A South Pacific Vacation

makes you think of Fiji, French Polynesia, Tahiti, but not perhaps Lord Howe Island. Yet Lord Howe Island could be just the perfect South Pacific Island vacation destination, a real romantic getaway, and yet easily accessible from the eastern seaboard of Australia, as it only takes two hours flying time.

Lord Howe Island is an extraordinary place, and has been described as the last paradise, where you will often find more fish and bird species than people, and this includes the visitors as well!! The reason for this is there are around 300 residents and then a restriction of 400 visitors at any one time. For this reason it is never crowded, and a good reason to call itself a real south pacific island romantic getaway

Lord Howe Island has the most southerly coral reef in the world and it is absolutely teeming with over 500 species of fish, plus many varieties of coral. It makes a superb sight below water line but pretty spectacular above, where there is a lovely lagoon protected by the line of surf that denotes the reef. This is a place with no pollution and the beaches are spotless.

Lord Howe Island is dramatic to look at, as it came from an ancient volcanic eruption, and the southern end is dominated by two large mountains called Mt.Gower, and Mt.Lidgbird, named after the Commander of the first ship to visit the island, which soar 875 metres out of the ocean.

Visitors definitely step back in time when they arrive here, and there are few of the trappings of resort style 21st century life for the holidaymaker. This is a place for nature lovers, and people who like nothing better than to walk and even hike in the mountains.
In addition you can hand feed the fish at Ned’s Beach, go for a lagoon cruise in a glass bottomed boat, charter a boat to go fishing, or take the two hour round the island trip. By the way the island is 11 kms long and 3kms at its widest.

I terms of where to stay on Lord Howe Island, then there are 17 family run accommodation properties, ranging from full board to self catering, but please note, there is no camping permitted. You can hire a car when you are here if you pre book it, but bicycles are the popular mode of transport.

The weather on Lord Howe, is sub tropical varying from 18-28 degrees C.
The Best time to visit Lord Howe Island is really anytime!! In fact from September to May is summertime, and it is usually fine and mild to warm and hot. You are advised to bring a jacket for cooler evenings, and that you should bring a raincoat. You’ll need comfortable shoes and sandshoes for reef walking. You’ll need a torch to find your way around at night because there are no street lights.

There are no entry requirements, and Australian citizens don’t need a passport.
Lord Howe Island isn’t only a great place for a romantic getaway it is also a paradise for children because they can roam free in perfect safety, because there are no snakes, nothing poisonous, and almost zero crime. Honeymooners and escapists love it because you are out of the range of mobile phone masts.

Go to Lord Howe Island for a South Pacific Island Vacation with a difference.

Hermitage Bay at Antigua

Looking for an exclusive Caribbean Resort, and you want as short a flight as possible, and a quick transfer, then look no farther than the All Inclusive, and very exclusive Hermitage Bay which may well be considered a top Antigua Luxury Resort, and is situated on the west coast.

Hermitage Bay is unquestionably a resort with a difference, with a rare combination of English style and tropical beauty. It consists of only 25 very secluded colonial cottage suites divided between Hillside where they have private plunge pools, and eight Beach Cottages in two rows with the front row having panoramic views of the beach. If this is important, you need to specify when booking your Hermitage Bay vacation. The whole place is set in over 10 acres of tropical gardens above an exquisite white sand beach and turquoise sea.

The Hillside Cottages are larger and have complete privacy, perfect for an Antigua Honeymoon, but all the cottages at this Caribbean exclusive resort on Antigua are air conditioned with a king sized bed, flat screen TV, DVD player, ipod docking device, wireless broadband internet, as well as the usual bits and pieces you expect to find in a luxury resort.

Each cottage also has a large verandah with double day beds and plantation day chairs.

A few things to note about the Hermitage Bay exclusive all inclusive resort, some of which are a big plus, and others simply to be aware of.

The views are incredible, and the staff are fantastic, as you would expect from a luxury five star resort.

The idea of the Room Ambassador is terrific, you will meet him first when you are shown your room, and he will be responsible for your well being and comfort.

The Hillside cottages are private but the access from them to the restaurant excludes high heeled shoes, and possibly even smart clothes, so you will find the standard of dress in the evenings poor by exclusive resort standards, with gentlemen in shorts and ladies in flip flops. If you like dressing up you may not like this, and it certainly makes the walk up at night hard work, although there are buggies which tend to be a bit noisy.

Some guests complain of being eaten alive by mosquitoes and sandflies , but a bit of spray and covering up in the evenings dramatically reduces this inconvenience. It is the tropics after all!! You should however be aware that there can be jellyfish infestation at certain times of the year in the small but very attractive bay

Meals are of a very high standard, and the quality of service from all the staff is almost faultless, although service is at Caribbean pace – a little slow, but then you shouldn’t need to be in a hurry. The food is very fresh, and the fresh fish of the day spectacular. Most tastes are well catered for in a restaurant with a great atmosphere.

The watersports staff are very helpful, but you need to query whether or not water skiing is included in the all inclusive rate.

There is no queuing for sunbeds, drinks, or meals, the staff awareness is terrific, including the way your room mini bar will be kept topped up with the kind of drinks you enjoy.

The Hermitage Bay will leave you feeling this has been a luxury, very exclusive hotel and you will go home possibly fatter, but certainly feeling very relaxed and happy. Their claim to be one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive resorts is not without foundation, and it certainly ranks at the top insofar as an Antigua all inclusive resort is concerned, and the Hillside Cottages are the perfect Antigua honeymoon solution.

Windy City Chicago

When planning a trip to the Windy City, you will find there are plenty of Chicago attractions and activities to consider, including main sights, shopping opportunities, and entertaining cultural explorations. Regardless of what you planned before entering this exciting destination, you are sure to come across a variety of places to visit, which may include some of the following selections:

Navy Pier

While this attraction originally served the many freighters and water transportation on Lake Michigan in the mid-1910s, it is now recognized as one of the most well known of Chicago sights. On a daily basis, the pier features a wide range of entertainment options and interesting events. Before you even arrive at the pier, you may catch sight of the Ferris wheel, which stands 150 feet into the air. While an onsite 18-hole miniature golf course, musical carousel, and other indoor activities make a great distraction for children, adults also enjoy features of the site, such as the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, which provides access to a 500-seat courtyard theatre.

Sears Tower

Decorating the Chicago skyline, the Sears Tower is recognized as one of the tallest buildings in the United States. As a long-standing symbol of the city, tourists often flock to this attraction to enjoy one of the best views of Chicago. When visiting the tower on a clear day, the amazing view may include up to 40 to 50 miles of sightlines that reach parts of Michigan, Indiana, and even Wisconsin.

Shedd Aquarium

Many visitors to the city really enjoy a trip to the Shedd Aquarium, where the display of marine life provides an exceptional opportunity. While an aquarium may seem like a place where only children will find pleasure, adults also encounter a delightful outing when touring one of the most popular sights in Chicago. A variety of species that hail from all over the world can be found on the premises, which present a range of ordinary creatures to the truly exotic. Popular exhibits at Shedd include piranhas, anacondas, and the Caribbean reef display.

Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave)

If there was ever the perfect place to max out your credit cards, the Magnificent Mile, located along Michigan Avenue is situated in the great city of Chicago. Along this entertaining strip, you will find major hotels, such as the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and the Conrad Hilton. The well-known Water Tower landmark is positioned on this same street, as well as a satisfying assortment of department stores and exclusive shops. Just to get an idea of the type of shopping awaiting your arrival includes the likes of retail giants such as Gucci, Coach, Chanel, Hugo Boss, Macy’s, and Tiffany & Co.

Chinatown

To explore an explosion of satisfying cultural finds, the Chicago Chinatown is the perfect place to enjoy a wide range of shops, restaurants, and neighborhood events. At any given moment, this section of the city may open to reveal exciting parades, entertaining festivals, and unique holiday celebrations. Many visitors enjoy a stop in Chinatown to get a good deal on a city-related souvenir or purchase an attractive Asian trinket. It is also the best place to savor the cuisine of the Orient.

City Hopping in Europe

With some clever planning before hand, you can get to do more things the only thing you’ll be concerned with is if you have enough time to squeeze everything into your mini adventure.

Top 10 European city destinations (in no particular order)
: Amsterdam
: Rome
: Prague
: Paris
: Barcelona
: Venice
: Budapest
: Florence
: Madrid
: Vienna
Source: Thomas Cook.

Don’t Just Observe – Participate In Life
Think about it, when your friends come back from their escapade, what do they tell you? They tell you about all the activities they got up to, and they have the countless pictures to prove it. But, if your budget is holding you back, this could mean you won’t have much to tell friends back home. You won’t get to do all the things you’d like to do during your holiday. Friends will think ‘You’ve travelled all that way and for what?’

Making Your Money Stretch
With the average spending money of £200 for a weekend away, costs can run up fast. Gate14.co.uk has the solution to this problem. They provide visitors access to impressive value-for-money tours, city passes and a magnitude of special deals available for over 400 cities worldwide.

: City passes – which not only cut the cost of local public transport, but also offers reduced or even free entrance to a number of places you may already have on your list of things to see and do
: A day at the races and other sports events
: Theatre tickets
: Theme parks (this one is particularly cost effective for families)
: Wine tasting and cooking events
: Cultural/Historical tours
: Dining out
: Cruises
: Nature tours
: Museums
: Designer shopping spree excursions and so much more…

This way you can find out, before you even set off for the airport, what there is to see and do in your chosen holiday location and have the ability to pre-book events and services. Here’s just a small number of mini adventures you could get up to on your next holiday

: Da Vinci Code walking tour
: Canopy adventure
: Dive with the sharks
: Private Safari
: Horseback riding
: Luminous Lagoon
: Romantic dinner cruise
: SoHo and NoLita shopping tour

A Different World
You can be as adventurous or as relaxing as you want. Remember, you are in control. Try something you’ve never done before. With so much to experience it would be a shame to miss it all. Now, with the majority of your trip organised and prepaid you can truly rest back and enjoy.