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Archive for July, 2006

Chita, Siberia – A Little History

Monday, July 31st, 2006

In 1999, I decided to live a year in the city of Chita, Russia. For those not in the know, Chita is a city in Siberia.

History

The City of Chita is a the administrative center of the Chita Oblast, which is similar to a state. It is located smack dab in the middle of Siberia and is about 500 miles east of Lake Baikal.

From the 1930’s through the end of communism, Chita was a closed city. During this period, foreigners were prohibited from traveling to Chita as were many Russians. The basis for the closing of the city was apparently its proximity to China and military installations.

In some circles, Chita is known as the City of Exiles because prominent intellectuals starting with the “Decembrist” were exiled to the city after failed uprisings in 1825. Despite this informal name, the arrival of the Decembrists was a boon for the city. The well-educated exiles made an effort to educate the citizens of Chita and pursue trade. Through these efforts, the City became a major trading portal in Siberia, particularly since the natural resources of the area included timber, gold and uranium.

Architecturally, Chita is a clash of styles. Foremost, Chita is populated with communist concrete buildings. The apartment buildings are almost universally five stories tall and, frankly, not the most appealing things you’ve every scene. In contrast to these soviet signatures, Chita is also populated with individual homes made primarily out of wood. The homes are the equivalent of those you would see in any mountainous area and are very comfortable. Clashing with these two styles are a number of buildings in the center of Chita.

During World War II, a significant number of Japanese soldiers were taken by the Russians as prisoners of war. Through whatever machinations present at that time, they were put to work in the construction industry. Yep, you guessed it. In the center of Chita you will find buildings with a definite hint of Japanese style. The buildings are not overtly Japanese, but they definitely differ from the other styles present.

Having lived in the city for a year, I can definitely say it is worth a visit. The Trans-Siberian Railway passes through the city, so access is very easy.
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Choose A Bed And Breakfast Over A Hotel Chain And Enjoy Your Vacation

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

Benefit #1 Feel at Home

Most Bed and Breakfast Inns are typically small and have a limited number of rooms to rent out. However, each room has a lot of personality and is generally decorated around a theme and focuses on the comfort of guests. Each room is decorated in an elegant at-home way that is easily enjoyed by guests who want comfortable and beautiful surroundings to enjoy while on their trip. You certainly won’t encounter the generic rooms of common hotels. All in all, when you stay at a Bed and Breakfast you will feel at home.

Benefit #2 Great Food

As the name suggests the daily rate of a Bed and Breakfast stay will certainly include the first meal of the day. While a Continental breakfast is frequently included in chain hotel rates the breakfast at a Bed and Breakfast is always of a significantly higher quality. This is because innkeepers take pride in serving well balanced and tasty meals allowing guests to enjoy every aspect of their stay. Although every Bed and Breakfast is different you can generally expect a full breakfast of meat and eggs with fresh baked muffins, fresh squeezed juice and fruit. Usually breakfast is served on fine china with silver cutlery, much higher class than disposable plates and cutlery at low priced hotel chains.

Benefit #3 More Economical

You are probably thinking, “yeah, right!” But the truth is Bed and Breakfast Inns really are more economical when you consider the entire price of the stay. For example, a Bed and Breakfast may charge what seems like expensive nightly fees, but everything is basically included from local phone calls to movies, and concierge services to parking. Just these extras at a hotel can add $100 or more to your daily bill. So, in the overall scheme of things a Bed and Breakfast will probably save you money and you will be more comfortable and relaxed at the same time.]]>

Choosing the Best Holiday Destination

Saturday, July 29th, 2006

This guide to choosing the best holiday destination for you covers the top ten points you should consider when planning that next getaway.

1)The Time Of The Year – when are you planning on taking your next holiday? Certain destinations are only attractive to holidaymakers at a given time of the year because of climatic conditions. Think carefully about when you’ll be travelling and then examine the rainfall and temperature charts for your shortlist of destinations and make sure it will be neither extremely too hot or cold or wet or windy when you plan to holiday.

2)Your Budget – your budget will have a major bearing on where you travel to and also when you can travel. Travelling out of season on a last minute package holiday will of course save you lots of money, but there are other ways to make your money go further. Travel agents nowadays offer early bird booking discounts for example, alternatively you could book each stage of the holiday separately and possibly save more by calling airlines, hotels and hire car companies direct and asking about any special offers or discounts they offer and maybe you could even consider a house swap to save on accommodation costs.

3)Distance – long haul flights are no fun unless you can travel business class! And what’s more, having to travel to your ideal destination over a 12 or even 24 hour period and then suffering jetlag when you arrive and upon your return will maybe eat up as much as half of your holiday in real terms. Think about the distance you would like to travel in terms of hours sat on a plane, in departures, on a bus, in the car or even on a train…and then research destinations accordingly.

4)Travelling Parents – if you have children and you’re planning a family holiday a whole load of new criteria come into the planning. If you have young pre-school children you may be able to travel out of the peak school holiday times and thus save yourself thousands…but you will have the added hassle of having to travel with half a tonne of baby paraphernalia! Research your airline and resort in terms of the facilities they offer parents. Also, you must consider the heat, sun and humidity factors when travelling as children suffer more and also tend to vocalise more than us when uncomfortable for long periods of time!

5)Facilities – what facilities are in or around the resorts you’re considering and what facilities to you require? If you can’t be more than a day away from the internet make sure there’s access from your hotel, if you’re travelling with children is there a laundry service offered – or better still if you’re on a budget, do they have a laundry room in the hotel that you can access? Do you need to carry an iron, a hair dryer, a carry cot or even a child’s car seat with you or will your hotel and hire car company be able to supply you with all the bulky items you need? Ask, don’t assume!

6)Amenities – if you want to keep fit when away is there a hotel gym, what about a spa so that you can make the most of your time away? Is there an onsite bar and restaurant, what about gift shops and a mini market? Think about all the amenities you would like to have access to before you begin your research and then when you find an attractive destination tick off your list of desirable amenities against what it offers.

7)Entertainment – when it comes to your idea of a good time does that include wild night life or easy access to sites of historic or cultural interest? Are you after pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants for a 24 hour party or would you like to be able to drive to a stunning castle, take a boat trip out to sea, wander away from the crowds and find entertainment in tranquillity? You will have a good idea of the entertainment requirements you and travelling companions require – just make sure you pick a resort that fits in with those requirements!

8)Beach Flop Or Activity Holiday – are you happy to flop on the sand and soak up the sun or would you be happier hiking in the Himalayas? Think carefully about what exactly would bring you the most pleasure from your time away. Don’t go with the flow and copy the crowds if your idea of a nice time is simply relaxing in your garden at home for two weeks then do that! Your holiday time is your own so make of it what you can and what you want.

9)Health Requirements – if you or your family have any particular health issues from asthma to diabetes, from a physical handicap to even a fear of flying you should take all of these factors into the planning. Certain destinations are less sophisticated in terms of medical facilities available and even in terms of access to prescription drugs, some are more inaccessible in terms of travelling to or even getting around than others. Also, some destinations carry disease warnings and require you to have inoculations before you travel or to take malaria drugs when on the ground for example. Consider your preferred destination in terms of the health aspects for your whole family.

10)Take Recommendations – listen to family, friends and colleagues when they tell you about where they’ve been that was good and where they’ve been that was terrible; learn from their experiences and disaster stories and take any recommendations from trusted and like minded sources. Such recommendations can be a great place to begin your research and if you find that the destination likely suits you to a tee you will be able to find out about the best places to eat, the must see sights and the friendliest staff before you head out which will give you an extra confidence boost and get your holiday off to a flying start.

Above all – make sure you have fun!]]>

Choosing the right hotel

Friday, July 28th, 2006

Five-star hotels generally are the most expensive. You are paying for luxury. These hotels usually offer butler service, large bathrooms with soaking tubs, spa-inspired bath products, and high-end bed linens. Lobbies in five-star hotels are laden with marble and fresh flowers. Service is impeccable.

Still quite elegant are four-star hotels. Usually the difference is slight. Maybe the rooms are a bit smaller, the linens a slightly lower thread count, and the shampoos less expensive. The biggest difference seems to be in the price.

Three-star hotels offer clean and comfortable accommodations but may not offer the same amenities as their pricier cousins. Guest rooms are less elegant, but comfortable nevertheless. Bathrooms are generally pretty standard. (If you’re looking for a rain shower, you probably won’t find it here.) Service is fine, though the staff doesn’t bow at your feet quite the same way. Many guests find this level of service more comfortable; others miss being treated like royalty.

Down in the two-star range you will find hotels that serve as a bed for the night but offer little else in the way of comfort. These hotels are good for driving trips where you only plan to spend a limited amount of time and then hit the road again. Count on “plain.” No fancy sheets or down comforters, probably a stall shower instead of a big bathtub, and definitely no champagne and strawberries. Room service? Maybe, but it’s probably more likely that you’ll ask the lobby for the local pizza joint’s menu.

One-star hotels are best for budget travelers who aren’t too picky about where they sleep as long as it’s cheap. Not usually the cleanest or most updated places, these are meant for those guests who don’t plan to spend a whole lot of time in their hotel room. If you’re far more interested in the sightseeing than the size of your pillow, these hotels might suit you just fine.

If you’ve chosen to stay in hotels during your travels, choose wisely based on your own personal needs. As long as you’re willing to pay a price equal to your expectations, you won’t be disappointed.]]>

Choosing Where to Travel

Thursday, July 27th, 2006

Mostly, travelers go on a trip recommended by friends, but is this what they really want? It’s never too early to plan for your trip and to do what your heart really desires. Hawaii Forum

Here are several questions to ask yourself before starting to plan your vacation. Do I want to relax? Do I want adventure or a learning experience? Do I want to get away from my job? Once you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.

Vacations are needed for our emotional, physical and mental balance. Vacations give a person a chance to relax, renew his energy, and free him from his daily routine. Vacations can be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It provides satisfaction, which is far more important than the destination itself.

Generally, there are some different types of travel according to the activities involved. Here are some of them:

1. Responsible Travel. Traveling doesn’t always have to be self-serving. With responsible travel, one could have enjoyment as much as respecting the local environment and the people.

2. Rediscovering nature. Rediscovering travel is all about nature and everything in it. It revitalizes the soul while experiencing everything there is to know about nature.

3. Tribal cultures. In today’s world of high technology, it is wise to experience the simpler life of the tribal people who have lived close to nature in the same way for thousands of years.

4. Responsible Diving. Diving not only lets travelers appreciate what is in the sea but also helps make the traveler more aware of efforts concerning conservation of our natural resources.

Plan your travel to a country that will leave a great mark in your traveling diary. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:

1. Thailand. Thailand is also known as Siam. It is an Asian country bounded by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Behind the back draft of Thailand’s jungles of bamboo, rubber trees and vines are the Five-star hotels of modern conveniences. In some parts of the country, elephants are still being use to lift timbers and buffalos are still being used in farming.

2. China. China is now the second largest country and fastest growing economy in the world. Most parts of China are still unexplored by tourists; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourists. First class hotels now offer the highest class of amenities and dozens more are still being built.

3. Italy. Italy is a boot-like shape country bounded by Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. The main attraction of Italy is St. Peter’s Square where the Pope resides.

4. Caribbean. Caribbean is an archipelago of islands, 2000 square miles across. Most of the islands are plateaus and eruptions of underlying mountain systems. It has nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.

The success of any vacation will not depend on how much money the traveler spent or the destination. The final outcome will depend on the degree of enjoyment experienced by the traveler.]]>

City breaks in Prague with cheap hotels and Flights

Wednesday, July 26th, 2006

city breaks have rapidly become one of the most popular holiday choices for travelers. Cities such as Lisbon, Prague and Berlin are filled throughout the year by tourists enjoying a short break.

A visit to Prague is something everyone should experience at least once in their life. When you travel to the Czech Republic there are so many things to see and do so make sure that you plan your trip in advance. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and lies on the banks of the Vltava River. Its medieval centre is dominated by the 1100-year-old castle of Prazsky Hrad. A short holiday gives visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty and magic of Prague, wander the old winding streets and bridges of this wonderful city. This breathtaking city combines the very best in Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance styles. At every turn, there is something to take your breath away. For great value city breaks Prague is unrivalled, and with the cost of living so low your holiday money goes much further.

Bustling with life in summer and beautiful in winter, Prague entices visitors throughout the year. Visit galleries both modern and traditional and sample the delights of long established beer halls and fashionable cocktail bars. We are pleased to offer a range of Prague city breaks featuring a wide selection of hotel options.
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Cologne Germany — 18 Insider Tips — Part 2 of 2

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

Old town of Cologne Germany is the starting point for most people. It is world-wide well-known from lots of postcards. Old houses, countless churches, Cologne Cathedral, taverns, restaurants, pubs, cramped alleys, Rhine river…

The city offers an unparalleled selection of more than 3,000 bars, restaurants and breweries, the highest number per capita than anywhere else in Germany.

Anyway, shall we get started? Great!

TOP 10 Bars and Restaurants

9. The proven best restaurant in Cologne Germany is the Boersen-Restaurant (Stock-Market Restaurant), located in a street called Unter Sachsenhausen No. 10-26. It consists of the Restaurant Maitre, the Boersen-Stube, Boersen-Schaenke, and several meeting rooms. Yummy!

10. Three Frenchmen created this terrific restaurant called “Le Moissonnier,” located in Krefelder Str. 25. Once you enter this “tavern,” you’ll feel the spirit the three chiefs spray throughout the rooms.

11. When Bruno Spatola, Chief of the restaurant “Da Bruno,” opened his restaurant in the mid-90’s, he didn’t think it would become that great success. Even a South-German newspaper is considering Da Bruno as “The Best Italian of Germany.” You find this exquisite gourmet temple in Suerther Hauptstrasse 157 in the district Suerth.

12. Cologne’s smallest restaurant “Capricorn [i] Aries Restaurant” is located in the heart of the southern part of the city (Altenburgerstrasse 34). It was built in a monument-protected house in modern-elegant ambience. Rewarded with a Michelin star, Klaus Jaquemod cooks fine French cuisine. The area is being held completely in white, contains four tables for maximally 16 guests, and, at late hour, it uses a special light system to change itself into different colors. Awesome.

13. The “Vintage” is a restaurant, in which you can enjoy more than 600 (!) high-quality wines at reasonable prices in a pleasant atmosphere with good cuisine for large and small hunger. You can buy the wines of your favours. The kitchen has been awarded several times as one of the TOP ones in Cologne Germany and Germany wide. You find it in downtown, Pfeilstrasse 31.

14. Excelsior Hotel Ernst, located right nearby Cologne Cathedral in Trankgasse 1, is a 5-Star Hotel. It contains the Hanse Stube, which is famous for its innovative French cuisine and culinary finesse. In the taku, Japanese cuisine in the tradition of Asian culinary art and hospitality is going to be served. Further the Piano Bar, in which you can easily relax and forget about the daily routine.

15. Not to injustice, the “Bizim” is considered as “The Noble Turk” of Cologne Germany. Faraway of Doener and Lamacun (usual meals at Turkish snack bars), their menu proves how variously the Turkish cuisine can be. Hint: a punctual table reservation is absolutely necessary! The Bizim is located in Weidengasse 47, and considered as an insider tip.

16. The “Gaffel Haus,” located at Alter Markt 20, is considered as a place at which the culture of hospitality is maintained. In the last 600 years, Cologne became the scene for liberty and democracy; and the Gaffel House shows some historical facts as it was the tradition house for Cologne’s Gaffel.

17. Whether you would like to dance, watch other people, or relax in a beer garden with up to 1,200 people (!), the “Herbrand’s” is definitely a place where you can forget the everyday life. Located in district Ehrenfeld, Herbrandstrasse 21, you will like the architectural building and surrounding.

18. Stroll through the traditional Muehlengasse in old town of Cologne Germany, and take a rest in “Peters Brauhaus” (Peter’s Brewing House). Fine brewing atmosphere mixed with traditional Cologne cuisine let you easily relax after heavy sightseeing.

Now, visit http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/cologne.html for further information, and for some pictures of Cologne Germany.

So, whatever you are going to do in Cologne Germany, enjoy it! :-) This city is definitely worth staying longer than one day. I myself lived 17 years of my life in this carnivalistic stronghold.

Best regards,
Marcus Hochstadt
© Copyright http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/ All Rights Reserved]]>

Cologne Germany — 18 Insider Tips –- Part 1 of 2

Monday, July 24th, 2006

If you would like to know something about Cologne Germany and its history, visit the Cologne link at the end of this article for information about that. In this two-part article I’ll give you 18 insider tips of Cologne – short and sweet – so that you can print them out and easily scour the sights and restaurants.

First, once you arrive in the city, go to the tourist office. It’s located at Cologne Cathedral in a street called “Unter Fettenhennen” (under fat hen ;-) .

Now, shall we get started? Great!

Sightseeing and Culture

1. The city hall (Hansasaal) was built in 1330. Its Renaissance arcade (16th century) and tower (15th century) had been added later. The building complex suffered extensive damage during World War 2 and underwent reconstruction until 1972. It’s located at Alter Markt.

2. The City Gates are awesome. Three of the total of twelve city gates from the mediaeval city fortifications (1180 - 1220) have been preserved and are still used today for various purposes. Just look for the Severinstor, the Eigelsteintor and the Hahnentor. The smaller Ulrepforte and restored sections of the city walls are to be found along the Sachsenring circular boulevard. Also, all of them have a U-Bahn stop.

3. The 4711 House, the new Gothic head office of the famous “Eau de Cologne” manufacturer with a carillon that chimes every hour, is located opposite the opera in Glockengasse. The number “4711″ refers to house-numbering system adopted by the French occupying power in 1795. For greater clarity, all private houses were numbered sequentially from 1 - 7 404.

4. The Cologne gardens (Flora/Zoo) were landscaped in 1863 according to designs by Peter Josef Lennי and Joseph Maria Olbrich. It further contains an botanical garden, which was added in 1914. The site was destroyed during World War 2. Once it was completely restored, it now has a stock of plants including approx. 12 000 species. Cologne Zoo is located directly adjacent to the gardens.

5. Cologne cathedral with its two spires 157 m. in height, has been the city’s most famous landmark for centuries and the most well-known architectural monument in Germany. It took 632 years (!) until construction of the largest German cathedral was completed. Visit http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/cologne-cathedral.html for further information and some images of Cologne Cathedral.

6. Cologne Germany is a city of churches. As in no other German city, twelve large Roman collegiate and monastery and convent churches are located in the confined area within the boundaries of the mediaeval city wall, churches which rank among the most important in Western Europe.

7. Shopping Passages — Cologne has some; I am just going to tell about two of them. The Neumarkt Passage, located at Neumarkt, and the Olivandenhof, located right between Neumarkt and Breite Strasse. In this glitter world, you are going to find stores with clothes, foods, non-food, many taverns and pubs, etc. Just a good time to take a loooong rest… ;-)

By the way, right at Neumarkt starts Germany’s most visited shopping mile — the Schildergasse. Hourly 17,760 people come in flocks through this “street.”

8. Okay, this now is outside Cologne, but definitely worth a day trip. The amusement park located near Cologne is called Phantasialand. It offers a wide selection of attractions, ranging from the old Berlin steam roundabout, including a wild-water course and extending to the Space-Center, which draw several million visitors every year to the southern gates of Cologne. Children in particular love the fantastic world with its many adventures. Phantasialand is open daily between April 1st and October 31st.

Now, visit http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/cologne.html for further information, and for some pictures of Cologne Germany.

Fine, that was the first part. We passed some quite interesting sights today. In the next part we will cover 10 TOP bars and restaurants. Look forward to it!

Best regards,
Marcus Hochstadt
© Copyright http://www.smart-travel-germany.com All Rights Reserved]]>

Costa Rica has been called the Hawaii of Central America

Sunday, July 23rd, 2006

Activities on a Costa Rica vacation include bird and butterfly watching, surfing, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, tree top (canopy) tours, four wheeling, snorkeling, shopping, hiking, river rafting, horse back riding and casinos. On a Costa Rica vacation you’ll find pristine beaches, tropical jungles, clear blue skies, high mountain rain forest, and tropical sun. That’s why Costa Rica was aptly named ‘rich coast’ by Christopher Columbus in 1502.

Nature is Costa Rica’s green card. Wildlife diversity and exceptional landscapes merge in a long list of untouched lands and protected areas that will get you involved in as many Costa Rica expedition activities and adventure sports as you can imagine.

Costa Rica is unusually blessed by the diversity of its butterflies. There exists about 20,000 butterfly species worldwide. Of these, about 1,000 or 5% can be found in Costa Rica.
With more than 850 species of birds, all found within a tight geographic area, Costa Rica offers birders of all levels of expertise an unrivaled bird watching experience. Birders out on the trail in Costa Rica’s forests should keep an eye out for mixed flocks foraging on certain types of food, especially fruit, in the forest canopy.

Costa Rica is home to roughly 150 species of amphibians, some of which are extremely colorful and exotic. There are tree frogs, which spend their entire lives above the forest floor, breeding in the water of tank bromeliads or in holes in the trunks of trees. Others, like the poison-arrow frog, are exuberantly colored, ranging from bright red with blue or green legs to bright green with black markings. There are over 200 species of reptiles in Costa Rica. The 14 turtle species include both marine and freshwater varieties. The largest of the marine turtles are leatherbacks. Their shells are up to 5 feet and they weigh upwards of 800 pounds! Marine turtles climb up sandy beaches to lay their eggs, a spectacular sight because it happens en masse.

Costa Rica is home to over 9,000 identified species of vascular plants, including over 900 different species of trees. Costa Rica is home to some 1,500 species of orchids. From sub-alpine dwarf vegetation, rainforest flora from sea level to mangrove swamps and seasonal dry forest with its deciduous trees, there is an astounding range of floral habitats for a country so small.

The protection of Costa Rica’s natural heritage is managed by the respective national parks and reserves. These areas protect many species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fresh and salt-water fish, and a vast number of identified vascular plants-representing 4% of the world’s total floral and faunal species.

In addition, these management groups protect examples of almost all the existing natural habitats such as deciduous forests, mangrove swamps, rain forests, herbaceous swamps, cloud forests, paramos, hilillo forests and marshlands. They also protect areas of historical and archaeological interest, such as pre-Columbian settlements and early battlefields, as well as beautiful areas of scenic interest, such as beaches, valleys and waterfalls. But above all, the areas of particular interest to the conservationist are the zones which protect the last remaining examples of Central American dry forest and the beaches where the sea turtles nest.

The protection of Costa Rica’s natural resources has implications beyond its borders because they encompass an incredible biodiversity, including numerous species on the verge of extinction. All of this is the reason the country has become one of the most popular destinations for visiting ecologists and biologists. On the whole, access to these areas and facilities are freely available provided the visitor respects the need to protect them. These protected areas are ideal for hiking and rafting, for watching the birds and other wildlife, for camping and just for enjoying in general, their rivers, beaches, jungles, mountain forests, volcanoes as well as their historic and archaeological sites.

A Costa Rica vacation is fast becoming the #1 romantic honeymoon and family vacation destination in the world. Whether it’s your honeymoon or family vacation– Exotic, Romantic and Nature– the perfect ingredients for that special get away, what more could you ask for on your vacation. An unbeatable choice for those travelers looking for a combination of relaxation, romance and activity. The atmosphere on a Costa Rica vacation is “Pura-Vida”, the pure life.]]>

Costa Rican All Inclusive Vacations

Saturday, July 22nd, 2006

After enjoying several Costa Rican all inclusive resorts can I say that they really are outstanding. I will give you a short run down of 2 places where we stayed.

1. Villas Sol, Guanacaste, Playa Hermosa

Villas Sol in Playa Hermosa. Neighbour with one of the first high priced vacation places in Costa Rica, namely condovac.

Villas Sol have a large, clean hotel on top of a beautiful hill with lush green surroundings. Behind the Villas Sol hotel you’ll find a pool, snackbar and the restaurant.

The employees where friendly and helpful. The two minor drawbacks I found where the food (not really up to the quality of the rest. A bit tasteless and not enough variation). And what is part of the beauty also plays against Villas Sol. The houses are spread out on a hillside and the distances are so great, they have small pickups with sofas on the back circling all the houses, allowing guest free rides wherever they want to go.

So if you’re on your way to eat, hop on the truck. If you want to go to playa Hermosa, hop on the truck. This can be somewhat tiresome.

Villas Sol, (especially on the low priced season) is quite good value for the money.

2. Fiesta Resort Hotell in Puntarenas.

Puntarenas as a town may not be known for its beaches. But due to being the closest port and beach town from San Josי, a number of high priced 4 star hotels and resorts have been built here.

Fiesta Resort is a very large hotel with nice rooms, extremely friendly and helpful employees. I have never received so much help and friendly smiles in any places as in Fiesta Resort.

The rooms where all of high quality. Clean, lots of space, nice AC and cable tv.

There are plenty of pools, from the relax pool with dark blue water to the light blue normal pools where people could enjoy the pool bar or do the water-aerobics each day.

Dance classes each day, nice snack bar with tacos, granisados, hamburgers and a lot more to eat kept people going.

The main courses like breakfast, lunch and dinner where treats without comparison!

The restaurant had cooks placed in several places where they where wooking, cooking and making food directly on demand from the guests. They also arrange theme dinners where the Fiesta Resort Restaurant was filled with employees with theme clothes and other themed adornments.
Fiesta Resort gets my highest points without any competition. A place to return to. Value for the money, exceptional (check the low cost season here as well).]]>




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