Halong Bay

“Vinh Ha Long, Descending Dragon Bay, Luc Thuy, An Bang, Van Don “

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also included on the lists of  the World’s 7 Natural Wonders.

Highlights
Ha Long Bay has an area of about one thousand five hundred fifty three square kilometers, including more than one thousand nine hundred islets, most of which are limestone. Featuring thousands of limestone karsts and
isles with various shapes and sizes. Famous for its picturesque rock formations.  Home to floral species and endemic faunal species with a combination of almost 80 kinds of species.

Location
Halong Bay is located in Ha Long City, town of Cam Pha, province of Quang Ninh, Vietnam and also part of Van Don District.  Situated in the Gulf of Tonkin. With  coordinates of N20 53 60 E107 5 60 for easier reference.

How To Get To Halong Bay?
Transport from Noi International Airport going to Hanao you can ride a private car or a minibus. From Hanoi or Hai Phong either you can rent a car or ride a bus going to Halong Bay. Or if you prefer a much faster travel you can also ride a helicopter which is only available in Gia Lam Airport.

Best Time Of The Year To Halong Bay
Halong Bay can be visited all year round, except during winter which start about the month of December until February. The best months is from October to April, during its spring or fall seasons. Summer months in the area covers May to September.

Accommodations
Accommodations in the area ranges from high standard, luxury, and business class hotels. There are also budget accommodations. Either you can stay at Halong Plaza Hotel or Halong Pearl Hotel for high standard hotels. Van Ly Hotel or Hong Minh Hotel for standard hotels.

Tips
Pre-purchased tour is better than an on-site purchase.  Go directly to tourist company than rely on tours offered by the hotels you’re staying in.  Book your travels in advance.

Punta Cana

Punta Cana is just one of the best beaches you can find along the Coconut Coast, however there are other Playas surrounding the area like Macao, Cortecito, Punta Juanillo and Bavaro.

Highlights
Punta Cana is considered an area safe to swim all year round. With an estimation of more than thirty miles of white beaches. It caters to many different activities like snorkeling, water biking, and diving spots.

Location
Punta Cana belongs to the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic a in the municipal district of La Altagracia (Punta Cana-Bávaro-Veron-Macao). Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean Sea.

How To Get There?
Though Dominican Republic has eight international airports like La Isabela, Santiago, Gregorio Luperon, La Romana, Las Americas and Punta Cana. The best to get there is through Punta Cana International Airport which is very accessible and best connected airports in the Caribbean.

Best Time Of The Year To Visit Punta Cana
Despite the fact that Punta Cana is considered an area to swim all year round, you might want to think about its seasons. May to October are the months of hot and humid seasons. While November to March are the months with lower temperature.

Accommodations
Hotels are the main accomodations in Punta Cana. Ranging from simple to elegant hotels, luxury hotels, 3 to five star hotels and so many more. Private Resorts, Vacation Homes and Villa Rentals also abound in the area.

Tips
Always check out a map of the Punta Cana place.And don’t forget to bring your sunblock lotion and extra cash
for tipping.

“Islas Galápagos ,Archipiélago de Colón, Islas de Colón”

The Galapagos Islands are all branch of Ecuador’s national park system.  Islands are archipelago of volcanic islands. Its neighboring waters and the islands shape its main components of a national park, biological reserve and an Ecuadorian province.

Highlights
The Galapagos Islands became famous because of the work of Charles Darwin of his evolution theory and natural selection. The islands was well know of its wildlife reserves containing a huge numbers of endemic species. The islands consists of eighteen islands not including the islets.

Location
The Galapagos Islands belong to the country of Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean since 1831 the year it was annexed,to the north is Cocos Island and to the south is Easter Island. For easier reference the islands are located at Longitude 90°W; Latitude 0° 00” on the Equator.

How to Get To Galapagos Islands
The best way to get to Galapagos Islands from anywhere in the world is  through mainland Ecuador, either to its capital Quito or Guayaquil.From these two destinations you can travel through plane which is the best or boats which would take you about three days to travel. Highly recommended is to book your tickets in advance and have a tour company.

Best Time Of The Year To Visit Galapagos Islands
You can visit the Galapagos Islands all year round. If you are living in the USA and Europe between June to August is the best time to travel as these months are considered summer holidays. May to June and September is considered the low season. Wildlife activities are always on display may it be the hot season or cool season.

Accommodations
Most often times travelers spend their time on a cruise. But during their stay on the islands, hotels are the main accommodations. Ranging from simple to elegant hotels. Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal and Santa Maria are the four islands that has hotel accommodations.

Tips
Considering its seasons – The Hot season and the Dry season, one must be  ready for a proper wear or attire. Some of the checklist would be, shoes, shorts, shirts (long and short sleeved), wind breaker, sun block and sunglasses.

Do you want a lifestyle that many dream of, but few experience?

If you wish to try your hand at being a captain of your own yatch without the usual pain of encyclopaedic travel maps and measuring the distance between your boat travels, then just shout “Ay ay captain”.

Dockside Boat and Bed

The Dockside Boat & Bed lets you experience life on the high seas, for just a fraction of a cost of having your yacht. This popular hotel chain is run on a set of yachts, and is conveniently located near a slew of great eateries and boutiques, as well as multiplex, on California’s Long Beach. Rooms are tidy and surprisingly roomy, and some are even equipped with bunk beds for children or those travelling in larger groups.

The Dockside Boat & Bed has a private dock that enables quests to enjoy beautiful views of Rainbow Harbour as well as majestics sunsets.

Rates for this Yacht Hotel starts from about USD250 per couple per night and includes a complimentary continental breakfast.

website: www.boatandbed.com

Facts:

• 6 years in the making
• Cost : $1.4 billion
• Weight : 225, 282-gross-ton or estimated at approximately 100,000 tons (displacement) – about twice as much as Titanic(52,000)
• Length: 360 m (1,181 ft) overall
• Height: 72 m (236 ft) above water line
• Capacity: 16 passenger decks and can carry 6,292 passengers plus 2,165 crew

Features:

• Mini-golf course
• Two Rock climbing walls
• Basketball  and Volleyball courts
• Ice skating rink
• Carousel with hand-carved wooden animals
• Shopping promenade lined with cafes and bars
• Cantilevered whirlpools overlooking the sea
• Central Park with 12,000  live plants and 56 trees.  The first living park at sea
• Amphitheater surrounds a deep-diving pool on the stern
• Its outdoor 750-seat AquaTheatre amphitheater hosts the ship’s largest freshwater pool
• Zip line where passengers can harness themselves and soar cross the ship above an open-air atrium nine decks high and lined with balconied cabins
• 4 swimming pools
• Nurseries for children
• Bars and lounges

Oasis of the Seas Aqua Theater

The Rising Tide, one of its many bars,  floats up and down between three decks, while a touring company performs the Broadway musical in the 1,380-seat theater.

Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas is the largest, widest, tallest, most expensive cruise ship afloat.  This world’s biggest cruise ship starts its inaugural voyage on Dec. 5, 2009. It is a floating resort with home port at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.