The 9 best water park hotels for your next holiday

SEE PHOTOS: The team from Trivago have put together some of the best hotels with fabulous water park facilities from around the world for your next fun-focused holiday


Hotel water parks have grown in popularity in recent years, allowing guests to enjoy all the thrills and amusement of a water park without leaving the comfort and security of their hotel and accomodation comparison website www.trivago.sg has selected nine hotels from around the world boasting the best water slides onsite.



Ideal for children and adults alike, these water slides boast picturesque views over beaches and oceans and even through aquariums full of sharks, rays and other marine life. From Bali to Hawaii, speed down a reconstructed Mayan temple or enjoy twists and turns through tropical landscaped gardens.
ATLANTIS, THE PALM, Dubai, United Arab Emirates



Atlantis, The Palm is a sprawling 110-acre five-star resort located on Dubai’s artificial island of Palm Jumeirah. Since opening in 2008, this unique hotel has captured the world’s imagination with its scale and ingenuity, boasting underwater suites, helicopter tours, pristine white beaches, over 20 world-class restaurants and unique marine habitats in the Lost Chambers Aquarium. The incorporated 42-acre Aquaventure Waterpark is renowned as the Middle East and Europe’s best water park. Its most celebrated feature is the Ziggurat-shaped Tower of Neptune, where those brave enough can fall over 9 stories in one second before speeding through a tube surrounded by sharks, rays and other marine life.
Atlantis, The Palm, is located at Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah PO Box 211, Jumeirah, United Arab Emirates. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/jumeirah/atlantis-the-palm

HARD ROCK BALI, Kuta, Bali



Hard Rock Bali is Asia’s first Hard Rock hotel, appropriately located in the heart of Bali’s entertainment and shopping district on the shores of the picturesque Kuta beach. The 418 tribute rooms and suites are fit for a rock star, adorned with guitars, posters and other memorabilia celebrating everything rock and roll from the 50s to late 90s. The hotel boasts the largest free-form swimming pool in Bali, complete with a unique Sand Island, 22 poolside cabanas, a stage for outdoor performances and ample sunbathing space. Families will love the complex of new water slides, which are enough to keep the most active of kids occupied.
Hard Rock Bali is located at Jalan Pantai, Banjar Pande Mas, Kuta, Bali, 80361, Indonesia. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/kuta/hard-rock-bali

ERSAN RESORT & SPA, Bodrum, Turkey



Ersan Resort & Spa is a five-star complex located in a secluded cove just four kilometres from the popular Turkish tourist resort of Bodrum. This all-inclusive hotel boasts no less than ten bars and restaurants, offering a range of Turkish, Italian and Mexican cuisine. Onsite are 395 guest rooms with private balconies, three swimming pools and a private Blue Flag beach equipped with a wooden sunbathing platform. Water-lovers can choose between nine different water slides, including two bowl slides and one half pipe slide. Guests can catch glimpses of the azure Aegean ocean and green pine-covered hills whilst sliding.
Ersan Resort & Spa is located at PK 3357, Icmeler, Bodrum, 48400 Turkey. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/bodrum/ersan-resort

ORLANDO WORLD CENTER MARRIOTT, Florida, USA



Orlando is home to some of the world’s most popular water parks, including Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, Aquatica and Wet ‘n Wild. The Orlando World Center Marriott is a leading resort dedicated to families and businessmen alike, boasting ten restaurants and lounges, an 18-hole championship golf course, a rejuvenating Spa and over 40,000 square metres of meeting and event space. The iconic pool complex has been newly renovated to include poolside dining and an expanded pool deck and lawn surrounded by lush tropical gardens. The new slide tower features two 60-metre winding water slides and one exhilarating 27-metre high-speed slide.
Orlando World Center Marriott is located at 8701 World Center Drive, 32821 Orlando, USA. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/orlando/marriott-orlando-world-center

THE REEF ATLANTIS, Paradise Island City, Bahamas


Run by the same corporation as Dubai’s Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis Paradise Island is a mind-boggling complex of over 3,400 guest rooms and suites, an impressive 40 restaurants, bars and lounges and numerous entertainment options, including an onsite casino, nightclub, live music venue, theatre and comedy club. The resort boasts an impressive five different hotel buildings, including one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world and newest addition The Reef Atlantis, offering luxurious residential-style studios. The astounding 141-acre Aquaventure water park consists of 11 swimming pools and the iconic Mayan temple water slide feature, where guests can race each other on the Challenger Slide.
The Reef Atlantis is located at One Casino Drive 33324 Paradise Island City, Bahamas. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/paradise-island/the-reef-atlantis

FODELE BEACH & WATER PARK HOLIDAY RESORT, Crete, Greece


Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort boasts a unique beachside location in the quaint and picturesque village of Fodele, on the popular Greek island of Crete. This all-inclusive resort contains 412 spacious rooms and suites, uniquely decorated in a Mediterranean style and featuring either garden or ocean views. Each of the three restaurants offer alfresco dining on their adjoining terraces and a selection of inspired Greek, French and Italian cuisine. The water park is set against a picturesque backdrop of the blue Crete Sea and boasts a variety of slides for adults and children alike.
Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort is located at Fodele, Malevizi, 71500 Greece. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/fodele/fodele-beach

GREAT WOLF LODGE, Niagara Falls, Canada



Great Wolf Resorts are the world’s largest chain of indoor water parks and hotels, with 11 resorts throughout the USA and Canada offering water slides, speciality restaurants, arcades and spas. Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls is no exception, boasting over 9000 square metres of eight slides, a lazy river, whirlpool hot spas and an indoor wave pool. Guests can choose between tube slides, a water roller coaster big enough for all the family, a bowl slide and two slides descending from the tree house. The hotel offers a variety of spacious and comfortable themed suites, some come complete with fireplaces and private hot tubs.
Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls is located at 3950 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 7M8 Canada. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/niagara-falls/great-wolf-lodge

HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE, Honolulu, Hawaii



Hilton Hawaiian Village is the only resort destination on the popular Waikiki beach, recently voted the second best beach in America for its wide stretches of white sands and turquoise waters. This 22-acre resort features 22 acres of lush tropical gardens, waterfalls, exotic wildlife, priceless artwork, firework displays and cultural activities such as lei-making and ukulele lessons. Swimmers are spoilt for choice with the unique Duke Kahanamoku saltwater lagoon or one of the hotel’s five pools, including an exquisite fourth four mosaic-tiled infinity pool. The Paradise Pool boasts waterfalls, hot tubs, lava rock formations and four water slides, including the longest slide in Waikiki.
Hilton Hawaiian Village is located at 2005 Kalia Road, 96815 Honolulu, USA. For more information, go to www.trivago.sg/honolulu/hilton-hawaiian-village-waikiki-beach-resort

RAMADA RESORT AQUAWORLD BUDAPEST, Hungary



Ramada Resort Budapest incorporates Aquaworld, one of Europe’s largest and grandest indoor water theme parks based on a replica of Cambodia’s iconic Angkor Wat temple. The 73-metre wide glass dome encloses 11 water slides reaching a total length of almost one kilometre. The tropical atmosphere, suspension bridges and palm trees will make visitors feel like they have been transported to another world. Elsewhere in the resort, the four-star hotel consists of 309 guest rooms and apartments, an Oriental-themed wellness-fitness centre and a choice of elegant buffet and a la carte restaurants and al fresco terraces.
resource:http://www.herworldplus.com/lifestyle/travel/9-best-water-park-hotels-your-next-holiday

Read more »

Negombo completes the Sri Lankan experience

Negombo completes the Sri Lankan experience (Photos: Anwesha Mittra)

The cobalt blue of the sea in the travel magazine I held matched exactly with that of the one below us as our flight edged over the vast Indian Ocean past a meandering coastline stretching like a long white ribbon, towards the tropical paradise of Sri Lanka.

After bobbing in and out of large puffs of clouds we finally touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport, eager to begin our 'honeymoon', eager to get an eyeful of the sea. Sri Lanka, it was decided a month prior to our wedding for its idyllic beaches and bias for good food, and my bias for the sun and sand. As we made our way to the exit gate post a swift customs clearance, I made another attempt to gather my thoughts on the impending holiday and my new husband, who looked more at ease now than I was scanning the placards every visitor held.

Mr Razi our chauffeur-cum-guide was quick to spot us and apologised for not getting the placard ready on time, blaming our flight's over-punctuality. Soon we were making good time down palm-lined lanes away from the bustling streets towards the seaside fishermen town of Negombo (approx. 7 kilometers from the airport), lowly preferred by the touristy type. Your guidebook will tell you that it was the erstwhile trading port for the Portuguese and Dutch with an old Dutch fort gate and prison dating back to the 17th century, but for its status as the 'Rome of Sri Lanka' with a beautiful church tossed around every bend, and inside every cranny. With the sea not yet in sight, it was still wonderful driving around Nogombo's old world by-lanes dotted with quaint tiled houses painted pristine white complete with their little porches, driveways and gardens overflowing with pink bougainvillea creepers. Breaking through my train of thoughts was my partner's voice surveying property prices in Sri Lanka with Mr Razi, who came across as extremely-knowing in the brief time we spent together. Driving over a wooden bridge straddling an emerald lagoon and past bake and gem shops, we arrived at our hotel of stay for the next two days, Club Dolphin.

An abode of Sri Lankan hospitality, I was struck by the ethnic wooden architecture of the resort. A very atmospheric foyer built in gazebo style with a lounge area interspersed withlotus ponds and mini fountains, it was a visual treat all the way to our cottage tucked away at a far end of the property overlooking a sparkling blue pool and further overlooking a grey-blue sea. To my relief, it was an uninterrupted view all the way from the room to the sea. By the time we got to our little sit-out balcony sipping coffee, the light outside was slowly fading, the palms swaying merrily in the breeze, and the activity in the pool area gaining steam. Next moment, I was rigging my camera to get the best of a breathtakingSri Lankan sunset. There was romance in every moment of the indolent twilight hours, and a quiet rhythm in the crashing of the waves on the darkening sands. Sitting on a fallen log of coconut palm feeling the wind in our faces and a roaring sea before us, we let a few hours slip in quiet contemplation.

Unlike our fellow vacationers, we were unexpectedly early to leave the bed and race down the beach to an inviting sea, fresh and white in the morning sun. The garden and pool lights glowing from the previous night lend the scenery a monochromatic blue tinge, and I found myself clicking away without really training my lens. We soaked up everything about the brilliant sunrise including the way the ebbing waves left puncture holes on the virgin sand for the baby crabs to crawl out and catch their breath. Post a quick shower, we were back in the dining room for breakfast. And like every meal at the resort, this too was a large one complete with a selection of fresh fruit juices and cup desserts.

Day two was about taking in the local sights and sounds of Negombo, to be fair, from Mr Razi's perspective. A proud Sri Lankan, he showed us around his school, the local fish market, the estuary where the fishing catamarans were moored, churches with stained glass windows, the old Dutch prison still in use, sprawling gardens, quaint craft shops, coffee houses and what have you. While travelling in the island country, one all but notices its narrow roads that are mostly two-way, and wonders how the locals manage a pleasant disposition, let one another pass, never litter and follow traffic rules to the 'T'. We spent the evening sauntering down the beach, watching the sun sink into the sea and collecting seashells until moonrise. We could tell it was full moon without actually looking into the sky as the sea was drawing closer bringing in walls of noisy water. A small drink at the sea-facing bar and we were ready to retire for the day with the sound of the waves in our ears.

Next morning we tucked into an early breakfast, breaking our ritual of first heading to the beach, in preparation for a 5-hour-long drive to the hill station of Kandy. During our drive to Kandy we realised just how lush Sri Lanka was with the emerald fields and coconut groves spilling onto the road from either side. En route Mr Razi took us over for a cup of tea to his house, excited for us to meet his family and see the little house he painstakingly built. A truly gracious host Mr Razi and his family, the water too tasted unusually sweet over there.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was our next stopover where we'd get to see elephants with their herds in their natural habitat going through their daily routine. After an obscene entrance fee of one thousand Sri Lankan Rupees, we get into the abode of elephants where they stood mucking around or gobbling cartons of fruits. It cost to so much as stroke an elephant's ear, far less trailing them to the river bank across the road and watching them take a bath with their young ones.

In Kandy, we decided to give the iconic 'Temple of Tooth Relic' a miss and watch a cultural show instead. That too didn't live up to my expectations as both the provincial dances and the fire acrobatics lacked the spirit Sri Lanka is known for. Strolling down the streets we could see glimpses from the colonial era in the architecture of the buildings and the wrought iron street lamps. We were halting for the night at Tree of Life, an eco-resort in the middle of dense wilderness with views of hills, rivers and splendid flowers every side you turned. On arriving, a lovely candlelight dinner was awaiting us at the restaurant facing the pool where live musicians crooned the classics to a gang of merry diners.

We had very little time next morning to explore the ecology of Kandy and regretted for not being on time for the bird watching trek. Nonetheless, we set out on our own trek up and down the jungle slopes, into the marigold garden, over the 'honeymoon bridge' where lovers fastened locks with their names on it, around the rundown children's park and the water lily pond. Soon, we were headed to Colombo for a spot of shopping. Turned out we splurged on everything from handicrafts, souvenirs, bags, clothes, footwear to brownies and cupcakes, ostensibly making several rounds of the currency exchange counter.

Resource:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/Negombo-completes-the-Sri-Lankan-experience/articleshow/12730890.cms

Read more »

What's the Deal? The week's best travel bargains around the globe

LAND
Ski Salt Lake is offering hotel discounts of up to 30 percent off and free-night deals at Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude resorts in Utah. For example, Snowbird has a Ski Free and Stay 5th Night Free offer through April 2: Pay for four nights and stay the fifth night free, plus get two free lift tickets for each night's stay (normally $74 for each ticket). With the deal, a Feb. 18-23 stay at the Cliff Lodge, with lift tickets for two people, would cost $1,813 (normally $2,809), including all taxes - a 35 percent savings (Snowbird reservations: 800-354-6092). Book by March 15. Info: 801-534-4900.

The Caribbean island of Barbados has discounts on hotel stays, attractions, shopping and dining. With the Take Me to Barbados package, get a fifth hotel night free (two nights free on a seven-night stay), free breakfast daily, free room and board for children younger than 16 at participating hotels (up to two kids per family) and a coupon book valued at $150. For example, at the Time Out resort in St. Lawrence Gap, the nightly rate is $110, including all taxes, for a savings of either $110 for a five-night stay or $220 for a seven-night stay. Book through a travel agent by March 25; travel April 25-Dec. 15. Info: 800-221-9831.

New York City's tourism office has several winter deals, including two-for-one tickets for select Broadway and off-Broadway shows (through Feb. 10 and 13, respectively) and third-night-free offers at participating luxury hotels (through March 7). For example, an orchestra ticket to "Avenue Q" at New World Stages costs $45.50 with the On the House promotion (normally $89.50, two-ticket minimum, Saturday nights excluded). And three nights at the Carlyle Hotel, normally $1,844, go for $1,229, including all fees and taxes - a savings of $615.

SEA
Maple Leaf Adventures, a Canada-based cruise company, is offering half off the cost for the ninth and 10th passengers on its charter cruises for small groups. The nature-focused schooner trips, timed for spring break and summer holidays, feature hands-on sailing, whale-watching, glaciers, rain forest hikes and coastal town visits. Trips range from six to nine days and from $2,183 to $4,570 per person, not including fees and taxes. For example, on the six-day British Columbia's Gulf Islands round trip from Victoria, B.C., a group of up to eight people can charter the ship for $17,464, or $2,183 per person; up to two additional passengers then pay $1,100 each. Add $374 per person in taxes ($244 each for the two additional passengers). Cost includes all food and drinks, admissions and guides, but not air to and from Victoria. Info: 888-599-5323.

Windstar Cruises is offering up to $1,000 per couple in on-board credit for select European sailings. For example, on the May 7 one-week voyage of the Wind Spirit from Rome to Athens, get $600 credit per couple when you book a cabin at $2,299 per person double. Add $85 per person in fees and taxes. Book by Feb. 28. Info: 800-258-7245.

AIR

American Airlines has sale fares for winter and spring travel to Brussels, London, Paris, Rome and many other European cities, with one-way fares starting at $199, not including taxes. Sample round-trip fares, including all taxes: New York JFK to London Heathrow, $587; Reagan National to London Heathrow, $626. Book by Feb. 10; travel through April 17. Other airlines are matching. Info: 800-433-7300.

PACKAGE

Sceptre Tours has a six-night Explore Scotland in Spring package for $948 per person double, including all taxes. The cost includes round-trip air from BWI (flying into Edinburgh and returning from Glasgow), six nights' hotel accommodations, daily breakfast and a standard manual rental car. Book by Feb. 4; travel by March 31. Booked separately, air would run about $650 per person, hotel $500 and rental car $85. Info: 800-221-0924.

Read more »

2013's best Oscar-inspired destinations

Can't get enough of Les Mis or Lincoln? Then these are Oscar-inspired travel stops that you must visit


Philadelphia, Washington DC and Paris are expected to reap the benefits of playing supporting roles to some of this year’s Oscar-nominated films, as they welcome tourists whose visits are inspired by their favorite movie.
In advance of the biggest televised red carpet event of the year on Sunday, Hotels.com picked the trio of cities as the season’s best “destination-centric” movie sites.
The online reservations site predicts interest in Philadelphia, the setting for Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln's Washington DC, and Paris for Les Misérables, will experience a spike in interest.

The 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables makes Paris an even hotter movie-centric destination

Visit Philly, for example, has created a Silver Linings Playbook itinerary that includes a buffet lunch at Ballroom at the Ben, where Bradley Cooper (Patrick) and Jennifer Lawrence’s (Tiffany) characters perform in the dance competition, and a performance by the Philadenco dance troupe, which appears on a poster in Tiffany’s dance studio.
While Paris has never had problems attracting tourists, Les Misérables is poised to spark even higher interest in the City of Light, says Hotels.com.
It’s the same prediction from LateRooms.com, which reported last month a 366 per cent spike in hotel bookings for the town of Montreuil-Sur-Mer in northern France, where part of Victor Hugo’s story unfolds.
And given the Oscar buzz of Lincoln, interest in the US capital is also expected to rise particularly with visits to historical sites and exhibits such as The Smithsonian Institute’s Civil War 150 expo, or Civil War battlefields 65 km outside the city in Manassas, Virginia and Frederick, Maryland.
Similarly, the release of the latest James Bond installment, Skyfall, last year coincided with an increase in searches for Istanbul and Shanghai – both key filming locations for the movie – by 114 per cent and 59 per cent respectively, says Hotels.com.
The Oscars air February 24.
resource:http://www.herworldplus.com/travel/updates/2013s-best-oscar-inspired-destinations

Read more »

What's the biggest pet peeve among air travellers?

Uncomfortable seats and limited legroom are the top complaints when it comes to air travel

Uncomfortable seats and sky-high airline fees are among the top complaints among air travel passengers, according to the results of a consumer survey.
In TripAdvisor’s annual air travel poll, in addition to limited legroom and exorbitant ticket prices, 2,000 respondents in the US also named unpredictable flight delays, long security lines and “other passengers” -- notably loud, crying children -- the top five pet peeves about air travel.
The survey also found that more US passengers will be flying the global skies this year, with 67 percent of respondents indicating they plan to take an international flight this year, compared to 56 percent in 2012.
The same is true of domestic fights, with 91 percent of respondents saying they plan to board a flight within the US -- up from 86 percent last year.
Having to pay extra fees for checked baggage, carry-on bags, seat selection, printed boarding passes and in-flight amenities were also identified as among the top five most annoying airline fees.
And when it came down to choosing between airlines, a quarter of respondents said they would choose the one that offered Wi-Fi, while 37 percent said they consider their iPad or tablet a carry-on essential, up five percent from 2012.
resource:http://www.herworldplus.com/travel/updates/whats-biggest-pet-peeve-among-air-travellers

Read more »

Bali holiday cheaper than camping in some national parks

IT'S cheaper for families to holiday at a resort in Bali over summer than to camp at the beach.

Soaring fees are pricing the traditional beach camping holiday out of the reach of ordinary families and one NSW National Park is charging a group of family campers nearly $6000 for a two-week stay in January.
The Booderee National Park at Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast is charging $81 per night for a family of two parents and two children at group camp sites.
A change in the way site fees are charged has seen the price almost double in the past 12 months.
Privately-owned campsites at popular holiday spot Bateman's Bay are charging $86 per night for powered tent sites.
Scott Minniece and his Melbourne family are paying $90 a night for a powered caravan site with an en suite toilet at the Bateman's Bay Big 4 Beach Resort holiday park.
"It's rather expensive when you're away two or three weeks and it adds up as a family holiday," he said.
The family has holidayed at the park five or six times and says fees have increased around $10 a year.
"Its cheaper than the $110 we pay for the Big 4 caravan parks in Melbourne and we love the direct access to the beach, there is beautiful grass, a road for the kids to ride their bikes on and it feels safe and secure," he said.
The park also offers a tennis court, games room, mini golf and a jumping castle, he said.
While it costs just $21.80 per family per night to camp in national parks in Queensland, some private holiday parks on the Sunshine Coast are charging up to $83 a night for an unpowered site.
In Apollo Bay in Victoria, it can cost $70 for a powered private camp site, and Mount Buffalo National Park charges a $49 per night camping fee.
The most affordable place to camp is South Australia, where fees range from around $13-$16 per night in the state's national parks and private campsites cost up to $46 per night.
News Limited compared the $81-$85 per night camping fees with accommodation elsewhere and found seven hotels in Bali that were cheaper.
While this did not include the cost of an air fare, the Bali accommodation included an en suite toilet, a swimming pool, restaurants and other ammenities.
At national parks, campers must bring their own tents, beds, sleeping bags and cooking equipment and share showers and toilets.
Scott Suridge, who manages the Booderee National Park, said a 10 per cent fee rise of $1 per adult to $11 per night in 2012 was the first fee rise for campers in six years and compared to the 15.9 per cent rise in inflation.
He said an increase in the site fees for group campgrounds to $49 per site per night was the real reason why Booderee was now one of the most expensive places to camp on the South Coast.
"This is a place where you can camp a hundred metres from white sandy beaches in a natural bush setting but still have access to the same kind of amenities you would find in a caravan park," he said.
"Each of the new sites is still much bigger than an average large site in other parts of the park and we think their size, relative isolation and ambience still represent very good value for money."
SUMMER COST OF CAMPING (Booderee National Park)
Site fee: $49 per night
Adult (x2): $22 per night
Kids (x2): $10 per night
Total: $81 per night
Two-week stay: $1134
For five families: $5670

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/bali-holiday-cheaper-than-camping-in-some-national-parks/story-e6frfq7r-1226547793998#ixzz2H5DxCrJZ

Read more »

Mexico's popularity with travellers on the rise

The sun may have set on the Mayan calendar but Mexico's popularity is on the rise.
According to 2012 third-quarter results, travel to Mexico on Expedia group sites worldwide grew more than 20% compared to 2011, with Cancun being the country's top destination. Popular with both Expedia and Hotels.com consumers, the majority of international visitors come from the United States, Canada and Brazil.
While travellers are initially lured by the area's pristine beaches and water activities, the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau says more are exploring the region's culture and gastronomy, and venturing to nearby islands -- Holbox, Isla Mujeres, Contoy, Cozumel. The CVB says other factors such as easy access -- more than 500 flights per day arrive at Cancun International Airport -- and new all-inclusive hotels such as the adults only Secrets The Vine and Hard Rock Cancun also boosted interest in 2012.
MAKE FAMILY MEMORIES IN CUBA
Sunwing says new family rooms and family junior suites at five Memories Resorts in Cuba will make it easier for larger families to plan holidays.
The new rooms have two double beds and one twin bed (to accommodate two adults and up to three children), garden or ocean view, balcony or terrace, air conditioning, satellite TV, hairdryer, in-room safe and a mini-bar. In addition, each resort has activities for all ages, including kids clubs, playgrounds, kids pools and daily entertainment.
Sunwing is offering introductory pricing for family accommodations at Memories Resorts in Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco and Varadero. Prices for seven-day packages start from $495 plus taxes of $290 per person for a Family Junior Suite at Memories Paraiso Beach Resort in Cayo Santa Maria for Toronto departures on Jan. 11, 13 and 16; from $695 plus taxes of $289 per person for a Family Junior Suite at Memories Flamenco Beach Resort in Cayo Coco for Halifax departures on Jan. 28; from $795 plus taxes of $286 per person for a Family Junior Suite at Memories Azul Beach Resort in Cayo Santa Maria for Regina departures on Jan 3; and from $1,155 plus taxes of $286 per person for a Family Room at Memories Varadero Beach Resort in Varadero for Vancouver departures on Jan 11, 13, and 14.
All packages include Sunwing Airlines' "Champagne Service," with a hot lunch or dinner with wine and inflight entertainment. For $40 more per flight segment, travellers can upgrade to Elite Plus service, which offers seat selection, separate check-in at most airports, advance boarding, 30-kg baggage allowance, and seats with extra legroom. To book, see sunwing.ca or visit your travel agent.
JAZZED ABOUT JAMAICA
Superstars Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Michael Bolton will be among the headliners singing the blues during the Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival Jan. 24-26.
The 17th-annual festival, which will be held in Trelawny parish on the island's ruggedly beautiful north coast, spans a range of musical genres, such as jazz, R&B, blues, Latin, reggae and soca.
"The Jamaica Jazz & Blues festival has become a staple on the island's entertainment calendar," said John Lynch, Jamaica's tourism director. "Visitors to the festival are always treated to a star-studded lineup."
For festival details, see jamaicajazzandblues.com. For travel information, go to the Jamaica Tourist Board website, visitjamaica.com.
GO FOR THE SNOW
For seven days each February, the Sapporo Snow Festival transforms Japan's fourth-largest city into a winter dreamland as hundreds of sparkling snow statues and ice sculptures line Odori Park and other festival venues.
In it's 64-year history, the event has become one of Japan's largest winter attractions, and expanded to include an international snow-sculpture contest, snow and ice slides, a huge snow maze and regional foods. This year's event will be held Feb. 5-11, and is expected to draw up to 2-million people. See snowfes.com and click on "English" for details. Travel information is available from the Japan National Tourism Organization's Canadian office.
CRUISING WITH A THEME
Adventure travellers with a passion for marine biology or photography, or families with children, will find a theme cruise catering to their interest this winter. Un-Cruise Adventures has designed themes for 10 of its small-ship sailings in the Hawaiian Islands and Mexico's Sea of Cortes.
Photography and marine biology cruises include an expert guest host on board for the week. Presentations will be held and guests can interact with the host during the cruise and on guided excursions. One-on-one time will be set aside for questions and hands-on photography advice.
Kids in Nature departures cater to families travelling with kids 12 and younger. The expedition team gears programs to a variety of ages. Hiking excursions, kayaking trips, skiff explorations and snorkelling all provide hands-on learning in a fun environment. Active explorations in nature and wildlife sightings engage all ages.
For dates and details on Un-Cruise Adventures, contact 1-888-862-8881 or your travel agent.
A HEALTHY HIGH
Known for its health-focused vacations, The BodyHoliday in St. Lucia is taking fitness to new heights with its Tree House studio for exercise classes and elegant events.
Built on a hillside beside the resort's wellness centre, the glass-enclosed Tree House towers 8 metres off the ground and provides views of lush gardens and the Caribbean Sea. The new studio is equipped with the latest fitness gear, including 25 LiveStrong-brand spinning bikes and a hi-tech sound system. An open air rooftop "Zen Deck" serves as a scenic yoga studio, archery range and setting for candlelit receptions.
For information about vacations at the five-star, 155-room all-inclusive resort, contact thebodyholiday.com or 1-800-544-2883.
MARDI GRAS, FLORIDA STYLE
A family friendly festival in Panama City, Fla., makes it possible to combine Mardi Gras celebrations with a seaside vacation. A local organization -- the Krewe of Dominique Youx -- bring Bourboun Street style festivities to Panama City Beach's Pier Park for two days of fabulous floats, masked performers, colourful costumes, a parade and street party, Cajun food and fireworks. Events run Feb. 8-9. See visitpanamacitybeach.com.

Read more »

Isolated Bhutan a land of myth and mystery

Whoever coined the term "Getting there is half the fun" must have been a passenger on Drukair Flight 401 from Kathmandu to Paro.
The flight takes barely an hour but the scenery will stay with me the rest of my life. The word "scenery" is a gross understatement, really -- looking to the north from my left-side window seat, a vast panorama unfolds a few hundred metres below. By the time we land in Bhutan, we've seen five of the six highest peaks on Earth, including the tallest of them all, Mount Everest.
With such formidable obstacles blocking the route to its only international airport, it's no wonder the Kingdom of Bhutan has remained one of the most isolated and mysterious nations on the map. Landlocked, high in the Himalayas, the Land of the Thunder Dragon has been cut off from the outside world for most of its history, only opening its doors to visitors in the 1970s.
Dress code
Exiting Paro's tiny but immaculate airport, I am greeted by Leela Darlami, my guide during my weeklong stay in the kingdom. Both she and our driver, Belden, are decked out in traditional garb -- in her case, a purple blouse made of silk and a woven, ankle-length skirt called a kira. Belden wears a gho, a heavy, woven robe that hangs just below his knees.

Bhutan's dress code and other aspects of its culture are governed by the Driglam Namzha, a series of rules covering clothing, art, architecture and behaviour in formal settings. It's why I can't take photos or wear short sleeves inside Paro's Rinpung Dzong or why the dzong itself -- a massive fortress dating back to the 17th century -- had to be built without the use of nails or architectural plans.
The preservation and promotion of cultural values is one of the main pillars of "gross national happiness," a concept introduced in the 1970s by Bhutan's fourth king. Under GNH, all national policies must pass a review that encompasses such areas as the environment, sustainable development and general principles of good governance.
It all sounds wonderful, as long as you're a member of the Buddhist Drukpa majority. Ethnic Nepali Hindus, about 100,000 of whom were forced out of the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s, might regard "gross national happiness" as a piece of doublespeak worthy of Orwell.
But such worldly considerations are soon forgotten on my second day in Bhutan, as Leela and I embark on the arduous hike to Taktsang Monastery, high above the Paro valley. There's a chill in the air, but I'm soon sweating as we wind through dense stands of pine and rhododendron, climbing to an elevation of 3,120 metres, almost a full kilometre above the valley floor.

A monk collects donations beside a prayer wheel at Chimi Lhakhang - also known as the Temple of the Divine Madman - near Punakha, Bhutan, on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. The temple was built in 1499 in honour of Buddhist saint Drukpa Kunley, who was known for his bizarre behaviour and unconventional teachings. (STEPHEN RIPLEY/QMI Agency)

After 90 minutes of hiking we finally get a close-up view of one of the world's great architectural wonders -- the Tiger's Nest, perched impossibly on the face of a sheer cliff. Prayer flags snap in the wind as we climb the final steep, stone steps up to the monastery.
Although built in 1692, Taktsang has held a place in local lore for more than 1,000 years. In the 8th century, Padmasambhava -- the guru who introduced Buddhism to the Himalayas -- was said to have flown on the back of a flying tigress to the caves at Taktsang, where he spent more than three years deep in meditation.
The next day, we travel east to Punakha, Bhutan's former capital city. The highway is in excellent condition and traffic is light, a stark contrast from the crumbling chaos of the roads in nearby Nepal, where I've just spent two weeks.
As we drive along the banks of the crystal-clear Paro Chhu river, we pass scores of farmhouses with splashes of red on their tin roofs -- freshly harvested chili peppers laid out to dry in the sun. The fiery peppers are a staple of the local diet, often mixed with yak cheese in the national dish, ema datshi.
A food writer once famously described Bhutanese cuisine as the worst in the world. I wouldn't go that far, but after a couple of samples of ema datshi, I'm quite happy to stick with rice, veggies and chicken for most of my meals, even though they're often lukewarm and flavourless.
Sensory overload
After a nourishing but forgettable lunch, Leela takes me to Punakha Dzong, at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers. Built in 1638, the fortress is the second-oldest and second-largest in Bhutan, but quite possibly the most spectacular.
Behind its massive, rammed-earth walls, the dzong conceals three separate courtyards, the first of which contains a sprawling bodhi tree, the type of fig tree under which Buddha was said to have achieved enlightenment almost 2,500 years ago. Farther along, past a chorten, another courtyard and a six-storey central tower, we enter a temple at the far end of the third courtyard.
Inside the temple, it's sensory overload, as almost every square centimetre of space, including the ceiling, has been painted or carved. Monks chant and incense fills the air as Leela explains a series of murals depicting the life of Buddha. There's so much going on, it's almost impossible to know where to look.
The following day, the entire nation marks one of the events depicted in the murals -- Buddha's return to Earth after attaining nirvana. It's called Lhabab Duchen, and it's a time for visiting temples, making offerings and coming together in celebration.
We encounter one such celebration at a small village south of Punakha. In the hills above the dwellings, local youths are engaged in a spirited game of khuru, or darts. Teams of five or six young men take turns throwing wicked-looking darts at a tiny target some 30 metres away, singing and dancing each time they win a round. The potential for lethal injury seems high.
Our final stop in Bhutan is the capital, Thimphu, where we visit more dzongs, temples and Buddhist landmarks. More interesting to me, however, is a nature preserve on the western edge of the city, the home to a small herd of Bhutan's national animal.
The legend of the takin dates back to the 15th century, the time of Buddhist lama Drukpa Kunley, who was known as the Divine Madman for his bawdy sense of humour and offbeat teaching methods. According to the story, some villagers asked him to perform a trick, but he first demanded to be served a meal of a whole cow and a whole goat. Upon finishing his meal, he reassembled some of the bones, attaching the goat's skull to the cow's body, then reanimating the bizarre-looking creature.
The origin of the takin, much like the spurious concept of "gross national happiness," is one of the many myths visitors are asked to swallow when visiting Bhutan. But up here, in the rarefied air of this isloated Himalayan kingdom, it's remarkably easy to suspend one's sense of disbelief.


resource:http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Asia/Central/2012/12/31/20462091.html

Read more »