Vacations

A Glam Apartment Inside a Technicolor Building in Ibiza

June 15, 2017 by nvshen Leave a Comment

If you’re planning to take a vacation in a Mediterranean region, don’t dare to miss this unique apartment in Ibiza. Seeing the images from this post made me want to visit Ibiza in my next vacation trip. I might even stay in this colorful apartment.

Tropical locations usually conjure up color palettes of blues and greens but this property includes all the colors of the rainbow. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the Las Boas building is an urban jungle that boasts unbeatable views of the island of Formentera and old town Ibiza. It exists primarily as a residential complex but the Creamhotel has added one of building’s apartments to their Ibiza vacation rental portfolio, calling it the Ibiza Glam, which means you can stay at this technicolor, tropical paradise the next time you’re visiting Ibiza.

The 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment features all the amenities you’d have in a regular hotel, such as access to the infinity pool and communal areas, spa and fitness center, 24/7 security, free wifi and cable. A table designed by Jean Nouvel lives in the living room and inside the bedroom, you can unwind on luxurious beds by Nolteni & Cassina. From the living room, you can open up the sliding windows to take in the balcony and the building’s curvaceous exteriors that were inspired by feather boas (hence, the name!).

Within walking distance, you’ll find yourself at the island’s top clubs and restaurants: Patcha, Lio Cabaret, Cipriani, and Blue Marin.

Maldives On A Budget: Travel Guide

May 8, 2017 by nvshen Leave a Comment

Just last week my friends invited me to go on vacation in Maldives. I agreed immediately since it’s my first time in Maldives. I read lots of travel blogs and I found this one which has a detailed travel tips ( the most detailed so far!) based from his experience in Maldives. You can also check this out!

The forecast was sunny, but it was raining when we landed in the Maldives. Naturally, I began to worry about the coming days. I didn’t come all the way here to see grey clouds looming over gloomy seascapes. The thoughts of shallow waters gently swaying below iconic water bungalows that these islands have been known for started to drift away.

But sometimes, the universe has a way of surprising us.

The next morning, we were greeted by the sun, shining above the ivory beach. It would never rain again at any time during our stay.

The Maldives is one of those countries I never imagined I would be able to visit. If you asked me ten years ago if I would like to go to the Maldives, I would probably laugh in your face not because there’s something wrong with the idea of being there but because I knew it would never ever happen. Even the me of five years ago, someone who was just starting to travel blog, would have never guessed. At the time, there were only three things that I knew about the Maldives:

It is an archipelagic nation in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
It has a lot of private luxury resorts that I could never afford.
It is expensive to go and stay there.

But like I said, the universe has a way of surprising us. Before I knew it, I was sitting on a wooden platform, trying to dip my toes on the most turquoise lagoon I had ever seen in my life. Maldives was never a dream for me, but when I was there, I felt like I was living in one.

8 beautiful PH destinations to visit this 2016

March 17, 2017 by nvshen Leave a Comment

Take a peek at Filipino’s culture and history as mirrored in century-old churches, ancient forts and modern museums. Paradise Philippines have the best of nature’s paradise pictured through white-sand beaches and three-layered virgin forests.

MANILA, Philippines – A new year means new travel plans. Where to go this 2016? There are places whose beauty never gets old, while there are those whose beauty is yet to be discovered by many. Below are some destinations worth exploring.

Surigao del Sur

It is the other Surigao, Surigao del Norte, that is often well-visited, especially for its surfing spot Siargao, and later, for Bucas Grande, with its breathtaking lagoons and stingless jellyfish. (IN PHOTOS: Visit these 10 magical, beautiful lagoons in the Philippines)

Surigao del Sur, on the other hand, also has a beautiful, but not-so-well-known lagoon, with stingless jellyfish – the Blue Lagoon in the municipality of Cantilan.

BLUE LAGOON. This quiet lagoon in Surigao teems with stingless jellyfish. Photo by Dennis Dolojan

Cantilan also has pristine white beaches, but it is San Agustin’s Britania group of islands that is arguably Surigao del Sur’s pride – 24 islands and islets, some of them unspoiled white beaches or karsts blanketed with lush greenery. (READ: Britania Islands, breathtaking paradise in Surigao del Sur)

BRITANIA. Beautiful beaches like this abound in Britania’s group of islands. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Inland, the province’s must-visit is Hinatuan’s mystical Enchanted River, a deep sapphire blue with a chasm said to be at least 80 feet deep. At night, it is believed that mermaids and fairies frolic in the waters. (READ: The enchanting blue river of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur)

See more: http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/ph-travel/117649-beautiful-philippine-destinations-visit-2016-travel-bucketlist

7 Ways to Stick to Your Budget on Vacation

March 1, 2017 by nvshen Leave a Comment

When you go on a vacation it’s very easy to go way over budget and spend a lot more money than you ever thought possible. Often when you actually break all your extra over budget spending down it’s the little things that really do add up.

vacation-fund

Keep Your Budget

This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.

Whether you’re planning a vacation in Paris or a skydive in the States this summer, we don’t want you counting pennies while you stroll along the Seine or thinking about your savings account as you plummet toward Earth.

Vacations are well-deserved treats and money shouldn’t be a cloud over these precious times away. On the other hand, the “anything goes” spirit that is so intoxicating during a trip can turn a little…toxic afterward, when you’re home facing staggering credit card bills.

Follow our tips for staying within your budget on vacation so money concerns don’t interfere with your good times.

Start Planning Early—With a Budget in Mind

The key to optimal vacation spending is—you guessed it—planning and budgeting. About 8 percent of your total yearly budget can go toward “fun” spending like travel. If you love to travel, you can increase this portion of your budget by cutting other areas. When trip planning, balance your total costs based on 1) where you’re going; 2) how you plan to get there; and 3) what you’ll do once there. For example, while a small island in the Pacific might have really great rates on hotels or restaurants, it might cost a small fortune to fly there—but you’ll save on low-cost beach activities. If you’re on a budget, plan a trip that doesn’t gouge you in all three areas.

See more: http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/travel-planning/vacation-budget

Maldives travel guide

February 3, 2017 by nvshen Leave a Comment

For a completely relaxing holiday, it is the best of ideas to visit Maldives and it always prove helpful to know something about the destination beforehand.

An insider’s guide to the Maldives, featuring the archipelago’s best hotels, restaurants, bars, attractions and things to do, including how to travel there and around. By Adrian Neville, Telegraph Travel’s Maldives expert. Click on the tabs below for the best places to stay and what to do while you’re there.

Why go?

These are the most beautiful small islands on Earth. They are safe; there are no hawkers selling sarongs and taxi tours and, unless you seek them out, no distractions. There is no agriculture and no industry and the turquoise lagoons are crystal clear. Strange to think that the idyllic Maldives have only been a holiday destination for 40 years or so.

The Maldives are made up of 26 coral atolls in a chain reaching down to cross the equator. Within those 26 atolls are roughly 1,200 islands and of these around 200 are inhabited and 100 are resorts.

Which is not to say that this is not also one of the most sophisticated holiday destinations in the world. A race to the top has seen the standard of service, rooms and cuisine rise exponentially in the last 10 years. Now, instead of the dreaded buffet, there is superb à la carte cuisine; there are cellars for cheese, charcuterie, wine and chocolate. The world’s first underwater restaurant, under-water nightclub and underwater spa are all to be found here.

The explorer Thor Heyerdahl sums it up perfectly in his book The Maldive Mystery: “That afternoon we passed the most beautiful palm islands I have ever seen. With the sun low on our starboard side it threw a glowing sidelight on the tiny islets, which seemed to float by like flower baskets … Under the spell of this picture of an earthy paradise I made an entry in my notebook that the Maldives are even more beautiful than any of the coral atolls in Polynesia.”

See more: Maldives attractions

When to go

The Maldives has a benign climate, with year-round temperatures between 79F and 86F (26C-30C). It never suffers from tornadoes though it does have a monsoon season in November which is best avoided and unsettled weather can persist well into December, though then the rain tends to be in short, afternoon bursts only.

Island in the Maldives — The perfect months are January, February and March when the sky is blue and the water so calm it could be glass CREDIT: FYLE – FOTOLIA

The high season stretches from November to April, with Christmas and New Year being the most expensive time to travel. The perfect months are January, February and March when the sky is blue and the water so calm it could be glass.

See more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/maldives/articles/maldives-travel-guide/

The 10 Safest Countries in the World

September 2, 2016 by nvshen Leave a Comment

Holidaying is all about seeking new and delightful experiences. Safety during an expedition is a big criterion that adds worth to one’s vacations. Take a look at the top destinations in the world where safe and delightful holidays are most likely.

Start planning your travel to these peaceful places.

With so many sad, scary stories popping up in the news these days—from a tragic shooting in Orlando toongoing unrest in Turkey—it can feel like travel is the last thing you want to do. That’s one reason why Vision of Humanity, a project of the independent organization Institute for Economics & Peace, makes its annual chart of the most and least safe countries around the world. The Global Peace Index, whose 2016 edition came out today, takes into account factors like numbers of police or security personnel, presence of nuclear weapons, and political instability in order to reach its findings. Unsurprisingly, South Sudan and Syria are the two most unsafe countries in the world to visit right now, but these ten score high marks for locals and travelers alike.

1. ICELAND

For the sixth year in a row, Iceland tops the safety index. The Nordic nation scored low points for homicides, number of people in jail, and terror acts. Another bonus: Being an island makes it somewhat harder to have border disputes. What more incentive do you need to jump in a thermal bath already?

2. DENMARK

Denmark regularly ranks among the happiest countries in the world, and now it’s also one of the safest—other than a minor conflict with Canada over an uninhabited island, that is.

3. AUSTRIA

Robert Frost wrote that “good fences make good neighbors,” and that’s true of Austria, whose neighbors (including Germany and the Czech Republic) also scored high on the index. Austria gets points for low weapon imports and peaceful elections.

4. NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand may be one of the world’s best destinations for gasp-inducing adventure travel, but you’re more likely to be shocked by stunning beach views than by internal conflict or violence.

See more: http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-06-17/the-worlds-10-safest-countries-to-visit-are

15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Jerusalem

July 7, 2016 by nvshen Leave a Comment

What many people don’t know is that Jerusalem is a beautiful place to visit with the city itself being an interesting place to explore. The most interesting feature about Jerusalem is that despite all the buildings in the city being made of the same white stone; the diversity within the city is amazing.

The most contested city on earth is also one of the most beautiful. The scope of its history is staggering, and its vital place in the traditions of all three monotheistic faiths has led to it being fought over continually through the centuries. This is the heart of the Holy Land; where the Jews raised the First Temple to keep the Ark of the Covenant safe, where Jesus was crucified and rose again, and where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven to receive God’s word. For believers, a visit to Jerusalem is a pilgrimage to one of the most sacred sites in the world. The number of sights here can be baffling for first time visitors, but luckily most of the top tourist attractions are secreted within the lanes of the compact Old City district. With so much to see, the best way to tackle a trip here is to decide on a few key attractions that are must-dos and break your sightseeing down into sections of the city. Don’t try to do too much and wear yourself out. It would take a lifetime to see everything that Jerusalem offers.

1 Haram Al-Sharif (Temple Mount)

Haram Al-Sharif (Temple Mount)

Follow in the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims, and enter one of the holiest sanctuaries on earth. Lauded by Jews, Christians, and Muslims, this is the site where Abraham (father of all three monotheistic faiths) is said to have offered his son up as a sacrifice to God, where Solomon built the First Temple for the Ark of the Covenant, and where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven during his early years of preaching Islam. It’s a place of deep significance (and contention over ownership) for those of faith. The wide plaza, above the Old City, is centered around the glitteringDome of the Rock, which is Jerusalem’s most iconic landmark. Beneath the golden dome is the sacred stone both Jews and Muslims believe to be where Abraham offered his son to God and where Muslims also believe the Prophet Muhammad began his journey to heaven. The southern side of the mount is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, said to be one of the oldest mosques in the world.

Hours: Open Sat-Thu 7.30am-10am & 12.30pm-1.30pm (Oct-Mar); Sat-Thu 7.30am-11am & 1.30pm-2.30pm (Apr-Sep).

Admission: Free (non-Muslims must enter from the Western Wall gate)

Location: Entry from Western Wall Plaza, Old City

2 Wailing Wall and Jewish Quarter

Wailing Wall and Jewish Quarter

The Wailing Wall (or Western Wall) is the surviving retaining wall of Jerusalem’s First Temple. Commonly called the Wailing Wall due to the people’s laments for the loss of the temple in AD 70, it is now the holiest site in Judaism and has been a place of pilgrimage for the Jewish people since the Ottoman era. The Jewish Quarter of theOld City runs roughly from the Zion Gate east to the Western Wall Plaza. This part of the Old City was destroyed during the Israeli-Arab fighting in 1948 and has been extensively rebuilt since 1967. A major highlight here for history fans is the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, at the southern end of the Western Wall Plaza, where archaeologists have unearthed fascinating remnants of old Jerusalem. The Western Wall Tunnels, which take you under the city, back to the level of the original city, are also not to be missed. Jewish Quarter Street (RehovHaYehudim) is the main lane of the district, and veering off this road onto the surrounding side streets, there are a cluster of interesting synagogues that can be visited.

Location: Western Wall Plaza, Old City

3 Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

For Christian pilgrims, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is Jerusalem’s holiest site and is said to have been built on the site where Jesus was crucified. The site for the church was picked by Empress Helena – mother to Constantine the Great during her tour of the Holy Land. She was the one to announce to the Byzantine world that this spot was the Calvary (or Golgotha) of the gospels. The original church (built in 335 AD) was destroyed by 1009, and the grand church you see now dates from the 11th century. Although often heaving with pilgrims from across the world, the church interior is an opulently beautiful piece of religious architecture. This is the ending point for theVia Dolorosa pilgrimage and the last five Stations of the …

11 Ways to Save Money on Vacation

June 18, 2016 by nvshen Leave a Comment

While cutting costs during your vacation may seem like it will limit your fun, you can actually still have a great time. These are some tips for having less expensive vacations that are still filled with activity and relaxation.

save money on vacation

It’s a given that you’re going to shop and compare discount travel sites to find the best airline ticket deals and hotels for your next vacation. But how do you save money once you get there?

If you’re like me, you want to experience your destination like a local – the tourist traps just won’t cut it. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save hundreds of dollars on food, entertainment, and activities without sacrificing your vacation experience.

How to Save Money on Vacation

1. Leave the Toiletries at Home
Why are you packing shampoo, conditioner, soap, and toothpaste? Those items are readily available at most hotels for free. In fact, there are many hotel freebies that are ripe for the taking.

The benefit of leaving the toiletries at home is two-fold: Not only will it preserve your own private stash, extending the life of each, but it also will reduce, albeit minimally, the weight of your bag when packing for vacation. With rising airline baggage fees, every little bit counts.

2. Download Free Apps to Find the Cheap Hot Spots
Popular apps like Foursquare and Scoutmob can help you locate one-off discounts, but how do you find establishments that offer regular deals? There are lots of lesser-known, free apps that can save you big money over the course of your trip. One of my favorites is Happy Hour Finder, which lists all the happy hours in the immediate area, what the deals are, and what day of the week those deals.

Top 7 Places to go Shopping in Dubai

June 3, 2016 by nvshen Leave a Comment

Dubai is truly one of the best emerging destinations for tourists in the last few years. The number of tourists who travel to Dubai considerably grew in the last couple of years. In fact the city, and the whole nation of the United Arab Emirates, have notably developed in quite a short period of time.

Ibn Battuta Mall — (C) http://www.visitdubai.com/

Dubai is synonymous with shopping; there is nothing you cannot buy when shopping in Dubai. From gold to electronics, designer labels and luxury items, the emirate is packed with huge shopping malls built side-by-side with older souks, where small shop owners sell everything from spices to clothing to carpets and rugs. Goods in Dubai are available from all over the world including Turkey, Iran, India and China.

Shopping is almost a national past time here in Dubai for locals, visitors and residents alike. In the hot summer months, when temperatures can go above 50 degrees, shopping malls provide a refuge from the intense heat outside. Most malls offer a whole lot more than just shops; they have great dining options as well as plenty of entertainment for children including aquariums and themed parks inside the mall!!

Dubai is also famous for its many shopping festivals, which are worth a mention here. The most well known that attracts thousands of shoppers from across the world is the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which kicks off every year in January and goes on for a month. In addition to the shopping and thousands of prizes, this internationally acclaimed festival showcases the best of several sectors from concerts, events, fashion shows and outdoor sports. Another annual event that has put Dubai on the world map is the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), which runs for a month at the beginning of summer in Dubai. The DSS is very popular with residents of the emirate for its shopping deals and fun activities designed for the whole family.

Apart from these festivals, year round shopping attracts visitors from all over the world. Depending on what you are looking for, below are the seven most popular and varied shopping destinations for visitors and residents alike.

Dubai Shopping Mall

Even with the multitude of malls available in Dubai, the Dubai Mall still provides one of the most complete shopping experiences. Not just a mall, this mini-city is home to over a thousand stores, a spectacular four-storey indoor waterfall, a huge aquarium, an Olympic size ski-rink and a staggering number of food outlets. The mall is designed with the most luxurious of finishes and houses brands from across Europe and the US including Galleries Lafayette and the first Bloomingdale’s outside the US. It is also hugely popular for the Dubai Fountains, which are beautifully designed to move to music.

Deira Gold Souk

The Dubai Gold Souk is lined with hundreds of shops selling gold; everything from gold jewelry to gold bars at some of the best bargains in the world can be found here. There is an old souk scattered with gold shops and a new souk in a more modern 2-storey building very close to each other. Leave plenty of time when visiting these souks as you will need to hop from shop to shop to see the variety available and to get the cheapest rates. Don’t hesitate to bargain; most shops sell the same items so feel free to tell them that you saw the same item at another shop for a better price and you will possibly get a good deal. Also, take your time …

See more: http://www.livingindubai.org/top-7-places-to-go-shopping-in-dubai/

Best Value Destinations for 2016

May 2, 2016 by nvshen

“A new year has come! Then maybe perhaps, there’s also a need for a new destination? With this New Year, I know that there are still so many places that you haven’t scratched off on your travel list. If you want to go to a vacation very soon, here are some places you might want to check out.”

1. Tunisia

Brightly coloured tiles in blue, yellow and green cover the interior of an open-roofed mosque building in Tunisia. — Don your sunglasses and prepare to be dazzled by the multicoloured Al-Zaytuna mosque, one of Tunisia’s architectural gems. Image by Yoshio Tomii / The Image Bank / Getty Images

When it comes to Tunisia, the conversation has moved on from safety to recovery for tourism, and a renewed appreciation of why the country is such a compelling destination. Most travel warnings have been dropped and travellers are once again tuning in to North Africa’s most compact package. This year prices will remain tempting to lure travellers back, and lower crowds will mean that those who do come will get a more rewarding experience whether they stay in cosmopolitan Tunis, head for Star Wars sets or explore the Roman remains that dot the north of the country.

Seasonal charters from European airports to Djerba can be an excellent-value gateway into Tunisia.

2. South Africa

Cape Town under the dramatic outline of Table Mountain. Image by Mlenny Photography / E+ / Getty Images

Currency fluctuations mean that for certain travellers South Africa is more affordable than it has been for many years. Instead of just rejoicing in the undercooked rand, consider what South Africa offers value-seeking travellers at any time. How about fantastically accessible wildlife watching for all budgets, bargain public (and traveller-friendly) transport and free entry to many of the country’s museums? Most visitors will find something to please their budget, whether it’s a cheap-and cheerful Cape Town seaside cafe or an affordable safari campsite. Come in South Africa’s shoulder seasons (March to May, September and October) for the best combination of low crowds and comfortable weather.

3. Shanghai

A market seller in Shanghai smiles broadly as stallholders around her serve raw meat and clothing to customers. — Throw yourself into the throng of Shanghai’s markets for a taste of local life. Image by DAJ / Getty Images

For all the upscale new openings in China’s most famous coastal city, Shanghai remains reassuringly affordable for budget travellers. No-nonsense dorms start at less than US$10, and the pleasing pricing continues through budget and midrange hotels until you hit the less-than-friendly international big names and trendy boutique accommodation. It’s a similar story when eating out: characterful street-treats for a dollar, and big portions in popular restaurants for little more. Best of all, walking the city’s safe and buzzing streets is the best way to take the pulse of this fast-changing metropolis. SmartShanghai (smartshanghai.com) is a great place to keep pace with new happenings in this ever-changing city.

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