Like the Aman-junkies (devoted Aman resort followers who langorously troupe from one luxury Aman resort to another), Banyan-junkies are now flocking to the latest Banyan Tree hotel high up in the mountains of Yunnan, China which opened this month.

Amid a Tibetan-style atmosphere of meditative Buddhist temples, prayer flags and gorgeous mountain views, the hotel is located a gasping (literally) 10,500 feet above sea level in a beautiful part of Sothwestern China in between Tibet, Myanmar and China’s Sichuan province.

The rooms are massive and decorated rather somberly with dark woods and large splashes of Chinese red lacquer and quilted curtains teeming with Tibetan flavour. The smallest room of the hotel, the Tibetan suite sprawls at 2,200 square feet and all the other rooms of the hotel are likewise on two floors.

The bathrooms are equally grand and spa-like in size, with more lacquer and tubs so large that one guest reported that his actually took over an hour to fill. To be expected are the mod cons easily found in most top hotels and resorts these days – the dvd and cd players, satellite television and high-speed internet to perhaps keep up with your blogging away from home.

There are two restaurants and a tea house to choose from, serving Chinese, Tibetan and Western cuisine. Of course, you could also choose the in-room dining option which is served until late in your room or in the romantic privacy of your courtyard garden.

The reason why this resort is so special (and near the top of my list of hotels to visit) is not its opulent comforts, but in its location, location, location. For the Banyan Tree Ringha is set in what James Hilton so wonderfully described in one of my favourite novels, “Lost Horizon” – reportedly Shangri La itself.

And after a hard day’s trekking and exploring (by four-wheel-drive) with one of the hotel’s expert guides, you can then treat yourself to a gloriously exotic-sounding treatment at the resort spa – perhaps a rice wine bath followed by a black sesame scrub to prepare you for another day in the Himalayan paradise.

The popular destination in Bohol is the stretch of Alona Beach, where the sand is white and fine. I didn’t choose to stay in that area for two reasons:

1. Too many people
2. Seaweeds.

Of course, I haven’t experienced any of those for myself, but most of the people that I have talked to have the same comments. Since Alona Beach is where you will find most of the hotels and resorts, people would tend to go there. The accommodation there is quite affordable, though, so it is a good place to go.

We stayed at the Dumaluan Beach Resort, which is right next to the Bohol Beach Club. The good thing about this stretch of beach is that there are only two resorts in the area. That meant (relative) privacy – peace and quiet for me.

What really took my breath away were the water and the sand. My first few seconds at the resort just blew me away. Take a look at that and tell me I am wrong.


This place has the finest sand I have ever seen – and played in. The water is quite shallow unless you walk far out into the ocean, so it is safe for those who are not good swimmers like me. The waves are almost non-existent, so you can just float around in the water all day (which I did). It was truly a piece of paradise.

Sure shot travel options with lower rates include:

Cruises – Whether headed out to the Carribean, going on a European cruise, or want to visit South America all cruise lines have lowered their rates. Some South American cruises can actually be booked for half the price! No hurries though because this trend is expected to continue for this kind of travel.

Road trips – With the price of gas down it is very economical to drive to your destination in comparison to flying.

Accommodations – Hotels and resorts everywhere are offering great promos from price cuts to free nights and services just to fill their empty rooms. So before you book a place ask if there’s any way you can get the room at a lower price. Don’t be afraid to look and ask for bargain prices.

Inn of the Five Graces
New Mexico
Here’s a cheaper package for $500++. For this price, you can Paint the Town Red and get the following:
• One night’s accommodations
• Passionate fruit cocktail
• Chocolate-covered cherries and blush Champagne
• Red rose bath salts sprinkled in a staff-drawn bath
• Frette bathrobes
• Red Turkish slippers
• Red incense coils to burn
• Two red-thread eternity bracelets

Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas
Las Vegas
If glitz, glamour, and gambling is what you are after, then head on to Las Vegas – it can’t get any better than that! For $897 you will find yourself Hopelessly Devoted while you enjoy the following:
• Two nights’ luxury accommodations
• Champagne and strawberries upon arrival
• Three-course Valentine’s Dinner for two
• Breakfast for two daily
• “Six Simple Kindnesses:” Message in a bottle, aromatherapy bath, massage mentoring session, love note under pillow, memory book, rose-petal turndown
• Valet parking
• Resort fee included

Now if only you could split yourself into three and go to all of those places!

Photo courtesy of http://www.flyawaycafe.com/

Their accommodations have been designed to suit family needs – the rooms are huge and can fit up to 6 people (at least our room did). They also have family apartments that can fit 10 people and come with kitchenettes. The best thing is that this resort is in a private stretch of beach – meaning that you can have the beach all to yourself, especially during the weekdays.

The sand is off-white, almost light brown, but very fine and nice to play in for the kids. The waters are a bit rough but near the shore, there is enough space to wade and swim in, even for young children. For the adults, you can go out a bit farther for more depth. There are also a wide variety of water sports that you can engage in but personally, lounging around in the sand with the kids is perfect.

If you ever visit Manila, Tamaraw Beach is an excellent place to go to, even for a couple of days’ vacation. You can go there by bus from the city (about 2 hours) and then by boat from the pier (about 1.5 hours).

Make sure that you stick to the designated swimming areas
Not all parts of beaches are safe for swimming. It would help if you chose a beach where majority of the area is safe for swimming. If you take the family to a beach where there are designated swimming areas, make sure that you emphasize the importance of staying at these areas. Taking it a step further, it would be best to keep a close eye on the children. Though they may be obedient and intend to follow your instructions, sometimes curiosity or playfulness might just get the best of them.

Sand safety
Children just love playing on the sand – and why not? Even us adults find pleasure in just sitting there and digging into the warm grainy sand. The problem is that when left unsupervised, children might dig holes that are too deep and go down. We all know that sand is not stable and if it caves in when a kid is in the hole, it could be disastrous, to say the least.

Lifeguards
Lifeguards are designated in areas for a reason. Some take them for granted – I suggest you don’t. For safety’s sake, try to make sure that you take the family for a swim near where the lifeguard is assigned.

However, there is still a bit of time to sneak in a last skiing trip before the season ends for the year. Here are a few of the ski resorts that stay open till May.

Sunshine Village
Located near Banff in the Canadian Rockies, this ski resort stays open till the 19th of May. They offer several packages that offer a lot of savings for the whole family. Expect spectacular views and amazing terrain.

Whistler – Blackcomb, BC
This ski resort is near Vancouver and has the distinction of being the venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The best thing about this resort is that it is staying open till the 8th of June! They also offer cheaper rates as it is not considered peak season anymore.

Mammoth Mountain
If you prefer to stay in the US to catch some last minute skiing, then head on over to California. Just 5 hours from Los Angeles, Mammoth Mountain offers skiing till the end of May. Of course, prices are also discounted during this period.

Snowbird
Another resort within the US – Snowbird is located near Salt Lake City, Utah. They are expected to stay open till May 11, at least.

If you are a mom and you have a daughter – in her teens, especially – you might want to consider going away on a spa weekend. These days, it is quite easy to book a relaxing weekend or even just a day at a spa resort. Even if you live in the city, finding a spa for mom and daughter is an easy thing to do.

Why would you want to spend a weekend at the spa with your daughter? For one, I cannot imagine a more relaxing time than being alone with your daughter just lounging around at a spa resort. Well, actually, a beach would be nice also. At a spa, however, you can indulge yourselves in hours-long of massages and other relaxing treatments. In addition to that, spa resorts also usually offer packages which include health treatments and healthy food. The ambiance is very serene and will certainly drain away the stresses and tensions of your every day lives. Sometimes, the simple change in atmosphere makes for better bonding moments.

If you have not tried this out yet, you should take a look at the available spas in your area. They should not be that expensive and you do not have to travel far for that relaxing day with your daughter. Trust me, you will not regret spending time at a spa resort. In fact, you would probably come back for more.

Whichever route you choose, you will be sure to have a blast with the kids and also spend some romantic moments with your partner at the same time. Here are a couple of destinations you may want to consider.

Disney World Luxury Resorts
Though you may have heard of Disney World Moderate and Value Resorts, the Luxury Resorts would be perfect for your family this Valentines as they have a special kids’ club which caters to families. They can take care of your kids from late afternoon to midnight, giving you the whole morning and afternoon to spend time with them and leaving the evening open for you and your partner for some romantic adventure.

Hotel Hershey
Located in Pennsylvania, this chocolate town is the perfect destination for the month of love. Have a grand time with the whole family as Hershey offers their Chocolate-Covered February special, with fun for both kids and adults. You can also arrange babysitting for when you and your partner wish to spend some time alone. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with chocolate.

Looking for a great family vacation? Book with Barcelona hotels to see the amazing places of Europe! Find hotels in Rome cheap too for your backpacking trip! The net can help you get the best hotels in Amsterdam for less!

Pay only for the essentials
The prices for ski resorts skyrocket because of additional perks that they offer. If you are not going to use these perks, then don’t even consider going there. Look only at those resorts which you know will provide everything that you need – for a lesser price.

Avoid planes if you can
Airfare is expensive, period. If you can go to a nearby ski resort which you can reach by car then do so. If not, then choose one that would require the fewest flights possible. Multiple flights can badly damage your budget – especially if you are paying for 5 people.

Look for resorts that have well developed base areas
This simply means that there are more rooms and more choices for you and the family. The idea is to find accommodations nearest the slopes so that you won’t have to drive or take a bus to hit the slopes.

You may be thinking that it is quite a long way to travel – perhaps yes, but the island and its surroundings are worth it. In fact, most of the people we met there come from Europe, Australia, and the US. Based on our experience, the travel is well worth it!

What can you expect in this island? The most basic of amenities, to be sure. You have running water, electricity for several hours, the freshest food cooked right in front of you, and a world of sea life to explore. One of the best things about our vacation was that we were able to row around the islands any time we wanted to. The resort has 2 kayaks and 2 row boats that can be used by the guests for free. Guess what? We made the most out of it!

The waters are so calm – the cove is well protected from the ocean waves – that even children can kayak and row around as much as they want to. I discovered a hidden passion – floating out on the cove all day!

At night, you may have to adjust a bit as there is no power and therefore there is no A/C or fans. However, the night breeze cools you off. I suggest bringing some insect repellant though, as there are some mosquitoes. Aside from this, everything was perfect. Oh, and the staff – they are as friendly as they can be. I would say that it was the best service that I have ever gotten!

December is not the season for these delicious fruits, though, so we had to settle for the wonderful beaches and pristine waters – I am not complaining one bit!

We stayed at this small island resort called Baras Beach Resort. It was not our first choice as they only had electricity from 6 pm – 11 pm. This could pose a thousand problems for children and adults alike. However, when we got there and saw the cottages, the view, and the cove, we fell in love.

The resort is located in a cove of its own – the beach is not spectacular but there are small islands just across the water to which you can row. Take a look at the pictures and you will see what I mean.

(to be continued)

When you’re searching for hotels, aside from the room types, you might also come upon different meal plans. Although most hotels will indicate if breakfast is included in the price, some hotels (especially resorts), may also say the room rate includes a European plan or is all-inclusive. It can get pretty confusing, so here’s a quick translation of the more common meal plans:

• European plan – room rate does not include meals
• American plan – room rate includes 3 meals a day
• modified American plan – room rate includes 2 meals a day
• table d’hote – a fixed price menu w/ limited choices
• continental breakfast –coffee or tea, rolls/bread w/ butter, jam, no juice
• English/Dutch/ German breakfast – full breakfast w/ juice, eggs, meat, cheese, yoghurt, beverages, all according to the customs of the country
• all-inclusive – means accommodations, meals, snacks, beverages & recreational activities are included in the resort price.

Again, don’t assume that just because the service is a standard in most hotels, that you’ll get the same thing as well. Be sure to double-check the amenities and services included in the room, especially if you’re staying in a place overseas that might have different customs. I know about one family that ended up staying in a room with no air-conditioning, just because the hotel offered rooms both with and without air-conditioning. Since the place was fully-booked, they couldn’t transfer rooms, and ended up having to sleep 2 days in the heat. Not an auspicious beginning to their vacation!

Here’s something different that you can try out this year. Instead of staying at home and having the kids go trick or treating as usual, why not spend a night or so at a Halloween-themed resort or hotel? Great Wolf Lodges is known for its Halloween parties for families.

With various locations scattered throughout the States, I am sure your family will be able to find one that is relatively near. Right now, their locations are:

-Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
-Sandusky, Ohio
-Traverse City, Mich.
-Kansas City, Kan.
-Williamsburg, Va.
-The Pocono Mountains, Pa.
-Niagara Falls, Ontario
-Mason, Ohio.

I hear that next year, there will be 2 more locations added to that roster.

So what can you expect at a Great Wolf Lodge Howl-O-Ween event? All Halloween decoration throughout the resort, costume parties, special trick or treat trails, and even a night of ghost stories! Children are bound to enjoy their stay with the different themes found in each of the hotel rooms. From dragons to pixies, you can have your pick.

Other activities include costume contests, pumpkin decorating contests, horse-drawn hay rides (make sure there are no allergies!), and other craft-making activities. I am sure that your children will find this a very eventful vacation, short as it may be. For more information, visit their site here.

Australia, not surprisingly, is home to popular surf wear and swim wear brands such as Mambo, Billabong and Quicksilver. Women have plenty of great brands such as Zimmerman, Tiger Lily, Sea Folly, Togz and more. There’s so much to choose from that you will surely find one to suit your body and your budget. Ken Done’s swimwear is an all time favorite for those who want to look exquisitely artsy.

What I love about shopping in Australia, and anywhere else, though are the beach accessories. Flip flops, bags, straw hats, sun glasses, and even lip balm with SPF cheers me up.

When buying swimwear, especially if as a gift, make sure that you know the right size to buy. Australian/New Zealand and Uk sizes are the same but very different from Continental Europe, American, and Asian sizing. For a sizing comparison visit the Official Sydney Shopping website Size Chart.

After you finish shopping for your beach wear then its time to put on your new stuff and head to any of Sydneys beautiful beaches for an afternoon of fun under the sun. Eastern suburb beaches inculde Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte and Cogee. There are also plenty of other beaches in the north where Manly, Sydney’s premiere beach resort is located.

The Mall, as the shopping center is called, is not only for shopping, really. Just like all the other malls in the world, you can find restaurants, spas, arcades, food courts, gift shops, and more. You even have the unique Studio Nick where you can go for a night of entertainment.

I like the idea of the Kids Spa although its offers are quite limited. You and your kids can get hair wraps, braids, manicures and pedicures, and even airbrushed tattoos! Do not expect this Spa to be as tranquil as most spas. The space is quite cramped and the babble of the crowd may not suit you. By the way, expect to pay at least $20 for the basic treatments.

The Arcade is so much better. You can spend hours upon hours in the sprawling 3,000 square feet area playing all sorts of arcade games. More than that, you can rent DVDs and Nintendo games, the consoles for which are to be found in every guest room.

Holiday Inn has just joined the bandwagon and has partnered up with Nickelodeon by transforming the Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort in Lake Buena Vista into the Nickelodeon Family Suites. I am sure, though, that you and your kids would want to refer to this new resort as NickHotel – the promise of paradise for your children.

Aside from the fact that is has a Nickelodeon theme, why else should you take the whole gang to the NickHotel? For starters, they have an awesome water parks. The NickHotel has two swimming pool complexes – The Lagoon and The Oasis. The Lagoon is the larger of the two and features a zero-depth entry pool. What the kids love the most, though, is the sliming tank which dumps a huge amount of water on the people below. The Oasis, which is located on the other side of the resort, is a bit smaller than The Lagoon but no less fun. It also has its own water slides – four stories of them!

More than the amenities, there are numerous staff members going around to assist people. Dubbed TeamNick Hosts, they also keep the fun going by facilitating games all throughout the day. As for parents, you would enjoy having some child-like fun with your kids – not to mention the endless supply of clean towels and the presence of ever vigilant lifeguards.

(to be continued)

Another reason people tend to opt for an all inclusive package is the idea that it will take away all the other tasks that you have to think of while on vacation. As a result, an all inclusive deal should, ideally, present to you the most relaxing vacation you’ve ever had. Why is this the case? It is logical, really. You pay a one time fee for your accommodations and your food. This fee also includes the use of all the amenities that the resort or hotel has to offer. All you really need to do is to go to that place and do whatever you want to do.

Thinking of it that way, it is indeed the perfect way to relax. You don’t have to think of anything except for what you want to do. Then again, herein lies the problem. Relaxation is something that also depends on the person. If you are the type who wants some relaxation (in terms of what I just described above) and then tries to cram in as many activities for the whole family in as little possible time, then you just might find yourself even more stressed. Thinking that just because you paid for everything in one go will automatically give you relaxation is not really valid.

Of course, the best selling point for all inclusives is that they are of great value. Just how true is this anyway? It really depends on what resorts you are looking at. Most all inclusive resorts cost more per night than a room at a 5-star luxury hotel. Then again, you don’t have to pull out your wallet anytime at the former.