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Perfect your swing on your golfing vacation at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Published December 1, 2008 USA , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Atlantic coast of the USA. This resort city which is located in Horry County, South Carolina is visited by almost 13 million people annually. People from all over the world come to Myrtle Beach for its wide repertoire of attractions which include over 100 challenging golf course of every price range.  Myrtle Beach is also blessed with a year round temperate climate which makes it a perfect all season destination. This resort city of Myrtle Beach encompasses an area known as the Grand Stand which consists of a complex of beach towns and barrier islands that stretch from Little River to Georgetown in South Carolina.

A historic Myrtle Beach plantation vacation rental has its own unique charm

A historic Myrtle Beach plantation vacation rental has its own unique charm

To the south of Myrtle Beach, lies Pawleys Island which was first developed as a resort area before the Civil War. Pawleys Island also has many golf courses and many shopping and dining options but is less congested than popular Myrtle Beach which is firmly entrenched on the tourist map. The development of Myrtle Beach as a resort began at the start of the twentieth century when a Timber Company called Burroughs & Collins began to develop their seaside holdings located here. As the area developed and evolved, it first came to be known as New Town and then as Myrtle Beach in honor of the many wild wax myrtles that grow in abundance in the area. Today the area known as the Grand Stand is extremely well developed and has  wide array of recreational facilities that are bound to appeal to all kinds of tourists.

Beachside vacation rentals afford you easy attractions to seaside activities

Beachside vacation rentals afford you easy attractions to seaside activities

When you book a vacation rental in Myrtle Beach it gives you a chance to kick back and relax as you indulge in your favorite pastimes. Your vacation rental located in Myrtle Beach affords you easy access to the many soft sand beaches, golf courses, restaurants, theme parks, water parks and shopping centers located in the area. Once you have arrived at your ocean front vacation rental you can leisurely decide if you want to just lie on the beach and take in some sun or if you want to be more active and indulge in more energetic pursuits like scuba diving, parasailing, and deep sea fishing or hiking all of which are easily ‘doable’ on your Myrtle Beach vacation.

If however your passion is golf then Myrtle Beach with its more than 100 top class golf courses will have the appearance of paradise for you especially if you choose to share your vacation rental with your band of golfing buddies. All these recreational and entertainment facilities make Myrtle Beach, a rather complete holiday destination that you would like to return to repeatedly.

Some of the top attractions in Myrtle Beach are:-

The Barefoot Golf Resort
This golfing paradise features four very different courses which have been designed by golfing greats Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. These courses which amply showcase the diverse landscape of the area attract golfers from all over the world for golfing vacations in Myrtle Beach.

Hard Rock Theme Park

The Hard Rock Theme Park provides hours of raucous entertainment for families visiting Myrtle Beach with their children as the park is equipped with many thrilling rides and interactive attractions and play areas and gardens. This theme park also features many live performances and has several shopping and dining attractions along with an amphitheater which can accommodate 10,000 people.

Ripley’s Aquarium

Yet another great family fun attraction in Myrtle Beach is the Ripley’s Aquarium which is located within Broadway at the Beach. This aquarium showcases many wild and wonderful marine creatures which makes it a prime attraction for families visiting the resort city of Myrtle Beach.

Head to Zakopane in Poland for some fresh powder this winter

Published November 26, 2008 Europe , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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Your vacation rental in a typical mountaineer's house on Kasprowy Wierch

If you enjoy skiing and winter sports and are always on the lookout for new slopes to conquer you may want to try your luck this year at Poland’s premier mountain resort – Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane for years was a well kept secret which was popular with Poles and other Eastern European tourists who used to come here for the skiing in the winter and for hiking and camping in the lush mountain forests the summers. Now with the opening up of Eastern Europe, ski enthusiasts from all over the world head to Zakopane for its many world class ski slopes and its virgin natural beauty.

Like many other Alpine resorts, Zakopane is not really accessible by air and if you are headed to Zakopane from overseas you would have to fly into Cracow’s  Balice Airport  and then take a local bus or train or hire a car  to take you into the mountains in order to get to your vacation rental in the mountain resort of   Zakopane.  As many of the vacation rentals in Zakopane are equipped to sleep small groups perhaps you would like to ask a few friends to come along for the ride as skiing itself is quite a social sport which is best enjoyed with a bunch of friends.

Zakopane is located in the heart of the Tatra Mountains which are the youngest alpine mountain range that offer a variety of ski slopes to suit all levels of skiers. About fifty ski lifts abound in the region which is gaining much popularity among ski enthusiasts and winter sport lovers as the skiing in Zakopne is still more reasonable than in Switzerland or in the many  winter sport resorts located in the US.

A vacation rental located in the heart of Zakopane gives you access to slopes and much more

A vacation rental located in the heart of Zakopane gives you access to slopes and much more

Kasprowy Wierch offers one of the best ski slopes in Zakopane and its summit can be reached via an ancient 1930’s cable car from Kuznice.  This slope is immensely popular with tourists in the peak ski season and in order not to get stuck in a queue for hours waiting to get access to the summit you should try and buy your cable car ticket at a travel agency in downtown Zakopane before you attempt to get the top. You could also try other slopes like the one at Nosal or the slope at Gubalowka, which is the closest slope to the town of Zakopane and whose summit is accessible by a newly built rail car or one of many T bar lifts.

For the more adventurous folk in your group, the slopes frequented by the locals from the surrounding mountain villages may also provide a new challenge.  The slopes at Bialka, Poronin  Bukowina Tatrzanska are perfect for this kind of adventure and for those who prefer cross country skiing to hurtling down long slopes the nearby Krokiew area may be ideal.

After you energetic day at the ski slopes you may want to head into the Zakopane town to take in many of its nocturnal delights which take the form restaurants, bars and clubs that line its main drag of Krupowki street. Krupowki street  is also home to all sorts of vendors and ski so if you want to shop for new ski gear its best to try the shops which are located here as prices for skiing gear in Poland are still lower than elsewhere.

Zakopane being largely a seasonal resort Krupowki street is particularly busy in the peak tourist season which is winter when ski enthusiasts from all over head to Zakopane  in search of fresh powder. So if you want the total mountain resort experience with the  skiing and the après-ski  nightlife  its best that you book your vacation rental for the coming ski season.

Maritime pursuits, historic homes lure you to the port city of Galveston, Texas

Published November 24, 2008 USA , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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Galveston is a port city and popular beach resort located on a barrier island just off the coast of mainland Texas.  This port city was an important center of trade and industry in the 19th century as it had well developed banking, plantation and fishing industries. The booming city of Galveston at this time had more millionaires than anywhere else in the US and it was often referred to as the Wall Street of the South.

The US congress declared the port city of Galveston an official port of entry in 1837 and  the city  began to receive so  many immigrants that it soon came to be known as “Little Ellis Island” . The rich history of Galveston immigrant population is meticulously chronicled in one the city’s major attractions, the Texas Seaport Museum. The museum has a database of over 133,000 names of immigrants who passed through the port of Galveston and this database is an invaluable source for genealogists and history buffs. Another attraction at the museum is a tall iron-hulled ship Elissa which dates back to 1877 and is associated with many an amazing immigrant story.

Your vacation rental at a historic maritime home in Galveston

Your vacation rental at a historic maritime home in Galveston

Tourists from all over the US come to holiday in Galveston and take in its many sights like its various historic districts that boast of over a thousand well restored Victorian homes and buildings.  Many of these homes and buildings are more than seventy-five years old and are fine exponents of late 19th century and early 20th century architecture. In fact several of these buildings are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Apart from museums and historic homes, tourists also come to Galveston for its long stretch of golden sand beaches which have something for every kind of vacationer. Moreover since this port city is an important center for  the Texan fishing industry, tourists know that they will be assured of a constant supply of fresh, delicious seafood at Galveston’s many excellent seafood restaurants like Spot, Joescrab shack and Fish Tales.

Become a beach comber at your ocean front Galveston vacation rental

Become a beach comber at your ocean front Galveston vacation rental

If you choose to vacation in Galveston you can actually choose to book vacation rental in one of the port city’s many historic homes which have now been converted into vacation rentals. If historic homes are not your cup of tea, then you can opt for a more modern beach side vacation rental from where you have easy access to the many delights of Galveston’s golden sand beaches. From your beach front vacation rental you can also easily step on to a pier to fish for your supper like many of the locals for whom fishing is a passion   though if you are visiting Galveston with family you may want to indulge in more social past times  like spending a day at Galveston’s   immensely popular Moody Gardens.

Galveston’s Moody Gardens are a hub of activity as they boast of many attractions like two state of the art theaters, a huge aquarium and a verdant botanical garden which has a spectacular Rainforest pyramid that has exotic displays of flora and fauna from all over the world.  The Moody Gardens are especially interesting for children as they have many play grounds and pools and encompass a Discovery Pyramid where NASA has installed many interactive fascinating exhibits.

Galveston's Moody Gardens have much to offer for all the family Photo eLLen XD

Moody Gardens photo: eLLenXD

The port city of  Galveston in Texas is fun vacation spot for all the family

Istanbul for Example

Published November 21, 2008 Europe , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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Everyone I know who has returned from a visit to Istanbul wants to move there. No kidding.

Maybe it’s the diversity. What can you say about a country where the state-run Turkish television and radio network (TRT) is planning on broadcasting in 30 languages on its web site?

Istanbul has had lots of names, too, including Byzantium and Constantinople. The city even spans two continents, Europe and Asia. It’s been on everybody’s trade route ever since its founding. There’s access to two seas, too: the Med and the Black Sea.

So, what I’m saying here is that instead of visiting those 7 European countryies in 13 days like you were planning on doing, why not just get an apartment in Istanbul for two weeks and see two continents where folks speak lots of different languages? Not to mention lots of religions, spices, and some mighty strange toilets…

And there are those Bazaars, full of hand crafted things. Hey, Meester, you want a rug? This has to be the national call of Turkey during tourist season. Where do tourists, even with their bigger than life baggage, put a rug for Pete sakes?

And you have to go have a Turkish bath. Those were the good old days, eh? I mean when people bathed together in public.

So to Istanbul. Chill out in the melting pot. Tell me how it was. I’ll be right behind you.

Escape to the Golden isle in Georgia to relax and rejeuvenate your body and soul

Published November 21, 2008 USA , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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On the coast of the southern US state of Georgia lies a tranquil paradise in the form of Georgia’s ‘Golden isles’. These golden isles which are made up of four barrier islands-St Simons island, Sea Island, Little St Simons island and Jekyll Island are all accessible from the main land city of Brunswick. These islands were named the golden islands by the Spanish explorers who came here more than four hundred years ago in search of gold and instead found a serene stunning paradise which had golden sands and amiable year round weather.

Your beach-front vacation rental overlooking the golden sands and the ocean

Your beach-front vacation rental overlooking the golden sands and the ocean

St Simons Island is the largest of these four sun-dappled islands which is located across the Marshes of Glynn and is accessed by crossing two bridges that have been built over the river inlets and the marsh lands. This quaint island which has an all pervading sense of calm is characterized by a lush verdant landscape which is made up of gently swaying green grasses, tall palm trees and massive ancient oaks which are filled with Spanish moss. The marshes and creeks that surround the island teem with many kinds of birds, fish, crab and white tail deer and greatly enhance the ambiance of serenity which prevails on this stunning island. Moreover the island is constantly cooled by a gentle ocean breeze which blows in from the Atlantic Ocean and no matter where you are on the island you are always enveloped with this fresh breeze from the ocean which does provide a respite from the intense southern summer heat.

Majestic Oak Trees on St Simon Islands

Majestic Oak Trees on St Simon Islands

The beaches which are the biggest draw of the island are especially beautiful as they port a golden hue due to the mineral enriched sand which is packed tightly down. The sand on the beaches of St Simons Island is so firmly packed because the beaches are constantly washed by the waters of the changing tides. Most visitors to this tranquil golden paradise choose to book their vacation rentals close to these golden sands and luckily for them many of the vacation rentals on St Simons Island are located in beach-front condominiums which afford spectacular views of the ocean and these golden sands.

Moreover having a beach front vacation rental on  St Simons Island offers you easy access to  the water based activities that are offered on the island like sea kayaking, canoeing, boating, deep sea fishing, swimming, wind surfing, parasailing and of course simple beach combing. Another activity here which visitors to St Simons Island find most intriguing and extremely entertaining as well is ‘crabbing’. The islands waters are home to hordes of blue soft shell crabs and the local islanders  stand on the shoreline to fish for these crabs in a practice which is known as ‘crabbing’ wherein they  use a piece of chicken as a bait to attract and catch the crabs. Once you get the hang of crabbing it can provide you with hours of entertainment.

Your beach-front condo vacation rental on St Simon affords you easy access to its manywater based activities

Your beach-front condo vacation rental on St Simon affords you easy access to its many water based activities

The island is also well equipped for bicycling as it has many paved trails that you can follow from your vacation rental at the coast to the center of town or the Pier. If your vacation rental doesn’t offer you a bike rental you can easily rent one in town and enjoy exploring the island on your own. St. Simons Island is also home to seven fine golf courses and is also a popular destination for golfers from around the world. Apart from all these sporting activities the island also has many dining and shopping options in its main village.

For those who enjoy sight- seeing the island also has  much to offer in the form of its many renowned national monuments like its imposing  Ford Federica which was built in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to  protect the British colonies in North America from the marauding Spaniards in Florida who had  expansionist designs. The island also has other national treasures and historical landmarks like the Christchurch Church, the Bloody Marshes, the St Simons Lighthouse and the Neptune Park which has a mini golf course, a playground and even a fishing pier. In fact the golden isle of St Simon has much to offer for everyone and a vacation on this serene tranquil paradise is sure to relax and rejuvenate your body and soul.

Break new ground on the slopes of Oščadnica, Slovakia

Published November 19, 2008 Europe , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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If you are looking for some new challenges this Ski season why don’t you head to one of the newly discovered ski resorts in Slovakia? The Republic of  Slovakia is located to the south of Central Europe and it lies sandwiched between its more well known and prominent neighbors, Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Austria. The city of Bratislava located on the banks of the River Danube is Slovakia’s capital and its political, economic and cultural center as well.

Bratislava has become a popular tourist destination in recent years as it is served by many of Europe’s leading low cost airlines and now visitors to this lively city use it as a gateway to many of Slovakia’s other attractions like skiing on its Alpine slopes, bathing in its thermal springs, exploring its mysterious limestone plateau of Karst, walking in its many ancient forests and much more.

Why not stay at an apartment house rental in the village?

Why not stay at an apartment house rental in the village of Oscadnica?

Skiing is in fact become a big business in Slovakia as this tiny republic has established many ski centers at various Alpine locations which are constantly being upgraded and are always vying with each other to attract the many ski enthusiasts who traverse the globe in search of new slopes. Jasná, Ski centrum vrátna, Ski Park Ružonberok, Park Snow Donovaly, Park Snow Vysokétatry, Tatranská Lomnica and Snow Paradise Vel’ka Rača Oščadnica  are some of Slovakia’s most popular ski resorts which are constantly upgrading their facilities by installing new ski lifts and establishing many new après-ski activities in order to attract winter sport enthusiasts  to their slopes.

In fact one of the fastest growing ski resorts in Slovakia is Snow Paradise Vel’ka Rača Oščadnica which is a mid size ski resort located near the Slovak- Polish border. The resort is easily accessible by road from Bratislava and if you fly into the Slovakian capital you can get to this increasingly popular weekend getaway in under three hours.

In order to get to Snow Paradise from Bratislava you could also ride the convenient coach service which is run by the Skibus Company. This service departs from Bratislava’s Bajkalská station daily in the morning during ski season and offers a package which includes your bus ticket and a day ski pass. These coaches then return once the slopes close for the day.

Your vacation rental at a charming Slovak Alpine cottage close to the Ski runs

Your vacation rental at a charming Slovak Alpine cottage close to the Ski runs

The Snow Paradise ski resort is located near the tiny village of Oščadnica and offers 420 metres of vertical ski slopes. At Snow Paradise, skiers can test their skills on eleven trails including a 2350 meter long intermediate trail as well as two expert runs. All levels of skiers are catered to at this resort which is spread over three valleys -Dedovka, Marguška and Laliky all of which are connected by ski lifts.  The runs at this resort are all located within ancient forests and are equipped with artificial snow.  Also located on the slopes are several Chaty( huts) that offer reasonably priced, hearty  and delicious Slovak fare like sausages, goulash, and pirohy s bryndzou (pirogies filled with sheep cheese) to help you recharge your batteries after a particularly energetic run.To enhance the pleasure of ski enthusiasts further Dedovka offers night skiing while the lower Marguška base area offers a terrain park for snowboarders. Snow Paradise opens its doors for business in December and stays open until mid April.

Actually the best way for you to enjoy its many attractions is to book one of the many vacation rentals that are available in close proximity of the ski resort in and around the village of Oščadnica. Located here are a number of vacation rentals which take the form of apartment houses, picturesque alpine cottages and modern builds all of which come equipped with many amenities to make your skiing holiday at Snow Paradise an extremely pleasant experience.

Your adorabale Oscadnica village vacation rental located close to its many attractions

Your adorable Oscadnica village vacation rental located close to its many attractions

If you choose to hire a vacation rental in Oščadnica you can also take time out from the slopes to explore the surrounding region for located close by is the Budatín Castle in the historic city of Žilina which is easily accessible via a 45 minute ride on a public bus and near Žilina is the village of Čičmany which showcases much well preserved typical Slovak architecture. If sightseeing is not your thing you could always opt for an invigorating soak at the thermal spa of Rajecké Teplice which is also located close to the village of Oščadnica. So booking a vacation rental at Oščadnica  for a skiing holiday  makes much sense as it opens up a world of opportunities apart from the skiing.

Admire Nature in all it’s isolated glory at Big Sky in Montana

Published November 17, 2008 USA , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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If skiing on the slopes of Europe is not a possibility this winter why don’t you stay Stateside and try your hand at the slopes of Big Sky Ski resort  instead?  Big Sky Ski Resort is located in similarly named Big Sky  which is located in vast and sparsely populated state of  Montana.  The region known as Big Sky is located between the city of Bozeman and West Yellowstone and it contains some of the most stunning landscape in the entire United States.

Your Mountain Lodge Rental overlooking Lone Mountain

Your Mountain Lodge Rental overlooking Lone Mountain

The Big Sky ski resort was conceptualized and created by NBC News anchorman Chet Huntley who was a Montana Native. The resort opened for business in 1973 and it has grown in leaps and bounds over the last 35 years. Big Sky Ski Resort has three mountain terrains that are ideal for all level of skiers and snowboarders. The most famous mountain located here is Lone Mountain which soars to a height of over 11,000 feet and has many trails which cater to all levels of skiers. Also located within Big Sky Ski Resort is the Andesite Mountain which is more suited to intermediate skiers. The third mountain which is  called Flat Iron Mountain  also has  a landscape which is  suited to all types of skiers and snowboarders. Apart from skiing, this resort which is located in close proximity to the national treasure of the Yellowstone National Park also has facilities for golfing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, fly fishing and tennis. So even if skiing is not your thing there is much to keep you busy in this wild  beautiful land.

Your vacation rental at Huntley Lodge

Your vacation rental at Huntley Lodge

When you choose to book a vacation rental in Big Sky you can actually choose to stay at Huntley Lodge which is a hotel that was part of the original plan for the resort. This hotel has been recently refurbished and now offers many amenities for enthusiastic skiers like ski storage and the ability to ski-in or ski-out to core base camp. The hotel is also equipped with an invigorating Spa where you can rejuvenate and refresh your tired muscles after pounding the slopes all day. Huntley lodge is just one of the many vacation rentals that are offered at Big Sky.  Some of the other vacation rentals located here also include traditional mountain lodges which afford great views of Lone Mountain and Lake Levinsky and are located in close proximity to the slopes .

A winter sports holiday in the untouched wilderness of Montana may  perhaps provide a welcome change from the ordinary this ski season.  So why dont you give it a try by reserving your Big Sky vacation rental at the earliest.

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