Saturday, June 13, 2009

Las Hadas Resort: Eco Tourism at its Finest


Las Hadas translates to the fairies and Las Hadas Resort in Manzanillo, Colima looks very much like a fairyland. Upon entering the area by sea it is obvious why the name was chosen. This beautiful place resides seaside off the coast of the Pacific Ocean where striking blue waves meet cozy warm beaches. The white buildings stand in contrast to the blue sky and ocean creating a delightful Mediterranean meets mexico vibe.


Las Hadas (photo by D Guisinger courtesy of Wikipedia)

The deep blue water of the area becomes even more animated in the evening as phosphorescent organisms o illuminate the waves creating a very magical feel. The local beaches boast pristine white sands with year round warm water to bask in Mexico’s gorgeous sunshine.


View of Las Hadas (photo by Golden Emporium courtesy of Flickr)

While poolside entertainment is quite the choice, there are several local attractions worth a visit. The Colima Volcano, Colima Archeological Museum and Slorenia Cave are all must sees that are sure to keep the whole family entertained.

Mountainside at Las Hadas (photo by 2 jaguar404 courtesy of Flickr)

food at the resort is amazing offering some of Mexico’s best seafood. The meals seamlessly blend Mediterranean flare with the local favorites. The seafood is the freshest available and caught in the nearby waters. Excursions to the local markets can also offer a choice of interesting and tasty snacks and treats to enjoy upon returning home.

Las Hadas is truly a charming resort with magical qualities that entertain as a romantic getaway or location for a family vacation.

Dreams Spa & Resort in Puerto Vallarta


My husband and I took the ultimate mexican vacation in December, when the weather of the Pacific Northwest was at its very worst. We left the cruel winter far behind, and entered a world of pure fantasy. When our taxi from the airport pulled off the main street onto a narrow cobblestone road, that was lined with stately palms swaying gently in the breeze as though they were sentries announcing our arrival, I knew instinctively we were entering a very special place. We had to pass through a massive wrought iron gate which absolutely defined the boundary between reality and fairytale.

A Sunset as Viewed from our Window

Our taxi was met by an energetic welcoming staff. We were given flutes of fine champagne as we exited the vehicle. They said our luggage would be taken to our room and told us to relax and enjoy and that we would not have to worry about a single thing for the next 7 days, which proved to be exactly the case.

If one so desired, you could spend the entire 7 days right at the resort. The food is unbelievable and abundant, and you have the choice of 5 gourmet restaurants, as well as 24 hour room service, a large buffet for breakfast and lunch, and snack bars set up on the beach. There is a world class spa that offers a variety of different treatments. I personally liked the hot stone massage, which was done on a deck over looking the ocean.


There are three pools, with the main pool having a swim up bar and a jacuzzi insert. Of course, then you have the huge sandy beach which is dotted with thatch huts if you need a shaded break. It is the largest private beach in Puerto Vallarta, which means you have plenty of space to spread out and catch the warm sun’s rays.


There is nightly entertainment specials and planned daily excursions off-site if you wish. The all inclusive package is unbeatable, as it includes all drinks, meals, activities and gratuities. The service awesome, and the staff makes the trip memorable for all. Xavier, who was our server at the breakfast buffet presented my friend and I each a plate he had made, and our husbands with a bottle of tequila gold, on the last day of our stay. I know this will sound like a clique’, but this is stuff of which dreams are made. We will definitely return to this quiet paradise on the Pacific.

20 sweet spots for winter the best places to travel to for winter value


In life, being in the right place at the right time can come down to serendipity, but in travel, it is almost always the result of good planning.

To avoid crowds and inflated prices, we recommend the period between high and low seasons when the weather is fine, places are still open and happy to welcome travelers, and you can explore a destination at your own pace. We call this magical time and space continuum the Sweet Spot and make it a point to round up the best of them for you each season.

We've covered the 20 best places to travel for value this winter and grouped them by region — follow the links to right to discover this season's Sweet Spots

Winter forecast: With the exception of its southernmost terrain, the U.S. and Canada experience the colder side of winter. Cool breezes from Canada spill into the northern United States, serving as a tailwind for southbound vacationers. The Rockies see a surge in ski traffic, while Florida celebrates the end of hurricane season. Regardless, seasonal shopping overtakes New York and Chicago, spreading holiday cheer.

1. AUSTIN
The music starts at the airport, but that’s not all this hip, funky Texas capital city has to offer. Consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the U.S., Austin embraces film, cuisine, and its outdoor terrain equally.
Why go in winter: You’ll find more package deals and fewer crowds during winter months, yet the weather still hovers around a pleasant 65 degrees. The best deals can be found in December, including during the holiday period.

2. LOS ANGELES
As the frontier of the American Dream, laid-back Los Angeles allows visitors to be a pampered star, an earnest culture vulture, a die-hard foodie, and anything else their heart desires. Head here for celebrity sightings, super shopping, and the chance to mix with the beautiful people.

Why go in winter: Spotty rains, temperatures in the mid-60s, and that trademark West Coast sunshine clear Los Angeles of its usual smog halo during the winter months, making for picturesque cityscapes, room discounts, and comfortable celebrity-spotting from Beverly Hills to Hollywood. Don't miss the Rose Bowl Parade in January, and starch that bowtie for the all-important Academy Awards come late February.

3. MAINE
From its towering mountain summits to its sandy seashores, Maine offers diverse year-round activities for vacationers of all stripes. Maritime sites abound, romantic inns flourish, and family fun spots thrive in all regions. Stay south for sparkling beaches and quaint coastal villages, or trek north for rugged, untouched wilderness.

Why go in winter: Holiday time is bustling in harbor villages, but not bursting at the seams with tourists. Winter snows bring calm to the coast, but droves of skiers shush down the slopes in Kennebec and Moose River Valleys and huff along the Nordic trails in the Highlands.

4. NEW ORLEANS
The Big Easy is a delectable gumbo of red-hot jazz, historic streetcars, lacy French-colonial balconies, powdery beignets, and zesty Cajun cuisine. Its unique blend of Southern hospitality, eccentric tradition, and unabashed debauchery give it a distinct character unlike anywhere else in the United States. The city’s tourism infrastructure – especially in the relatively unscathed French Quarter – has largely recovered post-Katrina.

Why go in winter: Daytime temperatures in the mid-60s and fewer crowds make winter a comfortable time of year to visit New Orleans. Winter is also quiet and less crowded, though New Year’s Eve draws crowds who come for the fireworks and the ball drop.

5. PARK CITY
Host to several events in the 2002 Winter Olympics, this chic resort town invites outdoorsy types to go skiing, sleigh riding, snowshoeing, ice skating, hot-air ballooning, or even bobsledding down the same track used in the Olympics. But Park City also offers plenty of entertainment for the more laid-back crowd: lounge at the Egyptian Theatre on historic Main Street, stroll through 20-plus art galleries, or debate between 100-plus bars and restaurants for a dinner destination.

Why go in winter: An early ski season in a place with near-perfect snow conditions is a bargain hunter's dream come true. Three easily accessible premier ski resorts offer bargains to jump-start the season, and the town is dripping with alpine holiday spirit.

India: A Perfect Holiday Destination


Interested in India Holiday Tours? Welcome, India Tourism invites you to spend your holidays in India. Travel in India and observe its incredible cultural heritage and get fascinated with historic & magnificent monuments, fantastic forts, terrific temples, and several beautiful holiday spots. Travel in India and marvel on incredible architectural wonders of India. Architecturally beautiful structures, monuments with beautiful design, paintings & carvings, temples with fine carvings & sculptures, fantastic forts, elegant palaces, majestic tombs of mighty emperors, etc are truly breathtaking. During your holidays in India, you will too have a brilliant opportunity to see all these architectural wonders of India.

To see monumental attractions in India your must travel in Rajasthan. There are several monuments in Rajasthan, India. Embark on Rajasthan Holiday Tours and add a special charm in your holidays in India. Among all the holiday destinations of India, Rajasthan, the land of monuments or the land of Kings, maintains a special importance. undergraduate online course cuisine of Rajasthan served in the milieu of royal forts & palaces, camel safari on sand dunes, exceptional beauty of Mount Abu, friendly people etc make Rajasthan a popular spots for holidays in India. Choose any Rajasthan Holiday Package and embark on tours to Rajasthan, India. Surely, your Rajasthan Holiday will be a mesmerizing and pleasant experience.
Not only monuments, in fact, India Tourism offers a range of experience. It offers an amazing selection of holidays in India. Beach holidays on Goa Beaches & Kerala Beaches, Family Holiday on several picturesque locations, backwater holiday, etc, you can enjoy all this on your India Holiday Tours. If your children undergraduate online course interested in wildlife or water fun, India is fully prepared for it also. Explore Indian National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries and watch thrilling & sensational activities of wild animals. Go to beach destination and enjoy water funs. Hill Stations of India may also be fascinating family holiday destination. Lush green hill stations of India with their extra-ordinary beauty offer you fascinating spots for you and your family on your holidays in India.


Some of the must-visit holidays destinations and attractions in India are Rajasthan with magnificent forts, palaces, & rustic beauty; Agar with the magnificent Taj Mahal; Kashmir with extra-ordinary natural beauty, beautiful gardens, lovely free online business courses and snow; Delhi with India Gate, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, etc; Kerala with breathtakingly beautiful natural beautiful, lovely beaches and backwaters; Hyderabad with Charminar, Mount Abu’s Dilwara Jain Temples, Hill stations like Nainital, Ooty, Darjeeling, Shimla, Manali, etc. You can too enjoy the fascination of India, just choose any one of luxury holiday packages to India and embark on India Holiday Tours.

10 best exotic places to take an extended holiday


1. Algarve, Portugal

The Algarve on the south coast of Portugal is and has been one of the top exotic extended holiday spots for many United Kingdom and European residents for years. Many Canadian tour operators offer packages. The region offers temperate and mild warm weather, large resort areas surrounded by small villages and four championship golf courses. Besides its 150 beaches, be sure to visit some of the "Pueblos Blancos" or traditional villages such as Monchique, for great views and authentic Portuguese arts and crafts.

2. Southern Spain: Costa del Sol

There's nothing like the Mediterranean beaches of the Spanish Coast to call on all sunbathers, the stylish rich and famous, and party people. In Costa del Sol, you'll find exotic beaches, golf, luxury resorts and Puerto Banus, one of TripAtlas.com's Top 10 Portside Cities of the Western Mediterranean, the most luxurious marina in the world. Honourable mention on the coast also includes Costa Blanca and Costa de Almeria.

3. Morocco

From the magical streets and markets of Marrakech to the little-known beaches of Essaouira, Morocco is no longer a haven just for indulgent artists and poets. As one of the best expressions of North Africa, there's something about Morocco that exudes an alluring and exotic culture that takes an extended holiday or long stay to really appreciate. Visit Morocco before it expands into a resort-overloaded destination.

4. Goa, India

Goa is a hot holiday spot for Indian and South Asian vacationers and is best known for its beaches, festivals and ancient temples. It was once a Portuguese colony and thus offers an eclectic mix of both east and west. Calangute and Candolim are the most popular beach towns, but Goa's capital Panaji (also Panjim) is worth a visit, as is Ponda, a sacred site of Goan temples.

5. Florida

While Florida may not be the most exotic destination on the list, Florida is home to hundreds of thousands Canadian snowbirds each year. Stay in the Florida Panhandle area, which is less crowded, or the attraction-filled Orlando. Perfect your "Captiva Crouch" on Captiva Island or your golf game at the hundreds of golf courses throughout the Sunshine State. Many condo rentals, airlines and tour operators offer great deals.

6. Canary Islands, Grand Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura

Off the northwest coast of Africa between Morocco and Western Sahara, the Canary Islands are a set of volcanic islands that are the perfect hideout for Europeans and other visitors looking to stay away from snow and chilly winds. Destinations include the bigger islands of Grand Canaria and Tenerife, while Fuerteventura is known for its windsurfing and La Gomera is best for its rainforest and walking trails.

7. Bali, Indonesia

Stay for a month in Bali to get the best of enchanting Indonesian culture, cuisine, and beautiful beaches. Popular spots in Bali include Benoa Beach, Legian and Sanur Beach. This region is known for water sports enthusiasts including honeymooners, scuba divers and surfers.

8. Phuket and Pattaya, Thailand
White shores and the most stunning aqua blue waters you'll ever see, Thailand and other coast-side spots in Southeast Asia such as Penang, Malaysia, are popular holiday destinations. They bring together cultural heritage, mountain views, elephant camps, ancient temples and palaces, stunning beaches, water sports, resorts, restaurants and nightclubs -- all in one place. Popular Phuket destinations include Karon, Patong and Kata Beaches. Hotels, resorts, B&Bs, or half/full board accommodation are all available.

9. Mazatlan, Mexico

For fresh seafood and for sports fishing fans, Mazatlan offers exactly what you need for your extended holiday getaway. While it's a great resort area with warm beaches that you could laze on for weeks, Mazatlan also gives its visitors a taste of Mexico from the past as well as today. It's such a nice place, many Canadians, Americans and Europeans now move to Mazatlan to retire.

10. St. Martin, Caribbean

Among the many paradisiacal islands in the Caribbean, TripAtlas picked St. Martin because of its great mix of relaxation, culture and a refined sense of exotic French and European flavours. An extended holiday on St. Martin also allows time for you to explore the Dutch side as well, or island hop to and from other nearby islands such as Anguilla, St. Barts and Saba.