Bali is Still Worth a Visit

Very often many thing become reality inspired by a dream. For example if one wants to have a very memorable holiday he will choose a place which have everything to fulfill his needs or his requests sometimes begin with a sweet dream. If a dream tells about beautiful island lies under the equator and have a nice weather all year round, an oasis of undying culture and quiet beauty, if so, Bali has it all.

Bali is a beautiful island situated within Indonesian Archipelago and one of the best tourist destinations in Asia. In 1930th some of the foreign writers and artists arrived in Bali and stayed on, thoroughly seduced and inspired by the island's breathtaking physical beauty and cultural complexity. They were also deeply impressed by the warmth and the hospitality of the Balinese, and the amazing breadth of artistic expression that pervaded daily life.

Since 1970th Bali performed his high quality in tourism industry, and attracted many bona fide tour operators and airlines companies to bring their clients to enjoy this enchanting island. The island boast a Bali International Airport, luxuries 5 star Bali hotels, best built Bali villas, luxury and typical secluded resorts ad even hundreds of budget hotels.

The development in tourism industry continues in progress for years, and the visitors of Bali can learn and explore more its unique places of interest, various typical local cultures, enjoy the hospitality of the people, as well as other tourist attractions such as diving, snorkeling, para-gliding, cruising, rafting and even sports. Besides, Bali Island is also an ideal place for having MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Exhibition) and honeymoon. Tourism actually has been becoming a massive industry and the main source of Bali's income.

In October 2002 and again in October 2005 Bali was frightened by a violence terrorist's attack, the boom blast that devastated the island of Bali and the international community. More than 200 lives were lost and hundreds more were injured. It need months for recoveries and the Balinese people is still working hard to rebuild the image of the island and we look forward to a brighter and promising future for the Balinese and our tourism industry.

The Balinese have their own way to respond the terrorist attack not by physical violence but by peaceful means; performing major cleansing ceremonies, prayer and hopes, establishing a memorial for the lost lives, because the Balinese believe that the true and utmost prayer have a magic power to face up to evil. The Balinese doctrine Ruwa Bineda tells that all nature is eternally divided into pairs - high and low, right and left, day and night, strong and weak, healthy and sick, clean and unclean; in general: good and evil, life and death. Each illuminates the other within the scope of creation, and the Balinese ritual strives always to maintain a middle ground - a harmony between two poles. So wherever one goes, be a wise man and beware of any possible dangers and put oneself on guard, because the good and the bad are everywhere in this world.

All the appropriate efforts has been performed by Indonesian Government and the Balinese people and also by the world in order to keep the island peaceful. For the Balinese after performing major ceremonies, it is now time to move ahead and leave the incident behind us. Bali Loves Peace is our motto, peace for everyone, and peace for the world. Many of the visitors have been proved the peace of the island after the incident and leaved Bali with a memorable stay.

So if you plan a vacation do not doubt to put Bali at your top list for your next holiday destination. Bali is still worth a visit after the boom tragedy, because the situation is well in hand now. The easiest way to book your preferred Bali Hotels is go online and visit a hotel reservation website. Do a search for the city or island you are traveling to (Indonesia-Bali) and you will be presented with a list of available Bali hotels/Bali Villas in that area. Or you can search a local reliable Bali Tour Operator and contact him by e-mail for further information.

Good luck readers.

Bali Villa Rental Are Perfect For a Private Holiday Experience

The most important part of a holiday is usually the place where we stay, apart from being clean and spacious; it would be nice to have a private space. The Bali villa rentals allow you a near complete private experience with mind boggling personalized service. The locations of these Bali rental villas are special and carefully chosen, like the beach fronts, mountain tops, sea facing, in the midst of dense foliage, all aimed at making this experience as close to nature as possible. This set up allows you and your companion the flexibility to stay indoors and every wish will be made possible at your own Bali villa rental. Once you are done spending the quality time venture out.

The Bali villa rentals have different rates for the high and low season. The island which is part of Indonesia is a delight in terms of activities and pleasure. There are full day tours and half day tours that can be organized to discover the true spirit of Balinese hospitality. You can go for a guided tour of the Eastern coast of Bali, where you can appreciate the splendor of the Pur Kehen temple, which has a peculiar entrance if the form of a Banyan tree. The next temple you visit is the Besakih Temple, also called the Mother temple, is the largest temple on this island.

The tour party takes a lunch break at the Bukit Jambul and you can admire the scintillating lush green rice terrace along with the breathtaking view of Mount Agung. This tour takes you through many charming villages to keep you close to the Balinese culture, as the Selat, Putung, Tihingan and Bali Aga. In these places you can enjoy the music, interacting with locals and buy products that are unique. Returning home after Bali Villa vehicle should be easy to pick up and drop-in with the air conditioning. Can your private dinner for two by the poolpool, wouldnt that be perfect.

If you wish to enjoy the lakes join the tour to the Heartland of Bali, this tour will take you rural stretches of Bali. On this tour organized through the Bali villa rental staff, you would visit the Pura Taman Ayun. It is an ancient relic made of courtyards with vast shrines and pavilions, nice place to experience nostalgia and mystique. You would then head to the famous lake Bratan, which has a beautiful temple on its shores, called the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. As the trip continues you would be taken across the rice fields, which are simply breathtaking. You would then enter a dense forest area which shades the famous temple of Pura Luhur Batukau and leads you to the second highest mountain of Gunung Batukau.

Take the help of Bali villa rental to plan your own tour for more exciting destinations and revered locations in Bali. Apart from above tours there are trips to Active Volcano, Western Bali tour and Ubud village tour. There are special Spa facilities available at your own Bali villa rentals. So make an early plan and enjoy a fulfilling experience at Bali.

Vacation Rentals - Boracay Philippines

If you are vacationing in the Philippines, make certain you allow at least a couple of days for a stay at Boracay. Speaking from experience, this is a beautiful spot with white sand beaches and plenty of activities to keep boredom at bay.

The island is a short flight from Manila, about 200 miles south of Manila. Flights are cheap and Boracay is well worth the cost and your time.

The island is small, a little more than 10 square kilometers, dog-bone shaped and just northwest of Panay Island in the Western Visayas. Although the island is small, there are more than 4 kilometers of beach. The two main beaches are White beach and Bulabog beach. White beach is on the western side of the island and Bulabog beach is on the eastern side.

Activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing and kite boarding. There is a world-class golf course too! The windsurfing is excellent here; in fact, Boracay Island is a venue on the Asian Windsurfing Tour. You can also hook-up with local tour guides for cave exploration and rides in native boats. Naturally, there is time to relax and sightsee too!

The place is definitely a tourist destination with all the negatives implied therein. Even though I'm a bit jaded, I truly had a great time there and left feeling that I had gotten my money's worth. From me, that's saying a lot!

There is ample lodging available here in Boracay, including any number of hotels, and lodges. If you want a vacation rental, they're here too.

After only a few minutes of searching the Internet, I found a reasonably priced vacation rental. I'm not suggesting this is the one for you, but I liked it for the following reasons.

First, I'm frugal, not cheap, FRUGAL! This listing describes a two-story villa in the native style. I like this because I want to really experience the Filipino lifestyle. For this particular property, only a two night minimum stay is required. The cost is $70.00 (USD) per night, roughly 3200 pesos. The property faces White beach and has all the amenities. It sleeps three, has a full kitchen including all the utensils, queen bed and twin bed with all linens, washer, air-conditioning, refrigerator, cable/satellite TV, wireless internet, deck, balcony, beach view, mountain view and a BBQ grill. Ahhhh, heaven!

The longer you are willing to stay, the lower the nightly rate. It drops all the way to $50.00 (USD) for a fourteen night stay. If you want to stay a month, by all means, do so, for $945.00 per month! This is truly reasonable in a resort setting.

There are many properties to choose from. I don't want you to feel this is the only one. I chose this one for location, price and amenities. Not necessarily in that order! No matter what lodgings you choose, I can all but guaranty you will enjoy Boracay. It offers friendly people, plenty to do and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Get More Out of Your Italian Vacation - Book Yourself an Italian Holiday Home This Year

Ever since the holiday industry became the huge enterprise that it is today people have wanted to travel and explore the most beautiful areas of the world and one such destination that falls into this bracket is the wonderfully romantic country of Italy. Italy has everything that a tourist could ever want to experience such as culture, amazing history, wonderful food, warm people and spectacular scenery. So many people return to Italy year after year to live the Italian dream that is their summer vacation, Italy is just one of those countries that you can never tire of visiting. The real beauty of Italy lies below the surface, of course the sights and the food are all wonderful but although it is possible to enjoy any holiday that is spent in Italy it is not until you totally immerse yourself in the Italian culture that you begin to fall head over heels with this most beautiful of countries. So how can you immerse yourself in the Italian way of life if you only have a two weeks vacation to do so, what are the tips and tricks to get you inside the Italian way of life?

Italian life is different to anywhere else in the world, many of the southern European countries such as Spain and Portugal have similar climates and pace of life but the Italian way of life is about more than the speed in which life is lead. For instance where else in the world can you experience people rushing and jostling at 6am in the morning to get off of a bus and stampeding into a small café to order the smallest of all coffee's, an espresso? After the panic and fuss that is created as scores of people leave the bus and head into the café it makes for a surreal sight to see the very same people standing or leaning against the bar of the café slowly sipping their espresso and calmly chatting to their fellow commuters. Espresso finished they head off into the business world for another day at work.

This is a common sight in towns and cities all over Italy and is something that the tourist would not give a second glance but to indulge yourself in these experiences makes for a more involved and satisfying vacation. One of the best ways to ensure that you get a real flavour for Italian life is to rent yourself an Italian holiday home for your vacation.

Italian holiday homes are situated all over the country and depending on where you fancy staying for your vacation you will find a huge amount of choice open to you. Tuscany, Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, the Italian Riviera and Sardinia are all very popular tourist destinations that have many Italian holiday homes available to rent during the summer months, many of these destinations rent properties throughout the year as the climate is so pleasant.

By renting an Italian holiday home for your annual summer vacation you will have to immerse yourself in the Italian way of life as you will have to shop in the supermarkets or even better still shop at one of the many weekly markets that are held in the towns, you may have to hire a car and drive around )this is less daunting than many people would have you believe) and you will have to eat in restaurants some of the time.

I would recommend having a very basic grasp of the Italian language if you do intend booking an Italian holiday home this year, you will be able to get by without it but you will find yourself being more welcomed into situations than if you insist on making no effort to communicate in the home language.

Immersing yourself into a foreign culture may seem a little frightening at first and undoubtedly you will make a fool of yourself occasionally but this is all part of the learning process and but making a few little efforts here and there you will have a much more enjoyable and memorable holiday, so why not throw yourself in the deep end this year and book yourself an Italian holiday home for your vacation.

Bali Destination Tips For Aussie Travellers

Bali Travel Tips

Seasons/When to go

Anytime is a great time to head to Bali. Dry season, which roughly runs from May to October is the most popular time to visit (with June/July sometimes totally overcrowded). Although during the wet season November to April still has some fantastic weather there is just more chance of rain. Having to sit back and wait for the rain to ease up is a good way to recover as it makes you stay in the one place long enough to soak up your surroundings that you may have strolled past quickly in a normal sunny day. The rainy season doesn't really stop people enjoying their time in Bali, as any time here is a good time!

Getting cheap flights from Australia to Bali

There are quite a few airlines that can take you to from Oz to Bali. If you can try to avoid the peak times like the Australian school holidays (both secondary and university) and Christmas. June/July is the busiest period. Currently outside of these times you can get return flights into Bali from around $400 in tax, depending on your departure point. Very cheap!

Air Asia Asia's budget airline. Extremely cheap, all you have to pay for is your food and drinks while onboard. There isn't any in-flight entertainment although some of the flights can hire you a movie screen where you can watch TV shows and movies on demand.

Jetstar Another cheap option. Both airlines have great service, best to sign up to their websites email list and book when they send out their specials.

Strategic Air - A new full service airline from Perth to Bali, with rates similar to the no frills Jetstar and Air Asia

Check out sites like Jetabroad for cheap deals as well.

Don't forget to check out qantas.com.au, garuda-indonesia.com, and singaporair.com even those these are known to be a bit more expensive than the no-frills airlines; they still have great specials that will bring them into line with the no-frills airline prices.

Costs

Bali is a very cheap destination, and with the Aussie dollar now buying almost double what it did last year a trip here is usually cheaper than staying within Australia. Depending on the type of traveler you are, you can opt for the 1 star hotels and guest houses to the 5 star and anything in between.

Food is extremely cheap as you can get your classic Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice) and Mee Goreng (fried Noodles) for 20,000 Rupiah a meal (approx AUD$2.20). This usually comes with a couple skewers of meat and a fried egg on top with the rice crackers on the side.

Bintang is the local beer and if you are a beer drinker, a delightful drop. A small Bintang will set you back 8,000 rupiah (Approx AUD$1) and a large Bintang 640ml's 16,000 rupiah (Approx AUD$2.00). You can find Bintang anywhere from the local 7 eleven store to the markets (just ask the shop owner).

If shopping is your reason to go then Bali is the right choice! Anything from market shopping to retail outlets you will be able to find it here. In the retail outlets all prices are marked but head into the markets and its bargain time. Don't forget to start off very cheap around 1/3 of the price they first gave you. Just remember that towards the end of the bargain you may only be arguing over a couple of dollars. Remember that bargaining is a custom, a way of laughing and interacting with the locals, it's a way of life so don't get mad or treat them like they are ripping you off just keep bargaining till you both agree on a fair price.

Domestic Airlines

If you want to travel around some of the surrounding islands to Bali quickly then flights is your option.

merpati.co.id

lionair.co.id

mandalaair.com

All these airlines are quite cheap; they can be booked online or through a travel agent while you are in Bali.

Getting from Denpassar airport to Kuta/Legian area

After collecting your bags and heading to the exit you will probably face the crowds of people holding signs and taxi drivers ready to pick you up. Just ignore these people and turn right to an isle of small shop windows.

Along this wall is a Taxi shop that sells one way fares for the taxis at 50,000 rupiah (about 6 Aussie dollars). This is the easiest way, as describing your hotel they will then organize a taxi to grab you and take you there. Don't pay more than 50,000!

Accommodation options

You can get everything from backpacker accommodation to 5 star resorts.

Backpacker guest houses range from AUD$5 per night which normally also come with breakfast. Just make sure that you check out the room before checking in. You want to make sure that the standard is exactly what you're after. Your $5 in backpacker accommodation will change depending on the area, the further away from the tourist trail the more you will get. In most backpacker accommodation in Bali you will get an en-suite, fan and double bed for your money.

If you're on a budget but can afford to splurge a little then going with a 3 star is always a good option. There you will usually receive a pool, possibly a swim up bar, en-suite, double room, aircon, breakfast and usually a couple of other things thrown in.

Just remember with all the options, you are never in your hotel as there are so many activities to do during the day. It's just a bed for the night; you just need to decide what level of luxury you want to sleep in.

Popular 1 star options are scattered around Poppies One and Two, two roads at the heart of Kuta (also the noisiest and most shambolic).

Popular and still cheap 3 Star options around Kuta are places like the Legian Jayakarta, and the infamous Bounty hotel.

Seminyak, up the beach from Kuta, is the more civilized alternative to Kuta/Legian. This area houses some spectacular 5 star hotels, as well as a few decent cheapies and some of the best restraunts on the island. This area is better for families if you feel the need to get away from the bogan/crowd factor in Kuta.

For a good website to look for rooms of all varieties check out asiarooms.com.

Getting around Bali

Taxis are around on every corner and will drive past you as you walk down the street asking if you need a taxi, so these are not hard to find. They are relatively cheap and if you catch the Blue Bird taxis they have a meter. Just make sure you tell them you want a meter before you hop into the taxi.

For the more adventures hiring a Motorcycle or Car is an option. Both are reasonably cheap and you have the freedom of driving wherever you want. The only downfall is the lack of road rules might be hard to navigate. A lot is done from the horn. Just remember its not rude to toot like it is regarded in Australia, it's just signals to warn the other drivers.

1 toot - "hi I'm here"

2 toots - "move"

The other option is to hire a car with a driver. They are more than happy to drive you around and show you all the tourist destinations.

Beach Destinations

Kuta beach is the most popular and with all the action you can understand why everyone hangs around. You can hire a sun bed with a umbrella and relax while you watch all the action from the hawkers, masseuse to the tourists learning to surf.

If you want some quiet time with a more picturesque beach then heading over to Sanur or Nusa Dua is where you want to go. Only 30min drive from Kuta it's a nice day trip to get out of the hustle and bustle of Kuta/Legian area.

Nyepi day

Nyepi day is Bali's day of silence. This is Bali's first day of the New Year celebrated in March; make sure to check out the coming dates as it changes each year.

The night before Nyepi day the Balinese celebrate by creating huge floats which they parade down the street. These floats seem to look like they are made out of papier-mâché but don't be fooled into thinking they are like children's art these have so much detail on them from the long eyelashes to the finger nails. Every inch of their creations have been thought about and well designed. These floats are Ogoh-ogoh which symbolizes the evil spirits which they have to get rid of out of their lives. These floats are tied onto bamboo which is then lifted by the dancers and they dance the floats around to the music. It's quite incredible watching these huge creations dance around in fluid movements.

The next day is the day of silence, no one is to walk outside and this includes the tourist. Apparently as the story goes, the gods come down on the day of silence, look around Bali and then decide that Bali is inhabitable so they leave.

You cannot leave your hotel so make sure you have chosen one that has a restaurant inside and perhaps rent a DVD player and pick up some DVD's to watch as if you try to leave the hotel staff will stop you as well as the police on the streets. Some of the hotels even go to lengths to put up black plastic to cover the entrances.

The Balinese love Nyepi day as it's a day where they travel back home to spend it with their family, like how we spend Christmas.

Off the beaten path

Not really off the beaten trek, but Ubud is definitely worth a look. With awesome arts and crafts to monkey forest its worth the 1 hour drive to get there. You can stay up there with plenty of hotels offering cheap rooms. As you wonder around the town which is situated up in the mountains you will fall in love with the shopping, atmosphere and culture.

Balian is a village an hour or so north from Kuta.. A quiet alternative and more a village than the free for all of Kuta.

Also check out along the relatively new highway on the opposite side of the Island from Kuta. There's some great surf spots and interesting villages to pass through.

Visas

Australians can get a 30 day visa on arrival which costs US$25 per person. It's a bit of a myth that you need to have this $25.00 in USD: they will take Aussie dollars and you will get through just as quickly as if you had bothered to get the same in Us dollars before you arrive.

There are ATM's at the airport which will give you decent rates (usually much better than changing money before you leave Australia).

Self Catering Holiday Destinations in France

France is one of the most popular self catering family holiday destinations in Europe. There is a tremendous selection of holiday villas with swimming pools, apartments and gites to choose from. France is such a popular holiday destination because it has such a diverse range of things to see and do. It is a country of beautiful clean beaches, spectacular mountain scenery and cities packed full of culture, good shops and fine wines and cuisine.

Paris is the top tourist destination in France with a superb choice of self catering holiday apartments available for rental direct from their owners. Paris is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and many tourists go there for a romantic break or long weekend holiday break. It is a city full of fine wines, good cuisine and friendly people.

The West of France sits on the Atlantic coast and here Normandy and Brittany are popular with tourists. Many stay in one of the numerous holiday cottages and farmhouse that are available to rent. They act as an ideal base for families on holiday to explore the sandy beaches.

To the East lie the regions of Alsace, Lorraine and Burgundy. It is an area full of beautiful towns and spectacular rolling hills. Tourists like to visit Nancy and Dijon and many stay in holiday gites and apartments and explore the famous vineyards of the region.

In the middle of France lies the Loire valley. This is probably one of the most beautiful regions of France and still remains quite unspoilt. There are some charming gites and farmhouse cottages available for rent in this region. It is a popular vacation destination for family holidays and the tourists like to explore the local castles and sample the farmers markets in the local towns. The locals boast that Chartres, with its famous cathedral and Tours are the most beautiful French cities.

The French Alps are one of Europe's most popular skiing destinations and tourists also come to the region in the summer for the hiking. Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix are better known amongst winter sports enthusiasts for the part that they played in the Olympics. Annecy and Grenoble have chalets and self catering apartments available for rental.

The South of France is very popular with tourists looking for a relaxing holiday in the sun. It has great weather, good food and the famous Riviera. Here there are some luxurious holiday villas with swimming pools available to rent direct from their owners. To the South west of France lies the Dordogne. This pretty valley has some charming holiday cottages and gites available to rent and holiday makers love the excellent food and wines that are available locally.

In the Languedoc lie the Pyrenees, a mountain range with stunning scenery that separates France from Spain. Here you can hike and ski. The towns of Toulouse and Montpellier have numerous self catering holiday apartments to rent.

Many holiday makers to France now take advantage of the superb range of self catering accommodation available to rent in this marvelous country. Tourists on their family vacation to France may book a quaint Alpine chalet while skiing in the French Alps; Chamonix is an extremely popular destination. Some families feel that their ideal vacation is a holiday gite in Normandy. Holiday villas with swimming pools and farmhouses are used as ideal holiday home bases to explore the Dordogne.

No matter what your taste or budget, France has some of the best self catering holiday accommodation in Europe. It has great wines, mouth watering local cuisine, beautiful clean sandy beaches and skiing suitable for all levels of ability. It is no wonder that France is the top self catering holiday rental destination in Europe.

Bali Villa Rental

If you're looking for a great vacation idea either for a romantic honeymoon or a relaxing family holiday, then you might want to consider renting a private villa in Bali. Bali is the perfect holiday location, whether you are travelling alone, with your partner or with your family. This tiny island boasts stunning beaches, world class culture, amazing shopping and a whole range of activities to suit the whole family.

The main tourist areas of Bali have very different personalities and are suitable for different groups of holiday makers. Kuta is the party central of the island with lots of choices of clubs, restaurants and endless shopping opportunities. For a quieter, more family friendly location, consider Sanur with its calm beaches with shallow water that's great for children to swim in. Honeymooners will love the exclusive resorts of Nusa Dua, some which have their own private beaches.

There are lots of hotels in Bali to suit all kinds of holiday makers and budgets, but if you really want a holiday to remember you might want to think about hiring your very own private villa. Hiring a villa in Bali means you have somewhere to come back to after your day out that really feels like home. Most villas come with their own staff including security, housekeeper and cook so you never need to worry about cleaning up or preparing dinner. Of course most people will want to eat out at least occasionally but what could be nicer than enjoying a home cooked meal in your own villa overlooking the ocean or a beautiful rice field? Many villas also come with their own private swimming pool and a car with driver who will take you wherever you wish to go.

Villas are available in all sizes to suit couples to large families or groups of friends. If you are travelling in a large group it can often work out cheaper to hire your own villa rather than staying in separate hotel rooms and of course is much more social, allowing you to eat and hang out together.