Gay Vacations: To France With Love

By Howie Holben

Traveling through France on a jaunt across Europe, or as your only destination for gay vacations for singles or couples, France is a trip that everyone should experience at least once. With snowcapped alps, the magnificent French Riviera, world famous art collections, pristine beaches, pastoral landscapes dotted with medieval castles, villages and ruins that tell the story of Frances diverse history, and the truly exquisite cosmopolitan city of Paris, travelers are sure to find exactly what they are looking for when visiting this unique country.

While visitors on gay vacations tend to stay around Paris to enjoy the accepting atmosphere that Paris is known for, while experiencing the heart of Frances LGBT culture and visiting the citys famous cultural and historical landmarks, travelers will find that Paris accepting atmosphere extends across the country and there are plenty of LGBT establishments and things to see and do no matter where you travel in France. For over 200 years, Frances community has enjoyed life without anti-sodomy laws, and civil unions have been commonplace for the last decade. With both the law and the laissez-faire attitude common among the French on their side, LGBT travelers will find France an enjoyable place and offers many wonderful gay tours.

Visitors will find a number of community festivals and events taking place throughout the year in different parts of the country, including pride celebrations in many cities, a gay and lesbian film festival in Paris and Paris world-famous pride festival and parade. A gay vacation in Paris should also include a stop at the Legay Choc bakery in the Marais district, as well as the collection of male images at ArtMenParis and the female impersonation cabaret shows at LArtishow, Madame Arthur and Chez Michou. Paris nightlife often starts early with bars opening in the afternoon, followed by clubs opening around midnight and thumping the night away, often until noon.

For men in search of the bawdier side of gay vacations in Paris, sex clubs, bars with backrooms and popular cruising spots are readily available. There are also plenty of saunas (bathhouses) to choose from; however, French saunas operate differently than what some travelers might be accustomed to in Canada or America. In France, saunas have relaxation cubicles rather than private rooms for rent and visiting saunas is largely an afternoon activity, with Sunday afternoons being the most popular time.

While most gay vacation tour destinations cater largely to men, women will find that Paris has a lively lesbian scene that includes everything from a lesbian walking group to a sex shop just for the girls. The Marais district is the center of LGBT life in Paris, and women will find a distinct Sapphic presence there, with bars and clubs that are located mostly at the south end. Ladies will also find several venues sprinkled throughout other neighborhoods, such as the Halles-Beaubourg, Palais Royal, Grands Boulevards and Saint Germain des Pres districts. There is also a bookshop in the Bastille-Republique district and one of the oldest lesbian bars in the city is located in the Palais Royal area.

Although Paris might be the most visited gay vacation destination in France, many other options are available throughout the country, including Avignon in Provence, Montpellier and Nice on the Mediterranian coast, Annecy in the Alps, Nantes in Brittany and the nude community beaches of Camargue. For those who hope to rub elbows with the rich and famous, Saint Tropez on the French Riviera should not be missed, while those looking for a romantic retreat might opt for an LGBT-owned B ... B outside of Bourdeaux. With so many gay vacations in 2010 to choose from, France is truly an ideal setting for gay romance travel. - 31515

About the Author:

Report by Howie Holben for France gay holiday destinations. Spirit Journeys also offers gay meditation retreats.

Low Cost Hotel In Bandung

By Jack Andee

Bandung which is often called the city of flowers is pretty a beautiful location. Let me tell you that it is also the capital of west Java that is the part of the country of Indonesia. It has quite a wonderful climate and let me just say you that it is quite enjoyable during the entire year. Consequently you can trip this place anytime of the year.

Nonetheless you would definitely love to save your valuable money in accommodation. In truth the majority of the tourists prefer to save the money which they have to spend in accommodation. This is really the habit of almost all of the travelers.

Therefore I'd like to list a number of the budget hotels for you personally that you'll find to be quite useful. The list goes such as this:

1. Hotel Imperium International:

I want to inform you that is definitely one of the inexpensive hotels which you may discover in Bandung. It's no star to show for its great service. But I must tell you just how it is very beautiful from inside.

Actually it is simply superb. It is definitely among the most affordable hotels in Bandung. You might believe as it is cheap hence you will not enjoy any luxury but I must tell you that this is not at all the case. I ensure you you will be quite surprised when you will enter the campus of this beautiful hotel.

2. Hotel Holiday INN:

This is yet another hotel which has lot to offer and trust me you will definitely be quite happy when you will see this hotel. It has 146 rooms and a very big restaurant. It is definitely among the best hotels which you may ever come across at this type of inexpensive rates.

These kind of are some of the hotels which are quite cheap and believe me that you definitely find them fit to your taste - 31515

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Get free info about hotel bandung Discover discount hotel bandung

Sumidero Canyon

By Selma Louise

When thinking about canyons, you'll be surprised by Sumidero Canyon which is different from the Grand Arizona. What makes Sumidero Canyon different is, while the latter is in a desert, Sumidero Canyon is an explosion of greenery, water, and wildlife.

Canyon de Sumidero is in Chiapas State, Southeast Mexico. It begins near Chiapa de Corzo, stretches for 35km. Sumidero Canyon finally ends at the reservoir of the Chicoasn hydroelectric dam.

Canyon de Sumidero can be visited by boat or driving along the miradores at the top of the cliffs surrounding Canyon de Sumidero. We opted to join a boat trip at the Cahuar embarcadero. We were quite fortunate that a number of people turned up shortly after us, so we didn't need to wait for long. After putting on our life vests we were ready to go to Canyon de Sumidero!

The boatman took us to some of the interesting spots along Canyon de Sumidero. The first one was the Cueva de Colores (Colours Cave), a small cave which has some interesting pinkish colours on the ceiling and a small statue of Virgin of Guadalupe. Later, toward the middle of the boat trip to Canyon de Sumidero, we arrived at the highest point of Canyon de Sumidero, a cliff that reaches nearly 1000m, where the mountains from both sides of the river create an impressive gate full of life surrounded by nature.

My favourite spot in Canyon de Sumidero was a curious formation called the Christmas Tree. During the rainy season it becomes a waterfall, but during the winter, when the rain is not so abundant in Canyon de Sumidero, an interesting formation is created covered with moss that resembles a Christmas Tree. It was quite a coincidence to be in Canyon de Sumidero during Christmas season to contemplate this interesting sight.

After an hour on the boat trip, we arrived at the end of the Sumidero Canyon, where the river meets the Chicoasn dam. On the way back from Sumidero Canyon we tried to spot spider monkeys, birds and crocodiles. We were fortunate to see all of them in Sumidero Canyon. - 31515

About the Author:

Need more information on Sumidero Canyon? Visit the Indie Travel Podcast for excellent travel advice for Sumidero Canyon.

Taking The Sunshine Coast Scenic Route

By Zane Archer

This drive leads through the Blackall Range, the tranquil, emerald-green hills that frame the beaches and resort towns of the Sunshine Coast.En route are quaint hillside villages well serviced with cafes, stores and galleries and to the south a scenic road swoops through the sculptural shapes of the Glass House Mountains. The journey can be completed in a day, but there are plenty of B & Bs and guesthouses for over night stays.

Start at Noosa Heads which is the epicenter of the Sunshine Coast and a fashionable resort town set on lovely Laguna Bay at the mouth of the Noosa Village. Here there are dramatic cliff top vantage points to view the terrific sandy beaches. From here head to Eumundi, a 19th century timber town which marks the ascent into the hills. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings the town hosts a wonderful market boasting local produce, arts and crafts .Next on the trip is Yandina , the home of the Ginger Factory- both a factory and a Theme Park. Ginger is a major local crop and the factory has combined its operations with a range of experiences for visitors to see how ginger is processed. You can watch cooking demonstrations and purchase jam and other treats plus ride the historic Queensland Cane Train and wander in the beautiful sub-tropical gardens.

On the way to Mapleton, stop at the Dulong Lookout situated at the top of the escarpment. The views are exhilarating " rolling green hills to the east and dense forest to the north. Take the time to explore tiny Mapleton Falls National Park which preserves remnant rainforest and a 120 metre waterfall. The road from Mapleton to Flaxton traces the ridge of the Blackall Ranges offering magnificent views east and west .Just south of Flaxton is the turn-off to Kondalilla National Park, a small park where over 100 bird species have been recorded. This is also where you will find Kondalilla Falls, an impressive 90metre cascade with a rockpool suitable for swimming perched on top!

Gerrard Lookout is located between Montville and Maleny at an astonishing 375 meters above sea level. The views here span from Caloundra to Noosa and just a bit further are views of Lake Baroon and the Kenilworth forest views. Mountain view road offers views of the Glass House Mountains which are all identified with proper signage.

The old Gympie Road is the one that cuts directly through the Glass House Mountains. The 16 volcanic plugs and plains of the Glass house Mountains are as high as 556 meters. Rock climbing is a necessity for exploring this area. - 31515

About the Author:

Many travelers looking for the right Sunshine Coast accommodation start by searching the web. Online you can search for just the right Sunshine Coast hotels to fit the needs of your group for your next trip.

Affordable Disney Vacations - Five Tips for Saving Money on Food at Disney World

By Nancy Bobby

I have to say that visiting Disney World is, for us, a great excuse to eat! There are so many great choice, and most of the sit-down restaurants are good quality. In addition, it is so much fun to try new things, so we truly enjoy the eating experience at Disney World. But to do this, it can be expensive, so we have found a few ways that work for us to help save money while still enjoying the food options at Walt Disney World. In this article, we will look at five simple strategies that can really help you have an affordable Disney vacation.

1. Think about having some meals in your room. This is very easy to do if you are staying in a vacation home, villa, condo, or hotel suite, as you will have use of a kitchen. But even in a standard hotel room you can request a mini-frig if there is not already one, where you can store milk, juice, and sandwich items.

2. If you bring your own water, juice, snacks etc, you can save quite a bit of money since you won't have to pay park prices.

3. It can be a great idea to share meals, since Disney portions are typically pretty large. Whether you want to have 2 kids share, or an adult and child, this can be a great strategy for saving money...and not wasting food...and still have everyone eat more than enough food.

4. You can eat off-site and save money as well. If you are staying off-Disney property, ask at your hotel for local restaurant discount coupons or promotions. Or try looking for online coupons/promotions through local Florida/Orlando websites. You may even find it to be cost-effective to buy a local Entertainment Book for restaurant coupons.

5. Last but definitely not least, I have to say that we love using the Disney Dining Plan. This is basically a pre-paid "meal plan" that allows you to choose from one of several levels of options, each providing snacks, counter meals, and in some cases table service meals: you choose the option that is right for your budget. The key is, it is only available IF you are staying on Disney property. Now our family enjoys having a table service meal each night, so we always choose the Plus Disney Dining Plan, which gives us one snack credit, one counter meal (entree, drink, and dessert), and one table meal (again entree, drink, and dessert) per person, per day. We use the snacks mostly for breakfast and the others for lunch and dinner, and have found that it is usually more food per person than we can eat! We usually end up getting dessert "to go" since we are full from the meal. This plan saves us quite a bit of money, as the cost per day for our family of 3 is less than we would have paid just for dinner.

Of course, with all that food we are eating, we are fortunately doing a LOT of walking at all the parks to exercise it off! Saving money on food has been a great way to help us plan a magical, affordable Disney vacation each year! - 31515

About the Author:

Nancy Bobby has been visiting Disney World for over a decade. Her top money saving guide for a Disney vacation has been the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. Discover how to have your own affordable Disney vacation and receive her free Disney World planning bonus at her website www.theaffordablemouse.com

Flights to Belfast

By Craig Wilson

With two airports serving Belfast Airport it is even easier to get a great price on lots of flights. You can get Belfast Flights to and from Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport. Belfast International airport is about 20 minutes from the city and Belfast City airport is even nearer. Both airports offer convenient public transport options to the city centre.

Belfast flights between the UK generally fly into Belfast City Airport whilst most of the European ones use Belfast International Airport. There are however some domestic flights between the UK and Belfast.

Travelling on a New York flight to Belfast or Mexico, Canada or even Florida all depart from Belfast International with airlines such as FlyGlobespan, Zoom and American airline Continental Airlines

Thanks to the arrival of the low cost carriers the flight destinations from Belfast have grown dramatically over the last few years. You can now get a Belfast flight from Blackpool or a Belfast Malaga flight at a better price as well.

If you are travelling on a flight to Belfast it would be a good idea to check and see if the flight route you require is served by both Belfast Airports. A good example of this would be a Belfast flight from Blackpool, which is served by two airlines and one has flights into Belfast City and the other goes into Belfast International. London Flights to Belfast offer even more options and combinations as you can fly from both Belfast Airports and get a flight to more than one London Airport.

Another advantage of having two airports is that airlines often compete on routes and use different airports. A good example of this is a flight from Birmingham to Belfast City with Flybe. There is nothing stopping you travelling to or from Belfast City and returning into Belfast International. Bmibaby also have flights from Birmingham but this time into Belfast Internaional.

Another great thing about the arrival of the cheaper airlines you can now go on a short break from Belfast to a great destination in Europe. No longer do you have to waste time travelling via Manchester or London and wait for a connecting flight. You can now get a direct flight giving you more time enjoying a new city. - 31515

About the Author:

Flights to Belfast from more and more parts of Europe giving a super choice of flight routes find out how you can save money on your next Belfast flight, ideas from travel professional Craig wilson of Travel Bites

The Allure of Mill Valley

By Nelson Pellew

On the face of it, Marin County does seem to deserve its reputation for being rather aloof. Situated to the north of the cosmopolitan epicenter of the Bay Area, San Francisco, the county of Marin is home to a number of moderately sized and quaint towns. Though none of these towns can compare with their larger Bay Area rivals in terms of panache, they far exceed their rivals when it comes to access to scenic beauty and any number of outdoor activities.

Though Sausalito and San Rafael, the county seat, have garnered the majority of the public's attention, it seems one of the most overlooked portions of Marin County is humble, ever-serving Mill Valley. The occasional home to reclusive actors and musicians alike, this was -- and still is to some extent -- the haven for the extremely wealthy. This explains the relative dearth of Mill Valley hotels in the region.

The Mill Valley region has always boasted a robust outdoor menu of activity. This extends from hiking and sailing to hunting and fishing. At one point in its history, the Valley was home to a sanitarium, which took full advantage of its solitude and serenity. Now, you may need a stint in a sanitarium should you think real estate and housing are on par with the national average. A three bedroom rental in Mill Valley will cost you anywhere from $3,500 to $9,000 a month.

Once the home the Coast Miwok Native Americans for 12,000 years, Mill Valley is now home to an ethnically diverse, and politically left of center population. Have been host to a number of counter-culture celebrities, such as Jerry Garcia and jack Kerouac, Mill Valley has enjoyed a rather dubious distinction of being lampooned by former President George W. Bush, when he characterize the area as being populated by "misguided Marin County hot-tubbers."

Most mere mortals will only experience Mill Valley as a tourist destination, being able to afford perhaps a few days in a hotel or inn. The majority of residents, as is the case with the majority of coastal California, are two or more generations removed from families that settled the Golden State when real estate was somewhat attainable. How does your average twenty or thirty-something managed to afford living in the region? Their parents had the foresight to buy a home when the buying was cheap, so to speak. - 31515

About the Author:

When reserving rooms in Mill Valley hotels, you must book well in advance, especailly in the summer and spring. Woe to the family that fails to book in advance.