 |
| CATEGORIES
|
 |
|
| TOUR OPERATOR
|
|
|
CRUISE LINES
|
|
|
|
 |
Archive for the ‘Asia Travel’ Category
Monday, January 18th, 2010
 The magnificence of China awaits you. With its fascinating history, breathtaking scenery and exotic cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong, the stage is set for you to enjoy a cultural rich adventure of a lifetime.
Whether you wish to tread the same footsteps of past emperors on the man-made wonder, the Great Wall, explore the incredible excavations of the 7,500 strong Terra Cotta Warriors, discover the ancient Ming Tombs and tour Beijing’s Forbidden City, or admire the stunning views of Guilin’s landscapes, we will ensure you experience the perfect dream vacation.
Discover the Yangtze River, running through the heart of China. Cruise on the most luxurious ships and be awe-inspired by the dramatic and beautiful panoramas of this alluring region. Get up close and personal with some of the world’s rarest wildlife, like the giant panda. Allow your expertly planned itinerary to take you on a trip through Wu Gorge, which is flanked by the world famous, dramatic Twelve Peaks.
Whatever you choose to do, we promise you the vacation of a lifetime, far better than anything you could have ever imagined.
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: asia tour, asia tour blog, asia tour package, asia tour reviews, Asia Tours, china tour, china tour packges, china tours, yangtze river cruise
Posted in Asia Cruises, Asia Tours, Asia Travel, River Cruises | 2 Comments »
Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Tsukimi is a Japanese festival honoring the autumn moon. The celebration of the full moon typically takes place on the eighth month of the Japanese lunisolar calendar. This year it falls on October 3rd. The moon on this day is said to be the brightest and the most beautiful in the year. Sweet potatoes are offered to the full moon. Traditions ialso include decorations called susuki, eating rice dumplings called Tsukimi normally served on a skewers and drinking sake as offerings to the moon. The Japanese believe that by putting these foods in the moonlight, it shows appreciation for the harvest and respect to nature, and they pray for an abundant harvest in the coming year. For information on travel to Japan, click here
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: japanese tsukimi festival
Posted in Asia Travel | No Comments »
Thursday, September 24th, 2009
.jpg) Can any city in the world top Hong Kong’s phenomenal energy? Judge for yourself as you ride the tram to the top of Victoria Peak, join the surge into countless markets and watch the hardworking world of Aberdeen’s fishing junks.
1. Star Ferry: Enjoy sensational views of the Hong Kong Island that stretches from Causeway Bay to downtown and up to the Peak. This has been named by National Geographic as one of the ” 50 places of a lifetime.” Step aboard the fabulous double-decker “Shining Star” ferry, a beautiful re-creation of the ferries that plied Victoria Harbour in the 1920s. Relax and enjoy the magnificent view while sipping a cup of fine coffee in an air-conditioned, on-vessel cafe or soak up the sun on the open decks while enjoying the cooling sea breezes.
2. Harbor Cruise: Board a chartered traditional-style Chinese junk to take in the dramatic views of Hong Kong Island from the water. You’ll tour one of the world’s most exotic ports on a narrated cruise around Victoria Harbour. At night, Hong Kong’s spectacular skyline becomes a dazzling neon cityscape. Pristine skyscrapers are lit up against the night sky, including the Bank of China, the HSBC headquarters and the International Finance Centre–the tallest building in Hong Kong.
3. Victoria Peak: Peak Tram funicular railway to the top of Victoria Peak to enjoy a panoramic nighttime view of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon Peninsula spread out far below. The Peak sits at 1,805 feet above sea level. If you have time, enjoy a meal at Café Deco, an art-inspired restaurant on the top of Victoria Peak, which commands spectacular views of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon peninsula.
4. Markets: Visit the Bird Market where the amazing array of artistically crafted bamboo birdcages are on display, and the “warbling” competitions must be heard to be believed. Walk along Flower Market Street–row upon row of shops and stalls selling cut flowers and potted plants from all over the world. The Jade Market is a great place to browse and pick up souvenirs. To the Chinese, jade is the most important stone, as it is said to have great spiritual value and to represent wealth, good fortune and power. Stanley Market is one of the must-go places for tourists when in Hong Kong. It is a large open-air marketplace where you will find an array of small shops selling silk garments, arts & crafts, Chinese jewelry and souvenirs.
5. Lantau by Skyrail: Visit the stunning monastery on the nearby island of Lantau. You’ll travel to the top of the Ngong Ping 360–a spectacular four-mile cable car journey brings you to the Big Buddha, where Chinese devoutly worship and visitors are amazed by the immense statue and vast views. Combine this visit with a stop at the exciting themed village, to add a cultural and spiritual dimension to Hong Kong’s visitor offerings.
If you’ve already been to Hong Kong, then we recommend visiting Macau: Macau is just 60 minutes from Hong Kong by fast ferry, and is an ideal tour for those who have previously visited Hong Kong. The island was colonized by Portugal for 400 years, but reverted to Chinese rule in 1999 and is known as “the Monte Carlo of the Far East” for its annual Formula 3 Grand Prix race through the streets. The territory is an intriguing blend of cultures–unmistakably Asian, but nonetheless draped in a cloak of intriguing atmosphere and faded Mediterranean charm. See the Buddhist temple, and the Porto do Cerco gate which marks the old border between Portugal and China. Visit the ruins of St. Paul’s–a 16th-century church built by Italian and Japanese Jesuit priests–and the Macau Tower. This is the 10th-highest freestanding tower in the world.
Did we miss anything? Please send us your suggestions!
We offer various vacations, tours and cruises that include Hong Kong. Here is an introductory video from Holland America Cruise Line that offers a great overview of Hong Kong.
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: china tour, china tours, hong kong, hong kong tour, hong kong travel
Posted in Asia Travel | No Comments »
Monday, August 31st, 2009
Cambodia has emerged from decades of war and isolation and is back on the Southeast Asian travel scene. Its ancient temples, unspoiled beaches, mighty rivers and remote forests make this one of the new must-see destinations. The architectural achievements of spectacular Angkor are without equal in the region, and rank in importance with ancient Egypt and Aztec monument sites. The Khmer Empire, which ruled much of what is now Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, left a rich culture heritage. The country boasts impressive natural scenery. Cambodia’s capital possesses an irresistible charm as the French-style colonial architecture is interspersed with bustling street cafes and a redeveloping riverfront.
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: cambodia tour, cambodia tours, cambodia travel, cambodia trip, things to do in cambodia, things to see in cambodia.
Posted in Asia Travel | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
 Released today – Globus 2010 Vacations to Asia, the South Pacific, South & Central America & Hawaii. Book early & save!
Save $600 per couple on air-inclusive 2010 Globus family of brands South & Central America vacations booked between August 12 and October 13, 2009.*
Booking window: August 12 – October 13, 2009
*Book a 2010 Globus, Monograms or Avalon South America air-inclusive vacation to receive the $300 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 12 and October 13, 2009 for travel commencing through December 31, 2010. Offers not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club and applies to new 2010 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
Save $400 per couple on air-inclusive 2010 Globus family of brands Asia and South Pacific vacations booked between August 12 and October 13, 2009.*
Booking window: August 12 – October 13, 2009
*Book a 2010 Globus, Monograms or Avalon Asia or South Pacific air-inclusive vacation. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 12 and October 13, 2009 for travel commencing through December 31, 2010. Offers not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club and applies to new 2010 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
Save $500 per couple on air-inclusive 2010 Globus family of brands Hawaii vacations booked between August 12 and October 13, 2009.*
Booking window: August 12 – October 13, 2009
*Book a 2010 Globus or Monograms Hawaii air-inclusive vacation to receive the $250 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 12 and October 13, 2009 for travel commencing through December 31, 2010. Offers not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club and applies to new 2010 Hawaii bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: globus asia tour, globus australia tour, globus hawaii tour, globus south america tour, globus tour, globus tours, globus tours 2010
Posted in Asia Cruises, Asia Tours, Asia Travel, Australia Cruise, Australia Tour, Australia Travel, Central America, Galapagos, Globus Journeys, Hawaii Travel, Incredible Tour Deals, South America Cruises, South America Tour, South America Travel | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010
Adventures by Disney just released their tour vacations for 2010.
Entering its fifth year, Adventures by Disney designs tours with the family in mind and provides educationally-enriched experiences so even younger travelers understand, appreciate and have fun in their new surroundings. These hassle-free vacations, rooted in the service and quality of family travel leader Disney, provide distinctive opportunities and special touches to make memories that last a lifetime.
“We are able to offer vacation experiences to some of the most fascinating places on earth, literally bringing history to life for our guests,” said Don Gross, Vice President, Adventures by Disney. “Each itinerary is carefully planned, creating a vacation that includes the most iconic and must-see sites as well as off-the-beaten path excursions. In fact, guests often tell us the hardest part about the trip is choosing the adventure.”
The Disney Difference
From snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galapagos to discovering Europe’s classic history, each itinerary is as matchless as its surroundings. Yet one aspect holds true for every trip: the special touches that are collectively called “the Disney difference” .
Adventure Guide: Part storyteller, ambassador, concierge and role model, Adventures by Disney’s highly-trained Adventure Guides are the friendly hosts and travel specialists who lead guests on every trip. With two guides assigned for every group (of up to 40 people), travelers receive individual attention to ensure a fun and enriching vacation.
Junior Adventurers: Young travelers are transformed into Junior Adventurers – seeing, hearing and tasting things that they might otherwise not have experienced. The immersive activities created just for kids allow young travelers to learn and have fun in places like museums that aren’t always as entertaining for the younger set. For example, at the Louvre in Paris, the Junior Adventurers play an Art Detective game throughout the museum with their Adventure Guides, while adults take a privately guided tour with an art historian. In addition, the Adventure Guides are expert storytellers and are trained to create fun and unique, locally-based experiences for the kids. On almost every departure, there is also a Junior Adventurers night, in which the kids have a special evening experience with their Guides, while the adults get a quiet evening on their own at the resort.
Local Experts: An authentic Tuscan chef, a naturalist from Costa Rica, a Chinese tai chi master – these local experts share a passion; they live and breathe the local history and culture of their destination. They are an integral part of every Adventures by Disney vacation. They join guests to share their stories and provide an “insider’s” perspective to each destination.
VIP Access: Travelers vacationing with Adventures by Disney receive VIP experiences that are practically impossible to schedule on their own. Special entry to otherwise crowded sites, unique accommodations (like castles in Ireland and Germany, a dude Ranch in Yellowstone and at the base of a live, active volcano in Costa Rica. Guests also get backstage access of celebrated performances like “The Lion King“ in London. These are just a few of the exceptional moments woven through each itinerary, promising expedited service and a broader knowledge of each destination.
Adventures by Disney’s 2010 destinations include 19 global itineraries:
Asia & Pacific
- Enchanted China - China: Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai and Hong Kong
- Safari to South Africa - South Africa: Cape Town, The Garden Route and Kapama Game Reserve
- Discovery Down Under - Australia: North Queensland, Ayers Rock and Sydney
British Isles & Europe
- Cities of Knights and Lights – England and France: London and Paris
- The Emerald Isle – Ireland: Dublin, Killarney and Shannon
- Once Upon a Fairytale – Germany: Heidelberg, Trendelburg, Rothenburg and Munich
- Alpine Magic - Italy and Switzerland: Stresa, Zermatt and Lake Lucerne
- Viva Italia - Italy: Rome, Tuscany and Venice
- Bella Italia – Central Italy: Sorrento and Florence
Latin America
- Path to Pura Vida – Costa Rica: San Jose, Arenal and Manuel Antonio National Park
- Treasures of the Galapagos - Ecuador and Galapagos Islands
- Sacred Valleys and Incan Cities – Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley and Cusco
North America
- Spirit of America -Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pa., and Williamsburg, Va.
- Quest for the West – Wyoming: Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
- Southwest Splendors – Arizona and Utah: Sedona, Grand Canyon and Moab
- Backstage Magic – Southern California: Hollywood and Disneyland Resort
- Golden Path to Yosemite – Northern California: Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco
- Taming the Last Frontier – Alaska: Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Kenai Peninsula
- Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales - Montana and Canada: Glacier National Park and Banff National Park
For more on Adventure by Disney & other family tours, we invite you to visit www.luxurytour.com
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: Adventures By Disney, adventures by disney costa rica, adventures by disney italy, adventures by disney tours, adventures by disney vacations, family tour, family tour europe, family tour italy, family tour vacation, family tours, Family Travel, family travel tour
Posted in Adventures By Disney, Alaska Travel, Asia Travel, Australia Travel, Britain Travel, Costa Rica, Family Travel, Galapagos | No Comments »
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
 Enjoy Japan’s culture, food & traditional performing arts. Here are some of the things you can experience
Take a moment and simply admire the sheer beauty of Kinkakuji, the Golden Temple, in Kyoto, Japan. Surrounded by water, rock gardens & manicured trees, its still reflection is certain to make a lasting impression on you.
Experience the traditional values or wabi (elegant stillness,) and sabi (antiquated elegance with calm,) which is essential to Japanese art. a Tea ceremony is a means of training concentration or spirit and of learning manners. There are a number of school in Japan, each presenting their own style of tea ceremony. The kimono is the traditional dress of Japan. It is common to be asked to remove your shoes before entering a tea ceremony.
Visit the Kiyomizu Temple, which is famous for its principal sanctuary built on a steep cliff. The Temple was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1994. The 139 zelkova pillars that support the balcony are over 12 meters tall. It commands a wonderful view of the city of Kyoto. Expect a considerable amount of walking from the parking lot to the temple.
Geisha have to undergo intensive training. Geisha are trained in a number of skills: traditional Japanese dance, singing, playing instruments like shamisen (three stringed instrument), flower arrangement, wearing kimono, Japanese tea ceremony, calligraphy, conversation, alcohol serving manners and more.
Japanese Kaiseki is a traditional, multi-course dinner. Kaiseki-ryori uses the fresh ingredients of the season and are cooked in ways that enhance the original taste of the ingredients, and include anywhere from 6 to 15 different types of food including soup, vegetables, grilled fish, rice and dessert.
Shabu-Shabu is a popular beef dish in Japan. It is basically boiling meat in a broth…healthier than using oil at the Melting Pot! Some restaurants offer a Maiko performance during dinner.
Vist our Asia website for a selection of Japan travel packages.
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: japan, japan tour, japan tour package, japan tour packages, japan tours, japan travel, japan vacation package, japan vacation packages, kyoto
Posted in Asia Tours, Asia Travel | No Comments »
Monday, April 20th, 2009
 Chongqing is a large, hilly city on the banks of the Yangtze. It is a popular stop on Yangtze River cruises.
Among Chongqing’s attractions are the three-story wood River View Pavilion, the Sichuan Fine Arts Academy, Renmin Hotel which was built in the style of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, Wangjianglou Park and the Chongqing Zoo.
Chongqing Zoo is famous for its Panda Bears. You see plenty of Giant pandas, Lesser pandas, Golden hair monkeys & the rare South China Tigers.
Hotpot is Chongqing’s culinary specialty. Meats such as beef, pork, duck and vegetables are cooked in a spicy broth.
Many itineraries spend two nights in Chongqing, so there is time to travel to Dazu, which is listed as a UNESCO World cultural heritage site. Dazu is a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings dating back to an estimated 7th century A.D.
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: china vacation, china vacation package, china zoo, china zoos, chingqing travel, chongqing china, Chongqing Zoo, dazu, yangtze river cruise, yangtze river cruises
Posted in Asia Travel | No Comments »
Friday, April 10th, 2009
 Xi-an is one of China’s 7 ancient national capital, so there are several relics and historical sites to visit.
One of the most popular attractions is to visit the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, home of the world renowned Terracotta Army. The Army figures lied underground for more than 2000 years. This is an archeological site of unimaginable size & importance. No doubt thousands of statues still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological site, which was not discovered until 1974.
Qin (d. 210 B.C.), the first unifier of China, is buried, surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors, at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures are all different in facial features, clothing, hairstyle and gestures; with their horses, chariots and weapons, they are masterpieces of realism and also of great historical interest.
The statues remain where they were uncovered, protected by a large hangar-like hall. Individual soldiers can be studied more closely in a museum exhibit in an adjacent building.
In 1987 UNESCO ranked the Tomb of the First Emperor including the Terracotta Army vaults, into the list of World Cultural Heritages.
Travel fact: China has 35 listed world heritage sites made up of both cultural and natural sites.
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: attraction, china terra cotta warriors, china UNESCO sites, terra cotta warriors, terracotta arym, terracotta warriors, UNESCO china, xi'ian, xian
Posted in Asia Travel | No Comments »
Friday, March 6th, 2009
The Eclipse phenomenon is a natural wonder, unparalleled in its spectacle!
 Cruise Highlights:
- A series of lectures about the region, the eclipse and astronomy. There will be two sessions (morning and afternoon) every At Sea day of the cruise.
- We will, likely, be the only group, in the world, to see this eclipse at greatest eclipse – 6 Minutes 38.9 seconds.
- Cheju, South Korea – the major port for the South Korean Island of Cheju-Do located off the southern tip of South Korea.
- Kagoshima – Kyushu’s southernmost, major city and the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture.
- Kobe, Japan – the capital of Hyogo-ken – an historic port and distinct city. With the option to take an excursion to Kyoto or Tokyo.
- Tianjin (Beijing), China – the cultural and political center of China.
- Optional pre- and post-tours in China including Beijing, Shanghi and Xian.
- All the features & activities normally included in a cruise:
- Stateroom accommodations featuring all the comforts of home
- Personalized service
- Dining options
- Opulent Casino
- Onboard Activities
- Kids Club programs
- 24-hour Room Service
- State-of-the-art Fitness Facility
- Library and Card Room
- A variety of Nightclubs and Broadway Style Shows
Print, Share or Bookmark this post..
Tags: solar eclipse 2009, solar eclipse july 2009, solar eclipse travel, solar ecplise cruise
Posted in Asia Travel | 2 Comments »
|
