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Naples Vacation Rentals, Vacation Home Rentals Florida, Florida Vacation Condos, Naples Attractions

November 14th, 2009

Arn

naples-florida-attractions

The Gulf of Mexico harbors some of Florida’s loveliest cities, one of them being Naples. Well-know in the US for its beautiful golf courses, it also is a welcoming site with the beautiful untarnished sandy beaches. You can go fishing off of The Pier, a well known landmark, or charter a boat for a day of deep sea fishing. Old Naples Seaport and the Marina can provide a charter boat for you, if you choose to spend your time basking in the sun with the beautiful ocean water surrounding you.

There are more than an abundance of little shops and boutiques to suit your fancy in various realms located in Tin City which is a revived rustic maritime city with a quarter of a mile of boardwalk. There is also the Venetian Village and many other shops lining the coast.

An exciting attraction in the midst of all the usual is the Naples Zoo which includes, not only the enjoyment of the animals, but the beautiful botanical gardens exhibit.

If amusement is your ticket, then a venture to Collier State Park will bring you to a different type of park other than roller coasters. For your excitement, you can journey on a swamp buggy ride or air boat rides in the Everglades which is Florida’s famous wetland area where wildlife abounds.

All of this excitement could build up your appetite, and Naples provides you with some of the most beautiful scenic waterfront restaurants with fine cuisine to suit any taste. There are a wide variety of fares including casual and fine dining.

While traveling through Naples, you can get a glimpse of the beautiful lifestyle that the Floridians boast about. There are many multi-family communities and condominiums to choose from to reside at. Some of the most awe-inspiring homes line the waterfront and residents enjoy the luxury of walking out their back door and being able to set sail in their own boats from their own private slips. There are many single family homes, villas and condos to choose from. If vacationing, there are many Florida rentals to select from.

All over the United States, golfers come from far and near to play on some of the most well-known courses. It is claimed that when the first golf course was built, Lindberg used to fly his plane and land on the golf course, itself. Some of the most prominent tournaments are played here with names being dropped such as Jack Niklaus and Arnold Palmer, frequenting the greens. It truly has more golf courses per area than any in the world.

The beauty not only lies in the sandy beaches and the golf course, but Naples is steeped in history and culture. Settled by the Calusa and Seminole Indians and discovered by Ponce de Leon, the city holds some very historic buildings and you can learn more about them in the Collier County Museum which displays some of the old artifacts and culture which existed here centuries ago.

Naples has so much to offer from the old to the new with hustle and bustle or just sheer relaxation in one of the most beautiful cities in Florida.

Posted in News

Tags: Air Boat, Basking In The Sun, Buggy Ride, Casual And Fine Dining, Charter Boat, Deep Sea Fishing, Family Communities, Fine Cuisine, Florida Vacation Condos, Maritime City, Naples Attractions, Naples Florida, Naples Vacation, Roller Coasters, Sandy Beaches, Swamp Buggy, Tin City, Vacation Home Rentals, Venetian Village, Waterfront Restaurants

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Langkawi Island, Malaysia

November 12th, 2009

Arn

Introducing Langkawi Island

Langkawi Island belongs to a group of islands located about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the northwestern shores of Peninsular Malaysia. The island has a population of 45,000 and the capital is Kuah with a population of only 12,000. For an island of its size and a population of only 45,000, Langkawi is not a very populated island.

Langkawi was once a sleepy island and its main activity was fishing and farming but today receives nearly 2 million tourists each year, attracted by the island’s sandy beaches and sunny skies. However, the island never seems crowded with tourists since many of the accommodations are spread out around the island.

Langkawi Island

Getting to Langkawi Island

By Plane

Langkawi International Airport is about 20 minutes by car from Kuah and not more than 40 minutes from the furthest beach. Most flights to Langkawi are domestic flights served by low cost airlines Air Asia and Firefly flying from Malaysian airports near Kuala Lumpur (40 minutes to Langkawi) and Penang (20 minutes to Langkawi).

International flights to Langkawi are mainly from Singapore served by Tiger Airways and Silk Air and the flying time from Singapore to Langkawi is about an hour. There are also the occasional chartered or seasonal flights to Langkawi from Europe and Japan but there are no direct flights from cities in the United States or Canada.

By Ferry

There are also ferry services from the mainland departing from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah to the ferry terminal in Langkawi and the travel time is about 45 and 90 minutes respectively. There are also ferry services from the island of Penang (3 hours) and the Thai border town of Satun.

The journey by road from Kuala Lumpur to the ferry terminals is more than 250 miles (400 kilometers). Therefore it’s best to fly rather than take the road and then ferry to Langkawi if traveling from Kuala Lumpur unless traveling to the northwestern corner of Peninsular Malaysia is your plan.

Kuah – The Capital of Langkawi

Kuah is the capital and commercial center of Langkawi Island with a population of only 12,000. Kuah is a small town and rather laidback considering that the island receives nearly 2 million visitors every year.

There is not much to see or do in Kuah except shopping namely for duty-free items. There are also not many choices of eateries in Kuah other than a few fast food outlets. The best place to eat out is at Pantai Cenang about 2 miles (5 kilometers) from Kuah where there are greater choices.

Kuah Town

The Beaches

The beaches in Langkawi Island are for most part sandy and surrounded by the crystal blue waters of the Adaman Sea. Thus, visitors are spoilt with choices for a preferred beach destination in Langkawi. There are the popular beaches with the usual tourist trappings and the quieter beaches that are away from the tourist crowd.

The beaches of Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah are among the popular beaches in Langkawi but are rather touristy with their hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment spots. Burau Bay, Pantai Rhu, and Datai Bay are quieter beaches with one or two resorts occupying each beach and perfect places for a quiet getaway.

Burau Bay

Hotels & Resorts

There are a couple of 2 to 3-star hotels in Kuah and being away from the beach are usually cheaper than those near the beaches. Visitors staying in Kuah Town generally have duty-free shopping in mind rather than the beaches.

Those preferring accommodations beside the beach, there are plenty of options along Pantai Cenang followed by Pantai Tengah. Accommodations are mainly 3 to 5-star hotels or resorts and most have facilities such as swimming pools, restaurants, and bars. There are not many accommodations along the beaches of Burau Bay, Pantai Rhu and Datai Bay and occupied mainly by 4 to 5-star holiday resorts and expect to pay for the privilege of a quiet beach.

Berjaya Beach Resort, Langkawi

Mt Machinchang

Visiting Langkawi’s mountains should not be missed. It is possible to reach the top of Mt Machinchang situated more than 2,300 feet (700 meters) above sea level. Cable cars take passengers between the base station at the Oriental Village and the top of Mt Machinchang.

At the mountain top, there is a curved suspension bridge called the Skybridge spanning a length of 410 feet (125 meters) supported by steel cables. From the bridge, visitors can view the rainforest below and the sea beyond, which is simply breathtaking.

Mt Machinchang

Shopping

Langkawi is a duty-free island for both Malaysian and foreign visitors to the island. Popular duty-free items here include the usual alcohol and cigarettes as well as consumer electronics, leather goods, clothes, chinaware, and confectionary. There are several duty-free outlets situated in the shopping centers in Kuah including the popular Jetty Point Mall just beside the ferry terminal.

Other Attractions & Interests

Underwater World is an aquarium located about 15 minutes drive from Kuah’s town center. There are collections of freshwater and marine creatures at the aquarium from around the island and other parts of the world. Collections include sharks, stingrays, crustaceans, huge Arapaima fish from the Amazon, and Rockhopper penguins from South Africa.

There are boat cruises taking visitors around Langkawi and the neighboring islands. Visitors can make bookings from outlets located near the ferry terminal. Visitors can also book these boat cruises from some of the hotels but expect to pay more. The Langkawi Crocodile Farm is about 16 miles (32 kilometers) from Kuah and crocodiles here are bred for their skins. The Snake Sanctuary has a collection of venomous and non-venomous snakes from around the world. Another attraction is the Langkawi Bird Paradise, which is home to more than 150 species of birds.

Transport

Public transport on the island is limited or minimal. Taxis are available but few and mostly found waiting at the airport and ferry terminal. A good option for traveling in a group is to hire a van with a driver for half a day or the whole day.

There are plenty of car, scooter, and motorbike rentals in Langkawi and companies offering these services can be found at the airport, hotels, ferry terminal, and along the beaches. A valid driving license is required and many foreign licenses including those from Europe and North America are accepted.

More on my travel blog about Langkawi Island.

Posted in News

Tags: Air Asia, Border Town, Cities In The United States, Direct Flights, Domestic Flights, Ferry Terminal, Ferry Terminals, Flying Time, International Flights, Kuala Perlis, Langkawi Island Malaysia, Low Cost Airlines, Northwestern Corner, Northwestern Shores, Peninsular Malaysia, Sandy Beaches, Silk Air, Sleepy Island, Thai Border, Tiger Airways

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Intriguing Malta

August 15th, 2009

Arn

The Island of Malta has had an interesting past and is still an interesting place to visit, with more and more people choosing it over the traditional Mediterranean resorts.

Eclectic is a word you will find in most descriptions of this small Mediterranean island, with it usually referring to the mix of cultures that gives this island its unusual identity. Malta is situated around 200 miles from Tunisia and slightly further away from Libya but its closest European neighbour is Sicily, which lies a short 50 miles away across the Strait of Sicily.

The history of the island would be enough for anyone interested to merit a visit there. The island claims to have the oldest free-standing man-made structures found anywhere in the world. The Megalithic Temples, identified in 6 locations on the island, are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are believed to date back to between 3000 and 3600BC. That is around the same time that Stonehenge was thought to be constructed in Britain. In more modern times the island has been inhabited and ruled by various civilizations including the Ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, various Arabian and Sicilian rulers before the Knights of St John were given control of the island in 1530 after they had been forced to leave Rhodes by the Ottoman Empire. It is from this period that many of the islands best preserved monuments still remain. These included harbours, watchtowers and other fortifications. Next Napoleon took control of Malta, before British rule eventually started in 1814. The strategic position of Malta became an important factor during the Second World War when the island was vigorously defended but suffered heavy damage, especially during the siege of Valletta.

The Republic of Malta is now an independent state and a member of the EU and uses the Euro as its currency. Its current status, currency, location and weather make it a perfect place for a holiday, with only is lack of sandy beaches being a disadvantage. There are a few sandy beaches and more are being made artificially but they do tend to become crowded quite quickly. Favoured spots include Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha which are close together in the West of the island but both are quite small in comparison to signature beaches of other European resorts.

Flights to Malta arrive at Malta International Airport near Luqa which is 5 miles south of Valletta and there is also the option of travelling to the island by Ferry from various Italian ports.

Valletta is the hub of everything that happens on Malta and provides a good base for a stay on the island. Most places of interest are within a short journey by taxi or bus and there is a wide choice of hotels. Another popular place to the west of Valletta is Sliema which is also a coastal town with more in the way of tourist facilities. There is a long promenade with plenty of café and restaurants to choose from. The younger set tend to prefer districts such as Paceville, which lies to the north of St Julian’s and provides plenty of bars and nightclubs. The small harbour at Portomaso is home to luxury yachts and cruisers, with highly quality apartments.

Visitor attractions on the island include Fort Rinella, built by the British in the late nineteenth century, the Baroque Gateway at Mdina and the buildings on St John Street in Valletta. Sporting activities centre on the National Sports Centre at Ta’Qali, which was originally an airport base for the British Royal Air Force in addition to the other site at Luqa. It is now a leisure area, concert venue, picnic area.

Posted in Opinion