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Big Budget? We Hunted the Best Luxury Villas on the Globe

Best Destinations - Amanda - March 6, 2014

TUSCANY, ITALY

Tuscany boasts of some of the most desirable country homes in the world and it is no wonder the array of fabulous villas in Tuscany has attracted elite holidaymakers for years. Discerning travelers seeking to soak up in the rich history, fine cuisines, quintessential Italian rural lifestyle and architectural heritage have flocked here for decades, opting to enjoy the luxurious accommodation of Italian villas.

Florence is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the birthplace of Renaissance art. Within this area is a gem of a villa, offering only the best of Florence hospitality. Villa Dei Giardini in Florence is a spacious villa situated on a three-acre property amongst rolling hills and surrounded by fruit trees. It has four spacious bedrooms, living area, modern well-equipped kitchen and an outside pool with barbeque and dining area.

The Buonvisi villa in the Lucca area in Tuscany is a magnificent 16th century house located near Segromigno in Monte that once belonged to the Buonvisi family and is a part of the Fattoria Mansi Bernardini estate. The house has undergone a lot of restoration without spoiling its original charms to give you unsullied Italian hospitality.

PORTUGAL

Portugal has a charming character of its own, it exudes style in art, architecture and culture; it boasts of first class resorts and a rich past.

The Algarve is a popular destination for those seeking the sun drenched beaches with glorious surroundings. The Villa Bella Vista is a gorgeous villa located in Lagos South West of Portugal but also very close to the historic town center and golden sandy beaches. It is an exclusive 10-bedroom property whose every single detail has been stylishly designed giving it a fine finish. Apart from the spacious and lavish rooms inside it also has an outdoor terrace with BBQ, outdoor Jacuzzi and Sauna, fully equipped gym and a pool. It is surrounded by a manicured garden and also near fine restaurants and championship golf courses.

The vineyard Cottage Villa in the Duoro valley is magnificent in style and also rich surrounding of verdant vineyards. It is a lesser known region which means you will be off the beaten track yet enjoying all the luxuries. It sleeps six and is catered for, giving you more time to get pampered.

Whatever you’re looking for, there are so many luxury villas in Portugal with pool, bbq, seaviews and loads of space that you really can just take your pick in your favourite destination.

WATER VILLAS IN THE MALDIVES

 

The Maldives is an exotic destination offering its visitor’s fine stretches of sandy beaches, sparkling waters and magical sunsets. It has a variety of accommodations but topping the list are the gorgeous Maldives water villas which are built right over the water so you can hear it lapping as you wake up every morning.

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi (Ocean Sanctuary Sunset with Pool) is a luxurious water villa located on the Ocean Pearl on its own lagoon. It boasts of floor to ceiling windows which give you pleasant views of the sea, dining area, stunning bathrooms, pool and exquisite master bedroom.

Huvafen Fushi (Ocean Pavilion with Pool) is a modern, contemporary villa with fiber optic lit pool that extends right from the living room outside on the deck. It has roof to ceiling windows allowing you unobstructed views of the sea: opulent and tasteful.

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Funky Family Holiday Accommodation Around The World

World Travel - Amanda - March 6, 2014

MOBILE HOMES IN FRANCE

Mobile homes are a fantastic form of accommodation suitable for your family; you get to enjoy a different kind of holiday in camping sites and meeting other like-minded families. Mobile home holidays in France offer you the freedom to experience the country at your own pace and however you want all while maintaining your privacy. Your family gets to enjoy venturing into the country side and taking part in exciting activities such as walking, hiking as you explore ancient towns and idyllic villages. Mobile homes are for those who are independent, interested in charting their own path through the French country. There are many well-marked paths and cycle tracks that help you discover the beauty of France without necessarily spending a fortune. If it is something you enjoy doing year after year then it may be more cost effective to buy one – finding a mobile home for sale in France is fairly straightforward and then you have your holiday accommodation sorted for life!

 

Days spent exploring the pleasant countryside, culminated by a lovely picnic in a breathtaking site is an unforgettable experience for the whole family. You get to choose your own itinerary, allowing you the freedom to indulge in under-appreciated French scenes.

LARGE LUXURY HOLIDAY HOMES IN THE UK

The UK is endowed with varied and beautiful landscapes that will enchant your family; it is also littered with funky and quirky accommodations suitable for families who wish to enjoy the magical ambience of the UK. Whichever location you choose to spend with your family you are sure to find the most spectacular accommodation for your family. You can choose from self-catering cottages, converted barns, farm houses, Victorian Mansions and even castles.

For the most memorable family experience you can choose to stay in luxury holiday homes where it is all about pampering and indulgence. From large country houses in Brecon Beacons, to cliff top properties with magnificent views, spectacular manor houses in Wiltshire to cozy lakeside log cabins in the Cotswolds, the UK has a lot on its plate to offer families seeking thrilling experiences. If you enjoy coastal surroundings, you will be amazed to find tasteful luxury facilities strategically placed along breathtaking coastlines in the UK. If you are seeking activity filled holidays you will find gorgeous properties in the quintessential English country sides where you find great walking and cycling trails.

MOROCCAN RIADS

If you go on your family holidays to Morocco then staying in a riad is a must. It is something the kids won’t have experienced before in their lives and is a truly enchanting experience. There is enough to explore in the accommodation itself before even venturing out into the souks and medinas of whichever Moroccan town or city you are in.

Marrakech is obviously full of beautiful boutique riads to stay in, with plenty of choice for families with specific tastes. For something a little more authentic head to Fez where the tourist scene isn’t as prominent and riads are a little more rustic.

BOUTIQUE VILLAS IN PORTUGAL

Portugal is an epitome of the perfect European holiday destination; its sandy beaches, rich history, culture and sun keep tourists coming back for more. Its variety of family friendly resorts, fine restaurants and the championship courses make it a fabulous destination for families. Here, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.

There are a variety of boutique villas to give your family a home away from home whilst you enjoy all the attractions that Portugal has to offer. Algarve is a most popular destination for families due to its spectacular beaches and villas Martinhal is a heaven for families in Algarve. For more countryside experience you have the beautiful Duoro valley to choose a suitable villa for your family and for a mountain experience there are spectacular villas on Mountain Bierras where the fresh mountain air will refresh you all.

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Yet More to see and do in Cuzco

Getting Lost - Amanda - March 4, 2014

Cuzco is a city that is blessed with so many ancient sites. With Machu Picchu on its door step, there is much to see and do in Cuzco both in the city itself and in its surrounding country side. Definitely the most exciting spectacles of the city are connected to its Incan past. People come from all over the world to walk the 24 mile Incan Trail to the ancient mountain city of Machu Picchu. This hike takes visitors across a variety of country side and truly connects them to the region. While visiting Sacsayhuamán brings visitors, inside Cuzco itself, face to face with Inca buildings. Yet more to do in Cuzco includes:

Sacsayhuamán

Northwest of Historic Center | Cuzco

Though often over shadowed by Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán is well worth a visit too. An ancient Incan Towered fortress Sacsayhuamán richly displays the exquisite Incan masonry while also provided wonderful vista views over the city of Cuzco. From the onset visitors to this fortress are besieged with questions, such as how the mammoth pieces of rock were actually placed in the proper positions? Other special things to see inside the fortress include the Inca throne room, the Esplanada – which is a parade platform where revelers of the Raymi Festival of the sun gather. Nearby to Sacsayhuamán is Tambomachay, which is a spring that was the bathing ground for the Incan elite. Sacsayhuamán is approximately 2 miles northwest of Cuzco’s city center; it can be reached by a 25 minute strenuous walk from Plaza de Armas. A tourist ticket, which provides access to 15 other Cuzco attractions, costing around $48 dollars US is required to enter the site. Sacsayhuamán is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm.

sayacitbInca Trail to Machu Picchu

Cusco-Aguas Calientes Railway

The most famous hike in Peru, if not in South America, is the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. A hearty four day hike the Inca trail will take you across miles and miles of different terrain and fantastic scenery. Travelers always rave about the wild life, the porters, the scenery, the challenge, and the cultural highlights they enjoy making the trip. Only 500 people are allowed on the Inca Travel at any one given time as to maintain it. Still though walking the trail will give you plenty of opportunity to meet other like minded travelers. Walking the Inca Trail requires trekkers to acquire a permit and to hire a licensed tour operator to lead their trip. A reputable service to use is Aventours.

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Still More Things to do in Cuzco

World Travel - Amanda - February 18, 2014

Situated in the heart of what once was the land of the Incas, Cuzco is a city with much historical significance. Though perhaps the single largest reason that people visit Cuzco is to walk the Inca Trail to their famous mountain city of Machu Picchu there are many other diversions both old and new. The Inca were famously star gazers and that tradition is continued, be it in a new fashion, with the city’s planetarium. There are also several nice restaurants and bars to be visited that showcase a modern vibe to a city so filled with great monuments and sites to visit. Still more to do in Cuzco includes:

38351Planetarium

689 Avenida Pardo | Cuzco

Set in a non-descript building in the hills surrounding Cuzco the Planetarium saves its surprises for inside. The museum is filled with great informative exhibits as well as a fantastic telescope and different charts that detail elements of our galaxy. Many visitors praise the observatory’s quaint appearance and the wealth of information that is houses inside of it. Everyone who visits is assured a personalized experience as they learn more about our galaxy. In order to visit the Planetarium guests must reserve their spots in advance, because of limited space on the shuttles heading to it. Shuttles leave Plaza de Armas at 6 pm and return around 7:45 pm. Tours are offered each day of the planetarium at a cost of $18.50 per person.

Pre-Columbian Art Museum

231 Plaza de las Nazarenas | Cusco, Peru

A welcome addition to all of the varied Inca sites in and around Cuzco is the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, which possesses a world class collection of Peruvian art. The museum is housed in Casa Cabera which is a mansion, dating back to 1580, that has been converted into an art museum. The collection dates from 1250 BC to 1532 AD and features varied works from the Hurai, Nasca Mochica, Chancay, and Inca civilizations. The museum is located at the North East corner of Plaza de Armas and is open from 9 am to 10 pm with admission costing around $7.50 US.

Inca Museum

Cuesta del Almirante | Cusco, Peru

Located in a 16th century colonial mansion the Inca Museum provides loads of information and exhibits that will enrich visitors later experiences visiting Manch Picchu. Specifically there are rooms that showcase Inca Silver figures, music instruments, textiles, pottery, and even ancient Incan mummies. The museum goes into detail discussing how Incan day to day life took place. Outside of the museum in its court yard Andean woman actually weave authentic textiles. The Inca Museum is located close to the Pre-Columbian Art Museum in Plaza De Armas. Visitors can visit the museum between 8 am to 6 pm. Admission cost is around $3.75 US per person.

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Yet More to Do in Bangkok

World Travel - Amanda - February 4, 2014

Bangkok is a city that has long held the imagination of the west as one of the world’s wildest, most open cities. A place where all pleasures are indulged for a price, it has become truly an adults play ground. For those who are not interested in Bangkok’s more risky side there is still much to see and do including soaking in this Asian capitals reserves of culture and art. A visit to Bangkok will definitely give its visitors the chance to experience a great city with so much to do. Yet more to do in Bangkok includes.

Bangkok Art & Culture Centre

Wang Mai, Pathum Wan

Perhaps Bangkok’s most intriguing art space is the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre. (BACC) Often likened to New York’s Guggenheim Museum both for the building’s exterior appearance and for the cutting edge art inside – that ranges from classic paintings hung, varied performances, to audio visual shows. The BACC is well known for daring art that pushes the envelope in terms of aesthetics and cultural significance. Visitors love to enjoy this gallery as it is a welcome refuge from shopping and bar hopping in the city and it allows them to enjoy some contemporary culture. The BACC is open Tuesday through to Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm.

272_606345626921_2945_nJim Thompson House

1 Pathum Wan

Post World War II a New York architect by the name of Jim Thompson came to Thailand and resurrected Thailand’s failing silk industry. With this success he built himself a massive home that has more than 6 buildings including a massive study, guest house and a lavish building for gatherings. What gives the Jim Thompson home intrigue, beyond just exhibits of how the silk industry operates, is the fact that Jim went on a vacation and was never heard from again. Being an architect Jim developed an aesthetically pleasing home that is of intrigue in of itself. Visitors greatly enjoy the houses grounds and the in house café. The Jim Thompson house is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm and costs around $3 dollars for admission. To find the house, which some visitors say can be a little difficult, take the sky train to the National Stadium Stop and head due north from there.

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