile river deltas, as a link between a small, rather sparse forest and mountain area.

The population of Vietnam is estimated to be approximately 85.5 million people. The population is on average quite young.  Nationwide, about 30% of people are under 14 years old and only about 5.6% are over 65.  The population is estimated at 1.3% to 1.4%. Life expectancy is currently at 67.82 years for men and 73.6 years for women.

The majority of the population lives in densely populated areas of the mouth of Red River and Mekong deltas, where agriculture predominates.  A nationalist political movement in 2004 already showed 26% of the Vietnamese live in urban areas of large cities (in the 1980s there were only 15%), and migration from the economically less developed rural areas is steadily increasing.

This is a migratory movement from the north to the south. In Vietnam itself, there is no private ownership of land. The Vietnamese government issued the so-called land use rights, their average useful life of approximately 50 years is granted.

The climate varies considerably between North and South Vietnam. The North has a temperate tropical climate, there is a cool season from November to April and a hot season from May to October. The south is tropical: warm to hot throughout the year, cooler from November to January, February-May is hot, with a rainy season from May to October.

The meteorological divide between these areas makes the clouds pass north of Da Nang.  During the rainy season, often raging typhoons wreak havoc especially in the Mekong Delta, but also in other coastal regions, flooding can often happen.

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Belgaum is the capital of the district.  A large proportion of the population speaks Marathi Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, the official language is Kannada. . Belgaum was built towards the end of the 12th Century, when the Ratta dynasty-moved their capital here from nearby Saundatti.  The Ratta found an inscription from 1199 on a pillar of the Friday Mosque.  Another inscription from 1261 refers to the Yadava, the Belgaum in the middle of the 13th Century who was conquered.

In the early 14th Century, the city fell temporarily to the Sultanate of Delhi, soon after to the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara and in 1474 to the Bahmaniden whose crumbling power in 1490 by the Adil Shahi of Bijapur led to him being replaced.

In the late 17th Century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered Bijapur and Belgaum and it received the temporary name Azamnagar.  In the early 18th Century, this was followed by the Marathas. In 1818, after several wars, they finally surrendered to the British, Belgaum in the Bombay Presidency was incorporated as an infantry base.

After India’s independence in 1947, Belgaum was initially part of the State of Bombay.  Karnataka was created along the linguistic borders of Kannada. Belgaum is an important regional industrial centre. The city is one of the largest aluminium plants in India. Furthermore, significant is mainly machinery (engines, automotive parts, hydraulic pumps, valves) and to a lesser extent, the manufacture of textiles and the food industry.

Belgaum is connected both to the National Highway 4 between Pune and Bangalore as well as with the national rail network. In the Sambre, about seven miles west of the city, there is a regional airport with regular connections to Mumbai and several cities of the Deccan.  The city is also the site of the Indian Army and an Air Force base.

The main attraction of the city is the 13th Century fortress that was rebuilt and expanded by later rulers many times.  Its present form remains largely the same as in the 16th Century. Within the fortress walls are, the Jain Temple Kalama Basti in the late Chalukya style, the Safa Mosque and the Friday Mosque (Jama Masjid) from the 16^th Century.

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Located in the Jumeirah Beach area popular with Europeans and other foreign guests, the Amwaj Rotana features rooms and suites with stunning sea views, and gazing out at the infinite blue of the Arabian Sea from your balcony is one of the delights of staying here. Rooms are fully equipped with all the modern necessities: wheelchair accessibility, high-speed internet, fax, voice mail, daily newspaper, tea and coffee maker, satellite TV, room safe, and minibar. Cribs, irons and ironing boards are available upon request.

The Amwaj Rotana is a short drive from the Dubai International Airport and its Business Center is a favorite with corporations and business travelers. Whether it’s a conference for 10 or a presentation for 300, there’s a room that’s just the right size, with tables and chairs configured to the needs of the event and the number of attendees. Each venue is equipped with LCD screens, state-of-the-art presentation equipment and everything else needed for a successful meeting. Secretarial services and banquet facilities are also available, and business travelers especially appreciate the availability of shoe shine, laundry and dry-cleaning services to keep them looking crisp and professional.

For those who want to make the most of their time, as well as guests who just want to be pampered, the hotel offers a range of recreational facilities. The outdoor pool features a sundeck and Pool Bar that serves beverages, light meals and snacks. Large shade umbrellas hover above lounge chairs over-looking the sea. There’s also a children’s pool. Indoors, guests will find a fitness facility with cardiovascular equipment and a spa with sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and massage rooms. For parents who’d like a few hours on their own or mothers who’d like to visit the hotel’s shops and beauty salon, baby sitting services can be arranged.

Most guests run out of stay days before they run out of places to eat within the hotel. In addition to 24-hour room service, there’s a lobby cafe serving light snacks and desserts, the gourmet Italian restaurant Rosso, a Benihana, and Horizon, which features international cuisine and a terrace with a spectacular view of the sea.

For the ultimate in service there’s Club Rotana, which includes amenities such as airport pick up and drop off, private and personalized check in and check out, welcome drinks on arrival, breakfast service, afternoon tea, complimentary juices and soft drinks anytime of the day, cocktails and canapes every evening and more.

Jumeirah is a lively recreational center as well as a business hub, and guests will find numerous attractions nearby, including golf courses, a playground, sailing and boating excursions, tennis courts, squash and racquetball courts, an ice skating rink, yoga classes, and shopping malls with hotel shuttle service. With so many hotels competing to please guests, the Amwaj Rotana is more than holding its own.

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There are magnificent forts all over the state and several palaces that will fascinate a visitor. Rajasthan has some excellent tourist accommodation options and these, and all there is to see in the state, have made it India’s premier tourist destination. This article is going to look at some of the most popular places to visit in Rajasthan.

Udaipur is also known as the City of Lakes because of its many lakes that are all around the city. The attractions in the city include, the Lake Palace, City Palace, Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, Jagish Temple and Eklingji Temple. The most picturesque lakes in the city are, Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Swaroop Sagar and Udia Sagar Lake.

Jodhpur is the capital of the state and the second largest city in Rajasthan. The city has many sights which make it a very popular tourist destination. These include, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mandore Gardens, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada Memorial and Balsamand Lake.

In the centre of the Thar Desert lies Jaisalmer and this place is also called the Golden City of India. Visitors to the area would be well advised to visit the sand dunes, or take a camel safari. It is also worth visiting the Golden Fort in the city as well as the Jain Temples, Albert Hall Museum and the Amber Fort. Jaipur is one of three destinations in India that form part of a Golden Triangle tour.

Also located in the Thar Desert, but much closer to the edge, is Bikaner. This is a major destination for tourists coming to the state and most are attracted to the city’s stunning beauty. There are several sights that are worth visiting which include a camel research and breeding centre, the beautiful Lalgarh Palace and the Junagarh Fort.

In the Shekhawati region of the state, tourists will find Mandawa, a city that is famous for its delightful havelis with frescos. These have really made it the popular destination that it is. The Fort Mandawa Castle is the most notable place to visit in the city and shows off several frescoed havelis. A horse safari is also a fantastic way to explore the town and its surrounds in an exciting and new way, it will be an excellent way for you to view the cities many sights and attractions. Mandawa is one of the most popular destinations for horse safaris in Rajasthan and also India at large.

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It is fast becoming a firm favourite of the elderly, and the number of people choosing to retire there is growing rapidly. The inexperienced traveler on their gap year can now also visit Thailand safely, and on a very small budget. Despite the surge in Tourism, what remains so charming about Thailand is that, so far, it is still largely undiscovered, and there are some real gems if you know where to look.

Most international flights land in Bangkok, and while this is a city everyone should experience, once you have visited the Buddhist temples known as Wats, the floating markets and the Golden temples there is little left to excite. Head a little out of the city in a North Easterly direction and you will come across a street called Sukhumvit Soi 1.

This was once a dirty little street with the permanent aroma of open sewers but it was completely rejuvenated in 2007 and now serves the most amazing food to the locals and the few lucky travelers who manage to find it. Okay, some of the menus contain entrails and intestines but hey, you’re in Thailand, give them a try!

For those with a weaker disposition, there is also a choice of fabulous curries, sticky rice and pad thai. The cost of eating here is ridiculously cheap with it being off the tourist trail, and you also get a chance to experience what Bangkok was like before the western invasion.

There is a travel agent on every corner of Bangkok, offering you everything from jungles treks to trips River Kwai.  Their sales patter can be seductive and you can easily find yourself signed up for something you don’t really want to do. Ignore these patter merchants and hop on a bus to Sida, which is 3 hours North East of Bangkok, where the journey there takes you through the amazing Koh Yai jungle.

Once you arrive in Sida village book yourself into one of the little guest houses for the night. From here, the owners will help to organise you a home stay with a family in the area-a truly unforgettable part of any trip to Thailand. You get to live as a true Thai for as long as you stay and can visit schools, celebrate any festivals, and even help with the crops if you time your visit right.

The dense jungles in Northern Thailand are also a must see, but instead of stopping at Chiang Mai, go further to the North West by bus to experience some of the most breathtaking scenery you will see anywhere. These are just a few little tips for your next trip to Thailand, it would be a travesty to give away all of this magnificent country’s secrets!

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The Konkan state’s capital is Panjim and its largest town is Vasco da Gama. Two parts divide Goa for the purposes of tourism – North and South Goa. Known for its world heritage architecture and exotic beaches Goa is abundant in flora and fauna and is been named a hotspot for biodiversity.

Goa is known by its extraordinary and lovely beaches. Goa’s most famous beach is Anjuna Beach that is famous for its beautiful palm trees and parties held under the full moon. Dona Paula is also another popular beach in Goa. The beach is located near where two rivers meet the sea together. Because of a legendary story about love attached to it the area is called Lover’s Paradise.

Goa’s Palolem Beach is popular with tourists because of its white sands and swaying coconut palms. Goa’s busiest beach is Calangute Beach which has a number of stalls selling trinkets and superb local food.

Beaches are not the only thing Goa is known for it has elegant and magnificently designed cathedrals and churches. Basilica of Bom Jesus known for having the remains of Goa’s patron saint and the most popular with visitors St. Francis Xavier are just two of the many to see.

Church of Our Lady of Rosary is one of Goa’s oldest churches. In Pajim, Goa is Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception which is a church that is completely white. The St. Francis of Assisi Church is a whitewashed beautiful piece of architecture that has a museum of archaeology. St. Cajatan Church was built by an architect from Italy and is an example of fine architecture. The church was modelled as a mini replica of Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica.

Having a very large Hindu population Goa has many Hindu temples. The Brahma Temple is dedicated to the Lord Brahma. Shri Damodar Temple has importance to Christians and Hindus alike. The Temple of Shantadurga is dedicated to the Goddess Paravati and is red and white.

Goa has a number of hotels that range from budget to the very luxurious and resorts. Most of the hotels are near the beaches and when deciding on one, make sure it is located where there is easy access to everything.

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If you are lost and needs directions or want to buy food from a vendor be confident that someone will know how to communicate with you in English. However you still need to have some planning involved in order to get the most out of your vacation money.

Two airlines that are low cost and have a number of flights from all over the world and fly you into both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are Malaysia’s AirAsia and Singapore’s SilkAir. If you fly into Singapore there are many buses that will transport you to Kuala Lumpur.

Another Malaysian airline that is low cost is Fireflyz which is usually for domestic flights within the country nevertheless it links Kaula Lumpur with Bandar Acheh and Medan, both located in Indonesia and Phuket in Thailand. The best prices are always when you book well in advance and you also want to miss Malaysia during the school vacations between December and mid March and the middle August.

AirAsia planes land at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) that is just over two kilometers from the International Airport in Kuala Lumpur (KLIA). The best way to get to KLIA from LCCT is on shuttle buses that are operated by two companies known as Airport Liner or Nadi KL.

Once at KLIA the best and most economical way to get to the capital is on airport coach. The airplanes from Fireflyz land at Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport in Subang 15 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur.

In KL the most popular place backpackers stay is Chinatown, located in the heart of Jalan Petaling. There accommodations are from a simple bed and breakfast with shared baths to one and two star hotels that have air conditioned rooms. In Malaysia hotels are rated in a start system from one to six and those that have no stars are considered budget hotels. Chinatown is also very close to the main bus station Puduraya.

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Luxury is a common word in the Seychelles and the destination will offer an incomparable holiday. The hotels range from private island retreats, to serene spas and resorts that offer all you ever needed and wanted.

But the ultimate in exclusive holidays in Seychelles has to be the resorts that offer their own private islands like Cousine, Fregate or North Island. On Fregate Island alone there are seven white soft sand beaches with tropical forest for a backdrop and only 16 luxury villas all with a private butler to cater to your every whim.

If one of the two restaurants does not have the dinner to whet your appetite then dine in a tree-house, a banana grove, maybe on the beach or even in your own villa. If the number of villas sound like they are too many then maybe North Island is where you need to be. This island is what Seychelles holidays are all about in luxury.

Your itinerary includes meeting with the chef to craft your own menu that will cater to your preferences and desires. The villas are made of local wood and stone and are all only steps from the beach that has sand as soft as baby powder.

Or if it is a bit more privacy you are looking for then the Cousine Island Resort is the match made in heaven for you and yours. Located on a 25 hectare island complete with a nature reserve and just four, yes, four villas.

Spas treatments are offered in all of the Seychelles resorts and the newest of those wonderful and luxurious of resorts is the Four Seasons Seychelles Resort and Spa on the island of Mahe. The resort has world class spa facilities, spectacular views of Petite Anse beach while still offering lots of solitude and seclusion. There are five spa pavilions and guests get transported to the spa in a personal buggy. Whatever your reason to schedule a holiday in Seychelles there is one thing for sure you will not spend a more tranquil, secluded or luxurious one any where else known to man. The resort is worth its weight in gold.

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Yangtze River Cruise

As our thirst for adventure increases and the world becomes smaller thanks to the jet age, taking your holidays in China is now as easy as booking a break in Europe. This magical and mystical country has appealed to travellers for decades, but only the hardened traveller would make the arduous trek across the globe that it once was. Nowadays a flight from the UK will deliver you safely in China in hours rather than days or weeks.

Taking a trip to China can be both exciting and frustrating as you try and work out an itinerary to see as much of this wonderful country as you can. Beijing, Shanghai, the great wall, how much can you realistically pack in without being so exhausted that you don’t enjoy the splendour? A great way to chill out and relax and see the ‘real’ China is to take a Yangtze River Cruise.

The lengths of cruises you can take down the Yangtze River vary from a couple of days to nearly three weeks. Now this may seem like a long time to stay on one river, but you need to remember that it is the 3^rd longest river in the world and is 3988 miles long.  For many, a cruise down the Yangtze is the easiest way to see as much of China as possible without having to stress about transport and transfers between the sights.

Another thing you will discover when checking out the cruises down the Yangtze is how reasonably priced they are compared to other cruises. For a few hundred pounds as opposed to a few thousand, you get to see the real beauty of this country in the most relaxing way possible, and you can select a cruise that takes in the places that you want to visit.

The great appeal about cruising down the Yangtze is that although you are on one river all the time, the contrasting landscapes and cultures that you will experience along the way will give you the impression that you are in a whole different world. The cruise ships themselves are ultra modern with every facility you could think off. The cuisine is second to none and the evening entertainment vibrant and exciting.

If you are planning the trip of a lifetime to China, check out the river cruises down the Yangtze, exploring the country in this way will turn a memorable holiday into an unforgettable one.

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Sadly, our image of Vietnam has been tarnished because of the Vietnam War and various films about it, but Vietnam is rapidly becoming a popular place for tourists, with places such as the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Min city (made famous in ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ with Robin Williams).

In the war, US GIs headed to the beaches of Da Nang for a relaxing time. Now, it still has some of the world’s best beaches, with many of them hidden from view and relatively private. It is a cheap place to visit, although you need some time to explore, as its many attractions, such as My Son Sanctuary, Marble Mountains and the Cham Museum, are spread far and wide. My Son Sanctuary is basically a number of Hindu temples, now in ruins, dating from between the 4^th and 14^th centuries and is now recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Cham Island is a great place for nature spotting, snorkelling and diving, with its fabulous coral reef and crystal clear blue waters. Stay at the only guesthouse on the island. Vietnamese cuisine has recently been popularised by Rick Stein, among others.

Vietnam has major expansion plans and will have no less than 10 international airports by the next 4 years, therefore, if you want a quiet vacation to somewhere a bit different, now is the time to go.

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Funky bars to get the party started

The liveliest area of Phuket is Patong Beach. This is where you’ll find an endless supply of noisy clubs and bars, many of them open air, where you can party all night long. Bangla Road is the epicentre of all the wild frolics and the hub of the local sex industry. This is where you’ll be endlessly entertained by bar girls, scantily dressed and, not surprisingly, very friendly. Try Devil’s Playground, Exotica and Hot Rock for the best of this scene. There are also some quieter drinking dens such as Crow’s Nest and Two Brothers, and the super cool Scandinavian Bar.

Hot nightclubs and cabarets in Phuket

Safari Bar is one of the most popular clubs to go to at the end of the night. It is on the edge of Patong, on the road to Karon. Tiger Disco, Seduction Disco and Tai Pan are all in Patong, open ‘til late and worth a visit. Many of these places feature live bands too.  If you want to see the famous ladyboys, head over to Soi Vegas, or check out the famous Simon Cabaret. For go-go clubs where the girls entertain with sexy dancing, just walk down the Bangla Road. For a change of scene, try a night out in Phuket town where you’ll find cool clubs such as Kor Tor Mor and Oasis.

Quiet watering holes and the gay area

For a more relaxed night out, most of the other resorts around the island of Phuket are quieter. In Kata, for example, you’ll find some great beer bars along the Patak Road West. Also try the Catch Beach Club or Stereo Lab Beach Club, both in Surin. If you’re looking for gay bars and gay-friendly guesthouses, these are mostly found around Soi Paradise in the Patong area.

Things to do in Phuket

Don’t worry about having nothing to do during the day in Phuket – there are plenty of watersports, sightseeing and other activities to keep you busy. You can take boat trips out to discover hidden beaches and spectacular scenery, visit a tranquil Thai temple or go wild at a theme park. Just book your cheap flights to Phuket and start planning your dream holiday.

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The Thieves market at Sungei Road is good for a stroll to see the used shoes, jewellery a more than a bit of junk, after you have visited Little India. Other markets to enjoy are the Bugis Street Market in the Hainanese Region and the Chinatown night markets on Temple and Pagoda.

With an array of open-air restaurants to choose from on the waterfront, Clarke Quay is a wonderful place to dine. As you walk by, waiters offer free drinks to entice you to their place, and it will not be long before they succeed and you are enjoying a great meal and drinks.

Try one of many restaurants – Indian, Malaysian, Japanese, Italian Thai or there is even American food.

The rail system connects the many different shopping districts that are in this city of shopping. Orchard Road is the most well known and for an ethnic experience enjoy shopping at Arab Street, Little India or Chinatown.

Raffles City is great since there are over 200 retails outlets and such a great selection to choose from. On the basement level is the marketplace, full of independent designer clothing.

After shopping enjoy a soothing drink at the Raffles Hotel. Maybe even the Singapore Sling, created right here in 1910.

For some history, visit the Chinese Heritage Centre a fascinatingly recreated depiction of how the Chinese settlers lived while constructing the new Singapore. It is great for the children to see and even the adults will be impressed.

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With so much to experience in these regions, it is difficult to know where to start. However, we will focus on holidays in China, where visitors can expect to see some of the most unique views of the world from the natural beauties of Sichuan and Tibet to the impressive man made skyline of Shanghai and the Great Wall of China. The first thing that will strike you is the vastness of China which often means that you cannot take in everything that China has to offer in one visit and each holidaymaker who has visited China will agree that you will keep returning to China year after year. China boosts bustling cities, especially the South of China, in regions such as Guangdong that features cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen where visitors can experience a more westernised and modern China. While venturing away from the cities visitors can experience some of the best awe inspiring natural areas found in the world today, from the vast deserts of Xinijang to the beautiful Li River near Guilin. Whichever part of this vast country you decide to visit, you will be left awed and inspired by their architecture, culture and the people.

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Phi Phi Don also has some of the paradise that has been lost to over-development in so many areas of the planet.  The tsunami of 2004 destroyed much of the island’s man-made infrastructure, but in some respects that has proved serendipitous for the overall environment.  The massive wave virtually wiped out all traces left by the filming of “The Beach” in 2000, and Maya Bay, the entrancing spot that became famous as a movie location went back almost to its original state of awesome natural beauty. Towering limestone cliffs surround and shelter palm-fringed white sand beaches where swimming, snorkelling and just relaxing are the star attractions.

Phi Phi boasts some of the world’s most enticing beaches, but that’s not so unusual.  What is remarkable is that there are no roads on the islands; most locations require a boat ride to reach, and you will find a serene and unhurried ambiance that is hard to come by these days.  From Tonsai Village, the main centre of ‘commerce’, you can walk to Loh Dalum, where the beach is perfect for lazing and you can also enjoy the laid-back nightlife.

Long Beach, in the southern end of Phi Phi, claims the whitest, softest sand on the island, along with some fabulous snorkelling sites just metres from the beach.  Laem Tong Beach, at the northern end, can be reached only by boat, and offers a wonderful atmosphere of seclusion combined with the ever-present glories of white sand beach and clear, calm water.  Two hotels, the Holiday Inn Resort and the Zeavola Resort, both offer bungalows right on the beach, with all the modern conveniences just far enough from the ‘madding crowd’.

From Phi Phi you can take a long-tail boat to any of the other small islands in the group, where you will find endless opportunities to explore on foot or in the water.  Guided excursions are available, but don’t expect to immerse yourself in the native culture on these islands, as there are no inhabitants.  This is Nature, at her most welcoming, and it doesn’t get much better than that.

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When it comes to booking a holiday, finding a destination where you can relax is likely to be one of your main priorities. Life is becoming more and more hectic and stressful for a number of people and thus if you can have a whole week, or preferably two, where you can go at your own pace and won’t have to lift a finger at all then it will prove to be a highly attractive proposition. This is just what you can do in Laos, where not only is the location pristine and largely isolated, but the people are also chilled out, too!

Another concern for many people is that in addition to finding a relaxing resort, the holiday has to be great value. Holiday budgets are as tight for the majority of us as they have ever been and while we’d all like to spend thousands of pounds on a break, few of us can. The great thing about visiting a country like Laos is that you can take advantage of low cost flights that will help to keep the cost of your holiday reasonably low. When you take into account cheap accommodation as well, you really do get a lot of holiday for your money.

With the cost of travel and accommodation kept low, you should have plenty of holiday budget left over to be able to afford to invest in car rental for the duration of your break. This comes recommended if you want to explore as much of Laos as possible, as otherwise due to the laid-back and slightly primitive nature of the south-east Asia country you could spend hours going from one village to another. While you’ll want to buy into the pace of life in Laos, you’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of memorable holiday experiences, too; so it may be worth also hiring a driver to benefit from local knowledge.

There are plenty of these on offer in Laos, as you’ll see many stunning views that you’ll want to ensure you take a photo of so you can look back at them in years to come. The forested mountains in the north of the country stretch for miles and you’ll be amazed at just how much unspoilt scenery there is to see. The Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang Province is a unique tourist attraction, with several hundred jars fashioned from solid stone to see.

When you’re not spending time investigating Laos’ unique landscape, you’ll want to get a taste of the country’s culture. You can literally do this by tucking into some tasty Laos dishes and experience some local cuisine. The food you’ll find there is fairly similar to that served across Thailand, so if you enjoy spicy food you’ll be in for a treat. The national dish is laap, a spicy salad that will have you reaching for a glass of water or two, or the local beer lao, the national drink of Laos. After a week in Laos you’ll have grown to love the food and the scenery, and wonder why you never considered it as a holiday destination before.

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Since about 1999, however, Vietnam has experienced a boom in tourism. In addition, more and more travellers are coming to study and backpack. This is based partly on an “escape effect” that is compared with the continuing violence and terrorist attacks in the Philippines and Indonesia, and Thailand, while Vietnam has the image of a peaceful country with low crime.

Cruise ships travel to some Vietnamese ports or anchor off the coast and offer day trips to Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Hue. In recent years, in some fishing villages, they have hastily built some international hotels and resorts.

Restaurants have been opened to foreigners and they have taken to building a tourist infrastructure. Several hundred thousand people are already employed in the tourism sector. Travellers of all countries need a visa to enter Vietnam. This can either be purchased from a Vietnamese Embassy or simply upon entry at an international airport. The latter (Visa upon Arrival) entitles you to single entry and is only valid for four weeks, but may be extended in the country.

An embassy visa offers longer validity up to 90 days for tourist visas, which also allows multiple entries. Forms are available on the website of the Embassy.

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Approximately 65% of the land area is covered with dense rainforest. Their cities remain beautiful, Buddhist temples are in good condition and there is an array of interesting colonial architecture. These are some elements that make an alternative tourism destination versus it’s already tourism saturated neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam.

Formerly, the kingdom of Lan Xang occupied this territory, from about the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries, to later become part of French Indochina. It achieved independence in 1949 after a long period of political instability, its openness to trade in the 1990s resulting in the development of tourism. Thai businessmen in this country found the possibility of generating tourism abroad, taking advantage of its exotic and little exploited territory.

The majority of the population belongs to the ethnic Lao, a denomination that serves also to give name to the country’s official language, which officially is called Lao Lao Mung. With the arrival of the French name derived simply as Laos. The predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism, followed by animism, with small minorities of Muslims and Christians, all together in perfect harmony.

Among the most prominent and beautiful city where you can spend days relaxing and fun, is Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng in Vientiane, the capital. The first one has been declared World Heritage site by UNESCO and is maintaining its best-preserved colonial architecture in the whole Southeast Asia.

You can also make a tour of the 32 Buddhist temples, beautiful mountains and jungle as well as a trip along the river Merkong. This city, ancient capital of the country, is a parenthesis between the common Asian cities. Here you can breathe peace, without traffic or annoyances. The tourist infrastructure has the charm of the fusion of traditional Lao and French culture and cuisine with first class French/Asian food

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Bangkok holiday packages usually begin at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which is less than an hour from the main areas of Bangkok, and is easily reached by taxis which are priced controlled, or the soon to open skytrain extension.

The Skytrain is the very latest in high-tech passenger transport in the form of an elevated train system which speeds people quickly and cheaply across many areas usually visited by tourists.

There are so many things to see and do in this massive sprawling city it is hard to know what to miss out on, as the average Bangkok holiday simply does not allow enough time for all that the city can deliver to the hundreds of thousands of visitors it receives each year.

One of the must see attractions is  the Grand Palace and Wat Prakaew, here you will find the ancient home of the Thai Royal Court with its intricate and stunning detail, and thoroughly beautiful ancient Thai architecture. The adjoining Wat Prakaew is the temple that is home to the famous and revered Emerald Buddha.

Another incredible destination is the Damnoen Saduak floating market, where visitors can buy fresh fruits, flowers and a whole array of other goods directly from the sales ladies who ply their wares from tiny canoes, which they paddle up and down the canals that make up possibly the world’s most unusual marketplace.

A more modern attraction is found in the basement of the huge Siam Paragon shopping mall, in the form of Siam Ocean World, an incredible undersea world which offers in excess of 30,000 different marine species in seven separate huge exhibition areas. Here you can not only view the marine life you can also feed some of the fish, and even take the opportunity to dive with sharks and stingrays.

Perhaps one of the most tantalising attractions for anyone taking their holidays in Bangkok is the city itself; just walking around the streets can be an incredible experience in its own right. The site sounds and smells are like nothing many Westerners have ever experienced before.

You can not walk more than a few yards without coming across a street vendor selling fresh fruit or Thai food delicacies cooked to perfection right in front of your eyes. Surprisingly these street vendor’s managed to serve their food in a very hygienic fashion, so the risk of tummy upset is low when compared to the risk of missing out on partaking in a real Bangkok food experience. Whenever you visit Bangkok you are sure to come away with the desire to return again to enjoy the experiences that you missed out on the first visit.

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