20 sweet spots for winter the best places to travel to for winter value

In life, being in the right place at the right time can come down to serendipity, but in travel, it is almost always the result of good planning.

To avoid crowds and inflated prices, we recommend the period between high and low seasons when the weather is fine, places are still open and happy to welcome travelers, and you can explore a destination at your own pace. We call this magical time and space continuum the Sweet Spot and make it a point to round up the best of them for you each season.

We've covered the 20 best places to travel for value this winter and grouped them by region — follow the links to right to discover this season's Sweet Spots

Winter forecast: With the exception of its southernmost terrain, the U.S. and Canada experience the colder side of winter. Cool breezes from Canada spill into the northern United States, serving as a tailwind for southbound vacationers. The Rockies see a surge in ski traffic, while Florida celebrates the end of hurricane season. Regardless, seasonal shopping overtakes New York and Chicago, spreading holiday cheer.

1. AUSTIN
The music starts at the airport, but that’s not all this hip, funky Texas capital city has to offer. Consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the U.S., Austin embraces film, cuisine, and its outdoor terrain equally.
Why go in winter: You’ll find more package deals and fewer crowds during winter months, yet the weather still hovers around a pleasant 65 degrees. The best deals can be found in December, including during the holiday period.

2. LOS ANGELES
As the frontier of the American Dream, laid-back Los Angeles allows visitors to be a pampered star, an earnest culture vulture, a die-hard foodie, and anything else their heart desires. Head here for celebrity sightings, super shopping, and the chance to mix with the beautiful people.

Why go in winter: Spotty rains, temperatures in the mid-60s, and that trademark West Coast sunshine clear Los Angeles of its usual smog halo during the winter months, making for picturesque cityscapes, room discounts, and comfortable celebrity-spotting from Beverly Hills to Hollywood. Don't miss the Rose Bowl Parade in January, and starch that bowtie for the all-important Academy Awards come late February.

3. MAINE
From its towering mountain summits to its sandy seashores, Maine offers diverse year-round activities for vacationers of all stripes. Maritime sites abound, romantic inns flourish, and family fun spots thrive in all regions. Stay south for sparkling beaches and quaint coastal villages, or trek north for rugged, untouched wilderness.

Why go in winter: Holiday time is bustling in harbor villages, but not bursting at the seams with tourists. Winter snows bring calm to the coast, but droves of skiers shush down the slopes in Kennebec and Moose River Valleys and huff along the Nordic trails in the Highlands.

4. NEW ORLEANS
The Big Easy is a delectable gumbo of red-hot jazz, historic streetcars, lacy French-colonial balconies, powdery beignets, and zesty Cajun cuisine. Its unique blend of Southern hospitality, eccentric tradition, and unabashed debauchery give it a distinct character unlike anywhere else in the United States. The city’s tourism infrastructure – especially in the relatively unscathed French Quarter – has largely recovered post-Katrina.

Why go in winter: Daytime temperatures in the mid-60s and fewer crowds make winter a comfortable time of year to visit New Orleans. Winter is also quiet and less crowded, though New Year’s Eve draws crowds who come for the fireworks and the ball drop.

5. PARK CITY
Host to several events in the 2002 Winter Olympics, this chic resort town invites outdoorsy types to go skiing, sleigh riding, snowshoeing, ice skating, hot-air ballooning, or even bobsledding down the same track used in the Olympics. But Park City also offers plenty of entertainment for the more laid-back crowd: lounge at the Egyptian Theatre on historic Main Street, stroll through 20-plus art galleries, or debate between 100-plus bars and restaurants for a dinner destination.

Why go in winter: An early ski season in a place with near-perfect snow conditions is a bargain hunter's dream come true. Three easily accessible premier ski resorts offer bargains to jump-start the season, and the town is dripping with alpine holiday spirit.

for more:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28056073/

Holidays to Goa- Enjoy amidst the best beaches of the country

If you love sun, sea and sand, then Goa is the perfect holiday retreat for you with indiaprofile.com. Goa is the ideal romantic destination for the vacationers. Dotted with the churches and impressive edifices, this city boasts of its natural beauty. The ocean waves lapping on the sandy beaches draw thousands of travelers to Goa from all over the globe. Holidays to Goa will definitely be a memorable experience, which you will cherish all your lifetime.
Beaches of Goa
The long stretches of sandy beaches of Goa fringed with swaying palm trees are the major highlights of Goa. At both the north and South Goa, you will find the sun kissed beaches. Some of the popular beaches, which are largely visited by the tourists, are Anjuna Beach, Arambol Beach Agonda Beach, Calangute Beach, Colva Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Miramar Beach, Palolem Beach and Vagator Beach. The beaches of Goa are ideally suitable for the adventure sports like water skiing, parasailing, wind surfing, water scooter and river cruises.

Cities and churches of Goa

Visit the churches to get an insight about the cultural richness and the historical background of Goa. You can site the churches at the cities of Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Pilar and Vasco da Gama. Some of the major churches, which can not be missed are Basilica of Bom Jesus, Reis Magos Church, Se Cathedral Church, Church of St. Francis of Assissi and Church of St. Paul.

Shopping in Goa

During your holidays to Goa, you can go on a shopping spree and buy various interesting items. The beaches and the local shops are the best places for shopping in Goa. The interesting items, which you can buy from Goa, are handicrafts, shell work, carved furniture, brassware, crochet, terracotta, bamboo work and papier-mache.

Fairs and Festivals in Goa

If you visit Goa during the time of festival, then you can enjoy your trip to the fullest. The beaches are known for its multihued and eventful carnivals. The Goa carnivals are attended by thousands of tourists from all over the world. Some of the Goa´s very own festivals include Kalas Utsav, Novidade, Zatra of Shri Shantadurga, Bonderam Festival and Goa Carnival.

Cruises in Goa

Book the cruise journey and spend some thrilling and exciting moments amidst the lakes and rivers of Goa. The various cruises, which are arranged in Goa, include the following:

Sunset Cruise
Backwater Thrills
Dolphin Fantasy Cruise
Full Moon cruise
Sundown cruise
Pearl of the Orient
Pleasure Cruise
Casinos in Goa

Goa is synonymous with casinos, where you can try your luck and play games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps. Some of the premier casinos in Goa, which are largely frequented, are the following:

Renaissance Goa Resort and Casino
Holiday Inn Goa Resort
Las Vegas The Gaming Club Leela Palace Hotel
Cidade de Goa Beach Resort and Casino
Haciencda De Oro Casino & Pub
Advani Pleasure Cruise Company
Treasures Casino Majorda BeachResort

Hotels in Goa

You can choose from the diverse type of goa hotels to fit your requirements, preferences, taste and budget. Some of the premier hotels in Goa include Renaissance Goa resort, Majorda Beach resort, Dona Paula Beach Resort Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Bogmolo Beach Resort, Aguada Hermitage, Baywatch guesthouse and Bambolim Beach resort.
source:http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/82903

Bangladesh as Vacation Destination

Bangladesh is an ideal destination if you are planning for vacation comprising of natural beaches and lush green forests. Bangladesh is one of the most beautiful places on the earth. The capital of this country is Dhaka. There are many places of attractions you would love to visit when you are vacationing in Bangladesh. You could go horse riding on the secluded beaches, enjoy the cloud-reaching mountain at Bandarban by taking a gentle walk up. Bangladesh has wonderful wildlife too. Spotted deer, Royal Bengal tigers, crocodiles, sea turtles and so on are a common sight in Sundarbans. There are many roaring elephants existing in Chittagong Hill Tracts. A few of Bangladesh vacation packages include beach tourism, tiger-watching packages, honeymoon packages and many more. Cox's Bazar and Sundarbans; competing to be top of world 7 natural wonders, are exclusively popular tourists' haunts

Bangladesh is a tropical land with many popular tourist attraction spots. There are pristine beaches, national parks, ancient palaces, mosques, temples, churches and wildlife. There are many tourist packages which offer different kinds of sightseeing opportunities. A few interesting and a must see destinations are listed below.

Cox's Bazar is one of the major attractions of Bangladesh. The mesmerizing land of beauty and beaches, Cox's Bazar attractions has been charming travelers across globe since a very long time. The magnificent plethora of sights and sounds that can be experienced in Cox's Bazar is simply fascinating and awe-inspiring. With Cox's Bazar Travel Guide, a vacation in Cox's Bazar will become easy and smooth. Cox's Bazar offers a wide range of activities and things to do and to enjoy during your vacation.

Sundarbans, "the beautiful forest" is a virgin forest which until recently owed nothing to human endeavor and yet nature has laid it out with as much care as a planned pleasure ground. Here land and water meet in many novel fashions. Wild life presents many a spectacle. No wonder, you may come across a Royal Bengal Tiger swimming across the streams or crocodiles basking on the river banks. For the botanist, the lover of nature, the poet and the painter this land provides a variety of wonders for which they all crave.

You can get cheap deals on flights to Dhaka throughout the year, and once there, the cost of living is amongst the lowest in the world, making Dhaka, and Bangladesh as a whole amongst the best value destinations in the world.

Dhaka is friendly and relatively clean in the posh areas. There are many sights to attract visitors. The most important sights are the Lalbagh Fort, the National Assembly Building, the Baitul Mukkaram Mosque,National museum,Savar smiti saudo,shahid minar, national gardens, zoo & many more important places to enjoy.

Bangladesh enjoys moderate tropical climate. A vacationer could either stay in a hotel or a motel. If he is planning to stay for a longer time in Bangladesh with his family or close friends it would be ideal to rent out a guest house or a flat. The reason is a vacation home; that is "a home away from home".

It would be a good idea to move around Bangladesh with your constant vehicle. Renting a car is a good option. There are many companies offering car rental and hiring services. You could negotiate your rates with them.
source:http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/11/28/news0764.htm

World's top 10 best cycling adventures

COAST-TO-COAST, USA
The TransAmerica trail is a cycle-touring classic. Try all or parts of the 6835km from Astoria, Oregon, on the Pacific Ocean, to Yorktown, Virginia, on the Atlantic. Like the great American dream, it spans the continent - its mountains (including the 3518m Hoosier Pass in the Rockies), its prairies, its greatest river (the Mississippi) and the forests of its national parks (Yellowstone, Grand Teton). Better yet are the farms, people and home cooking of rural America. Ground winds will catch you eastbound and westward; the pedalling is best between May and September.


EUROPEAN VINEYARDS
There's magic in those hills. Squeeze it from the grapes growing in precisely planted rows and the result is the world's greatest wines. Ride it on two wheels and the days pass in sweet wonder. Most of Europe's peerless vineyards are accessible via public roads, often part of designated wine routes. In France, plunge into the fields of Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux. In Italy, Tuscany's hills help burn off culinary dalliances. You won't lose your way in Germany's steep-sided Mosel River valley. Summer's best, but harvests are in autumn.

TOUR D'AFRIQUE

Think you've cycled it all? Looking for a challenge? How about a mountainbike tour of Africa? Start in northern Egypt with your handlebars pointed south; the Cape of Good Hope is only 12,000km and 10 countries away. Not up to organising the odyssey? Join the Tour d'Afrique, the world's longest (120 days) and most gruelling bicycle event. It next sets out in January 2009 and it's a fully supported charity ride. Go self-propelled from Cairo to Cape Town through villages, deserts, mountains, fertile valleys and wildlife-rich savanna. Beware of elephants!

EUROPEAN ALPS

Europe's spine of snow-capped Alpine peaks draws the national borders of Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Human engineering has defiantly incised zigzag surfaced roads - some of Europe's highest - up and over dividing mountain passes, dozens thrusting up above 2000m. Here, dedicated cyclists test their mettle, and champions in Europe's greatest two-wheel road races are acclaimed and shamed. The mountain passes'

names alone are inspirational: Croix de Fer, Galibier, Izoard, Iseron, Simplon, Grand-Saint-Bernard, Furka, Umbrail, Stelvio, Gavia, Grossglockner, Otztaler. They'll take your breath away. Literally.

AMERICA'S GREAT DIVIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTE

This behemoth of a pedal, with more than 60,000m of elevation gain, isn't for the faint-hearted. It's a ride of staggering remoteness and beauty, covering areas replete with wildlife and arresting vistas. Declared the longest off-pavement route on the planet, the full Great Divide Mountain Bike Route criss-crosses (up and down every day!) the continental divide for 4363km from Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, on the Mexican-American border. Limited services mean planning, endurance, mechanical proficiency and some backcountry skills are indispensable. Travel in summer, but prepare for harsh weather.

PAN-AMERICAN HIGHWAY, CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA

It's epic - about 14,000km through 12 countries. Although it begins in Alaska, the Pan-American Highway from Mexico City claws through every kind of geography and climate imaginable - from lush jungles to frigid Andean mountain passes - on its way to Ushuaia at the Tierra del Fuegan tip of South America. But for the impassable Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia, the highway makes it possible to keep two wheels to the ground on an extraordinary intercontinental trek. Expect fierce Patagonian winds, drenching rains and tar-bubbling heat, as well as the open-armed welcome of people along the way
more visit:http://www.theage.com.au/travel/worlds-top-10-best-cycling-adventures-20081210-6vmz.html

The natural wonders in Africa and the Caribbean under threat

With the treat of global warming and over development destroying natural habitats, there are many stunning areas of the world which may be ruined or disappear totally in the next few decades. Throughout Africa and the Caribbean lie some of the world’s most fascinating cultural, historical and natural treasures; however, many of these sites are sadly struggling to survive.

According to a new book 500 Places to See Before They Disappear, we only have in some cases a couple of decades to visit some of the world’s wonder before they vanish. So where are the greatest gems in Africa and the Caribbean we should visit now? Here are the top five locations to see.

1) Tanzania, East Africa

Tanzania is home to the incredible, 610m deep, Ngorongoro Crater. The 30,000 animals that live there are unable to climb its steep slopes so, amazingly, have evolved to co-exist within the natural ‘enclosure’ of the crater. This is one of the rare locations that the critically endangered black rhinos dwell, of which less than 3,800 remain in the world.

2) Bonaire, Caribbean

Located near Venezuela, Bonaire is the Caribbean’s most Southwesterly island, and it is due to its remote nature, that Bonaire boasts one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world. Teeming with lustrous marine plant-life and rainbow-coloured fish, Bonaire's coast has been legally protected since 1979, enabling it to maintain this unblemished aquatic habitat. But with over 80 diving sites, around the 111 square miles of land, concerns are that its increasing popularity could lead to irrevocable damage to the fragile reef structure.

3) Namibia, Southwest Africa

Situated on the Southwest coast of Africa , Namibia with its burnished-red desert plains is a stunning natural landscape.

4) Negril, Jamaica, Caribbean

Considered one of the world’s most dazzling stretches of sand, Negril beach was originally targeted for the formation of tourist resorts, back in the 1950s
These developments, involving the dredging of sea-grass beds and the relentless destruction of coral reefs, have left the coastline susceptible to wave erosion, with the beach declining at an alarming pace.

5) Madagascar, off the south east coast of Africa

Madagascar is a country in a league of its own. This enchanted isle lies in the Indian Ocean, off the Southeast coast of Africa and is the world’s fourth largest island.The unrivaled biodiversity of Madagascar is extremely precious, but since the arrival of humans on the island, 15 species –including the pygmy hippo– have already been wiped out. Slash and burn agriculture is the fundamental cause for this crime against nature; and with the continuation of deforestation, many of these extraordinary creations are in severe danger of falling victim to the same catastrophic fate.

World's top 10 places of rest

1. Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal in Agra is surely the world's most beautiful place in which to push up daisies. The 17th century Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the mausoleum in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, using white marble from Rajasthan, crystal from China, turquoise from Tibet and sapphire from Sri Lanka.

2. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

These pyramids on the outskirts of Cairo may date back to around 3,200 B.C. but they're as space age as tombs get. They pierce the sky, unperturbed by crowds of hustlers, camels and camcorder-toting tourists. An estimated 20,000-30,000 workers built the pyramids, the largest of which is constructed from over two million blocks.

3. Dogon Tombs, Mali

A craggy mass rears up from the sun-bleached plan, one of West Africa's most stunning sights. This is where the remote Dogon tribe lives. Most extraordinary in this extraordinary place are the tombs. These are tiny buildings set into cliffs, often halfway up, with no discernible method of approach.

4. The Non-Catholic Cemetery, Italy

This overgrown garden is a surprise in a busy corner of Rome. Romantic poets Keats, who died at the unripe age of 26, and Shelley are buried here. The garden is dominated by a sharp-tipped pyramid: the fanciful tomb of a Roman general with a penchant for Egyptology.

5. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, United States.

These immaculate lawns and stately memorials are the final picture for much of Hollywood royalty. The glamorous graves at the back of Paramount studios are a veritable Milky Way of departed glitterati, including Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks and Mel Blancs, the voice of Bugs Bunny whose tombstone reads: "That's all folks".
6. The Catacombs of Rome, Italy

Ancient Roman law forbade burial within Rome city limits. Most Romans were cremated, but early Christians were buried in a series of endless, echoing underground tunnels, out near the old Roman road, the Via Appia. This underground death complex is Rome's most haunting sight - now empty of bodies but retaining early Christian frescoes, altars and icons.
7. Pere Lachaise Cemetery, France
The world's most visited cemetery has a star-studded afterlife gathering, with residents as diverse as Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Honore de Balzac and Isadora Duncan. It was founded in 1804, but languished until the management had the bright marketing plan of moving here the remains of famous people, such as Moliere, to attract business.
8. Tomb of Pacal, Mexico

In the foothills of the Chiapas mountains, lie the remains of the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, set in a tangle of jungle. It is a place of cinematic splendour, complete with rolling mist and thick undergrowth. The city's most famous monument is the Tomb of Pacal (Pacal was the city's 7th century founder-king), which is located within the glorious Temple of Inscriptions, a steep, stepped pyramid.
9. Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, United States

In 1896, Dr. Samuel Johnson, a vet, offered his apple orchard to a bereaved friend as the burial place for his dog. Today, Hartsdale, in New York, has 70,000 graves, including those of some famous war dogs, and a memorial to the Red Cross dogs that served during World War Two. Famous owners who have interred their pooches include Mariah Carey and Diana Ross.

10. The City of the Dead, Egypt

This is the most curious cemetery in the world: not only a city of the dead, but of the living. Chronic housing shortages in Cairo have driven families to live in tombs in the large cemeteries on the city's outskirts. Traditionally, Egyptians buried their dead surrounded by rooms, so that relatives could live in them during the long mourning period. These are now occupied by squatters who use the gravestones as tables.
source:http://www.theage.com.au

Delhi Travel Tour Information Tips

Delhi is a momentous city and a graceful capital. New Delhi the third largest city of India is a synthesis of the ancient and the modern. Delhi is a magnificent place to explore with your family and friends. Delhi has been a most important tourist destination and is the ideal holiday option for your tours to India.In the middle of the obligation visit places during your tours to Delhi are its monuments, museums, galleries and other places of interest. Right from shopping to visiting the attractions, a New Delhi tour is certain to chuck up many wonderful moments for you to appreciate. Each occurrence, all sound, every stench shouts that you've arrived somewhere magical. Delhi is the exact place to shop for all persons who love shopping. Delhi has abundant enormous shopping complexes.

The second characteristic is the Yamuna floodplains; New Delhi fabrication west of the Yamuna river, although for the most part, New Delhi is an interior city. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara. The temperature varies from 40 degrees Celsius in summers to around 4 degrees Celsius in winters. Delhi has a semi-arid weather with high distinction between summer and winter temperatures. One of the Famous bazaars I tartan out was Palika Bazaar on the south side of Connaught Place. There were electronics/camera/phone shops, souvenir shops, clothing shops, and DVD/video game shops. As in all of the bazaars, the shop owners were continuously asking me to come take a look. It’s derivative how the structure most essential to modern Indian democracy came up as an addition. Earlier called the Circular House, it was added to the arrangement at a later phase following the reforms which created a large governmental Assembly.

Its effect from a distance has been described. It resembles a Spanish bull-ring, lying like a mill-wheel dropped accidentally on its side. Today they house the chambers of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and the library. The boundary wall has blocks of stonework impressed in geometrical patterns that echo the Mughal jalis.To obtain a visitor’s pass to Sansad Bhawan, Indian nationals should apply to the Parliament Secretariat. Foreign nationals should apply through their embassies or high commissions.

India Gate is constructed as a memorial and was built in the memory of 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives during world war I. Located at Rajpath, India Gate is 42 m high and is popular relaxation area during the summer evenings. India Gate also act as popular picnic spot during winter. Also known as the All India War Memorial, India Gate was designed and constructed by Lutyens. Who is considered the chief proclaimed in designing the New Delhi plans? Facing the elephantine arch of India Gate is a classical version of the chhattri or cenotaph so dear to Hindu kings and the sure symbol of regality in India. Lutyens possibly designed it as a token gesticulation to keep the King who wanted oriental features happy. But chances are he would silent have favored to describe it as an open cupola or a baldachin.
source:http://www.itvoir.com/portal/boxx/modules/blogs/Blog-Detail.asp?BlogID=5400