Krabi Hotels - Travelers Paradise

Looking for a traveler-friendly city in the world, then Krabi has to be one of them. It is a town on the western coast of south Thailand at the mouth of the River Krabi into the Andaman Sea. Karbi is a small provincial city that has originated a lot in the recent years in terms of tourism sector. This small and picturesque town of Thailand is gifted with some of the best accommodations that assure you to spend a remarkable vacation.

The numerous hotels of Krabi is not at all difficult as you can comfortably fly down to the Krabi International airport that is located at a distance of 15 kilometers from the city center. By road, you have to take the Phuket- Koh Phi Phi - Krabi route or access via Surat Thani from the eastern coast of the peninsula.

Speaking of the luxury hotels in Krabi, you will find that they are simply outstanding. The 4 star and 5 star hotels of Krabi are something more than luxurious. Since some international standard hotel chains have established their hotels in Krabi, you will find a wide array of deluxe and luxury hotels in this beautiful town. Starting from the room facilities to dining and other associated facilities offered by the deluxe hotels in Krabi, are apt for lavish living. These luxury hotels have the basic room amenities like the writing tables, satellite television, well stocked mini bars, international direct dial telephone, coffee and tea, and others. The hotel amenities and facilities including restaurants, baby-sitting, lift, currency exchange, laundry services, recreational facilities and other features.

You will also find a number of cheap or low-cost hotels in Krabi. Cheap Hotels in Krabi offers a stress free stay for guests. These hotels are well furnished and well equipped and up. Some of these hotels have rooms in Krabimore or less spacious and airy. This helps each of the travelers to move freely. The spaciousness of the rooms are of great benefit to disabled travelers. The various structures in low-cost or budget hotel offers free newspapers, parking, concierge service, laundry service, if needed, room service and others.

Boutique Hotels - Krabi

Krabi is one of the few destinations in Thailand that remains unspoiled in spite of tourist rush. To enjoy its pristine and untouched beaches and landscape, it is necessary to stay in calm and uncrowded places. This is exactly what boutique hotels Krabi has on offer.

The limited number of rooms and villas in hotels Krabi help their guests to enjoy the tranquility without being interrupted. Due to the restriction in the number of guests, boutique hotels are able to offer personalized service. Krabi has its share of boutique hotels. The most prominent among them are the Beach Resort and Andamanee Resort.

The Beach Boutique is a 4-star resort located on the quiet and secluded beach of Hat Yao. The resort lies on a 1.5 acre plot of land surrounded by fishing villages. The resort guests can get a feel of local life by roaming around the place.

The resort has 14 private bungalows and three beach villas. Each of these is provided with private terraces looking out over the resort's tropical garden. The villas have private pools as an additional attraction. As seen in all boutique hotels, the Beach Boutique Resort too offers highly personalized service to its guests.

Andamanee Boutique is a 3-star resort located on the famous Nopparatthara beach. This 'Jewel of Andaman' is a sister concern of the more well-known Theparat Lodge in Krabi Town. Lying on Nopparatthara Natural Park, the resort is a perfect getaway from the crowded tourist circuits of Krabi.

The resort is designed in distinct Thai architectural style and this is evident in all its rooms. The rooms are spacious yet cozy and comfortable. For a tourist seeking solitude, Andamanee Boutique Resort would be a good pick.

For privacy, luxury and comfort choose boutique hotels Krabi.

How to Find Disney Package Deals

Disney Package deals are simply a way to buy the accommodations, airfare and other parts of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices.

The number and diversity of Disney Package Deals to Orlando is staggering. But you can save money if you're willing to do the research. Your local Sunday newspaper usually contain Disney Package Deals in the adds. Go over them at home and compare the offerings to find the optimum Disney Package Deal for your trip. One good source of Disney Package Deals are the airlines themselves. They have deals throughout the year.

While Disney itself offers a handful of Disney Package Deals, the discounts aren't usually that considerable. Do, however, ask reservations clerks what the latest and greatest promotion is, or what may be running at the time you intend to visit. Promotions tend to run for a limited time so be sure to get all the details when it runs, what it includes, what it doesn't, and so on. You should also search the Disney website for special deals and promotions.

One good source of package deals is the airlines themselves. Most major airlines offer air/land packages, including American Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/321-2121), Delta Vacations (tel. 800/654-6559), Continental Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/301-3800), and United Vacations (tel. 888/854-3899). Several big online travel agencies -- Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Site59, and Lastminute.com - also great deals on packages. Packages can also return flights, hotels, car rental or round trip airport transfers, unlimited access to Disney (or other) parks and other special features. Packages in use WDW and Universal Studios Hotel, where guests all the advantages of these properties. Prices vary greatly depending on where you choose, the point of departure and time of the year.

Touraine Travel(tel. 800/967-5583) is a source of packages to Disney, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld.

For linksters, Golf Getaways (tel. 800/800-4028) and Golfpac Vacations (tel. 800/327-0878) offer play-and-stay packages.

Five Best Hotels Krabi Thailand

Krabi, Thailand is one of the preferred destinations in the eco tourism scene. To suit this theme, most of the hotels here are built to merge seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Here are five of the best hotels Krabi Thailand.

1. Amari Vogue Resort (5-star) (Address: 149 Moo 3, Tambon Nongtalay Amphur Muang, Tubkaek Beach)

This resort built in the Lanna architectural style offer spectacular views of sea and distant islands. The Sivara Spa, Jacuzzi, swimming pool and indoor and beachfront restaurants are its highlights.

2. Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas (5-star) (Address: 396-396/1 Moo 2, Ao Nang)

Centara Grand is no doubt one of the best hotels Krabi Thailand for its features like private bay and unique views of limestone formations and white sand beach. Located close to Krabi airport and the shopping center of Ao Nang, it offers solitude even while staying close to central area.

3. Rayavadee Premier Resort (5-star) (Address: 214 Moo 2, Tambol Ao-Nang, Amphur Muang)

This resort has the unique distinction of overlooking three of the region's finest beaches - Railay Beach, Nam Mao Beach and Phra Nang Beach. As the beaches lie in the Krabi Marine National Park, much attention has been given to preserving the ecology of the region. However, this doesn't cramp its luxury and comfort.

4. Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort (5-star) (Address: 155, Moo 2, T. Nongthale)

Located right on Klong Muang Beach, this luxury resort built in Zen-style architecture with landscaped gardens, offers the perfect setting for a peaceful tropical holiday. One of its prime attractions is Baba Rara, the baby elephant that plays with children.

5. Sofitel Phokeethra Krabi Resort & Spa (5-star) (Address: T. Khaotong A. Muang)

Located on the private beach of Klong Muang, the resort is set amidst tropical forests. All rooms afford jungle views in addition to views of sea and limestone karsts.

The incredible array of best hotels Krabi Thailand makes the selection difficult for tourists.

Top 10 Places to See in Charleston, SC

If you're planning a trip to Charleston, there are several sites and attractions that should be on your list of things to do. I've included a list of the top 10 below!

1) The Battery has some of the most photographed homes in Charleston. You can walk along the raised sidewalk, which has great views of the Charleston Harbor on one side and historic mansions on the other! Best of all, it's free!

2) Waterfront Park is within a short walk of the Battery and has benches with green spaces that are ideal for resting. There is also a large public pier with swings, but these swings are usually in high demand, especially during the tourist season. This is a fun place to watch barges come in and out of the harbor, and it's also free!

3) Fort Sumter is near the top of the list for 2 reasons. First, you can see where the Civil War began in 1861. This site makes Charleston one of the most historic cities in the country, and you'll learn a lot of history on this educational field trip. Second, you'll take a boat over to Fort Sumter, which has great views of the Charleston Harbor! Fort Sumter is one of the most popular sites in Charleston for these 2 reasons.

4) Tired of walking? Take a Charleston carriage tour to see some of the most historic places in downtown Charleston. These guided, horse-drawn tours are very popular with tourists because they're a great way to see the city.

5) Charleston is known for its support of the arts. You'll find art galleries scattered throughout the city that you can visit. Or, if you want to see a lot of local artwork in one place, I recommend the Gibbes Museum of Art. They usually have several circulating exhibitions throughout the year.

6) Charleston has a range of sports teams to choose from. If you like college sports, I'd recommend looking into College of Charleston or the Citadel's schedules. Charleston also has the Riverdogs minor league baseball team downtown, the Battery professional soccer team on Daniel Island, and the Stingrays professional hockey team in North Charleston.

7) King Street has some of the best shopping in Charleston. You'll find clothing and accessory stores like Banana Republic, J. Crew, Saks, and Guicci. There are also a lot of specialty stores, like Le Creuset, and a plethora of shoe stores. The Apple store just opened in the past month or two, and it's always full of customers. You'll also find lots of coffee shops and restaurants.

8) If you enjoy playing golf, then Charleston is going to be a great place to vacation! Some of the nicest courses are in Kiawah Island, Daniel Island, Wild Dunes, and Daniel Island. You'll also find good options in Mt. Pleasant. Charleston hosts many big tournaments throughout the year, and a lot of the courses are designed by big names such as Tom Fazio.

9) One of Charleston's many plantation homes should also be on your list of things to see. The most popular are Boone Hall, Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation, and Middleton Place. Middleton Place, for example, appeared several times in the movie The Patriot, and it's just one of four of plantations in the area that show Charleston's long history.

10) The SC Aquarium is located in downtown Charleston. This is a very kid-friendly place, and the aquarium focuses on aquatic life that you'll find along the southeast coast. Be sure to check out what exhibition is currently at the aquarium, because they have some cool exhibits!

Also, keep in mind that Charleston hosts a variety of festivals and annual events throughout the year. So, for example, if you're planning on coming at the end of May, check to see you'll be here during the Spoleto Festival (since it's one of the biggest events in Charleston). Or, in December there is a spectacular holiday lights display at James Island County Park. You'll find special events almost every month of the year, so be sure to check those out!

Visiting Koh Samui

Koh Samui is 700 kms to the south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand and 50 kms from Surat Thani. Regular flights are the most comfortable way to reach the island. For those looking to save money, trains, buses and boats can be used. If you have car or motorcycle, there are car ferries.

Via Air

Koh Samui's little open airport has both domestic and international flights from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. There are hourly flights from Bangkok's Suvunarbhumi International Airport between 6 am to 9 pm for Koh Samui everyday. There are hourly Bangkok Airways flights and Thai airways has 2-3 flights per day. These flights cost 2200 - 3500 baht for Bangkok Airways and can go up to 7400 baht for Thai Airways. The duration of the flight is about 1.15 hours.

Bangkok Airways also conducts daily flights to Koh Samui from Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya and twice a week flights between Krabi and Koh Samui. For economical flights, opt for Air Asia's flights from Bangkok, costing 600 - 900 baht. These flights take you to Surat Thani, from where you can take local shuttles or cabs to Donsak Pier or Samui Ferry Pier and then continue further to the island.

For international tourists, Bangkok Airways conducts direct flights from Hong Kong on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Berjaya Air has 2 flights per week on Thursday and Sunday from Kuala Lumpur.

Via Train and Ferry

You have to buy train & ferry tickets separately. So you have to take local transport from the train station to the dock, where you can buy ferry tickets. To prevent any delay, find out about ferry timings in advance. However avoid online booking of trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani by using your credit card to prevent addition of handling fees to the ticket costs. You may also have to face the risk of waiting for a boat to Koh Samui or being overcharged for local transport to the dock. So it advisable to buy a combined train/shuttle/ferry ticket from one of the numerous travel agencies in Bangkok. There are 2 trains departing from Bangkok's Hualamphong station everyday and arrive at Surat Thani in 8 hours. When you take a combined ticket, you are escorted and taken to the ferry, from where you can arrive at Koh Samui in 1.5 hours. The costs starts from just more than 1000 - 1700 baht, based on the type of train seat selected for the journey.

Via Bus (or coach) and Ferry

For cost conscious, bus and ferry trip is the best option. Air-conditioned overnight buses depart from Bangkok's southern bus station everyday. These buses leave at late afternoon and early evening. On reaching Surat Thani, buses are transported to Koh Samui. Bus fares start from 300 to 400 baht based on the class of service selected and travel time is about 14 hours. Ferry fares lie below 50 baht. Private companies operate coaches and pick up people from numerous spots in Bangkok. They usually let travelers buy a combined coach/ferry tickets from local travel agencies. This journey takes around 13 hours. The cost lies between 350 - 650 baht based on the type of the service. There are daily bus services from Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi. However this trip is meant for the toughest travelers. Unscheduled local buses halt at any spot to pick up anybody looking to board the bus. The trip may take longer than the overnight buses and coaches

Via boat

Express catamaran service to Koh Samui departs from adjacent Koh Tao and mainland ports of Chumphon and Surat Thani. There are also usual ferry service and smaller boat services available. Long-tail boat service operates planned trips to and from Koh Phangan.

Via car or motorcycle

There is a ferry service departing every hour from 06:00 - 18:00 from both Donsak Pier and Samui Ferry Pier. The time taken is about 1.5 hours.

Manual Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

Manual Antonio National Park is located on the western coastline of Costa Rica. It runs along the shoreline of the country, includes a tropical rainforest and encompasses absolutely beautiful beach coves. It is open from 7 AM to 4 PM daily. Besides great beaches, you'll also find in Manual Antonio lots of wildlife, including sloths and monkeys.

It is a small park that can be managed in a one day visit. There are several clearly marked hiking trails and overlooks. However, if you are a beach person, it would be better to spend two full so you can take advantage of the beautiful beaches, the water and still have time to hike the trails and watch for wildlife. Also, if you'll be spending a full day in Manual Antonio National Park, be sure to pack water and food as there is none to purchase within the park.

We saw black iguanas, capuchins, raccoons, and lots of sloths. We hiked to Cathedral Point, the end of which landed us in the midst of a troop of capuchins who were only a couple of feet away from us and tried to steal our food. We ended up eating our lunch siting on a beautiful beach, watching the gorgeous turquoise water, and only protecting it from the iguanas..

Just outside the park are shops, restaurants and street vendors selling everything from typical tourist items to full plates of grilled chicken with vegetables (a great dinner) and cut pineapple (wonderful desert). We ate our dinner while being treated to a beautiful sunset. This park was a definite highlight of our Costa Rica trip.