Saturday, December 25, 2010

Beautiful Italian Beaches

Other than the islands of Greece and the South of France, beaches in Italy draw more people per year than any other country in Europe. The hardest part is deciding which of the Italian beaches to visit, as each one has a storied history and separate features.
The world famous Amalfi coast has many of the best beaches in Italy - you can throw a dart at a map and never go wrong. The sleepy villages along the coast lie on wicked curves, and its villas have acted as getaways for celebrities both new and old.
Palm trees and expensive boutiques line the narrow streets leading to the pebbled shores of the Italian beach resort of San Remo. Here you can also try your luck at the luxuriant casinos and racetracks, the gambling mecca for western Italy.
The lemon trees and fragrant flowers of the Isle of Capri provide a picturesque backdrop for its sprawling beaches. The statuesque arcs of the Tyrrhenian Sea guarantee that the resorts along its coastline are among the best beaches in Italy - the sights of the translucent blue and green grottoes more than make up for the lack of sand found here.
Sorrento was the home of the Greek sirens and the docks and cliffs of this town still call out to passing travelers. Connoisseurs of Italian beaches may shun this town, which is mostly made up of jagged rocks and crowded piers, but the combination of sunny locale and a wide array of shopping and nightlife make this one of the most popular destinations south of Naples.
Cinque Terre is another fine Italian beach resort, where a small but hospitable strip of sand lays unassuming in the midst of the five fishing towns. Popular with American and European honeymooners alike, this quiet spot on the banks of the Italian Riviera is just steps away from scenic hikes and exquisite seafood dishes constructed around the fishermen's daily catch. The only traditional beach in any of the five towns is located in Monterosso, but it is still one of the best beaches in Italy.

Great Beaches On Grand Bahama Island In The Bahamas

Xanadu Beach is a popular tourist destination located in Freeport. There are a variety of activities available, including water sports such as parasailing and beach sports such as volleyball. Because of the pleasant atmosphere, the beach also attracts a local crowd, in addition to tourists. This beach is not uncomfortably crowded, and although it attracts enough people to have an active social scene, it is large enough that there is room to enjoy a bit of solitude.

Taino Beach is the perfect place for those seeking the classic white sands beach experience, with all the traditional pastimes. It also has a small playground that is sure to please families with small children. Some of the best restaurants in the area are found in this area. Lucayan Beach is where tourist with an interest in active water sports go. Conveniently located across from the Port Lucaya hotels, it has a long and inviting sandy shoreline.

Gold Rock Beach is located in the Lucayan National Park and is simply gorgeous. It is about 25 miles from Freeport and is, despite its beautiful white sands on the edge of spectacularly blue waters, quiet and peaceful. Outdoor cooking facilities and picnic tables are available, making an all day visit an enjoyable event.

Mather Town Beach is an excellent place for those who enjoy meeting locals. The beach restaurant and bar Club Carib is located here, and is definitely worth a visit for its fine variety of reasonably priced, quality food. William’s Town Beach is another active beach, with water sports, including jet skis and snorkeling on the eastern side. Horseback riding along the beach is permitted here, and with the beautiful view, it is the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll, whether by foot or on horseback.

In addition to the many public beaches, there are also several private beaches where tourists can enjoy the sun and sand free from the distraction of the beach vendors that wander the public beaches hawking their wares and free of the crowds that sometimes fill those beaches during peak travel times. Many of the resorts offer excellent package deals that include private beach access and transportation to and from the beach. Some offer beachfront apartment rentals, perfect for families. The resort beach packages often provide for a variety of the classic beach activities, including bon fire lit planned parties featuring live music, limbo dancing, and, of course, fabulous food.

Beaches are an important part of the Bahamas vacation experience. The beaches on Grand Bahama Island tend to be of the classic, very beautiful, white sands sort. Because there are so many small beaches, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize with the locals, as well as with an international blend of tourists or to simply enjoy quiet solitude in the midst of spectacularly beautiful scenery.

Top Family Beach Vacation Destinations in the world

Mexico

Mexico, especially the Cancun area, and Mayan Riviera, an hour’s drive south of Cancun, is a popular place for family beach vacations. The Mayan Riviera is one of the regions of Mexico - and the world- which offers the richest variety of landscapes and archaeological treasures including Mayan ruins, coral reef, snorkelling lagoons, and eco-theme parks such as Xcaret. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, and attractions throughout Mexico welcome families with open arms.

Jamaica

Jamaica is considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the Caribbean Islands and is one of the top family-vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Many of Jamaica’s resorts offer supervised children's activities, babysitters, family discounts, and kid's meals. Jamaica has an abundance of top all-inclusive chains including: Sandals Beaches, SuperClubs Breezes resorts and Club Med. There are also many other family vacation options such as the Franklyn D. Resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, where families have their own vacation nanny during their stay.

Turks and Caicos

On a 12-mile stretch of satiny white-sand, Beaches Turks & Caicos is one of the premier family resorts on the island.With separate programs for infants, toddlers and teens, each is designed to give each age the activities they love. So when you're off doing your thing, they're off doing theirs. There are many other resorts to stay at this idyllic family beach destination

Bahamas

Home to the Atlantis Bahamas resort and many other excellent family resorts, there will not be a dull moment on your Bahamas family vacation. Blessed with the perfect location-less than 100 miles off the coast of Florida, the perfect climate- averaging a little over 75 degrees, and the perfect surroundings-crystal clear turquoise blue waters and pearly white beaches, the Islands of the Bahamas is the perfect destination for your next family beach vacation.

Hawaii

A Family Hawaii Vacation has it all. Beautiful beaches, world-class golf, surfing, shopping, swimming, top notch hotels, condominiums, eco tours, national parks, warm weather, and cool ocean breezes. The four islands that are popular for a family Hawaii Vacation are Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai.

Florida

Florida is a popular family beach destination because the climate is warm year round, it is easy to get to, it offers good value for your money, there are endless options for sightseeing and attractions for you family depending on what area you are in, and the beaches in Florida are numerous. In addition to beach destinations and of course Walt Disney World, there are tons of other family outings including Universal Studios, Sea World, Bush Gardens and many more.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

New Year’s Eve Getaways at the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Why not usher in 2010 with a trip to an exciting destination? wandermelon compiled a list of our favorite places to ring in the New Year. From a champagne toast in front of the Eiffel Tower to a low-key escape in Lanai, celebrate the end of the year in style at one of these glittering global getaways.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio knows how to party and Copacabana Beach hosts Reveillon, the world’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration. More than two million white-clad revelers descend upon Rio’s infamous beach for a party second only to Carnaval in size. Cariocas (Rio natives) congregate on the beach starting mid-afternoon to samba in the sand and party until dawn. Revelers fill the 2.5 mile stretch of sand listening to live music and toasting in the New Year by throwing white flowers into the sea in honor of Iemanja, the goddess of the sea. A dazzling offshore fireworks display lights up the Rio sky at midnight and many celebrate by taking a dip in the ocean.

Where to stay: Copacabana Palace is an iconic hotel and the most toniest address in Rio de Janeiro. This whitewashed hotel has housed royals and celebs since opening in 1923. The service is impeccable and the expansive rooms offer incredible ocean views. Rates start at US$498 for a standard room.

Beach Christmas Vacations in Dominican Republic

Whether you want a relaxed and leisured vacation or one filled with expeditions and explorations, Dominican Republic will provide you anything you wish for this Christmas.

Here are some guidelines from Christmas Carnivals to help you plan better for Christmas Vacations in Dominican Republic.

With its majestic mountains, verdant valleys dotted with meandering rivers and cascading waterfalls or with its sunny beaches and exotic natural reserves, every site in Dominican Republic is worth seeing.

The city of Santo Domingo is where you will find the important historical sites of the country. In the older part of the city we get to see the first hospital, the first university or the first cathedral of the free Dominican Republic. In the other half of the city we have the buzzing urban life with nightclubs and discos. Another major attraction in this part of the city is what is known as the Los Tres Ojos de Agua, which is a place with three lagoons where we also get to see stalactites and stalagmites formations.

In the southern coast of the country we have the historic city of San Cristobal, where the first constitution of the country was signed. Among the other attractions in this part of the country is the church of Santa Maria. There are also some caves bearing the Saint's name. Dominican Republic is also famous for its amber and the northern part of the country, which has the rich reserve of it. The Amber Museum proudly displays some of the country's possessions. Most of the best beaches of the country are in Puerto Plata, Sosua with its white sand and sapphire water being the most popular among them. The important hotels in this region are the Secret Excellence Punta Cana, Iberostar Costa Dorad, besides others.

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