We are staying with friends at the Villa Champagne Executive Retreat in the Efate region of Vanuatu.

Aerial view of Villa Champagne Vanuatu

Aerial view of Villa Champagne Vanuatu

Villa Champagne claims to be the largest holiday home in the South Pacific, with a 3 acre property,  and comprising a main home of over 700 sq metres and two identical fully self-contained 2-bedroom villas. It is ideally situated on the south coast of Efate Island, just 20 minutes away from Vanuatu International Airport.

The 4-bedroom main residence combines an amazing and expansive open area at ground level with dining and 2 living areas, dining room, kitchen,  laundry, powder room and office and opening directly onto an immaculate outdoor area which faces the beach and contains a large swimming pool, attached spa, two outdoor entertaining areas and also leads to the adjacent villas.

We have found that the level of luxury and convenience of all of the resources necessary to have an enjoyable break from  the hassles of day-to-day life to be a great surprise, and very much appreciated. And remember that Vanuatu is only a short distance form Australia and New Zealand.

I’ll be writing more about this property in a few day’s time, but if you are planning any special event inVanuatu, this is absolutely an opportunity that you should be seriously considering.

     

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Upon arrival into Vanuatu, we stayed for the first night at Moorings Hotel in Port Vila.

Moorings Hotel pool view onto Port Vila harbour in Vanuatu

Moorings Hotel pool view onto Port Vila harbour in Vanuatu

Moorings is promoted as a boutique waterfront hotel just a few minutes walk from downtown Port Vila, and only a short drive form theVanuatu International Airport.

The hotel comprises 30 rooms, including 4 family rooms. Moos Bar and Grill is adjacent to the private pool, and offers great food as well as a wide range of delicious cocktails and of course also offers Tuskers beer (the firm farorite in Vanuatu) on tap.

Moos Bar and Grill seats around 70 people, and offers a varied a-la-carte menu as well as a number of special fares on several days of the week,  including some dishes that really do highlight the variety of food choices available while you’re visiting Vanuatu.

Our group enjoyed a number of excellent tapas and other entrees, followed by a range of seafood and beef dishes. The service was excellent and the pricing was very good for such a facility in Vanuatu.

Our room was located directly adjacent to the pool. We would recommend these deluxe poolside rooms for younger travellers, since there is somewhat more sound from the bar floating through this area.

The people looking after us were very nice, friendly and helpful, and more than happy to offer that extra bit of service that is always appreciated. This seems to be typical of the interaction that we found all over Vanuatu.

In summary, Moorings is a great place for visitors to the capital of Vanuatu, either for a short overnight stay or for a longer period to truly enjoy the beauty and vibrancy of this delightful South Pacific country only a few short hours away from Australia’s east coast.

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Marrol's Hotel Bratislava - Lobby

Marrol's Hotel Bratislava - Lobby

While we were visiting Bratislava, we decided to experience the ambience and facilities of Marrol’s Boutique Hotel, just a three minute stroll away from the waterfront of the Danuj (Danube River).

You can find out more about this hotel by visiting their website at: http://www.hotelmarrols.sk/

Marrol’s is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels group, a selection of small boutique hotels around the world.

Members of this group of hotels must meet certain minimum standards, yet offer a much more personalised level of service than is usually available with the larger hotel chains.

This was certainly the case when we checked in at Marrol’s  Hotel .

We were ushered in to a space more reminiscent of a Victorian salon than reception desk. After being seated, we were offered a choice of welcoming drink whilst going through the paperwork. We both selected to sample the Slovakian sparkling wine Hugo, which is available in a sweet or dry variety.

Once we finished the check in process, we were taken up to our room where we had been told that everything in the room was complimentary. This inlcuded all of the tea and coffee materials, chocolates and wafer biscuits, as well as the contents of the mini bar, which was refilled daily.

The mini bar contents included the usual natural and lightly gassed waters, Slovakian beer, a hlf bottle of really enjoyable Slovakian Riesling wine andd some chocolates and nuts.

The room itself was extremely comfortable, beautifully furnished and appointed with real timber finishes and lovely bathroom amenities. The hotel also provided good quality bathrobes, slippers and shoe cleaning and polishing accessories, etc.

Marrol’s hotel had an enclosed summer garden, ideal for guests wishing to relax outside but still in the privacy of the hotel. Complimentary soft drinks were available to guests enjoying this space.

Complimentary internet access and breakfast were of course included in the tariff for the hotel.

Marrol’s Hotel also offers the Jasmine Spa area in which guests are able to indulge. Not only is it possible to book a wide range of massages in the spa, but guests have the opportunity to book the facility, including exclusive usage of the whirlpool spa, sauna, plunge pool, shower facilities and relaxation area as well as a complimentary bar (beer, wine and soft drink) and fresh fruit.

Breakfast at Marrol’s is also something to experience. The buffet selection was very extensive, with almost any taste catered for.

Guests could begin their meal with a glass of sparkling wine (we did), and then follow up with cereals, fruit selections, espresso coffee to order, cold meat and cheeses selections (with an extensive range of cheeses), pates, a range of hot breakfast choices, including three varieties of eggs, bacon, sausages, frankfurts, tomatoes, mushrooms and a traditional Slovakian bean accompaniment.

Not to mention the fantastic range of breads and both sweet and savoury pastries.

The hotel also boasts a great restaurant which serves a range of modern and traditional Slovakian dishes together with a very wide and reasonably priced wine list.

For anyone who would like to spoil themselves with fantastic and memorable service at a very affordable price, please make a point of booking your accommodation at Marrol’s Boutique Hotel during your visit to Bratislava.

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The Quincy Hotel, SingaporeWe recently had the great pleasure of staying at The Quincy Hotel in Singapore.

The reason we decided to stay at The Quincy was its claim to offer Singapore’s only all-inclusive accommodation experience – and what an experience it was!

Not only is limousine pick-up from the airport or Singapore Cruise Centre included, but the genuine friendliness that is extended when you first arrive signals that this will indeed be a different experience.

We were booked in to The Quincy for 2 nights, and could only wish that our stay was longer.

The Quincy hotel should be seriously considered by both corporate and holiday visitors since it is able to offer you a range of quality accommodation and support options with friendly and helpful support and a great experience for your time spent in Singapore.

We have certainly noted this hotel as one we will be sure to visit on our next visit to Singapore and strongly recommend to others.

The long list of complimentary items on offer at The Quincy includes:

  • limousine pick-up
  • three lovely meals every day (with daily dinner menu changes)
  • minibar selection
  • wireless and wired high speed internet
  • magnificently equipped gymnasium
  • sauna and steam room
  • 2 hour daily cocktail hour with wines, beers and mixed drinks
  • glass sided swimming pool on level 12
  • 2 laundry items per room per day
  • Molton Brown amenities, replenished daily
  • carparking
  • local telephone calls
  • robes and slippers

Quincy Hotel Stateroom

To find out more, visit the Quincy Hotel website at: http://www.quincy.com.sg

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We have recently discovered a great new apartment block at Biggera Waters in south-east Queensland Australia.

Silvershore Apartments at night Silvershore Apartments consists of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom self-contained units.

There is a choice of water view or mountain view units, and we reckon that it’s worth paying the extra for the magnificent view out over the Broadwater.
We would also recommend that you request a room on one of the upper floors, so that you can enjoy the view out over the top of the low island that usually blocks the entrance to the Gold Coast Seaway.

This part of the Gold Coast is well away from the bustle and glitz of Surfers Paradise itself, yet is still only a short drive or bus ride away (or a good walk for those feeling energetic).

The non-smoking block boasts  the following features:

BBQ facilities, direct access to the beach, gym and fitness room, lift/elevator, onsite secure undercover parking, an outdoor heated pool, spa/hot tub/Jacuzzi, individual air conditioning, balcony / courtyard, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, full kitchen, iron & ironing board, opening windows, refrigerator, full size Shower over bath, TV and of course tea and coffee making facilities.

The pricing is currently very reasonable indeed, but be prepared for this to rise once the secret gets out!

We will definitely be returning to Silvershore in the near future.

To find out more, visit the TripAdvisor website:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=silvershore+apartments&sub-search.x=6&sub-search.y=8

As you can see, Silvershore is right on the beachfront:

View of beach from Silvershore Apartments
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There are many options available for those travelers wishing to stay for a few days or more in the Connemara region of Ireland in County Galway. These include:

Hotels

Hotel accommodation covers the full range of facilities likely to be required by anyone. The Connemara offers a range of hotel accommodation from 5 star down to budget accommodation.

Heritage Houses

Heritage houses are private country houses of historic interest offering high-class accommodation. The Connemara offers one or two of this form of accommodation.

Self Catering Accommodation

Heatherhill Cottages, LetterfrackRent your accommodation for the week (or more) and do all the cooking yourself! This way you can cater for a family for small cost and enjoy Connemara on a budget. Accommodation can range from mobile homes to large spacious houses.

When we visited the Connemara, we stayed at Heatherhill Cottages in Letterfrack. This facility offered a great base from which to explore the region, and Letterfrack itself is a lovely quiet village with all of the facilities needed to enjoy the experience within walking distance of our accommodation.

Heatherhill Cottages offers spacious accommodation (5 bedrooms) on three levels, with everything needed to enjoy the travel experience, including an open fireplace in which a peat fire can be lit.

Guesthouses

These vary from five bedroomed family houses, Georgian and Victorian residence to larger professionally serviced modern premises. Some guesthouses provide meals to non residents. Evening meals are available.

Hostels

Providing budget accommodation with excellent self-catering facilities. Many hostels are able to supply meals to guests upon request.

Country homes, Farmhouses and B&Bs

Country homes offer a wide selection of premises such as Georgian residences, modern bungalows, and traditional Irish homes- all with modern amenities and facilities. Farmhouse holidays are attractive for those wishing a temporary escape from the pressures of modern life. Most B&Bs are somewhat more modest, but offer rooms for accommodation, some with ensuite facilities. Evening meals can be provided in some premises if notice is given.

Caravan and Camping Sites

There are a number of caravan and camping sites in Connemara. These cater for tents, caravans and many also rent mobile homes.

Submitted by John Kumm www.onlinetravelconsultant.com

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Australiasia’s leading accommodation website, Wotif.com (www.wotif.com) has announced the results of its annual business travel survey. They indicate that whilst business travelers may not have a great deal of choice about when, where and how often they travel, there are clear destination preferences.

Sydney, Australia’s largest city, showed a polarised preference, with most respondents listing Sydney as either their most favorite (32%) or least favorite (28%) destination for business trips.

Wotif.com Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Wood, commented:

“Despite these findings, Sydney continues to be Wotif.com’s top-selling destination.”

Melbourne was clearly the nation’s favorite destination for business travelers, with 40% of respondents listing the Victorian capital city as their preferred destination.

When surveyed about their preference for warmer climates, survey respondents also demonstrated a clear preference for warmer climates, with Queensland’s Cairns, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast favored ahead of other regional destinations offering cooler climates.

Business travelers are increasingly arranging their trips online with respondents signaling that price, simple navigation and the ability to make secure online payments were the driving factors for this continuing trend.

Wotif.com Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Wood, commented:

“A large proportion of business travel is organized at the eleventh-hour, making online accommodation bookings the easiest and cheapest option for business travelers.”

“Increasingly, we’re finding that companies, with corporate travel managers encourage their employees to check for a cheaper alternative online, prior to booking their accommodation,”

About two-thirds of the respondents listed a comfortable bed as the most important aspect of their business trip, with location, the inclusion of breakfast, free parking and internet access in rooms, the next most important factors.

At the other end of the scale, well-equipped business centers and complimentary gifts on arrival, e.g. wine or massages, were of little interest to the business travelers surveyed by Wotif.com.

Submitted by Barbara Walsh-Kumm www.onlinetravelconsultant.com

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Just last night I received a request from a close friend who is planning a trip to Italy at short notice, and asked me to assist her in locating suitable accommodation options for the trip.

She is traveling with her two adult daughters, and  is on a tight budget for the travels. Her requirements were:

  • locations close to tourist centres such as Florence, Rome, Sorrento, but not too hectic
  • they’ll have a hire car, so need parking availability
  • places to sit and relax whilst recharging batteries
  • pleasant surroundings, with plenty of garden space or views
  • dates of travel fixed – starting in 14 days
  • four different locations for a trip lasting 17 days
  • preferably a comfortable and well appointed ensuite room for all three to share

Time is tight, so I had no opportunity to look for early booking bargains, instead needed to look at available stock. Luckily, the trip comes before the high season, so short-term availability is less of a problem than it may have been, particularly when looking for options a short distance away from city centers.

I began the search using Google to search for “budget accommodation” in the areas of interest. Whilst such a simple search usually throws up a lot of inappropriate sites, a look both the search page and sponsored results can often prove useful. In the case of the search for Sorrento, the following sponsored link showed up:

55 B&B in Sorrento, Italy
Accommodation in Sorrento, prices
descriptions, map, Users Feedback
www.BBPlanet.it/B&B_Sorrento

I clicked on this link, and was able to find 2 or 3 properties from the site which fitted my friend’s requirements. I sent a request to 2 of these, and must say that I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly replies about availability and cost were received.

To sum up, within about three hours of internet searching, I had uncovered a number of options (each with availability on the required dates) that I was able to pass on to my friend, for her consideration and decision about which to book.

It obviously helps to know the region for which you are looking for somewhere to stay, but if you don’t a great option is to look up the area in a travel publication  such as Lonely Planet, Berlitz, Frommers, Fodors, etc. If you can’t access such a publication, then you can try an online search for information on the region’s characteristics using the term “travel guide” with the name of the city, town or region.

Best of luck with your travel plans.

Submitted by Barbara Walsh-Kumm www.onlinetravelconsultant.com

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Bed & Breakfast accommodation is well established in Europe and North America as a way of travelling.

It enables a “view” of the travellers’ world that is not available from big city hotels or even the larger country hotels and motels.

Why choose a B&B? Several factors recommend a nice B&B, not the least of which is location.

The original bed & breakfasts were found in out-of-the-way towns or villages without enough trade to support an official inn.

Today, B&Bs offer a chance to visit these same isolated places while enjoying the local culture.

Not all bed-and-breakfasts are charming and historic, however, some are just what they advertise: a place to stay and a morning meal.

The price is usually an indicator of the charm quotient, and of course the internet allows potential visitors a look at many lodgings, both inside and out, before deciding.

There are a number of different types of bed and breakfast accommodation. These include homestay (the traditional B&B experience), farmstay, guest houses and self-contained cottages.

It was in England, Scotland and Ireland that the term “B&B” first came into use. Tourists will see a B&B sign in many windows there.

Bed and breakfasts have been very popular with the traveling public in Europe for years.

The term “bed and breakfast” is not used in many European countries. Terms such as paradors, pensions, gasthaus, minskukus, shukukos and pousados are used to describe what Americans and English-speaking Europeans think of as a bed and breakfast.

If you are looking for the opportunity to discover more about a local area, and enjoy a different style of accommodation, then do not hesitate to search for suitable B&B accommodation at your chosen location.

Submitted by John Kumm www.onlinetravelconsultant.com

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