Costa Navarino, Greece -Luxury Hotel

Costa Navarino, Greece

Greece’s economy may have seen better days, but that hasn’t stopped the tourism industry from moving forward. Take the region of Messenia, the westernmost finger of the hand-shaped Peloponnese peninsula, filled with sun-drenched valleys, Byzantine churches, and sandy dunes that border the crystal-blue Ionian Sea. The area has remained virtually unknown to travelers, who have traditionally preferred the white-sand beaches of the Greek islands. But Costa Navarino, a new resort complex set on 2,500 acres, is aiming to change that, turning this low-profile stretch of coastline into Europe’s newest Riviera.

Costa Navarino is ambitious and international, with several hotel partners. Starwood opened a Westin resort and the Romanos, a Luxury Collection hotel, last year; a Banyan Tree is slated to debut in 2013. But it’s also intensely local. At the Starwood properties, more than 75 percent of the staff is from surrounding villages and guests are encouraged to spend an evening at the house of a Messenian family. The low-slung villas are made from native stone and have Greek art from the 17th century, and treatments at the 43,000-square-foot spa are based on 4,500-year-old recipes found at King Nestor’s palace nearby. With rates much lower than at similar hotels in Mykonos and Santorini, this quiet slice of the Peloponnese might just experience a Greek revival. Westin doubles from $276; Romanos doubles from $193. —Eleni N. Gage

The Breakdown

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants the next European beach escape.

When to Go: April–Oct.

How to Do It: Hop a 30-minute flight from Athens to nearby Kalamata airport.

Exotic Factor: Foreign

Guimaraes Hotel-Portugal destination

Guimarães, Portugal

A burst of cultural creativity and youthful energy is breathing new life into one of Portugal’s oldest cities. Here, how to make the most of your day there.

Start the morning with breakfast on your private terrace overlooking the city at the hillside Pousada de Santa Marinha (351/253-415-969; doubles from $210), a ninth-century monastery turned hotel.

Hike the six-mile Citânia de Briteiros, which leads to the dramatic ruins of an Iron Age settlement.

Noon: Don’t miss the small but high-quality selection of local products at Verde Inveja (351/ 253-554-020), including artisanal chocolates, traditional pottery, and soaps by the century-old Antiga Barbearia de Bairro.

What Guimarães lacks in cutting-edge gastronomy it makes up for in well-executed traditional fare. About 20 minutes from town, the intimate São Gião (351/253-561-853; dinner for two $100) specializes in house-made foie gras; all manner of fish, roast meat, and game; and excellent Portuguese wines.

For the latest in Portuguese music, theater, film, and art, take your pick between the Vila Flor Cultural Center (351/253-424-700), in an 18th-century palace downtown, and the new Center for Arts & Architecture Affairs, in the formerly industrial district of Rua Padre.

Whether grilled, fried, or baked with bread crumbs, bacalhau (salt cod) is the dish to order at Histórico(351/915-429-700; dinner for two $65). Not a cod lover? The menu is also strong on other regional classics, such as cheese fondue and grilled octopus.

Swing by the city’s oldest square, Largo da Oliveira—it’s full of lively cafés where locals gather to drink and people-watch until the wee hours. —Alexandra Marshall

The Breakdown

Who It’s For: Travelers who like their old-world Europe with a contemporary spin.

When to Go: .....

How to Do It: Guimarães is a four-hour train ride from Lisbon Airport.

Exotic Factor: Foreign

Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012

http://artourtraveller.blogspot.com/

Courtesy of Histo

Guimarães, Portugal

A burst of cultural creativity and youthful energy is breathing new life into one of Portugal’s oldest cities. Here, how to make the most of your day there.

Start the morning with breakfast on your private terrace overlooking the city at the hillsidePousada de Santa Marinha (351/253-415-969; doubles from $210), a ninth-century monastery turned hotel.

Hike the six-mile Citânia de Briteiros, which leads to the dramatic ruins of an Iron Age settlement.

Noon: Don’t miss the small but high-quality selection of local products at Verde Inveja (351/ 253-554-020), including artisanal chocolates, traditional pottery, and soaps by the century-old Antiga Barbearia de Bairro.

What Guimarães lacks in cutting-edge gastronomy it makes up for in well-executed traditional fare. About 20 minutes from town, the intimate São Gião (351/253-561-853; dinner for two $100) specializes in house-made foie gras; all manner of fish, roast meat, and game; and excellent Portuguese wines.

3 P.M.: For the latest in Portuguese music, theater, film, and art, take your pick between the Vila Flor Cultural Center (351/253-424-700), in an 18th-century palace downtown, and the new Center for Arts & Architecture Affairs, in the formerly industrial district of Rua Padre.

Whether grilled, fried, or baked with bread crumbs, bacalhau (salt cod) is the dish to order at Histórico(351/915-429-700; dinner for two $65). Not a cod lover? The menu is also strong on other regional classics, such as cheese fondue and grilled octopus.

Swing by the city’s oldest square, Largo da Oliveira—it’s full of lively cafés where locals gather to drink and people-watch until the wee hours. —Alexandra Marshall
The Breakdown

Who It’s For: Travelers who like their old-world Europe with a contemporary spin.

When to Go:....

How to Do It: Guimarães is a four-hour train ride from Lisbon Airport.

Exotic Factor: Foreign

Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012

http://artourtraveller.blogspot.com/

Xishuangbanna, China

Yunnan is thronged with visitors both Chinese and international—but this untamed corner of the province at the foot of the Himalayas is still largely overlooked. With rain forests, Buddhist temples, tribal villages, and China’s last remaining wild elephants, it’s the place to get a cultural fix without the crowds.
Stay

Xishuangbanna enjoyed a brief vogue with domestic travelers two decades ago, so it has some basic hotels. But the Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa (86-691/871-7777; doubles from $350) will set a new standard when it opens this spring. The province’s first luxury retreat faces the banks of the winding Luosuo River in the bucolic town of Menglun. The 103 rooms, some with private pools, will have gabled roofs and lotus motifs. The restaurant will showcase the indigenous cuisine.
See

The local ethnic groups—Dai, Hani, Yi, and others—share Southeast Asian ancestry, making Xishuangbanna’s culture feel less Chinese and more a blend of Thai, Laos, and Burmese. Stroll through Manfeilong, a traditional Dai village, at dawn and you’ll hear the chants of Buddhist monks and watch the sun rise over an 11th-century pagoda. Visit plantations growing Yunnan’s coveted, smoky Pu-erh tea leaves. Nearby, the 2,200-acreXishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden has more than 1,000 species, including fig trees, bamboo, and orchids.
Experience

For a more immersive trip, Wild China leads treks through Dai market towns and verdant river valleys, and organizes stays with local families. Guests can extend their trip to follow the Mekong into northern Thailand.
The Breakdown

Who It’s For: Asia hands looking for the next cultural frontier.

When to Go: Oct.–June

How to Do It: Wild China’s five-day trek costs $1,590 per person.

Exotic Factor: Far-Flung

Hamburg, Germany | Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012

http://artourtraveller.blogspot.com/

Courtesy of HafenCity Hamburg GmbH

Hamburg has always been a cosmopolitan city, with the famously louche St. Pauli district (where the Beatles played some early club dates) rubbing up against the monied quarters built by shipping and banking fortunes. Despite a slew of sleek postwar glass towers, however, Hamburg has never been known for design. That’s bound to change with the HafenCity development, a hypermodern showpiece that’s rising on the city’s old docklands. The 388-acre mega-project is being built in phases (it’s not due for completion until 2025), but it’s already giving Hamburg a welcome jolt of architectural glitz, with a handful of new hotels, boutiques, and restaurants drawing in the style set. Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall, where performances will start in 2014, is the star of the show, resembling an enormous ship passing through fog—a trick of treated glass that seems to bend and twist in the silvery light. The building looms over HafenCity’s completed, visitor-ready Am Sandtorkai/Dalmannkai quarter, an enclave of trophy apartments built over canals. Entering feels a bit like going back in time; you cross over a canal and through a series of enormous 19th-century brick warehouses. But beyond this historic ring, everything is brand-new and topsy-turvy, with nary a straight line in sight. The Marco Polo Tower, a luxury residential building, exemplifies the off-kilter aesthetic: a narrow-waisted, broad-shouldered structure with terraces angled so that the whole building seems to be wriggling away. HafenCity is so new you can still smell the construction dust, but it’s already shifting the city’s center of gravity.
Stay

Book a corner unit with a view at the ultrahip, nautical-style 25hours Hotel HafenCity. 49-40/257-7770; doubles from $144.
Eat

Carls serves French-accented German fare (lobster bisque; dill-scented haddock). 49-40/300-322-400; dinner for two $105.
Shop


Who It’s For: Architecture geeks; urban renewalists; culture mavens.

When to Go: May–Nov.

How to Do It: United flies nonstop from Newark to Hamburg daily.

Exotic Factor: Foreign

Virgin Islands in the Caribbean

Virgin Islands is one of the islands in the Leeward islands. The island is located on the border between the Caribbean Sea to the Atlantic. Virgin Island is a unique island because once owned two countries, namely the UK with the name Britihs Virgin Islands for islands northeast and the United States Virgin Islands by the United States specifically for the islands in the west. Duplication of this political ownership resulted island has two names, the Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
As an archipelago, the island of Virgin is indeed famous for its beaches. Each country, the UK and the United States promoting the beautiful beaches and other tourist attractions in the island with a website or a different promotion. Likewise, travel-travel in both countries, although both promote Virgin islands but still include their respective countries.
For owned British Virgin Islands, there are many attractions that are worth visiting. Average sold for tourism is indeed a beach, as the beach St. John, who had a sea with shades ranging from dark blue to light blue. The beach is very beautiful and is located on the outer line. There are several small islands filled with plants, making it a more stunning beaches. In addition there are seven main islands unique to offer and everything can be explored with the help of the ferry. Journey will start from the city of St. Thomas, who is a full history of our culture and filled with culinary journey.
In addition there is Trunk Bay, one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, there is also St. Croix that offers the best diving in the Caribbean. While the U.S. Virgin Islands are also promoting a similar object, which is about the island of Virgin beach of white sand and panoramic charming. Cities that includes this region is Ciboney, Carib and Arawaks. The most famous beaches in the region is Magens Bay, besides also including the strategic port of Charlotte Amalie is used as tourist attractions.Well, if you want to cruise to the island, no matter which part of the island you visit, which obviously both will provide a memorable experience paradise.
Tags: virgin islandsPosted in Virgin Islands |

Religious Tourism Interest in Bali - Kintamani-Indonesia

Want to have lunch at the restaurant with a view of Mount and Lake Batur, special price, click here

Kintamani, which is located in Bangli district, is one of the favorite tourist attractions tourist options both domestic and abroad.

Generally, in almost any travel agent or tour operator in Bali, Kintamani included in the itinerary (travel route) after visiting the Moon Stone (Barong Dance), Ubud tourist area as a shopping center or Sukawati.

Kintamani offers a fresh atmosphere of the hills with temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius, much like air in Bedugul. The main attraction of the region is the view of Mount Kintamani and Lake Batur. Mount Batur is still an active mountain and the second highest after Mount Agung at Besakih. Atmosphere is best when enjoy lunch while enjoying the beauty of the lake and mountain belching smoke friendly.

Interested to know more about Kintamani? Also a time to yourself to visit Trunyan located near the lake. But you have to cross by boat to get there by traveling approximately 20 minutes. What is interesting and unique is the way locals funeral will be different from the prevalence in Bali. Corpse propped against a tree without buried. But the unique smell of corpses was not issued because neutralized by the smell of fragrant wood called incense.

Unique is not it? If interested, why not incorporate alternative Kintamani attractions in your vacation? Happy holidays in Bali.

Bentonville, Arkansas | Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012

Courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum

Until now, Bentonville, Arkansas, has been famous for one thing: it’s the home of big-box retailer Walmart. But Alice Walton, youngest heir to the empire, is using a large share of her wealth—estimated by Forbes at $21 billion—to transform the region into a world-class cultural destination. TheCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art(479/418-5700), opened in November, is a showcase for Walton’s impressive collection—and an audacious gamble that a large-scale arts institution can thrive in the Ozarks.

To hedge her if-you-build-it-they-will-come bet, Walton hired architect Moshe Safdie to design the museum, set on 120 wooded acres just outside town. He created a series of gently curving pavilions hovering dramatically around and over ponds fed by natural springs. Walton also approached 21c Museum Hotels—which put Louisville, Kentucky, on the art-world map—about opening a property in town. (Designed by Deborah Berke, it’s due next January.) Her biggest investment may be the collection itself, bought at often eyebrow-raising prices and covering the full sweep of American art, from Colonial portraitists Gilbert Stuart and John Singleton Copley to 19th-century masters Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins, with a splash of contemporary art (Andy Warhol; Roxy Paine; Jenny Holzer) thrown in.

The museum is already being touted by some as a countrified Guggenheim Bilbao—and Walton herself as a latter-day Morgan or Frick, digging deep into her pockets and dreaming big. This may be enough to attract culture seekers from around the country, if not the world. But there’s another enticement. In true Walmart spirit, they’re rolling back prices here, too: admission is free. —Stephen Wallis

The Breakdown

Who It’s For: Art lovers willing to go off the beaten path.

When to Go: all year

How to Do It: Fly to Little Rock; Bentonville is a three-hour drive away.

Exotic Factor: familiar

Seawalker Bali in Sanur - Most Good, Cheap and Safe

Travel Bali Seawalker, Seawalker best tour in Indonesia, want? You do not need to remove the glasses in the water and do not need to know how to swim, because this is a sea walker (walking on the sea floor).
Well marine tourism this time, we will try one exciting water sports and fun in Bali. Not snorkeling, scuba diving or surfing, but seawalker alias runs in the bottom of the sea. Its location in Sanur beach, close to Sanur Beach hotel. Equipment that used enough dive helmet that is designed specifically for underwater activities such as Walker. And interestingly, this one activity can be followed even by who can not swim at all. Ask why?

 
Before plunging into the sea, we will be given a briefing on the techniques used when diving later in Sanur Beach Sanur. Then we will transfer by boat to the pontoon Seawalker his reply was in the middle of the ocean. Here we will be paired with a special helmet which fed by pure oxygen. Guided by the instructor, we are going down the stairs that go down there to set foot deep bottom of the sea which is about 5-7 meters. Stay calm and relax, because we do not feel there is a difference between breathing on land by breathing in water. It does not matter if you wear glasses or contact lens, this unique helmet is not transparent. So you can still wear glasses under water. In the water, we could walk around enjoying the enchantment under the sea imaginable while feeding the fish dance. After about 30 minutes of diving, we will be invited to ascend to the pontoon and then driven again by boat to the mainland to enjoy a lunch that was in the hotel restaurant Sanur Beach. The total time we need for this activity began to pick up from the back to the hotel about 4 hours. It would be nice and interesting to follow the trip that morning I'll be nice and clear water.

Excess in transpotation:
Price Seawalker Option 1 includes:Shuttle vehicle location with full air conditioning, appliances with international safety standards, life insurance, shower and locker room, lunch, mineral water, professional instructor, and the use of a towel.Discount Price: Rp. 745,000 to Rp 615.000/people.
Price Seawalker Option 2 includes:Equipment with international safety standards, life insurance, shower and locker room, mineral water, professional instructor, and the use of a towel.Discount Price: Rp. 645,000 to Rp. 545.000/people.
Terms and Conditions:
1. Participants were aged 9 years or a minimum of at least 140 cm tall.2. Cancellation less than 3 days, subject to 100% cancellation fee3. Seats are limited, please make reservations several weeks or months earlier.
3. Minimal participant is 2 persons4. Special pricing WNI

Mozambique’s Northern Coast | Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012

Courtesy of Azu

This stretch of Indian Ocean coastline has upped the ante in recent years, with rustic-chic beach retreats giving way to polished lodges and ultra-luxe resorts to rival those of Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Vamizi Island Lodge: Lining a mile-long beach in the far northern Quirimbas, a ribbon of 32 coral islands near the Tanzanian border, Vamizi has 15 villas decked out with marble showers and ocean-view dining rooms. There’s no TV, but you can watch the samango monkeys and tropical birds that make Vamizi home. 44-1285/762-218; doubles from $590.

Ibo Island Lodge: Located in the cultural heart of the Quirimbas, Ibo’s trio of colonial-era mansions reflects the island’s centuries-old Arab, Indian, and Portuguese heritage. Wide verandas have hand-carved teak daybeds, while the nine rooms come dressed with Indian silk throws. The lodge takes guests on island-hopping dhow safaris. 27-21/702-0285; doubles from $730.

Azura at Quilalea Private Island: The nine coral stone-and-thatch bungalows of Azura, set on the southern end of the Quirimbas, look onto a protected deepwater bay where Portuguese and Arab traders once docked their dhows. 27-76/705-0599; doubles from $1,190.

Coral Lodge 15.41: This 10-villa property combines local woods and colorful African accents with plush amenities such as a seaside spa and an infinity pool. Perched on a peninsula a short boat ride from Ilha de Moçambique, the 16th-century Portuguese colonial capital, Coral Lodge arranges tours of the island’s ruins.258-266/60003; doubles from $850.

Nuarro: Tucked into the lush dunes of the Baixo do Pinda peninsula, 100 miles north of Ilha de Moçambique, Nuarro’s 12 thatched-roof bungalows have sweeping bay views out front and a rugged panorama of bush and baobab forest. 258-82/301-4294; doubles from $590. —Douglas Rogers
The Breakdown

Who It’s For: Honeymooners; post-safari sybarites; private-island connoisseurs.

When to Go: May–Sept.

How to Do It: Your resort or tour operator can help with travel arrangements.

Exotic Factor: Far-Flung

Places Of Interest In Bali-Indonesia

Tourist attractions in Bali that are worth the visit, would you have in mind if you plan to vacation in the island of the gods. Surely you will seek from many sources, both from the internet, magazines, brochures or references from friends and family about tourism object, according to your desires and expectations. Of course, with armed of all refreansi you get, of course you will know what you are looking for a vacation in Bali.
Paradise island has a reputation, becoming one of the interesting attractions in the region. Island of the Gods to attract domestic tourists, and foreign countries, amounting to one million a year. Quite a lot right? Surely this will help a lot in increasing foreign exchange earnings.The development tourism island of the gods create more investment in the tourism industry, such as the hospitality industry, handicraft industry and many others. All of the tourism industry, offering convenience, services or products to the tourists.
The amount of visits to the island of the gods, was caused by many things. One of them is a tourist attraction in Bali. To tour the place of interest in the island of gods. Then you will need transfortasi means, either by car or by bike. We provide cheap car rental Bali and Bali limousine for your holiday on the island of the gods. Besides, we also provide car rental with driver, if you want comfort in your vacation, without having to think about the breakdown of the road and look for a parking space. In addition, our drivers are very familiar with the object tourism island of the gods. So by renting a car with a driver, you will not get lost and not wasting your time on the road.Places Of Interest In Bali That InterestingPlaces Of Interest In Bali Tourist Attraction in Bali

In these pages, I will define all mutual to you. Bali tourism object name, and you should go with family or with friends. I will summarize in outline, as the name attractions. For more information about tourist attractions, you can simply click on the title link or picture. Hopefully this article on this site may help you determine the choice of attractions in Bali that you want to visit.

Travel Spotting: Gstaad Palace

Gstaad-Saanenland is located in the south-west of Switzerland, right on the border to the French-speaking area and also perfect for day trips of skiing, snowboarding, shopping, and of course, relaxing at the spa.

This luxury hotel is just as beautiful in the winter as it is in summer. With an amazing spa, five star restaurants and a backdrop out of The Sound of Music, the Palace seems like the best place to stay. Famous residents have included Elizabeth Taylor, director Roman Polanski, violinist Yehudi Menuhin, Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, modern artist Balthus, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Swiss philanthropist Philipp Braunwalder and Filip Peters.Famous regular visitors to Gstaad have included Michael Jackson, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, haute couture designer Valentino.