HAWAI

Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

Everybody who loves beach holidays should go to Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is near the centre of happy go lucky Hawaiian beach life.

Waikiki beach is featured in dozens of movies and TV shows, with Diamond Head to the left and the famous pink palace, the Waikiki Sheraton hotel, to your right. Straight out in front are those longboards (surfboards) taking surfing waves back into Waikiki Beach, as they’ve done for more than a hundred years at the home of surfing at Waikiki Beach.

Waikiki beach is a vibrant, happening beachfront dotted with luxury hotels, some near Waikiki Beach and Waikiki Beach hotels that go back and back for blocks till you reach the Ala Wai canal.

Waikiki beach is warm and tropical all year round, just perfect for whenever you want to take a break from your busy life. This is a special place because of the relaxed beach atmosphere and the spirit of "Aloha", which is the local greeting. Aloha means "with love", and Hawaiians live by this spirit of hospitality. You'll feel it too.

If you want opulence right in the middle of the beach strip, stay at the Moana Surfrider hotel, the grand old lady of Waikiki. Moana Surfrider hotel rooms are gracious and many have balconies looking straight down onto the beach sand and palm trees below.

High Tea at the Moana Surfrider HAS to be experienced with all types of fruit tea and delicious canaps to enjoy while looking out at beautiful Waikiki beach.

The famous Banyan tree under which Robert Louis Stevenson wrote is ner Waikiki Beach Hawaii. He befriended the King's niece Princess Kaiulani in the late 1800s and spent a lot of time on the current Moana Surfrider site. Directly across Kalakaua Avenue and near the Moana Surfrider hotel is the Moana Surfrider's sister hotel, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotel.

The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is a great family hotel with reasonable rates, a good pool for adults and children, and Pacific ocean views from the higher floors. Try the hotel’s local entertainment at night while sitting outdoors enjoying the reasonably-priced buffet around the candle-lit pool.

The hotel stands on the site of the Hawaiian Royal family’s property where the famous young Princess Kaiulani grew up. On January 17 1893, a group of mainly American businessmen backed by American troops forcefully overthrew the Hawaiian royal family.

Princess Kaiulani travelled the world trying to get support for Hawaii's independence, but met a tragic death. On her return, she was caught while horseback riding in a heavy downpour, and died from pneumonia. Princess Kaiulani's magic but tragic life is commemorated to this day with the many portraits and images of the young princess in the foyer and halls of the Princess Kaiulani Hotel.

So, what to do in Waikiki? Well, to start there’s the world’s best beach. Try Duke’s Bar on the beach from late afternoon as locals and tourists alike gather for a drink as the sun goes down over the Pacific Ocean.

Duke's Bar was named after the man known as the Father of World Surfing, Duke Kahanamoku, who's a Hawaiian legend. He was one of the world's first big wave surfers as well as an Olympic Gold Medallist in swimming over a number of Olympic Games. In 1914 he came to Australia with a surfboard carved from a single log. This was Australia's first introduction to surfing.

You'll find statues and plaques dedicated to the Duke along the sidewalk on Waikiki Beach.

Walk left down the beach for the most delicious lean beef hamburgers in the world at Cheeseburger in Paradise, where the burgers are made from black Angus beef. A Hawaiian guitarist will play any song you like, including the famous Jimmy Buffet song that inspired the restaurant’s name.

And of course, you have to see this beautiful Hawaiian island of Oahu, especially the famous North Shore beaches of Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. The huge waves that draw the world’s best surfers pump through in December and January, but other times of the year you’re likely to be greeted by still waters and an idle lifeguard in his hut who’ll be happy to take your photo.

The nearby Waimea Bay national park is also a beautiful natural experience on a beautiful laidback island that to this day has a touch of magic in the air.

And you can take seven day cruises from the capital Honolulu near Waikiki beach, on the Pride of America or the Pride of Aloha to the other beautiful islands including Maui and its Kaanapali beach, as well as the pristine shores of Kauai and the big island of Hawaii.

If you want a best beach holiday that has hotel,motel,city,center,centre,airport,Hawaii is hard to beat.

BALI

Bali has been the favourite holiday island of Australians for many years, for many reasons.

Visitors are starting to come back again to Bali after the sadness of terrorism that shocked many Australians into going elsewhere.

Europeans have boosted Bali’s visitor numbers again, and Australians are slowly returning to joyfully rediscover the charms of this gracious and exotic island.

The Balinese people and the lush tropical vegetation make this a magic island with so many places to stay.

Kuta is brash and busy with golden beaches and plenty of tourists. Here you’ll find the hawkers plying their goods to anyone who’ll listen for a “special price for you.”

They’re always happy, even when you don’t buy anything.

And the massages from the happy Balinese women who want to mother you are tremendous, and a fraction of the price you’ll pay anywhere else.

It’s a one way beach road up to Legian nearby, not quite as busy as Kuta Beach but still with plenty to do and see. Many more hotels and shops here, and further north again is Seminyak, a little quieter again with great restaurants and plenty of good accommodation near Seminyak Beach.

Any Bali trip isn’t complete without a trip to the beachfront restaurants Kuta Ta and La Lucciola, near Seminyak. Prices here are a little higher than other places, but still cheaper than back at home.

Nusa Dua literally means Two Islands and is a great resorty place to stay. Here you’ll find all the big names from the Sheraton Laguna to the Hyatt, and even Club Med along one of the best stretches of beach in Bali.
There’s not much better than lying on your thatched Bali daybed overlooking Nusa Dua beach from your hotel, ordering a delicious club sandwich and a refreshing drink as the beach life floats by your accommodation, near Kuta Beach.

Jimbaran Bay is where they have the restaurants actually on the beach, supplying fresh seafood caught by fishermen nearby. This is possibly Bali's best beach, with fluffy white sand and clean water. Jimbaran Bay is near accommodation including resorts such as the Intercontinental Hotel and Four Seasons, which are two of Bali's best hotels.

Jimbaran Bay is a popular Bali beach, near Bali airport. It gets busiest at sunset when the basic restaurants on the road's edge put out their tables and chairs on the beach, and the tourists fill them up very quickly for that "sand between your toes" relaxing al fresco dining on the beach.

Sanur is also a popular beach near accommodation that's not as busy as other parts of Bali, yet still only 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Kuta. And that's exactly the way many visitors like it...a little quieter with not so many hawkers and not as pushy as they are at Kuta.

Sanur is home to the popular Bali Beach hotel and accommodation near Bali Beach hotel ranges from luxury to inexpensive. Sanur has a beachfront with more stalls with bargain-priced clothes to take home, but again, not as frenetic as at Kuta.

Accommodation near Sanur beach includes Emerald Villas, a small walled hotel with dip pools, privacy and a great little restaurant, just 400 metres from the beach.

And a little more remote and further north is the black sand beach of Candi Dasa. There's not much of a village there, but that's well and truly overcome by the dazzling presence of the stand-out accommodation near by, the Aman Kila resort hotel. You'll feel like a movie star here with spacious and luxurious day beds to stretch out on as you gaze over the ocean or down the beach from your elevated vantage point.

And the toilets in the resort pool area are out of this world. The granite floors are well and truly clean enough to eat from, always a good indicator of what the rest of a hotel is like.

The Cliff Hotel is more nice accommodation near Nusa Dua, sitting like a small castle atop a rocky outcrop that allows bird's eye views up and down the coast. The lift that goes down through rock to the beach is good fun, as you arrive on a little sheltered section of sand exclusively for guests.

Overall, Bali's beaches have that golden colour so many of Asia's beaches have, but the lush vegetation, buzz on the island and the wonderful Balinese people make it a great holiday ahead of most others in south-east Asia.

And Bali's best beach at Jimbaran Bay IS actually white, if that's what you yearn for.

It's little wonder Bali is voted the world's best beach holiday destination year after year.

Indonesia Vacation Rentals, Homes, Villas and Condos.

Indonesia Area Highlights

Travel to Indonesia / Indonesia Vacation Rentals

Whether it’s the culture, or the flora and fauna, or the architecture, or traditions, or a volcano or two, or great beaches, Indonesia captures the imagination. A well-selected Indonesia vacation rental can turn your imagination into reality.

Indonesia Flora and Fauna

Indonesia has a welcoming array of flora and fauna to please the senses. Fauna species indigenous to the archipelago include komodo lizards, a one-horned rhinoceros and their orangutan apes. Find these animals in wildlife reserves around the country. The flora varies widely in size, from the giant rafflesia arnoldi and Amorphophallus tatinum, to very small orchids. The orchids actually appear in great abundance, and can range in size. Timber is also a great resource, from the furniture-producing ramin of the Gonystylus tree to teakwood from the man-made forests. Many flowers are used in ceremonial and traditional rites. Vacation rentlas in Indonesia are more ofthen than not, just as aestheticlaly striking as their natural surroundings.

Indonesia Vacation Spots

Start your vacation in Jakarta, a vibrant city with modern shopping, antique shops and an energized nightlife. Colonial architecture and a number of museums like the Indonesian National Museum, with a superior numismatic collection, are well worth your time. If you don’t have time to visit all of the thousands of Indonesian Islands, try Indonesia in Miniature Park, or Taman Mini. Here, you will get a glimpse of all of the 27 provinces of Indonesia, scaled down. Incredible architectural replicas exist in this carefully designed park.

What about Bali vacation rentals? The tropical paradise of Bali beckons millions of vacationers with Balinese culture, and water sports galore. Get your fill of scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, white water rafting, and sailing. The underwater world includes rare oceanic sunfish. Meet the Balinese people through their unique blend of various arts and architecture. Bali vacation rentals definitely rise to the top!

The Borobudur Temple, an outstanding monument to Mahayana Buddhism, is located on the island of Java. West Java has several alluring resorts, the mighty Krakatoa Volcano, and a wildlife reserve. See the sun rise from the peak of the Promo Volcano in East Java, or take in a unique bull race on nearby Madura Island. Appreciate Javanese culture and dance at its best in Yogyakarta. North Sumatra is bursting with flora and fauna to see and enjoy. A popular highlands tourist spot is Bukittingi in West Sumatra. Visit the Grand Mosque in Aceh, and peer at the raffelsia, the biggest flower worldwide, in a national park in Lampung.

Kalimantan consists of the southern part of Borneo Island. A quest down the Makaham river system in East Kalimantan can result in a fascinating journey, seeing trees with wild orchids, and some wildlife. Visit places like the Regional Museum of Palangkaraya, and the gold mines in Teweh and Batu Api in the central region. Artifacts such as stone carvings and ceramics appear to date back to the 400s in the west region, and arts and culture reign in the South, with handicrafts and art, dance, and music.

Enjoy the fine scenery in South Sulawesi, as well as great water sports in Ujung Pandang, and the Tomb of Sultan Hasnuddin’s enormous crypt. North Sulawesi has pristine white-sand beaches and stunning coral reefs seemingly juxtaposed with majestic mountains and active volcanoes. In Southeast Sulawesi, take note of the very friendly locals, even more pristine beaches, and excellent flora and fauna sightseeing opportunities.

West Nusa Tenggara includes the islands of Lombok, with marsupial and parrots as part of the wildlife, and Sumbawa, with traditional sailboats made in the port town of Sape. East Nusa Tenggara three main islands as part of its group: Flores, Sumba, and Timor. Flores is a beautiful, European-cultured island, and see the horses in Sumba and the huge tombs and hut architecture in West Sumba. Take a fresh breath in the lovely scenery of Timor.

Maluku, with its thousand islands, are also known as the Spice Islands. The capital of Ambon is ripe with historical and cultural sites. Irian Jaya is home to General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in World War II, and the lake with nary a tourist, Lake Sentani.

Indonesia Vacation Rentals are a unique idea!

When traveling to Asia, you'll probably feel tempted to make hotel reservations. But don't! Surprisingly, there are affordable, comfy vacation rentals in Indonesia that make hotel rooms seem boring, tiny, and unforgettable. If you're looking to fully experience Indoenia, Bali vacation rentals -- and others like it -- are the only way to do this. Spend time with locals, rather than tourists just like you! And feel at home, while you're far away from it, too.

Sites and tours to see

Gong Factory in West Java
Krakatoa Volcano on Java
Kraton palace in Yogyakarta
Indonesia in Miniature Park in Jakarta
Borobudur Temple on Java
Elephant safari ride tours
Nature reserves
Tri-colored lakes in Keli Mutu (volcanic craters), Nusa Tenggara
General Douglas MacArthur headquarters in Irian Jaya
Bogor Botanic Gardens south of Jakarta

Pennsylvania Vacations

Great Pennsylvania vacations: Roadside America Indoor Miniature Village, in Shartlesville, is a huge 8,000 square foot slice of America that is the result of the life's work of one man. This massive miniature display is complete with everything from planes, trains, and automobiles to a waterfall and working cable car. When simulated night comes the room goes dark except for the glitter of streetlamps and house lights. It's a true wonder.

Visit the Amish Pennsylvania Dutch Country in towns like Paradise, Intercourse, and Bird-in-Hand. Enjoy a ride on an authentic Amish family carriage. Learn about the Old Order Amish of Lancaster County on a guided house tour. Sample the goods at a real Amish Farmer's Market. There's the Amish Experience F/X Theater, The Quilt Museum and lots more.

Hershey, the Sweetest Place on Earth, home to Hershey Park, Zoo America, Hershey's Chocolate World, Hershey Museum, Hershey Gardens, Hershey Theater, Hershey Trolley Tours, Hershey Golf Club, and The Spa at Hotel Hershey. The Park has over 60 rides and attractions, including 10 thrilling roller coasters, 6 drenching water rides, and over two dozen kiddie rides.

Gettysburg National Military Park is the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and the turning point of the war for the North. There are two must see exhibits at the Visitor Center. The giant Electric Map uses lights to walk you through the whole three day battle. The Cyclorama is a dramatic 360 degree painting depicting Picket's ill-fated charge across the wheat field. Take a bus tour or a self-guided auto tour of the 26 miles of park roads.

Longwood Gardens, located in Kennett Square just west of Philadelphia, is another excellent Pennsylvania vacations idea. Enjoy all 1,050 acres of landscaped flowers, gardens and woods. The 4 acre heated greenhouse has 20 gardens inside with another 20 outside. There are some 800 horticultural and performing arts events throughout the year. The Christmas season is especially delightful.

Philadelphia, birthplace of the nation, has numerous historical sites all within walking distance in an area now designated as Independence National Historical Park. Independence Hall where delegates from the 13 Colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Liberty Bell was rung for the public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776 .

Ride the world's oldest standing roller coaster, Leap-the-Dips at Lakemont Park in Altoona. This historic wooden roller coaster was built in 1902, named a National Historic Landmark in 1996, and then restored in 1999. The park has over 30 rides and attractions including The Island Waterpark. It's great family fun for your Pennsylvania vacations.

Bring the kids to Two Rivers Landing, in Easton, and see a live demonstration of how Crayola Crayons are made at The Crayola Factory. This discovery center also has over a dozen hands-on art activities to get the kids involved. The National Canal Museum has a model train exhibit, replicas of small villages, and a canal to learn how locks work. At nearby Hugh Moore Park you can ride on an authentic mule-drawn replica canal boat.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, in Elverson, was an operating rural iron plantation until 1883. Situated in the middle of beautiful wooded French Creek State Park, the site now has 14 restored buildings including a rebuilt furnace complex with a functioning water wheel. Take a self-guided tour and attend the summer demonstrations of iron making techniques, blacksmithing, charcoal making, baking, farming, spinning, weaving, and other historic trades.

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is a fun place to take the kids if your vacation plans take you to western Pennsyvania. They have lots of high quality exhibits and programs that are designed specifically to appeal to kids. There's a Garage/Workshop where they can build things and tear them apart. The kids can get rowdy and wet and learn some science in The Backyard. In The Studio they can paint, sculpt and learn papermaking. In The Theater they practice role playing, self expression and working as a team. These are just a few examples of the many fun things for kids at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

The Quest for Freedom Trail, in Pennsylvania, is an Underground Railroad tourism program that can guide you to some 20 different historic sites involved in the famous Underground Railroad. The full trip will take you from Philadelphia and Valley Forge then west through Lancaster and York and then to Gettysburg. Pennsylvania was very active in the anti-slavery movement and this tour will bring to life the stories and places where ordinary people with extraordinary determination changed our nation’s history.

Since 1796 Bedford Springs, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, has been attracting visitors with the healing and restorative water of its' eight mineral springs. You can enjoy these natural wonders during a stay at the Springs Eternal Spa. This 30,000-square-foot destination spa uses the natural spring water in all of its treatments. It is one of only a few spas in the country that can boast of this unique amenity. This vacation idea will have you partaking in a relaxing curative treatment that has been used by native Americans for centuries.

A bicycle tour in Pennsylvania might be just the vacation idea you are looking for. Laurel Highlands Cycling Tours has a 4 day, 3 night bicycle tour of historic Ligonier in Southwest Pennsylvania. Ligonier has a turn-of-the-century atmosphere with loads of quaint shops.

You will be bicycling in and around Laurel Mountain and Chestnut Ridge Mountain and through the beautiful and historic areas of Fort Ligonier, Linn Run State Park, Idlewild Park, and Compass Inn. This cycling vacation with a distinct historic flavor is a great Pennsylvania vacation idea.

The Pocono Mountains, in north central Pa, is the perfect Pennsylvania vacations idea for a winter vacation. You will find over 146 ski slopes and trails representing all levels of difficulty.

There is also plenty of opportunities for downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Try Lake Wallenpaupack for some excellent ice fishing and ice skating. The Poconos is also a very popular romantic getaway spot.

Niagra Falls Vacations

Niagra Falls vacations are one of the few places in the world where you can see the open display of Mother Nature’s furious power. Tons and tons of water plunging down into the gorge. The sight will keep you mesmerized.

Think of the most fearsome and deadly beast you can imagine. Now imagine what it would be like to walk up beside it, pet its furry face and put your hand in its open mouth. All in complete safety. That’s what a Niagara Falls vacation is like.

The heart of a Niagra Falls vacation is the magnificent pair of water falls located on the border between New York and Canada. America Falls is on the U.S. side and Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side.

There are a variety of ways to enjoy them. You can take in the whole scene with a tower or a helicopter view.

You can get close up in a boat either above or below the falls. The Maid in the Mist boat tour will take you right up to the bottom of the falls for a good drenching. You can walk right up and touch the cascading water. The Cave of the Winds will take Right to the base of the falls. You get there from Goat Island Park on the U.S. side.

The Maid of the Mist boat ride is by far the most popular attraction and usually is the only one with major wait times. Doing it first thing in the morning is the best way to cut out the wait time.

November brings the first snow it continues into March. The snow usually melts off fairly quickly. Only a big storm will keep the snow around for more than a few days.

Typically the ice is gone from the river by mid-March. Many of the attractions are closed. Also, getting wet is not as much fun in the winter so close up encounters should be avoided.

But the falls are beautiful in the winter and there is still plenty to do. The Festival of Lights is a wonderful part of a winter Niagra Falls vacation. It is a yearly tradition and is really quite beautiful. Not to be missed. Lots of performances of all kinds are fun too. This usually lasts from Thanksgiving to New Years.

The popular opinion is that the Canadian side is better than the U.S. side. You can see the whole picture better from the Canadian side however the America Falls are visually more exciting.

The Canadian side has many more attractions and is generally much nicer. The U.S. side is less attractive around the area and some people consider it “seedy”. There is a lot more to do on the Canadian side. They also have a better class of restaurants and hotels.

There is a bridge at the border and it can get backed up with cars during the summer. All the attractions on the U.S. side are within walking distance so this makes staying on the Canadian side the better choice for many.

Along the Niagara River is a parkway that runs to Niagara on the Lake. This is a very popular side excursion for people taking a Niagra Falls vacation.

A Niagra Falls vacation is one that you and your family can enjoy together and never forget. It is truly on of the great wonders of the world.

Cheap Family Vacations

Cheap family vacations are a necessity when you are on a tight budget.

There are many different ways that you can save some money. Here a few money saving vacation ideas. One thing you can do is to stay flexible when planning your trip.

Most people travel on weekends so shifting your plans to fly on a weekday will save you money. This can also help with car rentals.

By traveling on a weekday, you thenare vacationing on the weekend and car rentals are typically cheaper on weekends.

Flexibility is important when it comes to timing your vacation. The more popular vacation spots will usually cost you more during peak season.

Do a little research and find out when the off-season is. Then plan your holiday for when the rates are cheaper.

Don’t get fixated on one particular destination. If you want a tropical beach vacation there are many different choices. Again a little research will go a long way. Don’t rush off to the one that everyone is raving about.

Find an out of the way spot and you will do your vacation budget a big favor. Planning ahead is the key to achieving cheap family vacations. Waiting until the last minute will force you into going with the more expensive vacation costs.

For you single parents, Quality Time Travel is a company that will help you cut your costs. They can find you resorts that offer single occupancy rates and excellent children's programs. They can match you up with other single parents and help you both save.

Another way to keep that vacation budget in line is to use travel clubs. Travelers Advantage, Vacations To Go and Moment’s Notice are three popular travel clubs. These clubs are an exception to the rule of planning ahead. For people who are willing to travel on short notice they offer discounts on unsold airline tickets, cruises and vacation packages.

Maybe you would consider a home exchange for cheap family vacations. It’s not as out-there a vacation idea as you may think. Lots of people are doing it. There are a number of companies that will help you find another family to exchange homes with. This can be a unique and very interesting way to save on hotel costs and maybe meet some new friends in the bargain.

You can travel cheap on Amtrak by purchasing discount promotional coupons on eBay. Many of these are "buy one get one free" deals. These are seats that Amtrak discounts for various reasons and you can pick them up for a song. If you are flexible with routes and travel times then this will help you achieve your cheap family vacation plans.

To make the best of your cheap vacation ideas, you need to keep your travel expenses down. The best way to find inexpensive air flights is to spend some time researching on the internet. yes, it’s a hassle but it is time well spent. To help you out, here are some sites that specialize in helping you find airfare deals and discounts.

Goo Flight, Sky Scanner and Apple Fares are low cost European flight search engines.

Fare Chase, Qixo and Opodo will help you search U.S.A. flights.

LowCostAirlines.org and Attitude Travel will provide you with a list of the cheapest fares on flights.

How about a cheap vacation idea combined with the opportunity to actually help out a community somewhere in the world? GlobalVolunteers.org have a volunteer service program that has arranged volunteer vacations for thousands of couples, families, groups and individuals. You live with locals and work on community development projects. It's a great way to get away, get involved and get tremendous satisfaction from your vacation.

Some other cheap family vacations ideas are...stay local rather than flying across country…..Camping is an inexpensive vacation idea. Try a camping trip to one of our great National Parks……A canoeing vacation is a wonderful family vacation idea. It’s relatively cheap and can provide a real family bonding experience.

Put some money aside each week during the year, plan ahead and, most of all, just have some plain old-fashioned fun.