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thejosh1980 · 4 years ago

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Update #21 – 1 week at “The Ocean Shores Resort”

A week ago we left quarantine in Adelaide!!!

It's been another week of mixed emotions, but I have to say, for the first time in months, they've been mostly on the positive side of things.

Last Tuesday, we left the hotel without too much hassle. They'd given us a basic breakfast the night before to have first thing and they called us down early; luckily we were ready and down the stairs we went. Before you know it, we were in the hotel reception taking our masks off!

Adelaide and South Australia are COVID free, so no masks, no problems.

The checkout was quick (the big bill comes in a few weeks!!), the staff were awesome and the police informative. They all understand that quarantine is not easy on anyone, and they were patient with our questions and worries. We had won the jackpot of quarantine hotels: Pullman Adelaide and the staff helped make our stay tolerable.

Jumped in a taxi (with masks on cause we really weren't sure yet how to behave in the outside world) and off to the airport. We had to leave the hotel by 07:30, because another bus of incoming “Covicts” were coming in that morning. Our flight was at 11:50 up to Brisbane, so it was yet another waiting game to check in and fly. But first... coffee! (we actually bought a coffee from a coffee shop! Amazing!! It's the small things...).

The flight was about about 2/3's full, no masks.

Landing in Brisbane we had to do a border check, show our papers, explain where we had been and all that. The check was there to stop anyone who may have COVID from coming in without quarantining. Each State has slightly different rules, and they do change from time to time, depending on hotspots and COVID numbers. Because the flight was from Adelaide and we left the hotel directly to the airport, we made sure we had no problems entering Brisbane (Queensland). We definitely didn't want any chance of another 14 day hotel stay!!!

Our original plan was to fly into the Gold Coast airport, which is only about 35 minutes from Mum, but there were no flights on our leaving day, so we had to fly into Brisbane (which is 2 hours from Mum's). My cousin picked us up (bloody legend!). We were hungry, and we went directly to Yatala pies. This was the moment I started to realize we were almost home. The taste of home! (Yatala Pies is a well known bakery south of Brisbane, a regular stop for many).

My cousin could drive us as far as the QLD/NSW border. Once there, we walked across the border and Dave picked us up on the other side. A little complicated, but sure enough, the plan worked.

The whole experience felt like something out of the movies. Not that it was all “Hollywood”. It was more like: I can't believe this is finally happening. I wasn't really in the moment. Yet.

As we were getting close to “The Ocean Shores Resort” (which is the name we have for my Mum's house) I still didn't feel calm...

Anyhow, we arrived, and if you've seen our IG or FB Story on the day, you'd know that when I knocked on the front door, we had actually surprised Mum (a little early), and she couldn't find the front door key to let us in!! So our reunion started off with a scream and eventually a laugh!!

Mum did cry, but we all expected her to cry more... ;) Honestly, I think we both had cried too much the past 2 months, it was no longer needed. It was all about joy and happiness.

After meeting and hugging Alex (some more tears) we entered the house to find Mum had a “welcome home” sign and our picture up on the walls (lots of me and Alex, can't go wrong with that!!).

It was surreal.

A quick house tour for Alex and we settled down. Lots of chatting and catching up to do, and a roast dinner!

We'd made it.

The next morning (Wednesday), a son's work is never done and I was up early to take Mum to school. She's part of the support unit inside the primary school, working with kids with Autism.

Even though her eyesight is deteriorating, Mum can still work. Driving a car; that's out of the question. Reading the “use by date” on a packet of chips is almost impossible. Keeping an eye on children in the playground, developing their social skills or helping them with their school work (considering the text is usually quite large and the pictures bold) Mum can still do really well.

I've learnt she has figured out ways to cope with her eyes. She has a great memory, so once she's told something, she can remember it really well (like recipes for cooking etc). She's still a keen bargain hunter when it comes to shopping. I enjoy learning that she's kept her life as close to “normal” as possible, making small changes to the bigger things to keep her independence.

But it's those small things that are hard to do alone, which is why I'm here...

After dropping Mum off, Alex and I spent the morning of our first full day in Brunswick Heads. This is the town I lived in from the mid 80's until late 90's. I went to primary school here, learned to surf here, and know the old names of the shops (the hair dressers is now a surf shop, the butcher's is a cafe, the ice cream shop is a real estate agent and the bank has recently closed). Lots of changes for me, lots of new things for Alex.

We also went down to the beach, the south wall of the Brunswick River, where the river meets the ocean. We watched some waves. Taking in the salt air (I don't think I ever realized how salty the air is here until now).

It was a relaxing day.

But I still wasn't quite “here” in my head and heart. Leaving Dresden back in July, only to be delayed for 7 weeks, then another 2 weeks in quarantine, was going to take sometime to overcome.

Time to pick up Mum from school... Home... Unpack a little, dinner, chatting and a little TV.

Thursday morning, it was time for another radio interview. To finish off the 3 part story with ABC North Coast Radio I did another live interview with Joanne Shoebridge. I'm always nervous doing these kinds of things, even though in the music world, I've had to do interviews, they were never quite as personal as this.

After we dropped Mum off at school Thursday morning, we drove up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse and luckily got a park up close to the top.

I wanted to introduce Alex to the area as much as I could, without overwhelming her. Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores, Mullumbimby and Byron Bay all played a big part of my childhood, and I wanted her to at least know these villages a little bit as early as possible. We'd covered Brunswick Heads and Ocean Shores a little, so now it was time for Byron Bay.

Bring on the whale watching!!

Within minutes of leaving the car, we could see whales jumping out and swimming around the cape. It was a wonderful morning. I'm so glad Alex got to see them (in fact I can't remember the last time I saw whales so close to the shore). They migrate each year around September/October, so it was perfect timing.

It was a special day for Alex...

The sun was shining, the whales were in plain sight and the tourists were kind enough to stay away from Byron Bay. COVID does have its benefits. Fewer people in these tourist spots isn't always bad (although I am quite aware the economy is suffering. The borders are opening up next week and it'll be very busy then).

Back into Ocean Shores, picked up Mum from school. Home... Dinner.. Chatting... Some TV...

Friday was the first day we had to do “stuff” in regards to living here permanently, and that was banking. So after dropping mum off at work, we drove into Mullumbimby “The Biggest Little Town In Australia”. I went to high school here.

Basically Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby are like Neustadt in Dresden. You can't walk down the street without seeing someone you know, stopping and chatting. It happened in Brunz the other day, I literally parked my car, and lo and behold an old high school friend came out of the video store to say hi... Or in Mullum, as we arrive at the bank I see an old friend who used to teach me rock n roll dancing (yeah, I can still cut a rug)... and even inside the bank, I said hi to a fella from my high school year, we hadn't seen each other since 1997.

It's a small world...

The banking took a bit longer than expected, after much back and forward we settled on our new bank accounts and how to arrange things going forward. While I've had an account here since I was very very young, I cancelled most of my stuff when I left in 2002, so now it was time to set up shop again, especially since I had my wife with me and we have a future to work towards...

We walked the street of Mullum, grabbed a coffee and we let the country hippy vibe soak in. Alex commented on how many folks don't wear shoes here and she can't believe how many new coffee shops there are for her to try (there's a lot more than when I was a kid).

Picked up Mum from school... School holidays for 2 weeks! Yippeee!!

Home... Dinner... Chatting... some TV...

Over the weekend we sorted out things around the house. Set up better internet Wifi around the house, the pool is in good condition after the winter sleep, cupboards got cleaned out and we unpacked and the car was washed (first time I've hand washed a car in over a decade!).

Sunday I watched Mark's live stream (from his front porch in upstate New York) and I felt inspired (he does that to me). So I am considering live streaming next week. I have a guitar and good internet, so why not? I just have to find time to practice ;) I'm thinking net Sunday evening here, which would be Sunday lunch time in Germany. If I don't get to it this Sunday, then maybe next Sunday... I'll keep you posted.

Overall the weather has been warm, often over 20 degrees. But the mornings are still quite chilly, with frosty dew on the golf course out back. It's not bad for coming out of winter...

Today, Monday, we went “up the coast”, to Tweed Heads.

First thing we tried to exchange my German license for a mandatory NSW (State) license, unfortunately I gotta wait for some back checks, no idea what I did 19 years ago in Melbourne, but they wanna check it out. So onwards to shopping...

Yes!!! We bought a coffee machine! Finally we can wake and with a press of a button get ourselves a cup of joe. It's the small things....

Helped mum with the grocery shopping. She knows her stuff. She knows where everything is in every shop, but sometimes she just needs me to reassure her what is actually written on the box or package!!!

So that's basically our first week...

We are settling in well. Alex and Mum get on like a house on fire. I often can't get a word in edgewise and I'm always outvoted!

I still miss Germany and I still miss Europe... (I always will). I miss a lot of the “past life”, but that's just cause Australia has moved on without me these past 18 years. Each day here I get a little closer to that homey feeling I used to have as a teenager (when I didn't know better).

In hindsight, the past 3 months wasn't too bad... We survived... But that's easy to say now...

When we were in the middle of it, it was really tough.

It was really hard packing up our lives into boxes. It was emotionally draining saying goodbye after goodbye to our wonderful friends. Playing my goodbye show was one of the musical highlights of my life, even if it was one of the saddest.

Then we were ready to leave...

As you all know, that didn't go according to plan.

That's when the really bad feelings crept in. You know it's one thing to know you gotta pack up and say goodbye to leave (you are prepared for that)... It's another when you're ready and the world says “nope, not yet”... and again and again that build up and let down was happening, and until the last 2 weeks in Germany, we had no idea why!

As some of you know, I'm not really good at spontaneity. I'm not good when the plan changes... It was tough... But...

When we took control of the situation and booked new flights, it helped a lot. We were back in control.

Quarantine was a difficult time, it got a little dark there. It brought with it, it's own set of challenges and a steep learning curve. I, for one, learnt a lot about pressure. I put too much pressure on myself. Since we arrived here, I have tried my best to relax more, in my own way at least. My to do lists are shorter...

Alex and I had already figured out how to survive the German lockdown, the packing up of our lives and clearing out the apartment. Then we had 2 months at her parents stuck in “limbo” and then 2 weeks stuck in a room together. Our marriage is really new, and we survived that without any damage to our relationship. Sure, we both have a few personal scars, but nothing a little love and tenderness wont fix. I'm proud of her, Alex has a lot of patience for me!

I'm really happy I am here to help Mum each day. Those small things will slowly become bigger things, but for now, it's great to be able to do “stuff” with her. That was always the plan, to be here in time, before things got really bad.

We've been posting often on our IG and FB stories, so I hope folks have seen the day to day happenings. I'm sure we'll continue with that, keeping you up to date visually.

I think I'll end these FB journals here, and switch over to Tumblr full time. The idea being that if you'd like to continue to read these long “new life” chronicles, I'll still post a link here when I do update there... Confused? Me too! ;)

Thanks everyone for your messages of support and love. We are very lucky, we have the best friends.... You guys rock! You're awesome! We love you.

Love

Josh and @dauntlesscoffee

#travelblog #australia #byron bay #whale watching #coming home #covid

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sawtellaustralia · 2 years ago

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Simple Living Beach Cottage with Bonus Self Contained Studio Space

#realty realestate property houseforsale

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ausmove · 2 years ago

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Top 5 Destinations to Move to in Australia

Thinking of moving to Australia? With beautiful beaches, great weather, vibrant cities, fantastic job opportunities, and friendly locals all at your doorstep it’s no wonder over 600,000 kiwis now call Australia home.

Ranked as one of the most liveable countries in the world there is something for everyone. Whether you’re wanting to further your studies or career, start a family, or retire Australia is waiting for you.

If you’re planning a move across the ditch, here are our top 5 places to live in Australia!

1) Gold Coast

The Gold Coast, aka Australia’s playground is one of the best places to live in Aussie. With world-famous beaches, breath-taking ranges, international shopping centres, fantastic restaurants, and a booming nightlife all at your fingertips – you will never be bored!

Better yet, the Gold Coast has over 300 days of sunshine per year with temperatures barely dropping below 21 degrees.

The Gold Coast also has plenty of job opportunities. There is huge demand for workers in hospitality and tourism due to the large number of tourists who visit the Gold Coast every year as well as jobs in education, business, construction, and other trades too.

With good job opportunities and affordable living costs it’s no wonder the Gold Coast is a popular choice.

2) Brisbane

Only an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast is Brisbane another popular destination for Kiwi expats.

The capital city of Queensland is home to 2.28 million people making it Australia’s third-largest city behind Sydney and Melbourne. With a vibrant economy, beautiful beaches, and great coffee living in Brisbane you get the big city experience without the fuss.

What’s more, Brisbane provides plenty of study and career opportunities. With the University of Queensland and Griffith University campuses situated in the heart of Brisbane you are spoilt for choice.

Popular suburbs with families include Kelvin Grove and Victoria Point while South Brisbane and West End are common choices for university students and young professionals.

3) Melbourne

Melbourne - the cultural capital of Australia often referred to as Wellington’s cooler sister is a city full of life. It’s home to a vibrant art scene, fantastic shopping, and award-winning cafes and restaurants.

With a population of 5.1 million, Melbourne is an incredibly diverse place with over 140 cultures, making Melbourne an inclusive and welcoming city with extremely friendly locals.

Due to its diverse culture and vibrant art scene, there are plenty of job opportunities for creative types like musicians, artist, and writers. What’s more, there are also an abundance of job opportunities in technology, education, agriculture, hospitality, and trades.

Part of the beauty of Melbourne is that it’s suitable for everyone, regardless of age and circumstance. Young people are attracted to inner northern and southern suburbs, families thrive in leafy, green suburbs like Greensborough and Dandenong, and retirees are attracted to the laid-back atmosphere and scenic beauty of the Mornington Peninsula.

4) Perth

Want the best of both worlds? Then look no further than Perth with perfect weather, beautiful beaches, plenty of job opportunities, a strong community feel, and a laidback lifestyle you get the best of city and seaside living in Perth.

Perth is one of the most geographically isolated cities in the world, but it doesn’t feel like it when you’re there. Home to over 2 million people it is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities and is connected to the rest of the world through its international airport.

If you’re thinking of hanging your hat in Perth, Dalkeith and Mullaloo and Melville are great choices for families, while Northbridge is popular with millennials and Murdoch with retirees.

5) Sydney

If you love a fast-paced city with lots to see and do, then Sydney is the place to be. As Australia’s largest city home to over 5 million people there is never a dull moment.

What’s more, it's home to the famous Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, and Bondi and Manly beach, providing picture-perfect backdrops wherever you turn.

Sydney has a range of neighbourhoods to suit all lifestyles. Whether you want to be in the hustle and bustle of the city or prefer to wake up to views of the northern beaches there is a suburb for everyone.

If you’re ready to move to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, or any other city in Australia get in touch with Ausmove for a free no-obligation quote and start your Australian adventure today.

#Ausmove #Australia #Sydney #Perth #Brisbane #Gold Coast #Melbourne

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inspiringvacationsau · 3 years ago

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12 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions on the Gold Coast Australia

Queensland has long been the playground for Sun seeking Aussies and international tourists alike, and perhaps its most iconic destination is the beach-side Gold Coast in the state’s South-East. Situated an hour south of Brisbane, much of Gold Coast’s popularity as a holiday destination stems mostly from its natural beauty, with its pristine surf beaches backing onto lush subtropical hinterland.

Given the abundance of fresh produce at its doorstep, the Gold Coast is now earning itself a reputation for its growing gastronomy scene, and is also home to one of the country’s most famous nightlife spots. With so much to take advantage of in one place, here are some must-visit destinations for any Gold Coast holiday.

Surfers Paradise - A City On The Gold Coast

As you would expect with a name like Surfers Paradise, here you will find one of the best surf beaches in Australia, which automatically makes it one of the best surf beaches in the world, backing onto a unique skyline of modern skyscrapers. But it’s not just a paradise for surfers. Cavill Avenue is the epicenter of the Gold Coast with an abundance of restaurants, cafes, shops, bars, and late night entertainment venues.

Named after Jim Cavill, the city’s founder who successfully had the name changed to Surfers Paradise in 1933, Cavill Avenue stretches right down the middle of “Surfers” finishing at the famous beachfront Surfers Paradise sign. The boardwalk that runs along the beach is the perfect spot to take it all in from sea level, with the Skypoint Observation Deck providing an optimal vantage point from 77 stories up.

Gold Coast Hinterland

While it’s understandably best known for its beaches, the name Gold Coast does sell short its rich hinterland, where visitors can get away from the action to be at one with nature.

Well under an hour from most beach-side accommodation, some of the attractions of Gold Coast’s subtropical hinterland are its beautiful waterfalls, including Purling Brook Falls, Cedar Creek Falls, Elbana Falls and Cougal Cascade, as well as its abundance of accessible nature walks. One such walk is the aptly named “Great Walk”, which stretches over 57 kilometers. Or why not get a different perspective at Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, where you can get a unique “tree-level” view. Spread across multiple national parks including Lamington, Springbrook, and Mount French, the Gold Coast hinterland is a destination in its own right, and one that is not to be missed on any Gold Coast holiday.

Southern Gold Coast

While the original development on the Gold Coast’s Northern stretch might take the name Surfers Paradise, in reality, the surf beaches stretch all the way down to the Southern Gold Coast. In fact, the 16-kilometres of beach between Burleigh Heads and Snapper Rocks, which is home to the annual Corona Open Gold Coast surf competition, has been officially declared one of the World Surfing Reserves, a list that includes Malibu in California.

But as is the case with Surfers Paradise, it’s not just the surf that is on offer on the Southern Gold Coast, with Currumbin Rock Pools offering calmer waters for those without a board. And with the Southern Gold Coast becoming a hub for the Coast’s growing cafe scene, it’s the perfect spot for a quick beach-side coffee, or a relaxed gourmet brunch.

Broadbeach - Gold Coast’s Trendy Neighbourhood

For those who want to stay close to the action, but not be right in the middle of it, Broadbeach, or “Broadie” as it’s known to locals, is an ideal spot. Long seen as the little brother of Surfers Paradise to its immediate North, Broadbeach has now become its own attraction, earning itself a reputation as the entertainment and cultural epicenter of the Gold Coast. With street artists and yoga classes adding to the “Broadie” vibe during the day, and high end dining, bars and casinos on offer after the Gold Coast sun goes down, it’s easy to see why Broadbeach is growing in popularity.

- Looking to visit other parts of Queensland? Inspiring Vacations have a range of tours on offer for the sunshine state; with sister company Travel Spree offering exclusive travel deals and offers. Don’t miss out!

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versatilestructur · 9 months ago

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What are the Benefits of Installing Commercial Shade Sails?

If you need low-maintenance commercial shading solutions, we recommend commercial shade sails. At Versatile Structures, we customise high-quality shade sails for a wide range of applications, including playgrounds, sporting clubs, childcare centres, council parks, and more. Plus, we make sure every installation is tailored to site-specific requirements for effective UVR protection and shade that transforms and increases the value of any property. Rest assured that we will work with you to design the best structures that meet your aesthetic and functional requirements.

Should you install commercial shade sails? Understanding the benefits of this shading solution can help you make an informed choice, so be sure to keep reading!

Custom-made for your property

Our shade structures are excellent investments for any business as they boost property values and extend the use of outdoor spaces, even on hot and sunny days or when there’s light rain. We offer different options, such as waterproof and leak-proof shade sails that can survive torrential downpours and retractable options that are perfect for al fresco dining spaces in restaurants and cafes. In addition, our shade cloths are tested to Parts 2 & 3 of AS1530 for reliable fire performance.

Reliable sun protection

Shade sails will protect your customers from the harmful effects of UV rays. Our high-quality fabrics can block up to 99% of ultraviolet light from the sun, making them perfect for grandstands, playgrounds, swimming pools, and other spaces where people are likely to be exposed.

Easy to maintain

Commercial shade sails don’t require much effort to maintain because they are self-cleaning. They just need some rain, and the water should wash off any debris, dirt, or dust. Just remember to re-tension them every year and conduct regular visual inspections as part of a good maintenance program.

Cost-effective shading solution

Our shade sails can last up to 30 years, thanks to advanced fabric manufacturing and site-specific engineering. Plus, we back this long lifespan with our 15-year warranty.

We’re ready to provide custom commercial shade sails to your business. Fill out this online form or call 0405-401-500 to ask about a custom design.

About the Author:

Versatile Structures is a provider of high-quality shade structures in Queensland for commercial, government, council, and domestic clients. Their offerings encompass an extensive selection of shade solutions, comprising shade structures, shade sails, commercial shade installations, membrane sails, aluminium screens, gates, billboard structures, and specific domestic applications. Their core service region encompasses Brisbane, Greater Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Ipswich, and all of South East Queensland. Moreover, their operational scope extends further based on the distinctive requirements of each project.

#commercial shade sails

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svetlanawagner-blog · 5 years ago

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The Las Vegas desert brings in scorching hot summers, which is why we don’t like leaving the apartment until sundown. Even when going you’re out at night, it feels like there’s a hair dryer blowing hot air on you.

Now that we’re more experienced adventurers and we slow , we can be more strategic on where we explore. We reserve late to early for outdoor activities, and when the heat sets in, you’ll find us indoors. If you’re visiting in the summer or live here and can’t seem to escape like the other sunbirds, here’s a list of the best indoor activities in Las Vegas.

A big thank you to CORT for sponsoring this post. All opinions are always our own. This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019

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25 Fun Indoor Activities in Las Vegas for Scorching Hot Summers and Rainy Days

It is our second year working with CORT, and it has been such an amazing experience being able to move from city to city without having to worry about our furniture.

For the first 4 years, we would either move our own furniture or deal with the stress of buying and selling every year. Once we discovered that we could rent furniture from CORT, it was a game changer.

We order the pieces that we want, they deliver it right to our apartment and help us get it set up. When we’re ready to move, they’ll come pick it up! Check out our home tour here.

Having a comfortable home was extremely important for us moving back to Vegas. Not only will we be spending a lot of time indoors during the summer, we’ve been hosting guests every other week. It’s been nice having a home furnished and decorated to help us relax and host. Read more on the CORT blog

1. The Wreck Room

4090 Schiff Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89103, map

Step into a room full of bottles, electronics, VHS tapes, and more armed with bats, bowling pins, and crowbars. Then go to town and DESTROY EVERYTHING. It’s so much fun whether you need to get your aggression out or just try something new.

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2. Las Vegas Escape Rooms

We did our first escape room in NYC when we lived there, and then proceeded to do 8 more that winter when it was miserable outside. Now it’s the summer heat we have to worry about.

We’re making our way through all the top rated Las Vegas escape rooms so we can report back on which are the best. So far our favorites are Lost Games Chapter 2 and the BASEMENT.

More: Your Guide to the Best NYC Escape Rooms

3. Dig This

800 W Roban Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89044, map

Dig This is a giant sandbox for grown-ups. You can get behind the wheel of bulldozers and excavators as the instructors show you how to use them and perform multiple tasks. The machines are air-conditioned so it’s a great way to stay cool in the heat.

4. Indoor Sports

If you love doing active things, there are plenty of indoor sporting options in Las Vegas.

Topgolf Las Vegas – although it’s technically outdoors, its temperature controlled and a lot of fun! Plus, there’s a pool you can hop in if you want to cool off even more.

Ice Skating Indoors – Las Vegas Ice Center, Sobe Ice Arena, or Roller Skating at Crystal Palace Skating Center

Indoor Rock Climbing – When it’s too hot to go to Red Rock, visit the indoor rock climbing gyms. There are a few around the city: Origin, Refuge, Nevada Climbing Center, Red Rock Climbing Center.

Bowling – Brooklyn Bowl, Gold Coast Bowling Center, Orleans Bowling Center, Red Rock Lanes Bowling Center, Sam’s Town Hotel Gambling Hall and Bowling Center, Santa Fe Bowling Center, South Point Bowling Center, Strike Zone at Sunset Station, Suncoast Bowling Center, Texas Station’s Texas Star Lanes

5. Watch a Show

We’ve seen a lot of shows in Vegas and still haven’t scratched the surface. Some of the most popular shows are: Blue Man Group, Cirque du Soleil (Ka, O, Criss Angel, Beatles, Mystere, ONE), Le Reve the Dream, Jabbawockeez, Terry Fator, Tournament of Kings at Excalibur, and Lake of Dreams.

You can also see comedy shows at Comedy Cellar, More Comedy Clubs and Shows, Mac King Comedy Magic Show, and Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. Plus there are lots of big artists that take up residency in Vegas, including Gwen at Zappos Theater, Janet Jackson at Park Theater, Christina at Zappos Theater, Lady Gaga Park Theater, Celine Dion at the Colosseum, and more.

We’re working on a separate post just about the best shows in Vegas.

6. Fly a Jet with All in Aviation

1410 Jet Stream Dr Ste 150, Henderson, NV 89052, map

Have you ever wanted to fly a plane or get your pilot’s license? At All in Aviation, you can get behind the wheel of beautiful Cirrus jets and log your hours toward a pilot’s license. Jacob logged his first hour flying. Should he keep going?

7. Ride a Helicopter

Whether you want to see Grand Canyon or get a better vantage point of the strip, you can hop in a helicopter and enjoy the views.

More: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours

8. Learn a New Skill or Take Up a New Hobby

What better time to pick up a new skill or hobby? Especially one that keeps you in an air conditioned space. Here are some fun skills you can look into if you’re looking for a new hobby:

Cake Decorating

DIY Wood Sign Shop

Sewing Classes

Scrapbooking Class

More: 101 Hobbies to Start in 2019

9. Indoor activities for kids in las

This was hard to narrow down into a specific activity, but we found so many great family friendly activities.

Interactive Museums – Marvel Avengers STATION

Trampoline Parks – Sky Zone Sports Trampoline Park or Flip N Out Xtreme

Games – Pinball Hall of Fame, GameWorks, Dave & Busters

Rides – Adventuredome Theme Park, Big Apple Coaster and Arcade

Mini Golf – GlowZone, KISS by Monster Mini Golf, Twilight Zone Mini Golf and Arcade, Rex Center

Indoor Playgrounds – Adventure Indoor Playground, Kangamoo Indoor Playground, Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center

Zoos & Aquariums – Shark Reef Aquarium, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat

More: Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

10. Try a New Fitness Class

It may be too hot outside to get your blood pumping, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of some of the unique fitness classes offered in Las Vegas.

Aerial silks with Cirque performers

Pole Dancing at Pole Fitness Studio

Trampoline Studio at Eleve Training

More: Sampling Las Vegas Fitness with Class Pass

11. Afternoon tea

I love going to Afternoon Tea, especially with my girlfriends. I’ve only done one in Vegas but plan on checking out the others this year.

Afternoon Tea at the Tea Lounge Waldorf Astoria

Petrossian Bar at Bellagio

LaPostte

Cafe Lola in Summerlin

Lobby Bar at Aria, Ri Ra Irish Pub

Veranda Mandalay Bay

The Stove in Henderson

12. Have a Spa Day

Spoil yourself with and feel refreshed and relaxed after a day at the spa. Like everything in Vegas, they don’t hold back. Here are some of the best spas in Las Vegas:

Wynn Las Vegas Spa

The Spa at the Waldorf Astoria

Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace

ESPA at Vdara

13. Hang Out at a Unique Bar

You can drink in a lot of places in Las Vegas, but why not go to a bar that really stands out? Here are some unique bars to check out:

Laundry Room (Speakeasy)

Hi Scores Bar-arcade

Golden Tiki

Millennium Fandom Bar

Senor Frogs: One Hour Open Bar

14. Tour the Coffee Shops

If you’re looking for a chill afternoon or just need a break from all the madness on the strip, head to one of the local coffee shops. Some of the most popular ones are PublicUs and Makers & Finders.

15. High Roller

3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, map

This isn’t your typical ferris wheel. It stands 550 feet tall with observation cabins that hold up to 40 people each. The entire ride takes roughly 30-40 minutes.

More: High Roller Las Vegas

16. Vegas Indoor Skydiving

200 Convention Center Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, map

We haven’t been skydiving yet, but we did get a taste of it at this indoor skydiving spot.

More: Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving

17. The Void VR

3377 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89109, map

Experience the next generation of VR where you not only get transported to another world on a screen, but you also interact with the environment around you. The VR headset is attached to a backpack which allows you to be mobile and follow along the story. We did the Star Wars one with a group of four and got the chance to fight off the Empire.

18. Throw an Axe

Release your inner woodsman at Axehole Vegas or Axe Monkeys, where you can learn to throw and axe and practice your aim.

19. Eat, then Eat Some More

Las Vegas has a great food scene on and off strip. Most people just think about buffets, but there are fine dining options, some of the best Hawaiian food we’ve had, and more. Click here to see our Vegas food bucket list.

Prix Fixe Meals – Joel Robuchon, é by Jose Andres, Yui Edomae Sushi

Buffets – Bacchanal, Wicked Spoon

Off Strip – Shang’s Artisan Noodles, Poke Express

More: 49 Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas

20. Gamble

This is kind of an obvious one, but gambling keeps you indoors. These are some of our favorite casinos: Palazzo, Wynn, Encore, Aria, Venetian, Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, Red Rock Casino.

21. Drive Experiences

If you’re hoping to show off your trip to Vegas, then you need a photo driving a fancy car too. There are a few driving experiences in Vegas like the Richard Petty Driving Experience and World Class Driving.

More: World Class Driving Las Vegas

22. Hop Around Art Galleries

Casinos put a lot of money into their seasonal displays, and some of them have world class art galleries as well.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art

The Gallery at Aria

Art of Richard MacDonald / Cirque Art

More: Christmas at Bellagio Botanical Gardens

23. Check Out the Museums

Las Vegas has a wide range of museums to check out. Here are a few you can check out:

Real Bodies at Bally’s

Mob Museum

Titanic the Artifact Exhibition

DISCOVERY Children’s Museum,

National Atomic Testing Museum

Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum

Burlesque Hall of Fame

Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Liberace Museum Collection Tour

Hollywood Cars Museum

The Auto Collections

Shelby American Inc,

Nostalgia Street Rods

Counts Kustoms

Springs Preserve – has indoor areas

24. Go on a Tour

There are multiple tour options in Las Vegas, whether you’re into mob history, chocolate, beer, or shoes. Here are the ones we went on that we recommend.

Hoover Dam Tour

Zappos Tour

Ethel M Factory Tour

More Tours to Check Out:

Sin City Club Crawl

Vegas Mob Tour

Pink Jeep Tours

Jubilee Backstage Tour

Frank Cullotta’s Casino Tour

Nosh Las Vegas

More: Zappos Tour Las Vegas

25. Check Out the Indoor Tourist Spots

Gold & Silver Pawn Shop

Coca Cola Store – tastes of the World

M&M’s World

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Map of Indoor Activities in Las

More Indoor Activities Las Vegas

Shopping – Shops at Crystals, the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Fashion Show Mall, Shoppes at Palazzo, Miracle Mile Shops, Grand Bazaar Shops

Breweries – Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, Banger Brewing, Hop Nuts Brewing Tenaya Creek Brewery, Lovelady Brewing Company, CraftHaus Brewery

Watch Sports – T-Mobile Arena & City National Arena

Essential Tips

Las Vegas Packing List for Summer

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Where to Stay in Las Vegas

Mandalay Bay – perfect for summer with their 11 acre manmade beach

Cosmopolitan – They have the best view of the Strip.

The Venetian

Find the best prices and reviews here

More Las Vegas Guides and Resources

Las Vegas Pocket Guide

Fodor’s Las Vegas

Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas

What do you plan on doing to beat the heat this summer?

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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

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funthingsfortoddlers · 1 year ago

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The ultimate restaurants with playgrounds list!

It’s EPIC! There are taverns, pubs, hotels, cafes, bistros and more.

It has all Gold Coast Toddlers covered with restaurants in Logan, Gold Coast North, Gold Coast Central, Gold Coast South, Tweed and Northern NSW.

Visit the Fun Things for Toddlers website to discover them all: https://bit.ly/42BKWfo

#restaurantswithkids #restaurantswithplaygrounds #toddlerfriendlyeats #kidfriendlyeats #kidfriendlyrestaurant #kidfriendlyrestaurants #toddlerfriendlygoldcoast #goldcoasttoddlers #goldcoastkids #goldcoastmums #eatingoutwithkids #funthingsfortoddlers #pubswithplaygrounds

#restaurants with kids #restaurants with playgrounds #toddler friendly eats #kid friendly eats #kid friendly restaurant #kid friendly restaurants #toddler friendly gold coast #gold coast toddlers #gold coast kids #gold coast mums #eating out with kids #fun things for toddlers #pubs with playgrounds

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travelonlinetips-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/where-to-eat-with-kids-2/

Where to eat with kids

Families flock to the Gold Coast for theme park action, beach chills, hinterland mini-hikes and sunny good times. But you’ll need to step up your energy levels to extreme perkiness so that you (and your little people) can keep up with this holiday to-do list.

From Main Beach to Surfers and down to Currumbin, we’ve found the best family-friendly cafes and restaurants to refuel the crew, complete with climbing spots, play areas for all ages, frothy babycinos and piping-hot flat whites for the tour guides (aka you!).

BSKT Cafe, Mermaid Beach

You’ll find BSKT right in the heart of Mermaid Beach, less than 40 metres behind the sand. The dedicated kids area on the beach side of the restaurant (with bonus activity packs) isn’t the only drawcard for families – all kids meals come with a free juice and little ones eat free here every Friday night.

While they’re known for their locally-sourced, organic, paleo and gluten-free menu, BSKT is a hit with kids thanks to the berrylicious pancakes, tacka tacos, flatbread ham and cheese toastie, and kiddies ham and eggs. Little (and big) kids can top it all off with a CocoWhip, a healthy soft serve that’s vegan and dairy-free.

Where: 4 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Thursday 7am-4pm, Friday and Saturday 7am-10pm, Sunday 7am-5pm. Hot tip: Nom nom downstairs and then ommm upstairs at BSKT Activ where they offer strength and recovery-focused yoga classes.

Paradox Coffee Roasters, Surfers Paradise

This modern coffee-lovers haven has created a great gated space for kids featuring a chalk wall, toys, teddies and games to keep them distracted while you enjoy a coffee hit, eat with two hands and maybe even have a grown-up conversation.

The all-day breakfast and all-day lunch menu is packed full of deliciousness like haloumi and avocado burger and housemade cranberry and chia fruit toast for parents, but the real treat comes in kiddie form with the Paradox Kids’ High Chocolate. Prepare for the sugar high.

Where: 10 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise. Open: Breakfast and lunch daily from 7am-3pm. Hot tip: For something a bit special, their high coffee experience is like a regular high tea, but with caffeine goodness.

Waterfront Restaurant at Southport Yacht Club, Main Beach

Want your kids to learn sailing skills while you sip your latte? Then head to the Southport Yacht Club on weekends from 9am to 10:30am so your 7 to 15 year-olds can take off on a FunSail adventure.

Once they’re back from a morning on the water, they’ll need something palatable from the “cadets” lunch menu, which includes all the staples from steak and chicken nuggets to pasta bolognaise and fish and chips. Seafood-loving parents, on the other hand, will be drooling over the macadamia crusted barramundi or salmon linguine.

In between sailing and eating, the kids will be sorted for fun at the playground on the western lawn of the clubhouse.

Where: 1 Macarthur Parade, Main Beach. Open: Breakfast Saturday and Sunday 7:30am-10am, lunch Monday to Saturday 12pm-2:30pm and Sunday 12pm-5:30pm, dinner Monday to Sunday 5:30pm-8:30pm. Hot tip: Kids can chow down on lunch or dinner for a bargain $5 on Mondays and Tuesdays with any adult main meal purchase.

Bumbles Café, Surfers Paradise

It might only be a five-minute walk from the heart of Surfers Paradise, but Bumbles Cafe on Budds Beach – facing the Nerang River – feels miles away from the high-energy centre of the GC.

Find a spot outside under a big shady umbrella at one of the best under-the-radar kid-friendly cafes and place an order for a prawn or lime chicken finger sandwich (for you) and bacon and egg slider or waffles with vanilla ice-cream and Lindt chocolate sauce (for them).

Where: 19 River Drive, Budds Beach, Surfers Paradise. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Thursday 7am-4pm, Friday to Sunday 7am-4pm. Hot tip: Go posh and book in for Bumbles’ high tea featuring housemade sausage rolls, quiche Lorraine and lemon curd tartlets.

Bazaar, QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

One word: Buffet. A crowd-pleaser for all ages, this Sunday brunch buffet is found inside one of the coolest hotels in the hood, QT Gold Coast, smack bang in the middle of Surfers Paradise.

Their epic spread includes a live crepe station, gourmet brekky bowls, fondue station, breakfast pizzas and fried chicken with waffles – all of which can be enjoyed by the kids too. Buffet-style dining at its yummiest.

Where: QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Open: Breakfast daily 6:30am-10:30am and dinner 5:30pm-late, Sunday brunch 11:30am-3pm. Hot tip: Treat yo’self to bottomless mimosas for an extra $25. Worth it.

Miami Marketta, Miami

If you’ve got kids that can’t agree on cuisines, head to outdoor street-food market Miami Marketta for 25 vendor options that’ll suit all tastebuds.

Despite the delish savoury selections available – from teppanyaki noodles and gnocchi to gozleme and brisket – the kids may make a run straight for the Dessert Hall which holds an abundance of gelato, cakes and donuts.

Live music from local blues, jazz and roots artists (with a dancefloor to boot) rounds off this fun family night out.

Where: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami. Open: Dinner Wednesday 5pm-10pm, Friday 5pm-11pm, Saturday 4pm-11pm. Hot tip: Got a group? Book out the Cocktail Garden, which opens up the private bar to you and your guests.

Paddock Bakery, Miami

For kids (both the two- and four-legged kind), this busy bakery and café inside an old Queenslander home is a great spot to enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch (or an anytime treat).

Head beyond the picket fence to explore the veggie patch, citrus trees and lavender garden, armed with one of the ample crunchy cronuts, gooey tarts and other treats that are pumped out each day.

Want something more substantial? The dippy eggs (served with buttered sourdough soldiers, bacon bits and labna) and iced Milo are high on the order rotation for the kids, while mums and dads have tough decisions to make with the all-day brekky and lunch options.

Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami. Open: Breakfast and lunch daily from 6:30am-3pm. Hot tip: Need to cater a morning tea? You can order tarts, sourdoughs, cakes, sausage rolls and other treats from Paddock Bakery online.

Plantation House Cafe, West Burleigh

Right on Tallebudgera Creek and less than 10 minutes’ walk from David Fleay Wildlife Park, you’ll find Plantation House Cafe. With plenty of off-street parking, this easy-access cafe pulls in the locals with their all-day organic and free-range breakfast treats like Boston baked beans or corn and zucchini fritters, both served with spinach and poached eggs on sourdough.

Acai bowls are ready for the fruity fans while kids can’t say no to Plantation House’s burgers, pancakes and shakes. There’s a kids’ play area with chalkboard, rocking horse and loads of toys, too.

Where: 1/43 Tallebudgera Creek Road, West Burleigh. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday 6:30am-2:30pm, Sunday 7am-2pm. Hot tip: Grab some breakfast sustenance after an early morning swim in Tallebudgera Creek or play at Marin Sheils Park across the road.

Dune Café, Palm Beach

Dune Cafe’s location in the middle of pumping Palm Beach (and overlooking Currumbin Lagoon) gives them a five-star family badge.

Scallywags who love simple breakfast cuisine will dig their hotcakes or bacon and egg slider; while lunch options include tasty nacho boats and Southern-style chicken tenders and chips. The big people menu doesn’t disappoint with rustic potato and quinoa hash for brekky, or barramundi in crispy gluten-free batter for later on.

Where: Palm Beach Parklands, 945 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach. Open: Breakfast and lunch daily 6:30am-3pm. Hot tip: Grab a table or BYO picnic blanket and take in the live music on the last Saturday of every month.

Passiontree Velvet, Robina

If your mini-me brings their mandatory plus-one (of the stuffed kind) to all occasions, book in for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic kids high tea at Passiontree Velvet.

With all the fanciness of a grown-up high tea, but with a kid price-point (and no tea in sight), this cake shop turns it on with ham finger sandwiches, strawberries, macarons and a choice of babycino or juice. Mum (or dad!) is sorted with classic English scones, finger sandwiches and loose leaf tea too.

Where: Robina Town Centre (in front of David Jones), 19-33 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina. Open: Monday to Wednesday 9am-5:30pm, Thursday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-5pm. Hot tip: Order a custom cake or macaron tower for a next-level addition to any birthday party.

Neighbourhood Espresso, Currumbin Waters

As the name suggests, there’s a strong community vibe at Neighbourhood Espresso with a casual backyard feel.

Let the kids loose in the vintage caravan cubby and grassed play area with tables and chairs and toys aplenty. Then, load up on the spiced pumpkin waffles with banana curd or chunky avocado topped with seeded dukkah, lemon and cumin oil. Kids can take a break from play with bacon and fried egg or avocado on sourdough.

Where: 4/9 Station Street, Currumbin Waters. Open: Breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday 5:30am-2pm, Saturday and Sunday 5:30am-1:30pm. Hot tip: Expect a good coffee from Neighbourhood Espresso. Their beans are brewed from Yatala’s own Supreme Roasters.

Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club, Currumbin

Whether your crew is signed up for the local nippers or not, Surf Life Saving Clubs are a pretty sure bet for good-value kid-friendly food options. Currumbin Beach Vikings have breakfast, lunch and dinner by the beach sorted with loads of specials across the week.

The Nippers breakfast menu covers simple delights like sausage, egg and hash brown or pancakes with maple syrup and ice-cream. Family faves like chicken nuggets, cheeseburger and chips and old faithful, Hawaiian pizza, are on the Nippers lunch and dinner menu.

Where: 741 Pacific Parade, Currumbin. Open: Breakfast Monday to Friday 7am-10:30am and Saturday and Sunday 7am-11am, lunch Monday to Friday 11:30am-2:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 12pm-3pm, dinner Sunday to Thursday 5pm-8pm and Friday and Saturday 5pm-8:30pm. Hot tip: Leave your car at home, and call ahead to arrange the courtesy bus pick-up and drop-off.

The Bearded Dragon Hotel, Mount Tamborine

If your family is beached out, head to the hills of Mount Tamborine and dine on quality pub-fare at the Bearded Dragon Hotel. Set on 110 acres, this country pub paddock with a huge beer garden has a bit of everything for the fam from live music and crocodile shows to playgrounds and alpaca feeding.

The Bearded Dragon team are serious about their hefty steaks and burgers but also mix in a sticky plum and maple glazed pork belly and Big Boy brisket Yorkshire pudding for good measure. Kids can take their pick of cheesy bolognaise, steak and vegetables or battered fish and chips.

Where: Corner Tamborine Mountain Road and Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road, Tamborine Village. Open: Monday to Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-8pm. Hot tip: Make a weekend of it and stay overnight in a family room onsite at Bearded Dragon Hotel.

Need more foodie inspiration for your little people? Here are some more Gold Coast kid-friendly cafes:

The Yard Cafe, 17 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach

Zest Coffee, 5/496 Golden Four Drive, Tugun

Cafe Tahbella, 11/3 Cottonwood Place, Oxenford

BMD Northcliffe Surf Club, 51 Garfield Tce, Surfers Paradise

Elk Espresso, Oasis Mall, Broadbeach

Mermaid Beach Surf Club, Hedges Avenue, Mermaid Beach

Pancake Diner, The Strand, 72 Marine Parade, Coolangatta

What’s your favourite kid-friendly cafe on the Gold Coast? Share your spots with us (and other mums and dads) in the comments below.

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toldnews-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/travel/19-best-places-to-travel-this-spring/

19 best places to travel this spring

(CNN) — Choosing between a world-class flower festival, Argentine wine harvest or trans-Africa road rally may be tough for travelers, but spring is calling and it’s time to make a choice.

Spring travel, tucked between the sky-high rates of the winter holidays and the crowds and heat of summer, is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

No longer a season reserved for retirees and backpackers, the world’s low-cost carriers, burgeoning tourism development budgets and dare we say, Instagram, have put never-before-considered spring break destinations on this year’s map. Here are 19 of our favorites, in alphabetical order.

1. Aegean Islands, Greece

Celestyal Cruises is based in Greece, giving its guests an insider view of the region.

Courtesy Celestyal Cruises

Skip the crowds, the heat and the hot, dry Meltemi winds of summer when you cruise the Greek islands in spring. Many of the Aegean islands awake from hibernation in time to celebrate the Greek Orthodox Easter on April 28.

The award-winning Celestyal Cruises is the only cruise company based in Greece, giving its two mid-sized ships an edge over other international mega-cruise lines making ports of call in the Mediterranean.

Up to 1,200 passengers aboard seven-night Idyllic Aegean cruises this spring call on Mykonos, Milos, Santorini, Heraklion (Crete) and Kusadasi (port of Ephesus, Turkey) before returning to Piraeus.

The idyllic part? In Mykonos and Santorini, you overnight in port so you can sip retsina and party as late as you want without missing the boat.

All-inclusive pricing of $1,419 covers onboard meals of local cuisine, a standard unlimited drinks package, select shore excursions with more available for a fee, plus entertainment, port fees and gratuities.

It may be too chilly for a bikini but Greece’s sunny climate, the turquoise sea and the blooming oleander on shore will sweep you away.

2. Barcelona, Spain

Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882.

Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa/AP

Spring is the best time to avoid the overtourism that spawned “Tourists Go Home” graffiti throughout Barcelona in 2018. It’s also prime season to stroll the Flower Market along the city’s central promenade, La Rambla.

Return visitors will be surprised at how much work has been done on the sacred commission of architect Antoni Gaudí. Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882. By current estimates, the stunning cathedral known for its 18 sandcastle-like spires, undulating lines and brilliant stained glass windows will be completed, as close to Gaudi’s original vision as possible, by 2030.

There’s lots more Gaudi work to see, including the private museums Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (also called La Pedrera, or quarry, for its hewn stone façade) in the Gracià district off Passeig de Gracià.

When you tire of sunning along the mosaic paths of Gaudi’s Parque Güell, head to the waterfront revitalized for the 1992 Olympics. At Club Pati Vela de Barcelona near the metallic fish statue designed by Frank Gehry, visitors can rent or take lessons in single-handed sailing on a pati catala, catamarans traditionally used in Catalunya to explore the high seas.

3. Cancun, Mexico

Millions picture Cancun when they hear “spring break” thanks to “MTV Spring Break,” a show packed with skimpily clad spectators and good-natured debauchery that aired from 1986 through 2014.

Treat yourself to Cancun’s cheap prices, sand beaches and crystalline Caribbean Sea this spring, or party at home while tuning in to the MTV revival March 19-21 taking place at the Grand Oasis Hotel.

Visitors may want to skip the cheap liquor implicated in several 2018 tourist accidents, of course, and stick to Mexico’s many fine beers. All-inclusive rates at the Grand Oasis drop to about $215 per night for a family of four after MTV wraps.

Bird-watching, eco-activities and cultural tours that abound south of the city along the Riviera Maya are an even better choice for families. Barceló Maya Grand Resort has a built-in kid-magnet: the new Ventura Fly & Ride park designed by the creators of the Selvatica.

The supervised attraction comprises a zipline, bungee jumping, roller coaster, suspension bridges and more thrills right on the resort grounds. This five-star all-inclusive’s rates are competitive, too.

4. Grand Canyon, Arizona

Celebrate the Centennial of the Grand Canyon by rafting through it this spring.

America’s most renowned natural attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated the 100-year anniversary of its national park designation on February 26.

Catch Native American cultural demonstrations each month at the Desert View Watchtower, the Earth Day festival April 20 plus many other special park service programs.

Award-winning adventure tour operator OARS begins six-day Colorado River whitewater rafting trips April 7. On the first 87 miles, ogle the canyon’s strikingly colored limestone cliffs as you float and paddle to Redwall Cavern and Nautiloid Canyon. Top-notch guides keep it fun and safe.

Moor your raft to hike to Nankoweap, explore Native American ruins and see ancient fossils.

In spring’s high waters you’ll raft 19 major rapids, many Class IV, before docking near Phantom Ranch. Then you can stretch your legs on a 9.7-mile hike up the Bright Angel Trail.

Whitewater rafting trips for ages 12 and older start at $2,755 per person.

5. Keukenhof Gardens, Holland

Landgoed Keukenhof gardeners work all year planting seven million bulbs for the show’s eight-week run.

Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto/Getty Images

This spring, marvel at the colorful mosaics made by millions of tulips at Landgoed Keukenhof, a showcase for the Dutch floral industry.

On March 21, the latest designs using new floral breeds will inspire gardeners around the world. Forty gardeners work all year planting seven million bulbs, often in layers, so that fresh blooms will appear throughout the show’s eight-week run.

Additional pavilions feature a changing selection of 20 flower and plant shows — don’t miss the orchids and lilies — where blooms are in competition.

The 123-acre display is just a small part of an historic park dating to 1857. This year, there’s a focus on Tulpenmanie, the tulip mania craze that swept Europe in the 17th century.

During the world’s first speculative bubble, a single tulip bulb could fetch 10 times a craftsman’s annual salary or be traded for huge tracts of land before prices suddenly crashed.

Keukenhof — just 40 kilometers from Amsterdam — is easily reached via public transportation and private tours from all corners of Holland.

6. Lake Tahoe, California

With snowfall topping 620 inches already this ski season, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is staying open later for skiing than any other mountain resort in Lake Tahoe, with plans to ski and ride until July 7th. (Skiers, make sure to check on operations before you go.)

Squaw Valley’s Aerial Tram, which has served skiers, snowboarders and sightseers since 1969, is an awesome ride. The average 300 days of sunshine each year make Instagrammable views of the lake and surrounding Sierra Nevada Range almost guaranteed.

Disembark at High Camp, California’s top spring skiing playground at 8,200 feet, where live music, themed parties and the giant High Camp hot tub make swimwear and shorts de rigueur. (It’s currently buried by snow but will open this spring.) Throughout the day, the scene moves down to outdoor cafes at the base village and back up to cocktails at Umbrella Bar, scenically located beside the hot tub.

Want the sunshine to yourself? Ski down to the new Gold Coast Beach Bar, opening April 5 outside the upper mountain Gold Coast Lodge and get stoked on barbecue, sunbathing among the evergreens and people watching.

Insiders avoid the crowds by making tracks to Ice Bar at sister resort Alpine Meadows, off the Pacific Crest South Bowls. Wherever you land, don’t forget the sunscreen.

7. Las Vegas

Your welcome to Las Vegas is made even sweeter by spring temperatures.

Brian Jones/Las Vegas News Bureau

Since temperatures stay well below summer’s 100 degrees F (38 degrees C), spring is the ideal time for a last stroll along The Strip to take in the many attractions.

That singular piece of real estate will soon be undergoing a revolutionary change. The city has just green-lit Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to build an underground people mover using autonomous electric vehicles to connect downtown Vegas with the airport, convention center and resort corridor by 2021.

You can still see humans behind the wheel at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals which take place April 6-8 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Motorsports Complex. If you haven’t felt the heat and vibration from four race cars zooming by at a time, catch this one.

Off-road motorcycles roll out at Sam Boyd Stadium May 4 for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, one of 17 roaringly loud races in the FIM World Championship.

If you’re craving a selfie, race to book tickets to the Supercross FanFest and mingle with drivers on the big day.

8. Ledbury, United Kingdom

Eastnor Castle and Arboretum was founded by the first Earl Somers.

Ron Bozman

Live an aristocratic lifestyle among the rolling hills and historic market towns of Herefordshire, adjacent to the Cotswolds. Eastnor Castle and Arboretum, founded by the first Earl Somers and sustained by the Hervey-Bathurst family for the past 200 years, is a hidden gem outside Ledbury.

Destination weddings and hunting parties can book Eastnor’s four rental homes. The eclectic collection of armor, tapestries and medieval art in the manor is open for group tours and filming. And, like other Downton Abbey-worthy homes, seasonal special events help fund operations.

Day trippers can bring binoculars to the Easter Treasure Hunt and an appetite to the annual ChilliFest’s all-you-can-eat competition May 5-6. On select dates from April through September, the family opens its hundred-acre wood so guests can enjoy an adventure playground, treetop walkway and picnic spots while admiring the passing peacocks.

In June, Wild Food UK runs foraging classes that introduce foodies to the plants, flowers, fruits and mushrooms found in the wild. Stops during the 2.5-hour walk include breaks to sample wild food soup and elderberry champagne. A hearty lunch prepared from foraged bounty follows. Only if you’re lucky.

9. Malta

Enjoy Malta’s historic structures before the beach crowds appear.

Courtesy Viewing Malta

Explore the beautiful coastline, lavish churches, forts and historic sites of Malta before charter loads of beach-goers arrive. Spring may bring more sun and less rainfall (by May you can swim in the sea), but you’re here for figolli, a special Easter dessert.

Figolli are almond cakes flavored with orange blossom water and marzipan filling. Typically coated in vanilla royal icing, some are blinged out with a foil-wrapped chocolate egg for the holiday. While they’re mostly shaped like rabbits, butterflies or Easter eggs; food bloggers should watch for ones shaped like men or women.

Celebrate authentic Easter traditions in the luxurious ambiance of the Malta-based Corinthia Hotels. From April 15-May 2, the sophisticated Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa adjacent to the Presidential Palace offers packages including breakfast, use of the Athenaeum spa’s indoor pool, Jacuzzi and gymnasium and more from €140 (approximately $158).

The seafront Corinthia Hotel St. George’s Bay is a more kid-friendly resort. Their Family Easter Escape has the same perks, plus a complimentary kids club program, from € 180 ($203). Both hotels are serving an Easter Sunday lunch with a choice of traditional fish or lamb dishes.

10. Marrakech, Morocco

Explore Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech’s medina quarter.

Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images

Marrakech is trending again, with the recent opening of L’Hôtel Marrakech by British designer Jasper Conran and the MadJazz Marrakech music festival expected back in May.

Go this spring to be entranced by snake charmers in Jemma el Fna and daytrip to Berber country as wildflowers bloom in the Atlas Mountains. All without suffering heat stroke.

Even racier, watch out for the dust left behind by the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc, a women-only, off-road rally. Teams of “gazelles” in any type of off-road vehicle are challenged to hit the greatest number of predefined checkpoints in as few miles as possible. They left Nice, France, on March 15 and are expected to cross the Moroccan desert from March 21 to 30.

Note that some businesses and restaurants curtail hours and services during the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan, between May 5 and June 4 this year.

11. Mendoza to Patagonia, Argentina

Malbec — a grape variety used for red wine — grows easily in this part of Argentina.

Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images

Pluck the last of the grapes in Mendoza and mountain bike, kayak or horseback ride in Patagonia this spring.

France’s Malbec grape thrives in the distinct climate and soil at the foot of the snow-capped Andes. Just an hour’s flight from Buenos Aires, the safest way to sample the distinct wines of Mendoza’s Central, Valley de Uco and Southern vineyards and bodegas (wine cellars) is by hop-on hop-off Bus Vinividicola.

Most of Patagonia is a vast desert yet the isolated Andean-Patagonian forests, called subantarctic forests, burst into color along the steep slopes of the Andes.

Tierra del Fuego National Park is more than 2,000 miles south of Mendoza so you’ll need to put in a full day’s travel. Experiencing the Southern Hemisphere’s autumn this spring is worth the trip.

12. Munich, Germany

Munich is a long way from the ocean, but people come from all over the world to surf the man-made Eisbachwelle, a year-round surfing spot in the German city.

Surf’s up in Munich! Dive in and get amped with local surfers on Munich’s 1.2-mile Eisbach, a manmade tributary of the Isar River designed with waves and a thundering waterfall.

This unusual feature is located in Englischer Garten, a favorite Munich park designed by Benjamin Thompson in the British style 225 years ago. Surfing is just part of a chill recreational scene in an urban oasis larger than New York’s Central Park.

Eisbach’s three-foot wave is only conquered by experienced surfers, so you’ll want to join spectators on the shoreline.

Then grab a cold one at Chinesischer Turm, the Chinese Tower’s 7,000-seat beer garden, which opens when spring arrives. Their crispy roast pork and potato dumplings lunch is only about €7 and, from April to October, you can work it off at the historic children’s merry-go-round.

13. Naoshima Island, Japan

Naoshima Island is home to beautiful displays of outdoor art.

Benesse Art Site Naoshima

Be reborn with a transformational journey to the Seto Inland Sea, where fishing villages shelter priceless contemporary art and architecture by modern masters.

Outdoor galleries and cherry groves seeded by Benesse Holdings and the Fukutake Foundation have inspired villagers on Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima to convert homes to guesthouses and tag doors and buses with stunning graffiti.

Reaching Benesse Art Site Naoshima is an exquisite lesson in patience rewarded by a polka dot ferry to a port where Japanese visionary Yayoi Kusama placed an enormous spotted pumpkin. The legendary architect Tadao Ando’s Chichu Art Museum guides natural light onto five huge Monets and works by James Turrell and Walter de Maria.

International artists have been commissioned to install projects in abandoned teak homes. There’s also a stunning gallery at Benesse House, the Ando-designed luxury hotel where guests can commune with their own unique artwork overnight.

Why not turn the day into a scavenger hunt of the art by foot, bus or bike? Day trips to Teshima and Inujima are a bonus.

14. Orlando, Florida

Among the millions of blooms are dozens of fan-favorite Disney-themed topiaries. If you’re headed to Soarin’ and don’t have time to, er, smell the roses, check out the ones near the park’s entrance.

This spring, topiary artists are using a wider variety of plant materials to represent Disney characters’ facial features in boxwood and verdant hues. If you’ve never seen a green Snow White, she’s standing near the Germany pavilion with the Seven Dwarfs.

Home gardeners appreciate the expert-led gardening seminars, which are included in the regular Epcot admission along with the daily Garden Rocks concert series; Outdoor Kitchens for sampling; and children’s play gardens illustrating nutrition and wellness.

15. Penang, Malaysia

Spring is the ideal time to viist Penang island before the rainy season arrives.

Vincent Thian/AP

Get up close to a 130-million-year-old rainforest at The Habitat on Penang Hill. As the rains build from April to October, spring is the ideal time for an authentic tropical rainforest adventure.

Designed to be minimally disruptive, 4×4 vehicles and cable cars transport visitors up to the dense jungle. Everyone from thrill-seekers to elders finds their comfort zone on a nature trail, treetop walk or Aerial Trail to watch as Asian Fairy Bluebirds, Racquet-tailed Drongos, Brahminy Kites and other exotic species fly by.

It took a visionary government to protect this prehistoric ecosystem in 1910, when only the colonial-era ruins of a British Hill Station remained. A century later, the local Cockrell family began developing an eco-tourism attraction on land adjacent to the Government Hill Permanent Forest Reserve.

Scientists estimate the Malaysian rainforest hosts 20 percent of the world’s animal species and uncountable plant species. The Habitat’s canopy walk, home to Langurs or Dusky Leaf monkeys, provides access to rare wildlife and stunning views of valleys, headlands, the city of Georgetown and the glittering Andaman Sea beyond.

16. Puerto Rico

Post Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is welcoming visitors to enjoy its lovely beaches, historic sites and natural wonders.

Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

Hit the beach in Puerto Rico, a heavenly slice of the Caribbean boasting seven Blue Flag beaches and travel bargains this spring.

After a painful recovery from 2017’s Hurricane Maria and attention to the island by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, the island came in fifth on an Allianz Global Assistance survey of top International Spring Break destinations.

The Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is one of the most buzz-worthy new hotels. Transformed from plantation to resort by Laurance Rockefeller in the 1950s, the beachfront Dorado Beach upped its game during extensive hurricane repair and re-landscaping.

Now more relaxed and local in style, Taino-inspired rugs and bed throws, neutral tones and discreet private plunge pools let the surrounding turquoise sea and golden sand take center stage.

It’s a great deal because Americans don’t need a passport to get to this Caribbean island and can take competitively cheap flights or backpacker-style ferries from Santo Domingo and the US Virgin Islands to get there.

17. Queenstown, New Zealand

While it’s true that New Zealand is still grieving a terrorist attack at a Christchurch mosque on the country’s South Island, visitors are still welcome to enjoy this remarkable country. Take advantage of the southern hemisphere’s reverse seasonality to celebrate the fall harvest with food and entertainment.

It’s all part of the fun at the 35th annual Akarua Arrowtown Autumn Festival outside Queenstown, also on South Island, coming up April 23-28. Scheduled events include very popular children’s workshops, a village parade, photo competitions, gold panning contests, a dog show and even rubber ducky races.

From March to May, the local cottonwoods turn yellow along the Arrowtown River and the hills are ablaze with color. If you can keep your eyes open, bungy jumping is a great way to appreciate the region’s fall foliage.

Queenstown’s local hero A.J. Hackett invented the unlikely sport at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge. Strap into a full body harness, dive head first off the bridge and take a 60mph flight upside down across the Nevis Valley for spectacular views.

18. St. Louis Zoo, Missouri

Animals are having babies at the St. Louis Zoo.

Kari R. Frey/St. Louis Zoo

As central to the city’s image as the iconic silver Gateway Arch, Forest Park is home to many free attractions including Shakespeare in the Park, art and history museums and a famous zoo.

Voted into the world’s top 10 zoos by TripAdvisor readers, the St. Louis Zoo displays 600 species in realistic natural habitats and provides visitors with creature comforts including on-site guides, a vintage mini-railroad and trained animal shows.

Even if you miss the opening game of the Cardinals, spring is the season for zoo babies and 10 ungulate calves — think Bambi — are now on view. Look for three baby Speke’s Gazelles, two Addaxes, a Soemmerring’s Gazelle, two Lesser Kudus and two Lowland Nyalas. Don’t miss Nova, a Grevy’s Zebra foal born New Year’s Eve, who likes to appear in the Red Rocks exhibit when the weather is good.

19. Washington, DC

It’s almost time to celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival in the US capital.

Marshall Keys/AFP/Getty Images

America’s friendship with Japan dates to 1912, when Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki gifted Yoshino cherry trees to the country’s capital.

Today, the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring with a nod to Japanese culture. March 20 — April 14 is the predicted blooming period around the Tidal Basin. The National Park Service forecasts that peak bloom — when 70 percent of the blossoms are open — will occur April 2, depending on weather.

Several local hotels are celebrating with blossom-themed packages. At the Capital Hilton, for example, guests receive breakfast, a welcome Bento Box filled with Japanese sweets, a kite to fly March 30 at the Blossom Kite Festival and access to the Petalpalooza family day events April 6.

Adults can toast the arrival of spring during the nightly Japanese Cherry Blossom Happy Hour, a Japanese whisky tasting with appetizer pairing at the Capital Hilton’s Statler Lounge.

Kyle McCarthy, New York City-based traveler, is co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum. She has authored a dozen Frommer guidebooks and contributes to many publications and digital guides.

#latest travel news #Spring travel 2019: 19 best places to go - CNN #travel deals #travel magazine #travel map #travel money #travel news #travel-play

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quote-it · 8 years ago

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It was Sunday, and I was waiting on a train to the city to change to a train for the Gold Coast. I decided to have breakfast at Hog’s Breath Cafe, right on the waterfront at Cleveland Marina. It was a perfect day

The Marina was very quiet. One yacht had moored on the public pier, and the owners came ashore. When I returned, the same pier had a collection of fishermen with their rods and buckets fishing, mostly older grandpas and grandsons. Next to the Marina are some apartments which I assume are mostly inhabited by the retired and the elderly. I doubt that anyone else can afford to own properties along the Marina. I know that every time I have seen someone, which is not often as residents in these areas keep themselves well hidden, they have been much older than me, and that is old.

There was no-one around when I arrived, but when I was leaving I saw that the other cafes along the Marina had customers mostly eating cakes. I looked at the breakfasts to see if any looked good, to see that cakes was selected everywhere. I wondered if cost was a factor. My Muesli cost $12.95 and I had free water as the coffee was $4.50. I also had a brioche at $5.95 because these items were the cheapest on the menu. A full breakfast was $22.50, and eggs were $19.00. I wanted to buy a drink for the lady at the Railway Station who held my luggage while I had breakfast, but baulked at paying $4.50 for a small bottle of coca cola. Maybe this is why people have cake for breakfast. A single cake was $8.00.

A modern boutique style marina with 75 floating berths nestled in protected waters surrounded by boardwalk at Cleveland, Brisbane. The marina has all weather access and is only a few miles from the delights of Horseshoe Bay on Peel Island and offers a choice for boat owners to cruise the open waters of Moreton Bay to the north or the sheltered channels to the south through to the Gold Coast.

http://www.peterhansenyachtbrokers.com.au/raby-bay-marina

I asked one day if there were hire boats, or tours going from here, and was told there is one, but it does not go often, and is run by someone privately.

Like all Marinas these days, the yachts appear unlived in, and sit still and silent in their berths, being a status symbol to those who can afford to purchase a yacht to leave it sitting in a paid berth so they can tell their associates that they own a yacht. My response is always, ‘..but why do you have a yacht’…implied but never stated….’when you never use it’. I never get an answer, so I say ‘Wonderful…it would be wonderful to have a yacht’ and they beam generously at me, for after all one who owns a yacht can afford to be benevolent to those who do not own a yacht, and who also have that slightly yearning look that suggests they would like to also be a yacht owner if things were different.

After breakfast I strolled the restaurants seeing that there is quite a few there, equally priced to Hog’s Breath, equally situated along the marina walkway with the same beautiful view from a slightly different viewpoint, and decided next time I must try a different one.

It was time to go back to the station and travel to the Gold Coast, so I ambled back enjoying the beautiful scenic views, past a couple of children using the playground equipment, and a lady sitting on a seat looking very lonely. I smiled at her and walked on, collected my suitcase and boarded the train to my next adventure

Cleveland Queensland It was Sunday, and I was waiting on a train to the city to change to a train for the Gold Coast.

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ridgwayant · 5 years ago

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3. Wheels

So The real adventure begins! Picked up my transport/accommodation for the next three weeks in Brisbane and hit the road! Check her out....

Like the Milennium Falcon she might not look much, but she’s got it where counts!....... Probably. In any case she’ll do the job I’m sure. It’s always been a bit of a dream to drive around Australia in a campervan (admit it, it is for you too!). Yes, of course I’d love a vintage VW Combi but those are genuine rare classics these days so I have to make do with the modern equivalent.

She’s definitely “well loved” as you might say, but she drives well enough (though with the heaviest clutch I’ve ever encountered) and is surprisingly comfortable and spacious in the back. Comes equipped with gas stove, fridge, microwave running cold water and most of the essentials I’ll need to remain alive for a couple of weeks.

So, with the van (she needs a name, ideas welcome!) picked up, I set off for the Gold Coast. The more astute and Australian geography aware among you will note that the Gold Coast is the complete opposite direction than I’m supposed to be going! There are a couple of reasons it’s my first destination though:

I didn’t know how this van was going to drive so I wanted a nice, easy first run to get a feel for her.

I needed to stock up on food and supplies and knew there’d be plenty of options.

I have good memories of it and it’s very much on the east coast tourist trail, so I didn’t want to miss it.

It’s only about an hour’s drive from Brisbane all on easy highways so was the perfect test run. If you don’t know, the Gold Coast is Australia’s glitzy playground, something analogous to Florida (there’s actually an area called Miami) or .... not sure what the UK equivalent really is here.....let’s say Newquay! It’s a highrise holiday resort (the Newquay parallel is fading by the second here!) with theme parks, Casino’s and beach front entertainments galore (perhaps I should’ve gone with Bournemouth!). It’s also a stunning length of white-sand beach with great surfing.

I chose to stay at Burleigh heads rather than the more obvious Surfers Paradise. I anticipated it being quieter, less of a rowdy crowd at least, but it’s still a buzzing town for sure. Nice town with an abundance of small cafes and independent eateries.

Not much to tell of the day itself to be honest, took a walk around town and up the beach before turning in for the night.

One noteworthy point, in addition to the van, I decided I needed a second set of wheels....so I’ve bought a skateboard! I know what you’re thinking, I’m and idiot, but here’s my reasoning:

Ever since my friend Scott convinced me to swap my skateboard for a set of rollerblades when I was about 15, I’ve felt a deep sense of regret. Indeed if my prowess at Tony Hawks Pro Skater on the PlayStation is anything to go by, I could’ve been an X Games champion by now if I’d kept it up, so I’m making up for lost time!

I do an awful lot of waking around while I’m out here, particularly along beach front paths, and rolling saves a lot of effort!

It’s good for the feet, ankles and calves.....probably!

As mid-life crises go it’s cheap!

If I get really bored (and brave) I can try to learn tricks!

My intention is to add stickers to the deck from various stops along the way, then when I get home I can mount it on the wall as an awesome souvenir!

I know what you’re thinking - Yes, I probably will break myself .......or someone else ......or their property, but whatever, YOLO!

So far I’ve done a bit of a combo walk/skate a mile or two up the beach and back trying my best not to embarrass myself or kill anyone. Not going to lie, it’s harder and more terrifying that I remember, but I’m getting the feel back. Also I saw numerous other grown men on skateboards so I may be an idiot but at least I’m not the only one!

Peace!

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smilepuma80-blog · 5 years ago

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The top six summer travel destinations that won't break the bank

REVEALED: How you can get HALF price off your holidays to Europe and Asia just by travelling during these specific months

Everyone loves a holiday and luckily summer holidays don't have to be expensive

A travel website has revealed the best destinations without the hefty price tag

They delved into pricing data and looked at trends across 130,000 global spots

Their research revealed the six best places to visit for an affordable vacation

By Billie Schwab Dunn For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:17 GMT, 4 November 2018 | Updated: 01:44 GMT, 4 November 2018

Summer holidays are often one of the more expensive times of year to get away, but that doesn't mean you have to break the bank to enjoy some warm sunshine.

Australians love a holiday, so travel website Booking.com has revealed the best holiday destinations we can visit that don't involve the hefty price tag.

They delved into pricing data and looked at trends across 130,000 global destinations to share affordable summer holiday options in the likes of Europe, the United States, Asia and Latin America.

The end result saw them calculate the most affordable month within each hemisphere's respective summer, as compared to the most expensive month of the year to travel.

Australians love a holiday, so travel website Booking.com has revealed the best holiday destinations without the hefty price tag

Cordoba, Spain

Cordoba, in Andalusia, is not only known for its amazing food and stunning architecture but also its hot climate.

It was an important Roman city and a major Islamic centre in the Middle Ages and now its charms unfold as people explore the winding, stone-paved lanes of the medieval city away from the gaudy tourist area.

In August prices are 50 per cent more affordable than the most expensive month with many travellers endorsing the city's history, sightseeing and food.

Where to stay: Apartamentos Casa del Aceite is full of charm, set in an 18th Century manor and is a short walk away from local landmarks including a Roman temple and the Jewish Quarter.

Cordoba, in Andalusia, is not only known for its amazing food and stunning architecture but also its hot climate

Apartamentos Casa del Aceite is full of charm, set in an 18th Century manor and is a short walk away from local landmarks including a Roman temple and the Jewish Quarter

Patong Beach, Thailand

Patong Beach is one of the most famous beaches along the west coast of Phuket with an extensive list of water sports to try during the day.

The beach resort town is lined with cafes and restaurants and the famously raucous nightlife scene features beer bars, nightclubs and cabarets that overflow into the street.

Patong Beach is 49 per cent more affordable in June in comparison with the most expensive month.

Where to stay: Amari Phuket is a one minute walk from the beach and offers spectacular views of the private beach and emerald waters.

Patong Beach is one of the most famous beaches along the west coast of Phuket with an extensive list of water sports to try during the day

Amari Phuket is a one minute walk from the beach and offers spectacular views of the private beach and emerald waters

New Orleans, America

New Orleans is known for its buzzing nightlife, vibrant music scene and cuisine reflecting its French, African and American roots.

It is the birthplace of jazz music and where Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout its bustling streets.

The city is also home to a range of districts seeping with art, music, shopping, restaurants, history and architecture so visitors are never short of things to do and see.

New Orleans is 48 per cent more affordable to stay in August compared to the most expensive month, but it's also a great time to take advantage of the city's Museum Month as well as the music festivals taking place throughout August.

Where to stay: Maison Perrier Bed and Breakfast is located in the uptown district of New Orleans, a stone's throw away from Magazine Street and Rink Shopping Centre.

New Orleans is known for its buzzing nightlife, vibrant music scene and cuisine reflecting its French, African and American roots

Maison Perrier Bed and Breakfast is located in the uptown district of New Orleans, a stone's throw away from Magazine Street and Rink Shopping Centre

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, famous for its steakhouses, architecture and Tango dancing, it combines faded European grandeur with Latin passion.

The city offers a vibrant holiday with an array of landmarks and sites to discover.

Travellers have given Buenos Aires top endorsements for food, tango dancing and shopping and it is 27 per cent more affordable in February.

Where to stay: Lina's Tango Guesthouse is the perfect destination for both relaxing and socialising, located in the bohemian San Telmo district.

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, famous for its steakhouses, architecture and Tango dancing, it combines faded European grandeur with Latin passion

Salvador, Brazil

Salvador is the capital of Brazil's north-eastern state of Bahia and is the pulsating heart of the country's Afro-Brazilian community.

The city is 29 per cent more affordable to stay in December when compared with its most expensive month, making it an even more appealing holiday destination.

Salvador has something for everyone as it's home to gorgeous coastlines, eclectic cuisine, and the biggest carnival in the world.

Festivals happen frequently, with drum corps pounding out rhythms against the backdrop of colonial buildings almost daily.

Where to stay: Farol Barra Flat is one of Booking.com's bestsellers in Salvador. The apartments are a one minute walk to the beach and close to the local landmark Barra's Lighthouse.

Salvador is the capital of Brazil's north-eastern state of Bahia and is the pulsating heart of the country's Afro-Brazilian community

Gold Coast, Australia

Gold Coast is mostly known for being the surfing capital of Australia, but with its long sandy beaches, array of theme parks and long sunny days, there's something for everyone.

It is 34 per cent more affordable to stay in February than it is compared with the most expensive month, so an even better excuse to visit and soak up some rays.

Top endorsements for visiting Gold Coast are beaches, theme parks and relaxation.

Where to stay: AVANI Broadbeach Gold Coast Residences is a 10 minute walk from the beach and with entertainment and restaurants scattered along the beach side, you'll never be short of things to do.

Gold Coast is mostly known for being the surfing capital of Australia, but with its long sandy beaches, array of theme parks and long sunny days, there's something for everyone

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Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6350341/The-six-summer-travel-destinations-wont-break-bank.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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