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Top 5 Hidden Gem Luxury Hotels in the South of France

The South of France boasts a variety fabulous accommodation. Luxury hotels in France generally manage to be the perfect blend of style, comfort and service and, as a rule the 4 Star Luxe rating (there is no 5 star rating in France) guarantees the best of conditions. However, if you travel to the South of France and fancy a change, there are some independent luxury hotels which deserve special mention…Thee hidden gems.

Here are the top 5 hidden gems in the South of the country. Each one of these boutique hotels in France offer superb service and an unforgettable stay in one of the most beautiful regions of Europe.

5. Domain des Grages du Bosquet, Provence

Tucked away at the end of a secluded lane, this beautiful stone-built hamlet has been converted into a peaceful guesthouse. It’s made up of several independent buildings, mostly three bedroom accommodations. The surroundings feature olive trees, lavender, pines and acacias. If your idea of bliss is warm sunshine, relaxing by the pool and being surrounded typical Provence flora, then this is the South of France luxury hotel for you.

4. Jardin Secrets, Nimes

The first thing you’ll notice upon approaching Jardin Secrets is its resemblance to a Tuscan villa rather than an independent luxury hotel. Hidden behind rows of olive trees and with a red clay façade, it would be easy to think you had taken a wrong turn. Inside, however, you are treated to furnishings and decorations more closely associated with 18th-Century France with ornate beds, antiques and traditional roll-top baths. Despite its secluded, peaceful feel, the centre of Nimes is actually just a 10 minute walk away. That is if you ever manage to pull yourself away – the 14 rooms are all crammed with character, the beautiful outdoor swimming pool is an oasis of serenity, and the hotel even boasts a recently-opened spa. A perfect way to recharge and enjoy the fantastic sights of Nimes.

3. Villa Marie, Saint Tropez

Technically not a luxury hotel but a private villa in the south of France, the Villa Marie in Saint Tropez really is something out of the ordinary. Located in the hillside village of Ramatuelle, you get wonderful views of the Bay of Pampelonne and are in close proximity to the colourful village of Saint Tropez with its famous bars, brasseries, shops and market. The owners of this South of France villa have personalised all 38 bedrooms, the restaurant, gardens and spa…It’s an adult fairyland. If you’re looking for the high-life with a charming twist, look no further.

2. Hotel Le Mas de Peint, Le Sambuc, Camargue

It doesn’t get much more idyllic than this luxury hotel in France. In the very heart of Camargue, the Hotel Le Mas de Peint offers a very warm welcome and is ideal for exploring the calm, beautiful and unique surroundings of the Camargue. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, you’ll spend hours taking in the sights – whether on foot, bicycle or stunning horses. This boutique hotel in the South of France is cosy and welcoming with the owners treating each guest as an old friend and the food is traditional Provencal. Superb.

1. Hotel La Bastide de Marie, Menerbes

Tucked away at the foot of Menerbes – one of France’s most beautiful villages – and surrounded by its own vineyard, the Hotel La Bastide de Marie is a hidden gem of an independent luxury hotel in every possible sense! With only 16 rooms, book with us well in advance to guarantee availability. With 15 hectares of vineyards, an outdoor swimming pool and terraces to hide away on. With cakes, aperitifs and home-made wines available throughout the day, La Bastide de Marie really is a great way to get the best out of Provence’s beautiful countryside. Lastly (and certainly not least), Chef prepares brilliant food with local ingredients. One of the finest luxury hotels in the South of France.

If you are planning a trip to the south of France in a boutique hotel (or a luxury villa) you can’t go wrong by consulting this list. Bon voyage!

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Stephanie Clarke is the Managing Director of Concierge Collection, providers of some of the finest boutique hotels in the South of France. Stephanie and her team use their wealth of experience, expertise and contacts to achieve “Beyond Special”. For Concierge Collection, luxury does not have to have a large price tag but the hotels do have to be unique.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/top-5-hidden-gem-luxury-hotels-in-the-south-of-france-445187.html

Narbonne, Southern France, Summer 1942.
Image by Tim Dawson via Flickr
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Travel

No Passport Needed for the Exotic Virgin Islands

Road Trip Planners in the United States know that Fall is breathing down their backs and if they still want to go on an exotic beach getaway before Summer gives way to Fall, they better already have their passport in hand or… they can go to the U.S. Virgin Islands!

The U.S. Virgin Islands are tucked between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico. The northeast islands are called the British Virgin Islands and the two regions comprise the Virgin Islands archipelago. If diamonds are rated by the four Cs (caret, cut, color, clarity); then these islands could be rated by the four Ss (sun, sand, sea, surf). And as in Hawaii, all beaches in the Virgin Islands are public, meaning that even though you might arrive at a gated community, you must be given access to the beach, even at the fanciest resorts. Oooolala!

3 EASY FACTS TO EASE YOUR BUDGET AND MIND:
* You’ll have sunny days no matter when you go. Winter is a comfortable 77ºF (25ºC), and the average summer temperature is 82ºF (28ºC).
* The currency there is the U.S. dollar. ATMs can be found throughout the three islands and most places accept credit cards and travelers checks.
* Even though you can visit it year round and get great weather, the best bargains are actually during the summer months.

OKAY, HERE’S A 4TH FACT THAT’LL EASE YOUR TRAVEL STRESS:
* No adapters are required since they use the standard 120-volt current there.

The above reasons make these islands a shoe-in to add to your road trip planner because you get to experience the foreign flavor without having to be out of your comfort zone, not the least of which is that you drive on the left here as well so… awkward adjustments averted! (Yes, I snuck in a 5th fact for you ;o)

Below are some other facts (and tips) on the four islands that make up the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and since 1944, Water Island. You can choose to stay all week on one island and take day trips to the others or you can stay the bulk of your trip on either St. Thomas or St. John then include an overnighter at St. Croix because it’s further south.

* St. Thomas (called Rock City by the locals) is enchanting and romantic with a population of about 51,000, nearly half of the total population in the US Virgin Islands. The district is a bit larger than 31 square miles and special points of interest include: Fort Christian, Magens Bay, Magens Bay Arboretum and Blackbeard’s Castle. Magens Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and from the harbor in Charlotte Amalie, you’ll come across a picturesque village.

* Water Island (a.k.a. Small City) is right below St. Thomas and is accessible by boat (ferry service from Crown Bay on Saint Thomas to Phillips Landing takes only about 10 minutes). Water Island is the fourth and most recently acquired main island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. With 491.5 acres, Water Island is also the smallest of the main U.S. Virgin Islands and is a residential island, with a population of 161 (2000 census). There aren’t many commercial establishments and only a few homes that are available to visitors, so it’s mainly a day trip excursion. The main attractions are its beaches, including Honeymoon Beach. You can also find plantation ruins, and Fort Segarra, an underground fort partially constructed by the U.S. during World War II.

* St. John is to the east of St. Thomas and has the Virgin Islands National Park. Saint John is an amazing island in the Caribbean Sea and part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is the wealthiest and most expensive of the U.S. Virgin Islands, enjoying a level of affluence that is comparable with the nearby island of St. Barts. The island’s high level of wealth and prestige has earned it the common distinction of being the “Beverly Hills of the Caribbean”. Called Love City by the locals, St. John is one of the world’s premiere honeymoon destinations with several notable world class resorts and one of the top ten beaches in the world. St. John is located about 4 miles east of Saint Thomas. It is about 20 square miles in area with a population of less than 4200. It doesn’t have an airport so you need to fly into St. Thomas and take one of hourly ferries over to it.

* St. Croix (dubbed Twin City by the locals) is the furthest south. St Croix rocks! Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea and part of the United States Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, being 28 by 7 miles. However, the territory’s capital, Charlotte Amalie, is located on Saint Thomas. Buck Island Reef National Monument preserves a 176 acre island just north of Saint Croix and the surrounding reefs. This is a popular destination for snorkelers.

Whether you stay at the affordable at Villa Santana ($114-$174/night) or the Ritz Carlton ($279 to $989/night), the beaches and the exotic settings are the true stars. Whichever hotel you end up adding to your Road Trip Planner won’t mar the feeling that you’re in paradise!

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Plan your next road trip using the Tripwiser ultimate road trip planner, which leverages the collective wisdom of thousands of users worldwide, and makes road trip planning interactive and fun.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/no-passport-needed-for-the-exotic-virgin-islands-1296065.html

Deutsch: Positionskarte der Amerikanischen Jungferninseln, USA Quadratische Plattkarte, N-S-Streckung 105 %. Geographische Begrenzung der Karte: N: 18.85° N S: 17.6° N W: 65.4° W O: 64.15° W English: Location map of the United States Virgin Islands, USA Equirectangular projection, N/S stretching 105 %. Geographic limits of the map: N: 18.85° N S: 17.6° N W: 65.4° W E: 64.15° W.
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Travel

Tours and Riverboat Cruises in Sacramento

Sacramento, the capital city of California is located in a peaceful valley blessed with leafy canopies, and year round pleasant weather. It has a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild winters and dry summers. The region has low humidity and it rains there between the months of November and March. Sacramento has evolved as a cosmopolitan junction with wonderful sights, monuments, and restaurants, and an entertaining nightlife. With a plethora of luxurious villas, it has become the center of attraction for a large number of tourists.

Also known as a sleepy little town, Sacramento has a lot to offer its visitors as it has an extensive range of historic and educational attractions that can interest people from all walks of life. Once famous for its historic gold rush, Sacramento now has a number of museums and historic sites. You can also experience the magic of the place by taking riverboat cruises and other tours. Some of the tours are mentioned below:

Riverboat Cruises: If you wish to experience the real essence of Sacramento, you need to go on a riverboat cruise. You can board a Victorian paddle-wheel steamer and enjoy the special dining, dancing and sightseeing. These cruises are very famous and the boats used are reproductions of two historically renowned paddle wheelers, namely, the Spirit of Sacramento and the Matthew McKinley. Apart from sightseeing tours, they also offer brunch and dinner cruises. But you need to book your trip in advance so that you can enjoy the riverboat cruises when you plan a holiday.

Southern Railroad Excursion: The Southern Railroad Excursion is also a popular attraction in Sacramento. It takes visitors on a 40-minute train ride along the Sacramento River. You can enjoy cruising along in open-air gondolas and vintage coaches pulled by real steam locomotives and admire the scenic beauty. There are a number of special theme trains and events that are meant mostly for kids. Moreover, Sacramento is a prime location for students to acquaint them with the history of California, as well as to give them an introduction to the government in the capital city.

Limousine Tours: The limousine services in Sacramento are a classy combination of style and comfort. Though the general impression is that these luxurious limousine tours are very expensive, in reality they are available at reasonable rates, and can fit to any budget. These limousine tours are not stuffy, executive affairs, but are full of fun and frolic. Apart from being the most popular choice for business and corporate clients, it is also popular for social occasions such as weddings.

They are committed to providing excellent services for a wide range of events aimed at both the corporate client as well as private customers. They offer safe and smooth transportation to and from the place of event at the best possible rates. Limousine tours offer its customers a wide selection of vehicles such as Lincoln or Mercedes sedans, luxury SUVs, and the new Hummer limousines. If you wish to accommodate larger groups, you can opt for luxurious coaches offered by the limo services in Sacramento.

Delta River Cruise: The Delta River Cruise is very famous in Sacramento. You can enjoy the commentary about the points of interest as you journey along the route narrated by the historian on board, along with a fully stocked bar and lunch services.

Related Posts

Luxury Limousines of Sacramento offers various Limo services including: Sacramento Airport Transfers and more. We have the newest fleet in Sac-Town so if you need a Sacramento Wedding Limousine please RSVP right away. Visit our site at http://www.luxxlimo.com.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tours-and-riverboat-cruises-in-sacramento-141825.html

The Tower Bridge, built in 1935, a popular landmark.
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Travel

Jacksonville Zoo Coupons

Spending the day in the Jacksonville Zoo together with your family members is really a fantastic activity that may produce numerous lengthy lasting memories. Nevertheless, nowadays each and every dollar counts and also the expenses of zoo admission, zoo parking and snacks for the children can truly add up.

Jacksonville Zoo Coupons can certainly save you a great deal of cash in your go to to zoo. Jacksonville Zoo Coupons and Jacksonville Zoo Parking Coupons also as other discount vouchers can usually be discovered in numerous various methods that we’ll be listing beneath:

Chamber of Commerce – Numerous occasions visiting, calling or even going to your Nearby Chamber of Commerce web site can assist offer info on acquiring Jacksonville Zoo Coupons.

Hotels – It is usually a great concept to verify using the front desk of any Hotels which are nearby the Jacksonville Zoo because numerous occasions pre-printed discount vouchers and zoo coupons are provided.

Nearby Companies – Numerous occasions comfort shops and some nearby quick food restaurants situated close to the zoo will have pre-printed discount vouchers and zoo coupons.

American Automobile Association – Numerous zoos provide a 10% discount if you’re a member of the AAA.

Discounted Days – Generally off peak or particular days of the week are less expensive that weekend rates in the Jacksonville Zoo.

Nearby Transit Pass – In the event you use the nearby bus or rail transit method inside your region numerous occasions this membership will also provide discounts for the nearby zoo.

Nearby Newspaper – The entertainment section of the newspaper will extremely frequently have Jacksonville Zoo Coupons obtainable.

Zoo Membership – In the event you currently have a Jacksonville Zoo membership, then you’ll be receiving other unique zoo promotions and discounts by e-mail.

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If you need Jacksonville Zoo Coupons be sure to check Zoo Coupons !

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/jacksonville-zoo-coupons-4278028.html

Lonely Monkey Ape at Zoo.
Image by epSos.de via Flickr
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Travel

Affordable Cabin Rentals in Colorado and Breckenridge

Colorado and Breckenridge are both situated near the mountains. Being major holiday destinations, especially during the winter season, there are numerous cabins you can rent in this area.

Colorado and Breckenridge are two major destinations during the winter and the summer season. During winter, many go these areas to experience the thrill of downhill skiing and cross-country skiing. Plus, you can add the many wonderful activities like snow shoeing, snow boarding and snow tubing among others. During the summer season, these areas provide adventure for many hiking buffs. Other summer activities include hand gliding and paragliding.

Since these two are amongst the top vacation destinations in the US, there are many cabins that you can rent in this area.

Colorado

Cabins in Colorado are set in the middle of the famous Rocky Mountain, offering a worthwhile vacation experience. Colorado cabins are perfect for honeymoons, family reunions, romantic getaways, anniversaries as well as retreats. Many tourists visit Colorado because of its beautiful canyons, forests, valleys, sand dunes and stunning mountain tops.

The state of Colorado has a large amount of cabin or cottage rental accommodations with luxury to basic facilities. There are numerous choices starting from cabin or cottage designs to the ones near the skiing and hiking locations in this area. Colorado is packed with activities such as fly fishing, biking, mountaineering, scuba diving, ice climbing, mountain climbing, horseback riding, snowboarding, kayaking, and many more.

Cabin or Cottage Rentals in Colorado:

• Small Nordic Cabin or Cottage

This cabin is ideal for those who love fishing, climbing, scuba diving and mountaineering. It offers a comfortable guestroom that is complete with a gas fireplace, cable television, and kitchen utensils. You will also be provided with a dining and living room. They also have private bedrooms that have over-sized beds and wooded queen beds. Small Nordic Cabin is located at the base of the ski area. The cabin can hold up to a maximum of six people.

• Rocky Mountain Cabin Rental

This cabin is perfect for couples who are in their honeymoon. It is located near Cripple Creek and Pikes Peak. It offers a gas fireplace or wooden stove, satellite color television, kitchen utensils and hot tubs. The Rocky Mountain Cabin is a smoke-free cottage. The average price of the cabin rent is 15 US dollars per night.

• Warner Pines Cabin

This cabin is located along the Colorado Sangre de Cristo Mountain. It has a great overview of the wet mountain in its front door. At the back, an overview of the Sangre de Cristo Wildness Park is in sight. Three king-sized beds are guaranteed in this cabin rental facility.

The rooms have the following amenities:

– fireplace
– cable television
– kitchen utensils
– microwave oven
– full bathroom
– storage closet
– shower with heater

Breckenridge

Breckenridge combines an excellent mountain leisure time with a vacation experience. All visitors of Breckenridge are welcome at their Towering Mountains such as the Rocky Mountain, Hill Missouri and Moose Mountain. Aside from the attractive mountains, Breckenridge offers a lot of activities that anyone will deeply enjoy like a round trip to the nature, tree planting, biking, diving as well as camping. Live entertainment is also what Breckenridge is all about.

Types of Cabin or Cottage in Breckenridge:

• Executive Log Home

This beautiful mountainside cabin is a perfect place for family reunions, church group outings, weddings or honeymoons and spending time with friends. It is situated along the Continental Divide. There is a lake near the cabin that is good for fishing, boating and swimming.

Every room in this cabin has the following:

– cooking utensils
– telephone
– cable television
– private bath tub
– microwave oven
– refrigerator
– bathroom

Cabin rentals for this Executive Log Home facility cost only 145 US dollars. This is on a per night basis.

• Summit Ski Cabin

This attractive cabin is near Main Street of Breckenridge. It is also just a short distance away from the Breckenridge Golf Club. A shuttle bus will accompany the tourists and bring them to their cabins.

Summit Ski Cabin has the following amenities:

– three colored television sets with cable or satellite
– internet access
– full kitchen utensils

This cabin also offers activities such as boat riding, fishing, mountain climbing, and biking. A night in this cabin costs around 210 US dollars.

• True Rustic Cabin

This amazing cabin has three bedrooms and a king-sized bed. Visitors will enjoy their sizzle gorgeous stone design. On the other hand, the wooden design of this cabin also makes its guests feel one with all the surrounding naturist ambiance can offer. In room amenities would include kitchen tools, a wooden stove and cable or satellite television. Thus, Rustric Cabin is known for being very near the famous Ouandry Mountain and RJ Mountain. The rate of this cabin is only 89 US dollars per night.

• Breckshouse Cabin

This modern ski cabin is near Spring Vail. Hence, this cabin is good for the budget-conscious travelers. Each room has a wrap-around table, full kitchen tools, dining room, a full bath tub and an over king-sized bed.

Breckshouse Cabin guarantees stunning view of the Santa Rosa Beach. There are also lots of activities to enjoy in this region such as air ballooning, sky diving, mountain biking, boat riding, camping, climbing, and skiing and going on picnic retreats. This cabin costs around 145 US dollars per night. They allow pets inside their cabin rooms.

With all the wonderful pleasures Colorado and Breckenridge cabins can provide, it is best to check with them first with regards to the facilities they have and the close proximity they can guarantee towards the attractions of their region.

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For more information on cheap cabin rentals please visit our website.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/affordable-cabin-rentals-in-colorado-and-breckenridge-478938.html

Breckenridge.
Image by pusadolfo via Flickr