5 Great Hotels In Sydney Australia

Sydney, home to 4.2 million inhabitants is one of the nicest places on earth. Its beauty is breath taking and is ideal for any one who wants to take a break from his or her busy schedule and relax during a weekend. There are golden beaches, super luxury shopping malls, restaurants serving all kinds of food and wine to suite any nationality in Sydney. The night life is glamorous and there are Casinos and Pubs available to please the tourists arriving here.

Accommodation in Sydney is affordable and there are world class five star hotels with all common amenities available to suite all your needs. Read on to get an in depth analysis about the accommodation options available to the tourists arriving in Sydney. 

Quay West Suites

Are you looking to stay near the historic rocks region in the city? Then you should try "Quay West Suites". It is a five star luxury hotel adjoining the famous Sydney Harbor, which is spacious and includes all the features and amenities to suite your needs. The location is historic and, as you open the window you would see the historic rocks on one side and the harbor on the other. The fresh cool breeze flowing from the harbor would mesmerize your whole being. The hotel has fully equipped kitchens and on site laundering, which would make your room at Quay West Suites your home away from home.

"Blue Sydney" is a part of the famous Taj Group and is the city's only over water hotel. It is a deluxe five star luxury hotel and located on the Wharf at Woolloomooloo. Blue Sydney could be accessed by a ten minute walk from the famous Opera House in Sydney. This hotel has 100 stylish, luxurious rooms well suited for business and pleasure and is a mixture of a charming boutique hotel and an international, luxury five star hotels. High speed internet is available in all rooms and a lap pool and a gym is available for your pleasure. 

Hilton Sydney

The famous "Hilton" hotels group has one of its branches in Sydney too. As one of the top hotels in the world the services and amenities in Hilton is fabulous as always. Great dining, wining and entertainment are on the cards and will not disappoint you. Alysium Spa and Living Well Health Club will take care of your health and wellbeing during your stay at the Hilton. There are fully equipped gyms to take care of your physical fitness too.

Another luxury hotel that is located in the historic rocks region is the Shangri-La hotel. A part of the world famous Shangri-La group. It could be accessed from the Sydney Opera House and the Maritime Museum of Sydney. Shangri-La is a bit more expensive than the other hotels listed here, but it boasts of services such as beauty salons and masseuse on-site. There is a gym, indoor heated pool and sauna available for guests. Panoramic view of Sydney could be seen right from the hotel's bar. Internet is available in all rooms. 

The Four Points Hotel in Sydney

"The Four Points Hotel", managed by the famous Sheraton Group is another luxurious, five star hotel that offers an incredible view. When you open the window from a deluxe room you will be looking over the Cockle Bay and Darling Harbor. On the opposite side you would find standard rooms. The view from the standard room is of the Sydney city. All rooms are equipped with internet facilities. There is a gym to keep you fit and saunas to make you sweat. Child care and dry cleaning facilities are offered by the hotel.

The above listed hotels are a few of Sydney's heritage of luxurious, five star accommodations. There are much more fine hotels available for tourists to enjoy their stay and visit important historic places in this beautiful city of Australia.

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6 Great Sights in Galway, Ireland – Don’t Miss Them!

Also known as the City of Tribes, Galway is one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Ireland. It is Ireland’s fifth largest city with a population of over 700,000 people. Fourteen tribes lead the city during the ancient times and their names were used in the streets and landmarks. You will surely enjoy numerous tourist attractions and the fantastic nightlife, as you will great attractions throughout Europe. For aspiring travelers, Galway is a must-see place. Their diverse culture and historic background will never bore you. Here are the top 6 tourist spots that you have to visit.

1. Spanish Arch and Medieval Walls

Looking for a historic landmark? The Spanish Arch is one of the few remaining ancient defense in the town. You can enjoy the view of the Corrib flow out to Galway bay. Sit back and relax while digesting the beauty and comfort of nature.

2. Galway Cathedral

Built in 1858, this youngest cathedral has 44 meter s high and a green roof. The full name of this church is Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into heaven and St. Nicholas. Most of the materials used in the construction of this vintage cathedral were within local vicinity. The walls are intricate and the stained glass art are very enticing.

3. Bridge Mills

This 430 year old structure is now a center of culture. It is distinct because of the variety it offers. Cuisines, gifts, finely crafted clothing, an art gallery and a language school can be witnessed in this landmark.

4. Eyre Square

If you want to stroll around, this place is for you. Green grass and sturdy trees can be viewed by walking along this park. The vast space will relax you and will help you unwind. At night, there are pubs nearby that you can visit.

5. Kenny Gallery

Art lovers will surely enjoy the pieces displayed in this building. The exhibit embodies the culture and practices of Galway. Both the place and the artworks are high class.

6. Galway Market

Want to have a unique experience, find local produce and finely created craft by visiting this market. There are a wide variety of stalls available. Some sell fruits, food, crafts, artworks, clothing, etc. Shoppers will definitely enjoy their tour in this market, and will most likely find great cultural gifts to take home. 

Car Hire Transportation

If you want to maximize your trip to Galway, you should prefer your own transportation. You can arrive in the abovementioned sights through buses, but you will be limited to the schedules and destinations they provide. If you want to fully familize yourself with these awesome sites, you can drive around Galway in a hire car. With the freedom of your own wheels, you can be fully exposed to Galway’s culture and practices. Booking your own car with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, for example, would be more comfortable than waiting for a bus.  Just make sure that you will not spend much on parking because some parking spaces are expensive. You can do this on a great budget. Choose what is best for you and gives you the maximum freedom on your vacation. 

Hotel and Lodging

There are a lot of hotels in Galway, cheap and expensive. If you have tight budget, there are a couple of hotels for you. You will not have a problem with your stay because everything is accessible and affordable. You don’t have to worry about anything.

So pack your bags and get ready for an exciting adventure to Galway. These 6 amazing sites will surely satisfy all your senses. You will not regret that you chose Galway as your vacation destination.

Photo credits: photo one, photo two, photo three.

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Top London Christmas Markets to Visit This Year

There are two possible responses to being told how many shopping days are left until Christmas.  Response number one involves flat panic and a hastily written Christmas list.  Response number two is a happy little smile to yourself because you know that it's getting a little closer to Christmas market time.  Here, in the UK, we're very lucky as there's a long tradition of these wonderful seasonal events and if you plan ahead, you can get to quite a few.

Since most of the Christmas markets take place at around the same time, the best way to ensure you get a chance to visit as many as possible is to find an area where there are several markets and book yourself into a hotel for a few days.  Naturally, there are a lot of Christmas markets in the London area, so with Heathrow Hotel and parking within range of all of them, it's an ideal location for the well-organised Christmas shopper.

One of the most popular Christmas markets takes place at the Southbank Centre in London, from mid November to Christmas Eve, including traditional German style stalls and decorations.  After all, who does Christmas better?  In a range of chalets, you will find beautifully crafted Christmas items while choir performances get you into the festive spirit.  Over in Hyde Park, a whole section of the park is set aside for the Winter Wonderland Christmas Market from late November until early December, so you can shop early for next year as well!  With seasonal lights, Christmas craft stalls, amusement rides and an ice-rink, it doesn't have to be all about the Christmas shopping; you can make time for other kinds of fun, too.

If you arrange for your tour of the Christmas markets to include the last day of November and the first day of December, you can stop off at the Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair, where you can wander around their heated marquees, buying unique jewellery, clothing, seasonal foods and other

gifts, including garden-related items.  You might even want to taste the house speciality of game stew, followed by a few mince pies. 

One place that really knows how to get shoppers into the right frame of mind is Covent Garden.  Although their market, which opens in late November, is focused on the piazza, the smaller roads radiating from the piazza also share in the festivities.  There's a mulled wine hut that also serves hot apple juice for the drivers, as well as a wealth of stalls where you can tick off plenty of your Christmas gift needs before you pay a visit to the chocolate bar to reward your hard work.  If you've brought the children with you, they will surely want to pet the reindeer or visit one of the Christmas craft workshops that help to make this into such a special occasion for all ages.

The key to a good Christmas is to plan ahead so you don't end up doing everything at the last minute.  With these and many other markets and fairs within driving distance of Heathrow, without the need to travel to the other side of the world, being organised has never been more enjoyable. 

Related post: Vacation in Europe? Here is Where to Stay

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Newcastle's Critically-Acclaimed Restaurants

Whether I'm planning a weekend away or a long holiday, I always intend to eat out in style - at least once or twice! Although many great destinations in the UK offer great food, recently, I had found out that  in Newcastle there are some truly fantastic restaurants - so much so that I really did feel the craving. Many of these have received a fair amount of critical acclaim, and it's these I'll be focusing on for the purposes of this post.

Cafe 21

Where: Trinity Gardens, Quayside

Once upon a time, this lovely restaurant was located at 21 Queen Street, from where it takes its name.
After spending 19 years there, it moved to its new home on the Quayside with its sleek, modern decor that creates a fantastically swish, upmarket atmosphere.

What I most like about this restaurant is that while it's a very sophisticated setting, it offers very honest, fuss-free food, aiming to bring out the best in the ingredients. Here, you'll eat classic bistro fare - though lots of dishes do have a unique contemporary twist.

To give you a taste of what you can expect, starters include a cheddar cheese and spinach souffle, and mains like fish stews, pan-roasted cod and roasted duck breast are available. My favorite course, dessert, gives you a choice of creme brulee, hot raspberry souffle, Tanzanian chocolate mousse and more.

It's also worth bearing in mind that this restaurant snapped up a Gold Award at the Taste of North East England Awards 2008.

Blackfriars Restaurant and Banquet Hall

Where: Friars Street

It's not every day you can say that you've eaten in the oldest dining room in England, but that's exactly what you can do if you eat at Blackfriars Restaurant. Located in a friary that dates all the way

back to 1239, this eatery makes the very best use of its setting by offering medieval banquets as well as an a la carte menu filled with British classics.

What's more, it's won a host of awards for its culinary prowess, including a Taste of England award in both 2013 and 2012. The dishes here are made with locally sourced food (often from the nearby farms) and include treats like beetroot risotto, Durham pork fillet and Cumbrian stuffed chicken breast. Sweet-toothed individuals like myself can look forward to some really classic desserts - as well as traditional dishes with a twist - like dark chocolate fondant, sticky toffee pudding and cherry bakewell cheesecake.

Just as a quick tip, this restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day, with the exception of Sundays when there's no evening service.

Jesmond Dene House Restaurant

Where: Jesmond Dene Road

My final suggestion is in one of Newcastle'shotels; the Jesmond Dene House Restaurant is easily one of the finest in the city, and it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. And don't worry, you don't need to

be a guest at the hotel in order to eat here.

Boasting three AA Rosettes, it's one of the top places to eat in Newcastle. I think one of the best things about this restaurant is that it has a strong focus on fresh, local food and even uses produce sourced from the hotel garden. So, you can expect to enjoy some incredible flavours.

Alongside the three main meals, afternoon tea is also available here, as well as an excellent tasting menu. The dinner menu, meanwhile, features treats such as garden pea soup, seared hand-dived Scottish scallops, fillet of beef and chocolate gateau.
As a traveler, we always try to select great places not only to enjoy the food but also to avoid stomach problems travelers face from time to time. Selecting great restaurants is important and usually is it advisable to go by recommendation.

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Get the Romance Going - 3 Great Resorts for Couples

Are you looking for some honeymoon destinations or want to spend romantic time with your partner? Think lot of times before finalizing a deal somewhere. It's this romantic time that matters the most in your life. This time is never going to come again. In cases as these, money is a second thing. But the Romance should get going. Let's have a look at 3 great couple resorts that are crafted in such a way that even if you don't know how to be romantic, it just bring it to your naturally.

A. Go Romantic with the newly renovated resort of La Plantation d'Albion:
La Plantation d'Albion is a resort built on the west coast of Mauritius islands. The Republic of Mauritius is famous for lovely beaches and the islands which you can enjoy even at this resort. It's a Club Med Resort built with Epicurean delights, surrounded by nature. Whether it is mountains with rocks, lovely seashores or wonderful forests, this resort is surrounded by all of them. The architecture and the interiors of this resort are best in the world. It is built with wonderful swimming pools, bars and restaurants that are exotic and full with luxury. You can spend valuable private time with your partner if you are on honeymoon or vacations. La Plantation d'Albion has everything the Mauritius can offer you.

B. Enjoy carefree vacation at Club Med Cancun Yucatan:
If you want a carefree all-inclusive vacation with you partner, travel to Club Med Cancun Yucatan. This resort is located in the north of Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and is named one of the best resort for couples and families. It's a unique couples resort ideally for newly wedded ones as well as for the one interested in spending romantic time. You can relax on white sandy beaches with your partner, enjoy water skiing, go for scuba diving and adventure flying trapeze. This resort has everything that you would dream of-natural surroundings, awesome atmosphere inside and luxury. Opt for this one if your target of vacation is Mexico.

C. Discover exotic charm & Go romantic Club Med Bali:
Going to Southeast Asia? A innovative beach resort surrounded by rice paddy fields, temples, gardens and swimming pools in Indonesia- that's what Club Med Bali is all about. It's an exotic resort that can provide you eternal peace. It's ideal romantic destination of Indonesia. You can enjoy playing in famous golf courses, have Spa treatments at Club Med Spa and enjoy the authentic flavors of Balinese cuisine. Club Med Bali is a must visit resort especially if you are on a honeymoon. This resort is so beautiful that you won't like going back from here and even if you have to, the memories remains forever.

Gift your partner a surprise trip to any of this 3 resorts amidst nature and enjoy the luxury with simplicity and lavishness of this resorts. Simply great resorts to die for. Spend some value time in this resorts. Love the nature, Make love to your partner with nature, relax on the beaches, enjoy thrilling adventure & keep the romance going.

Related post:  Top 3 Ski Resorts in France

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Singapore Outside The Casino- Family Travel Guide

Singapore is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South East Asia. Tourism is a major contributor to Singapore. It attracted over 11 million visitors in 2012. There are wide options for doing a variety of activities in Singapore. Some tourist attractions are very well known where as some of them are little known. Singapore is a popular place for family activities like Shopping, Zoo, Eating etc.

Sentosa

Sentosa is a place which no tourist in Singapore would ever miss. It is an island resort with beach, theme parks, hotels. Fort Siloso is located in Sentosa. It is now a museum and open to public. There are also two golf courses in Sentosa. There are some famous attractions like Songs of the Sea, Sentosa Monorail, in Sentosa. The theme park is Universal Studios Singapore. There are lot of outlets within Universal Studios which sell Hollywood merchandise. Models of popular movies like Madagascar, Jurassic Park, The Lost World etc are housed in the Universal Studios.Apart from Sentosa, the bird park and night safari are popular family attractions. The bird park is a bird zoo with a wide range of bird species. The night safari is a nocturnal park and allows visitors to explore the zoo in the night.

Marina Bay

Singapore is a great destination for shopping. There are many places like Orchard Street, Marina Bay, Bugis, China town, Little India etc. Orchard street is one of the best places to shop for high end fashion goods. Designer brands such as Gucci, Versace, Armani have a presence in Orchard Street. Marina Bay is famous for the symbol of Singapore, the Merlion. Bugis street, China town and Little India are great for street shopping. Bugis is famous for a wide range of accessories bags, watches etc. China town is famous for Chinese made stuff, Feng Shui, etc. Little India is great for shopping for Indian goods, spices, restaurants. Arab street is famous for Arab food.

Singapore is a vibrant country with a wide range of culinary options. Hawker centers spread across Singapore are a great way to explore local food. Though Singapore cuisine derives from Chinese, Malay and Indian food, there are some dishes which are specific to Singapore. One such culinary delight is the Kaya toast which is a simple toast made of eggs, sugar and coconut milk. Another common dish is Laksa which is a popular noodle soup. The Durian fruit which has a pungent odor is also local to Singapore. Depending on their interests, tourists can engage in elaborate culinary indulgences.

Singapore Museum

Some little visited places in Singapore are the museum and the philatelic museum. The Philatelic museum is a museum of stamps and postage material of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is located near the Armenian Street.The Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are great places to explore the nightlife in Singapore. Apart from the tourist attractions within its boundaries, Singapore is also close to Malaysia. The Legoland Malaysia is located in Nusajaya, Johor. The famous islands of Bintan and Batam in Indonesia are also accessible via a ferry ride from Singapore. Overall, Singapore is a vibrant city with a variety of options to embark on various activities.

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