The Only Way to See Italy

Would you like to discover the real Italy? Well there is only one way to do it.

Chose a little known and little explored, yet stunningly beautiful region.

My two favorites are Piedmont and Le Marche.

The best though is Piedmont for a number of reasons:

1) The best food in Italy comes from Piedmont - nothing you have ever eaten can prepare you for the culinary paradise that awaits you in Piedmont. Some of the best restaurants at reasonable prices are to be found here. Visit the link at the bottom of this page for my personal selection.

2) Piedmont, despite offering the most beautiful scenery, is never overrun with tourists. You will often have the vineyard covered hills and ancient medieval villages and towns all to yourself - except for the locals of course. Piedmont is home to some of the highest mountains peaks in Europe, the most beautiful lake in Italy, Castles and Monasteries unequaled in Italy and much more.

3) When to go - I love the autumn/fall when the vineyards are russet coloured , the market stalls are weighed down with mushrooms and truffles and festivals abound. If not autumn then May or June are good times.

4) How to visit? Fly drive is ideal. Rent a holiday cottage or farmhouse in the heart of the wine route or on the magnificent lake shores and use it as a base to explore.

For some great books on Piedmont, the restaurant picks I mention above and where to stay check out my secret discoveries here -

http://www.my-italy-piedmont-marche-and-more.com/books-on-piedmont.html

or

http://www.venice-italy-veneto.com/best-beach-in-italy.html

The Top Five Celebrity Honeymoon Destinations

The Seychelles

In July 2000, back when Angie was still married to Billy Bob and before anyone had even heard of John Mayer, Brad and Jen celebrated their honeymoon holiday in the Seychelles. Not a couple to do anything by halves, they booked the entire Fregate Island, a plush resort that holds a maximum of 40 guests at a time. With hindsight this may seem an excessive waste of money, but actually the couple came away a lot better than the next pair of celebs to book out this romantic island; Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

However, honeymoon holidays on these picturesque islands will not necessarily lead to divorce. Liz Hurley and Arun Nayer have recently celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary after honeymooning on Fregate Island in 2003.

The Maldives

The Maldives have always been a popular place for luxury honeymoons and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' honeymoon holiday was of no exception. The couple spent a week cruising around the 1192 tiny islands on a friend's classic yacht and even made time during their stay to eat out at the ultra-exclusive underwater restaurant in the Conrad Hotel on Rangali Island. The couple and their baby daughter, Suri, sadly had to head home early when their honeymoon holiday was blighted by a tropical storm.

The Maldives was also the luxury honeymoon destination of choice for Black-Eyed Peas singer, Fergie, when she married Josh Duhamel in January 2009. The glamorous couple stayed at a luxury hotel, in a secluded suite which is reported to have cost over £10,000 a week. They shunned the hotel's restaurant in favour of a private butler, who cooked them freshly grilled crayfish from the terrace of the villa.

Phuket, Thailand

David Gest and Liza Minneli chose to take their luxury honeymoon at the romantic resort of Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand. However this bizarre couple's turbulent marriage lasted less than a year and a half and is a far cry from what must have been a relaxing and tranquil honeymoon holiday in a resort which literally translates to mean 'place of peace'.

Barbados

Mick Jagger, Sting, The Beckhams and The Blairs are regularly seen topping up their tans at the exclusive Sandy Lane resort in Barbados, and even the Queen has been known to have paid the luxury hotel a visit. Therefore it was of no surprise that Tiger Woods choose to marry his long-term girlfriend at this destination. All of the guests were picked up from the airport in a Bentley, as is de rigueur at this hotel and the extravagant reception was held on the golf course. Cindy Crawford is another celebrity who has fallen to Barbados' tropical charms; she married Rande Gerber in a beautiful barefoot ceremony on the island in 1998.

Fiji

Fiji was the luxury honeymoon destination of choice for Britney and K-Fed in 2004 and Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey in 2002. However, the longevity of these marriages can not be blamed on the romantic resort of Turtle Island, where both couples were staying at the time. Turtle Island is universally acknowledged to be the most romantic destination in the world. The private island is home to 14 private beaches, where moonlit picnics and bareback horse rides into the surf are commonplace. The island only lets on 12 couples at a time, meaning there are officially more beaches than couples in this luxury honeymoon destination.

Claire Bryant is a luxury honeymoon holiday expert for key2holidays. Key2holidays has a dedicated team of experienced travel consultants to share their knowledge and help you to plan and book the perfect luxury honeymoon. They also offer tailor made holidays to Australia, Cuba, the Caribbean, Italy, the Far East, the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles, South Africa, Dubai and the Arabian Gulf and Egypt.

Travel to Amazing Lijiang China

Lijiang is located in northwestern Yunnan Province, China. It's a world of cultural heritage. Lijiang has attracted many people with its tranquil ancient town and beautiful scenery. Have you been there,you will never wish to leave.

The Old Town of Lijiang
The old town of Lijiang was built by the ancestors of the Naxi ethnic minority during the late years of the Song and early Yuan dynasties (from 12th to 13th centuries), and named Dayan at the time.

The people of Naxi, while developing their land of snow-clad mountains and turbulent rivers since ancient times, have created the "Dong Ba Culture", a culture all-embracing while unique.

Black Dragon Pool Park
Located just to the north of Lijiang, Black Dragon Pool is a famous pond located in the scenic Jade Spring Park. It was built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty and offers a spectacular view on the region's tallest mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, over its white marble bridge. The park also features several smaller temples and pavilions.

Lake Luguhu
Lake Luguhu is located in the northeast of Lijiang City. The lake surface is 52 square kilometers. The water of the lake is generally clean and green, with different shades of color: now turquoise blue, now sapphire blue, now white-gray, simply beyond one's imagination.

Around Lake Luguhu lives an ancient nationality - the Mosuo nationality, a branch of the Naxi nationality. Up to now, the Mosuo people retain the vestiges of matriarchal society and follow the tradition of "walking marriage."

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Ten miles from Lijiang is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain(Yulong Mountain). Its landscape includes one of the southernmost glaciers in the modern world. Shanzidou, the main peak of the mountain at 18,000 feet above sea level, looks like a gigantic dragon clad in white snow all year round. Access to the mountain is provided by a cable lift to Dragon Spruce Meadow, halfway to the glacier peak.

http://www.squidoo.com/travel-li-jiang

The Must See Parts of Phuket

Thailand is a very popular tourist destination with more and more people each year taking advantage of the wonderful facilities and attractions that it has to offer.

When taking Thailand holidays it really pays to have a good knowledge of what the country has to offer and try to plan your activities and excursions to give yourself the best chance of seeing as much as possible in the time you have.

Thailand has everything from golden beaches to historic temples and lavish modern cities. Depending on your interests you will be able to find something to take your fancy each and every day in Thailand, who knows you might even find a new interest with so much choice and variety available.

Many people take Phuket holidays because of the islands great beaches and shopping districts. Due to its large size I will attempt to include some of the most well known and popular sites and attractions to give you some help if you only have a short time to explore.

PhuketOld Town

You will find many delights within the provincial cities old town, be prepared for smart cosmopolitan stores mixed in with local handicraft markets giving it an appeal of its own. If you enjoy architecture then this certainly will be an area you will want to explore with its Sino-Portuguese building styles throughout.

Big Buddha

This gigantic statue has become one of Phukets most famous landmarks and is almost 45 metres in height. Located on top of the Nakkerd hills between Kata and Chalong, the wonderful figurines elevated location gives stunning views across the whole island including Karons Beaches and Phukets old town.

The Phuket Fantasea show

Phukets Fantasea show is the Thai Islands most well known and popular attraction and bills itself as the 'Ultimate cultural Theme park'. The attraction hosts a huge stage show that involves animals, acrobats and includes one of the biggest buffets available in Asia. The fun doesn't stop when the show finishes as it is set within a huge theme park complete with shopping village. It's certainly something for all of the family to enjoy and treasure during a Thailand Holiday.

This article was written by Thom Sanders on behalf of the Qantas Holidays. Providers of great Thailand holiday packages and a fantastic choice when booking Phuket holidays.

Visiting Beaches in Phuket

Beaches are integral part of any Phuket tour. The island hosts an array of beaches, all of which have something distinct about them. Famous beaches like Patong, Karon, Kata and Kamala are located in Phuket. Beaches of the Island are the rendezvous of sports, adventure, shopping and night life.

Patong Beach

Patong, most visited beach in Phuket, offers mist-wrapped mornings and the sunsets which are always worthy to watch. And Patong isn't finished with natural beauty. Add to it colorful atmosphere, a range of restaurants, fun-filled nightlife, fabulous fun-making, and the temptation to visit Phuket become irresistible. A long white sandy stretch, Phuket offers thrilling adventures and fast-paced shopping. Any visit to Phuket is incomplete without Patong trip.

Karon Beach

If you wish to avail full range of facilities, dining and activities, but are not too fond of crowds, Karon is your destination. A stretch of squeaky white sand, Karon beach has a number of budget guest houses, restaurants and bars. Some artists have built here a complex of huts and galleries, which would interest art lovers. A football stadium, which hosts both national and international events, is also located near Karon Beach. One can get here rejunevating spa and shop for handicrafts. For enjoying nightlife, you could visit Patak East Road.

Kamala Beach

Kamala is considered the most beautiful beach in Phuket, offering panoramic views of the Andaman Sea. Ringed by forested hills, this calm and pleasant beach has pretty white sands. If one seeks more than sunbathing, facilities like boats are available. At Kamala Beach, one can get a feel of old Phuket. Shopping in village markets has its own charm. One would find a range of hotels and apartments are nestled around the fishing village. After a day of water sports and shopping, one can entertain in evenings at Phuket FantaSea Entertainment Complex, known for sparkling dances and leg-shaking music.

Kata Beach

Milky sands and turquoise waters make Kata Beach different. Surfers like to have fun at Southern end of Kata beach. Every year, during December, beautiful yachts from all over the region arrive in Kata to participate in King's Cup Regatta, Asia's premier sailing event. Tourists wishing to explore beyond the beach can take assistance from several dive shops and tour operators. One could also shop for souvenirs and readymade clothes at shops in Kata village. A popular tourist resort, there are sufficient number of restaurants and hotels too.

Surin Beach

If you wish to relish delicious seafood and sunbath in peaceful and pleasant atmosphere, Surin could be your option. A casuarina-lined beach, Surin has calm and refreshing atmosphere, thanks to the absence of jet-skiis and speedboats. However, the beach is good to enjoy activities like snorkeling and and surfing. Near the beach, one can find facilities like shops, bars, cafes and small hotels.

Bang Tao Beach

A long milky beach, Bang Tao is known for luxurious resorts and villas. One can enjoy a slew of activities including golfing, windsurfing, elephant riding, kids sports, rock climbing, horse riding and ropes course. At open-air village market in close vicinity of the beach, one can get first-hand experience of a conventional Thai market.

Chalong Bay

Muddy coastline makes Chalong Bay unsuitable for most water sports. However, it does have a jetty where you can hire boats. Tourist facilities like parking, restaurants, information kiosks and shops are located on jetty.

Panwa Beach

Panwa is a tranquil beach at a short distance from Phuket town. The foremost attraction of the beach is Phuket Aquarium at the Phuket Marine Biological Center. It is the centre of most water sports competitions in Phuket.

Laem Sing Beach

People wanting a reclusive day can visit Laem Sing which has a white beach at the center and rocky outcroppings at both ends. Located between Patong and Surin, Laem Sing is good for snorkeling and sunbathing. You would find some locally run restaurants and bars, but no accommodation facilities are available.

Dinesh Patairya has been writing on tourism for several online and offline publications for years. He is currently working for a project on Phuket [http://www.yourasianvacations.com/thailand/phuket/index.html] with YourAsianVacations.com

The Amazing Nightlife of Phuket

Phuket is a very popular travel destination located in Southern Thailand. One of the principal reasons why Phuket has grown into one of Asia's leading travel destinations is because of the wild and amazing nightlife which visitors encounter on this tropical Asian island. Of course this leading Thai travel destination has plenty of other attractions and activities to offer its tourists, which include white sandy beaches and these popular tourist shows found at Simon Cabaret and Phuket Fantasea. However the nightlife has been ranked as the leading attraction for many travelers and tourists.

Phuket has many repeat visitors and the vast majority of these repeat tourists return back to this popular holiday destination because of the large variety of excellent bars and the many cute Thai girls that are employed at these Phuket nightlife venues.

Travelers who are planning to spend their vacation on Phuket and who would like to spend many evenings exploring the exiting nightlife should definitely reserve accommodation in Patong beach. This popular beach resort area is where most popular Phuket nightlife establishments are located.

There is a wide range of different type of nightlife venues on the island which we have listed and reviewed for you.

Discos

Any tourists who would like to do some clubbing during their stay on Phuket will be happy to hear that there are some really remarkable discos. All the discos on this popular Thai island are located in Patong beach. The largest of all the discos on the island is the famous Patong Tiger Disco and other popular discos include the Safari Club, Banana Disco and the Patong Tai Pan disco.

Bars

There are thousands of bars located on Phuket and most of these nightlife venues can be found in Patong. There are different types of bars which include beer bars, Irish bars, cocktail bars, wine bars, go go bars and gay bars. Some of the most popular Phuket bars include the Kangaroo Bar, Molly Malone's Irish bar, Patong Aussie Bar and the ever so popular Boat Bar.

Beer Bars

The most popular type of bars on Phuket is most certainly beer bars. This type of Phuket nightlife venues come in all shapes and sized and most can be found along Soi Bangla in Patong beach. What makes these bars so unique and popular is the fact that there are many cute and sexy bar girls working at these of popular bars. Visitors who are interested in getting to know one of the cute Thai girls are able to bar fine the girl for the rest of the evening.

Go Go Bars

Thailand is well known for its Go Go bar and there are more than a few outstanding Go Go bars on the island which travelers can explore. If you would like to visit one of these Phuket nightlife venues then we recommend for you to head over to Soi Seadragon which is located just off the popular Bangla road in Patong.  Thai Go Go bars are basically bars where there are Thai girls dancing on stage in very revealing clothing.

For more information about the various different Phuket nightlife venues be sure to visit the nightlife section which is located in the author's Phuket guide.

James is living on Phuket with his family and is employed in the travel industry. Tourists seeking information about Phuket should visit his Phuket travel guide which includes an excellent chapter on Phuket Nightlife.

Club Lime Still Phuket's Best Clubbing Venue

Rewind a few years and clubbing in Phuket was in a dire state. There was nothing but pop and cheesy techno, along with clubs playing local rock and country music. Times have changed, and visitors to Phuket now have a far superior choice of clubs to select from, and nowhere does it better than Club Lime in Patong.

What Phuket was missing for a long time was a venue championing the finer sounds of dance music. It was possible to hear zany chipmunk techno music, but for something with a little more soul, you had to look to Bangkok or else outside of Thailand. There are currently a small group of DJs in Phuket who have been steadily helping to build a vibrant clubbing scene in Phuket.

Club Lime first opened its doors a couple of years ago. The club had style and was a far cry from the typical beer bars and cheesy discos that Phuket is famous for. Club Lime was more like the type of venue you could find in England or America. It had the drinks prices to match, but it was difficult to complain because of the music policy.

From the beginning, the people behind Club Lime made a point to book serious DJs with a passion for the music they were playing. DJs such as Eddy and D[r]eadmongey rose to fame at Club Lime, playing everything from house to techno. But Club Lime didn't stop there. Every week it was possible to hear breaks, electro and even drum n bass.

What has helped cement Club Lime's reputation has been the string of quality DJs booked to play from overseas. These include everyone from Barry Ashworth and Jo Mills to Kraft Kuts and Inland Knights. These were DJs that might previously have played Koh Samui, but nobody was interested in bringing them Phuket.

The only problem that Club Lime has come across has been attracting a steady crowd of people on quieter nights. On the weekends the club has almost always been full, but during the week, except for the occasional group of tourists, numbers are usually no more than 20 or so.

The same, however, can be said of many clubs in Bangkok. It takes a big night to get people to make the effort. Club Lime is still one of Phuket's most enjoyable night spots and one only hopes that it continues to be so.

While Club Lime in Patong is a great place to spend a night, Phuket nightlife has a lot to offer travelers, including everything from indie clubs to hip hop venues.