Montage Resort

Few can argue that the tiny island in central Philippines known as “Boracay” is nothing less than spectacular. With a 3 kilometer long sugar white beach, some of the lowest prices in the world and perhaps best of all plenty of good ole’ Filipino charm and hospitality, Boracay is truly a wonder to behold.

Anyone who has been there will tell you that Boracay, or “Bora” as the locals call it, is a wonderful place to spend a vacation. During the off season (from June to mid-October) this small resort town slows way down, making it a favorite for anyone looking to spend some quiet time on the beach. Backpackers love to visit Boracay beach during the off season where they can stay in lower class hostels and villas just behind the beachfront resorts, from rates as low as $15 a night!

Families love Boracay because it is a safe, affordable and offers plenty entertainment options for those on the go. Mom will love the vendors selling jewelry on the boardwalk, and growing number of fashionable gift shops, selling everything from low cost bathing suits to Filipino pasalubong. (or “gifts from your trip”) Dad will surely enjoy a $5 massage on the beach, plenty of cold drinks and over 100 great restaurants all within a short walk of the beach.

The kids and those more active will enjoy plenty of water sports in Boracay. Just a few years ago, all powered water sports were prohibited, but now there is a flourishing water spots industry that includes jet skis, water skis, wake boarding, knee boarding and parasailing. You can even rent your own speed boat to cruise around the island in style, or a more traditional “banca” boat, for a day of island hopping.

During peak season (from Mid-October to May) Boracay beach is absolutely bustling with activity. If you plan to visit during peak season, be sure to plan your trip at least 4-5 months in advance, as all of the best rooms and resorts fill up very quickly. During peak season, Boracay has a very festive atmosphere and is crawling with people, events and activities virtually every day.

For scuba divers, Boracay has a number of high quality dive resorts located right on the famous white beach. From there you can dive any one of 40+ dive spots located in the waters surrounding Boracay. Since the water is warm in the Philippines year round, wet suits are an option for many who enjoy taking it off, for an easy dive around Bora.

My personal favorite is to rent a motorcycle for about $25 a day and “explore” the island, completely on my own. There is so much to see and explore behind the beachfront resorts, including a completely different culture just steps away from the famous boardwalk. A short drive to the back of the island for example, and you can explore the famous bat caves, enjoy some local cuisine at any number of beach front cafes (for

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Bulgaria is perhaps one of the under estimated destinations in Europe. Many may not even be able to accurately describe it’s location. It is however one of Europe’s increasingly popular destinations with a steadily increasing tourist population reaching 4.4 million in 2005 and a population driven and motivated to provide the best services to the visitors. The country is simply teeming with attractive landscapes, snow-capped mountains, low set valleys, wind-blown plateaus, expansive vineyards, first class ski and beach resorts and beaches set on over 200km of some of the Black Sea’s most beautiful coastline. A jewel in eastern Europe, Bulgaria has enough attraction to mesmerize and charm even the most stoic of visitors.

Bulgaria lies on the Black Sea, sharing the western coast with Romania and Turkey, with Greece on its southern border. If pristine white sand beaches and jagged coastline is not enough, Bulgaria also has some of the most impressive mountain ranges as it’s located at the southern reach of the Balkan range, it’s highest peak in the Pirin mountains reaching nearly 3000 meters. The mountains serve for more than just ski resorts; they also have an abundance of wildlife, forests and lakes for exploring.

Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coastline holds riches beyond belief. It’s sometimes difficult to fathom that such a small country could harbour such diverse environments in the abundance that Bulgaria provides; the coastline is no exception. The sandy beaches are clean and well cared for whether you spend your time in the resorts or hunting for the special, remote, secluded beaches. The current is mild and the temperature is warm; ideal for Bulgaria’s long summer days when a morning swim is definitely on the menu for utter relaxation. Along the coast you’ll also find a multitude of spas of still mineral waters, many of which are open to the public 24 hours per day. The north coast features high plains of vineyards, cliffs and 2000 year old Roman era ruins that make a mystical type of setting. The rocky beaches of the north are often free from the hustle of thousands of bathers in the south. Little known to the grand majority of tourists is that nestled on 100 meters on the beaches beneath the cliffs of the plateau are bathing spots and some of Bulgaria’s best sea food restaurants.

While there is more than enough fun to be had exploring the country by your own whit, driving, hiking, sailing, rowing, biking, walking and more, Bulgaria is full of resorts. The resorts also have a lot to offer on the coast. The largest of them, Sunny Beach (Bulgaria’s largest resort), Golden Sands and Albena are well known and attract visitors that come year after year to enjoy these cities constructed with only one goal in mind: Having the time of your life! Many of the veterans simply buy apartments on the resorts, especially popular in Bulgaria’s recent property boom. The resorts are continually changing with new attractions appearing every year, the latest of which are three new world class golf courses.

You’ll also find a lot of cultural events along the coast in the largest of Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast cities, Varna (or Pearl of the Black Sea) and Burgas (respectively). The small island towns of Nessebar and Sozopol are among the most charming in Europe with history going back to ancient Greece and Rome preserved in sections of the towns. Sozopol also has one of Bulgaria’s most attractive cultural festivals lasting 10 days in the beginning of September. As the cradle of modern wineries, Bulgaria has vistas in which vineyards are visible for miles around in the mountains and plains west of Nessebar and Sozopol.

Bulgaria has a lot of offer for all of the seasons. From late autumn till mid spring Bulgaria’s three most popular ski resorts are open. Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo (which are in contest to hold a Winter Olympics event) are among the best resorts in Europe. These resorts are set in the Pirin and Rhodope mountains, the former of which carries the tallest peak in the Balkans. The mountains offer more than just some of the best skiing and boarding available. They have a number of lakes and forests that are simply remarkable in the early autumn for camping, hiking and living outdoors for weeks at a time in the mild weather.

Further south, the capital of Bulgaria’s wine culture, Melnik sits in rocky mountains close to the Greek boarder. Many, Bulgarians and foreigners alike visit Melnik to tour the vineyards, sample the wine and visit the monasteries which are numerous in the hills and mountains of the southwest. The winding mountain roads and multitude of small rivers, lakes and damns make for an enjoyable landscape and would satisfy any outdoor-centric individual.

With an abundance of high classed resorts, divine beaches, stunning mountains and forests, vibrant animal life, some of the friendliest people you’ll have the pleasure of meeting and the surprisingly low prices make Bulgaria a wonderful regular holiday destination, especially well suited to family holidays. There are few places that can compete in both the resort and tourist activities, a culture and people that are open, welcoming and warming as well as an abundance of natural and compelling reasons to visit this country for more than just a swim in clean waters.

Karim is an American expat currently residing in Bulgaria after completing a BFA in Fine Arts in the US and a MSc in Computer Science in the UK. He currently runs a number of businesses based in Europe including http://www.homesandinteriorsbg.com and http://www.investmentconsultingbg.com, primarily in Bulgaria.

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Melbourne, popularly called the “Garden City” of Australia, is the capital city of Victoria.

When you take a stroll down its vistas and pathways, you will come to know the real meaning of its name, thanks to a large number of rare plant species, parks, and gardens. It’s also Victoria’s city of Style, and tourists who come here enjoy a great shopping experience in the fabulous shopping precincts spread across the city. Art lovers who come here can experience a good variety of art exhibitions and galleries featuring the works of top-class artists.

Melbourne is world famous for hosting great sporting events such as the Tooheys Blue Melbourne Cup and the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Australian Open Tennis Championship attracts visitors from all over the world.

Among the many other important tourist destinations are the Yarra River, where you can take a sightseeing cruise, Melbourne Zoo, Lygon Street (famous for its restaurants), Open Range Zoo, Queenscliff and many more. You can explore the natural beauty of Melbourne when you visit places like Werribee Park, which has some of the most spectacular rose gardens, and Organ Pipes National Park, well known for its fantastic rock columns. Consider a trip to the Healsville Sanctuary and you get a chance to be up and close to the most adorable native animals of this region.

A trip north of Melbourne leads you to the high country where you can indulge in adventure sports such as flying, kayaking, canoeing, and skiing. There are also trails where you can go cycling or walking.

Just 50 kilometers from Melbourne is the famous Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges. This is a hilly and highly forested region most importantly known for producing wine.

You will find Melbourne to be very cosmopolitan with all modern facilities available. Its restaurants boast of cuisines from all over the world, thereby catering to everyone’s taste.

If you’re looking for somewhere really special to stay during your visit to Melbourne, check out Simply Lush ( http://www.simplylush.com ) for reviews of luxury accommodation spots in Melbourne and the rest of Australia. Melbourne accommodation reviews cover hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-contained, romantic accommodation hide-aways, and lots of other great spots.

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