Bali Boutique Hotels Provide Comfort and Luxury In A Land of Festivals

Bali has long been referred to as the “Island of the Gods”, and numerous tourists flock to the island each year. While any time of year will be filled with different sights and activities, those who visit during certain times will experience an added bonus to their visit. Bali is host to several different festivals that occur each year, and some of these bring excitement and sights that are unmatched anywhere else on the planet. Knowing when these festivals occur and what to expect can make planning or enjoying your stay in Bali boutique hotels even more enjoyable than normal.

Small festivals occur with regularity, due to the over twenty thousand Hindu temples that cover the island. Each temple holds its own celebratory festival twice each year, sometimes more. Funerals that occur on the island are also colourful affairs and often see the dead being cremated in extravagant rituals. While these small festivals and events are common and hard to pinpoint an exact time for, other festivals that are much larger and more significant are easier to predict and much more of an event. In some cases the Bali boutique hotels may even take part in the festivals, for better or for worse.

Every two hundred and ten days, the ten day festival known as Galungan occurs. This celebration is held in honour of the death of the ancient tyrant Mayadenawa, and bamboo poles bear gifts for the returning spirits of Gods and ancestors alike who visit the island over the course of the ten days. This is truly a spectacle and a unique experience, and you’ll likely see the signs of it from any of the Bali boutique hotels that dot the area. But all of these festivals pale in comparison to Nyepi, the Hindu New Year. This is both an extravagant celebration worth seeing but can also create hassles that travellers may not be prepared for.

Nyepi is known as the Day of Silence, and the days leading up to it will be filled with the creation of huge colourful giants and will culminate in a massive parade. The spectacle is incredible and will create a lasting memory, but the following day will not be as enjoyable. No flights will leave the island, no businesses will be open, and guests at Bali boutique hotels will be asked to remain inside and keep as quiet as possible. It can be a great excuse to relax and unwind, but you should be prepared for it if you’re visiting during the time that Nyepi falls within.

Cheap Boston Hotels Getting the Most Value out of Your Stay in Boston

Widely known as the Cradle of Liberty, Boston is indeed a special place in the eyes of millions of visitors every year, transcending its reputation as a historic cultural and financial centre in New England and America. Combining the stately charm of its historical landmarks and iconic universities with the energy and dynamism of the sporting and arts scene here, Boston possesses an unrivalled allure for any visitor.

For those of you who are hoping to experience this wonderful city but only have a limited budget, you will be delighted to know that there are cheap Boston hotels available throughout the city that makes it accessible to budget travelers despite its prestigious reputation.

When you step into the budget hotels in Boston, do expect to feel a certain warmth and coziness embodied by old-school design and furnishings that could be absent in many luxury hotels. Your guest experience is not compromised either, as these hotels generally provide the basic amenities which are enough to make you comfortable and feel rejuvenated after a long day exploring the city. All at an affordable price, great value and mostly convenient location that can save you more money to enjoy all that the city has to offer.

A special consideration that you may have to take into account when booking your hotel in Boston is whether any major events, festivals and graduation ceremonies are in full swing during your visit. This is because hotels, especially the cheaper ones in the downtown area, tend to get filled up very quickly due to the influx of visitors to the city. For your information, some major festivals and events are Patriots Day, the Boston Marathon and Independence Day while the main graduation weekend involving the many universities here usually takes place at the end of May.

To avoid the unwelcome dilemma of a lack of hotel rooms during these periods, it is thus prudent to place your hotel bookings as early as you can to get the hotel room of your choice at the best rates. That being said, you still have other budget accommodation options in the suburbs which are still highly accessible to the downtown area via the public transportation networks.

Boston, being a small city with an extensive public transport network, is very visitor-friendly as most of the attractions are easily accessible and the citys sights best enjoyed on foot. If you want to save on some travelling time and costs, though, it would be wise to choose your hotel in the downtown area or Back Bay to be situated near a wide array of shopping, entertainment, dining and sightseeing options that are more than enough to keep you occupied throughout your stay. Although both areas are in close proximity to the city centre, which boasts considerably more luxury accommodation, you would also be able to find cheaper options in the form of bed and breakfasts, motels and more regular budget to mid-ranged hotels.

Business travelers will discover the downtown area, which is also the financial district, to be their haven as there are hotels with attractive rates and excellent facilities tailored just for them. Leisure travelers will find the downtown and Back Bay easily accessible to all the historical attractions which they wish to see, as well as a host of dining, shopping and entertainment options.

On top of it, both downtown and Back Bay boast great connectivity as the subway and trolley lines are highly concentrated here, making it easier to get to any attraction that you choose.

Luxury Hotels Prague – Luxury Travel Prague

Luxury Hotels Prague

There have been many guides written to Luxury Hotels Prague that detail the merits of individual hotels in the city but we want to deal with just the best areas and to stay within Prague and name just a couple of unbeatable value 5 star hotels.

A luxury hotel means different things to different people. Some people consider luxury as a matter of aesthetics, a beautiful staircase, a Rococo piece of furniture, and high ceilings with wooden beams or even make their hotel choice based on the feng shui qualities of the room. Luxury to other people means not having to lift a finger, a hotel with a wonderful concierge, 24 hour room service and a bell-hop. Others consider luxury as pampering, this group would value a heated indoor pool, perhaps a spa and massage services.

Prague offers hotels that cater to everyone; some hotels in Prague even offer facilities to suit the needs of all the above. Once you have decided what qualities in a luxury hotel are important to you, you must then decide in what area of Prague you wish to base yourself.

Once more, this question can only be answered by the individual travelers. Those wishing to stay in the thick of it, near Wenceslas Square and the main shopping district will want to base themselves in the Stare Mesto. There are hundreds of hotels here, but only around 10 of these would be considered luxury hotels. The luxury hotels of the Stare Mesto are also the most expensive and whilst it is still possible to stay here for far less than the Spanish Steps in Rome for example, there are great savings to be made by staying within a 10-20 minute walk of the Stare Mesto.

If you’re a person who visits Europe mainly to explore the history and architecture then two of the cities district will appeal to you; namely Josefov and Mala Strana. These are also home to several of the most upmarket, boutique style hotels. Josefov, with its famous shopping street Pariszka is by far the most expensive option. Those wishing to go central, historic and five star should choose the gorgeous Mala Strana district. Depending on the time of year, five star hotels in Mala Strana can be found for under 80 a night (the Mamaison Riverside Hotel Prague).

Luxury Restaurants Prague

Finding a restaurant in Prague is as easy as standing outside your hotel and taking 10 steps in any direction. Every street in Prague seems to be bursting with eateries offering as much pork knuckle as you can eat (and if you like that, the best of these is Kolkovna in Josefov). However, if your tastes are more refined and you do not enjoy the Czech cuisine the best spot in town, with the best views, is atop Petrin Hill in the fabulous Nebozizek restaurant. Even though this is one of the best restaurants in town, it is still around the same price as eating at the Strada chain in London.

The ultimate Czech eating experience though is Le Degustation, offering modern fusion cuisine as Western Europe means traditional Czech cooking. Here you can feast on seven courses of traditional Czech food along with wine matches also from Bohemia. Although not the cheapest dining option in Prague, La Degustation provides a culinary experience you will never forget!

Luxury Nightclubs Prague

If your name’s not down… it doesn’t really matter. It is very easy to boogie on down with the rich and famous of Czech society. The Duplex Bar on Wenceslas Square is one of Prague’s most exclusive spots where beer and wine are still far cheaper than a night in London. The Duplex spins with the Czech Republics best DJs.

If you prefer a night of culture there are wonderful events held every week at the Czech Opera House at the end of Wenceslas Square and the Prague National Theatre. Tickets to see the Czech Philharmonic and operatic masterpieces such as Tosca and La Boheme go for as little as 10 each. Prague has a renowned classical tradition with 3 of the best classical composers to ever reach for a piano or violin coming from this tiny country those being Smetana, Janacek and the infamous Dvorak.

The prices in Prague are far from static. We have noticed a 20% increase in prices from 2010 to 2011 so if you want to experience a luxury trip to Prague we recommend you go ASAP before the Eurozone as we know it changes beyond compare!

Best Hotels is the author of this page. If you want to know more about world’s top hotels , please try to visit this link http://www.1in50hotels.com/luxury_hotels_prague_guide_.php

New Summer Holiday Programmes Launched By St Lucia Hotels

In order to entice more summer holidaymakers to stay in St Lucia this season, hotels and restaurants as well as some of the most exciting tours and attractions have stepped their game to offer tourists with special deals aimed at a local audience. Trying to tap into the local market with special Staycation offers, the ultimate goal for many St Lucia holidays is to raise awareness of their services among local residents and in many cases build a long-lasting relationship with their home guests.

This annual summer promotion has been launched in previous years and continues to grow in popularity. For this reason, many hotels in St Lucia have revved up their offers to their loyal local clientele to now include special spa treatments at some of the islands most indulgent spa facilities.

The Staycation summer holiday deals in St Lucia will officially kick off on 1st July and will run until 30th September 2012.

At the moment the St Lucia Tourist Board is working with the many St Lucia hotels, tour operators, spas, restaurants and other organisations specialised in adding to the St Lucia holiday experience, in order to create the different tailor-made holiday packages that will offer exclusive summer deals to residents. Some of these specials will include hotel stays starting from just $30 US dollars per night per room and exclusive discounts on popular attractions and tours. In addition there are also some all inclusive holiday deals as part of the promotion.

The launch of Staycation coincides with the launch of another summer promotion called Summerlicious; yet another summer programme created by the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), designed to expose both locals and visitors alike to the diversity of St Lucian cuisine as influenced by Afro, European, French and Caribbean heritage.

As part of the Summerlicious programme those enjoying holidays in St Lucia during the summer season will get to enjoy authentic St Lucian culinary delights with reduced prix fixed prices on lunch and dinner summer menus at some of the finest restaurants island-wide. Visitors can sample a two course lunch for EC$50-$65 and a three course dinner from EC$95, $125 and $145. In addition, all meals include a high-quality signature cocktail made with St Lucias award winning Chairmans Reserve Rum. Ahead of the imposition of the Value Added Tax in October of this year, Summerlicious has been hailed as the, Pre VAT Dine Out.

Tourism Director Louis Lewis said Staycation/Summerlicious offers that unique opportunity for nationals; and in the case of Summerlicious visitors alike, the chance to experience the islands varied tourism product.

It is noteworthy to see the excitement amongst the hotels, restaurants, sites, attractions and spas to these two programs as we work together to execute these exciting summer promotions. The fact that more and more of our tourism partners are eager to participate in the promotions is testament to their success and the value they place on the on-island clientele. – Lewis said.

Participating hotels and restaurants in St Lucia for the Staycation/Summerlicious 2012 include both small and large properties and are located throughout the island from Cap Estate in the north to Vieux Fort in the south.

A Guide To Finding Great Deals on Hotels

When it comes to planning a vacation, there are many things to do in order to make the most out of your trip. If you are like most people, you probably have a somewhat limited budget. In order to maximize your enjoyment from your budget, finding affordable hotels will be an essential part of the process. So, what is the best way to go about finding a great deal on a place to stay for your upcoming vacation? There are a variety of methods and tactics to take when looking for fantastic vacation deals.

One of the best ways to save money on lodging for your upcoming trip is to plan ahead. If you are able to, you should be as flexible as possible about when you are going to take your trip. This will provide a variety of benefits. If you are able to plan your trip during less popular travel times, you may save money on lodging and other travel expenses such as airfare. Some areas, inns, and airports may be less crowded during the off-season. Plus, if you book your lodging far enough in advance, you may be able to get some discounted rates. Even booking during the week instead of over the weekend is a great way to save on lodging.

Finding deals on the Internet can also work to your advantage. There are a variety of websites that will allow you to compare rates between different hotels. It can be a bit riskier to book online if you don’t do the proper research, so make sure you do as much reading as possible before you make any decisions. Some websites allow you to score unbeatable deals on four-star hotels, possibly saving hundreds of dollars. You can also check hotels’ websites directly to see if they are offering any deals during a specific time of the year.

You should also think about looking into less expensive lodging options. If high-end luxury is something you are willing to sacrifice, you will be surprised by how satisfied you’ll be with going with a more affordable alternative. More affordable chain hotels often offer more amenities than their higher end counterparts. Many amenities, like Internet service and breakfast are free at more affordable places, while luxury inns charge for those same amenities.

Saving money on where you are staying during your upcoming vacation will free your budget up, allowing you to spend more on dining, shopping, and other activities. Doing a bit of extra research can save you tons of money on your lodging, which will make your trip much more enjoyable.