Posts Tagged ‘ Destinations ’

 
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
by James Pynn

Planning a getaway isn’t hard, especially in the Bay Area. Whether you’re looking to retreat to a luxury hotel in the City or dive into a spa in Berkeley, you options are never numbered and never out of your price range. Now, if you’re looking for something a touch more homey or quaint, then I’d like to suggest a restful weekend in Los Gatos.

Once a hub for the wheat, milling, logging, and canning industries in the 19th and early 20th centuries is now an emerging high tech hub. Furthermore, it is swiftly becoming one of the more popular tourist destinations in the area. It boasts one of the best-preserved, most picturesque downtown areas in all of California. The intersection of cafe culture and rural attractions has lured its fair share of tourists from San Francisco and San Jose.

A Los Gatos getaway will invariably involve a stay at a bed and breakfast or any one of the local hotels offering a slice of something different to guests from across the Bay, and to be fair, across the country. A horse-drawn carriage ride down Main Street, a lovely dinner at any of the fine bistros, or a nightcap at one of the cafes are all in order in the City of Cats. And the best part is you don’t have drive back to San Francisco at the end of it!

The town has managed to remain one of the best kept secrets of the region, building it’s getaway reputation by word of mouth. It’s nestled on the outskirts of the Santa Clara Valley, hemmed in by San Jose and Campbell. What was once a sleepy little town has become the exclusive neighborhood of handsomely paid Silicon Valley executives and engineers.

Now, the town enjoys the lion’s share of beautiful terrain in the valley. This gives residents access to a series of lush parks, dense tree lines and generally more moist conditions, unlike its baked neighbors to the north. Comparisons with the lush areas of Marin County are not in short supply.

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by James Brad Lee

Sydney, an incredibly popular travel destination, provides countless opportunities for visitors to engage in a plethora of cultural and sporting activities, or simply immerse themselves in total relaxation. The “Harbour City” never fails to excite its visitors with a deluge of jaw-dropping landmarks such as the celebrated Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, along with white sandy beaches such as the renowned Bondi Beach. It is hence only natural that visitors from all walks of life find the city so alluring, whether they are singles, couples, families or business travelers.

Its expensive reputation notwithstanding, the varied accommodation in Sydney, such as bed and breakfasts, hostels, budget hotels and motels, also caters to those with smaller budgets. It is thus recommended that you save on your accommodation costs by staying in cheap Sydney hotels, thereby allowing you to enjoy more of what this exciting city has to offer.

In addition, budget travelers can also enjoy great comfort, quality amenities and hospitable service on par with the more up-market hotels in the city, making a stay in these hotels more than worthwhile. However, you should do your research in picking a hotel that would provide a good fit for your budget and expectations.

In Sydney, there is not only a mind-boggling selection of accommodation types, there are also many different locations where you can find them in the city. You can find several cheap accommodation options near the spectacular Darling Harbour, in the vicinity of the pulsating and vibrant entertainment and dining venues at Oxford Street, or even in the city’s outskirts where many motels are located.

To get around the city with minimum waste of time and money, you might want to settle for a reasonably-priced hotel that is conveniently located nearby public transport or minutes away from all the shopping, dining and sightseeing that you are craving for. That being said, a hotel which is slightly further away from these attractions and require a few extra minutes’ walk are usually cheaper than those which are located right next to them.

For an incredibly affordable yet convenient recommendation, budget travelers or backpackers who need to be in the thick of the action in the downtown can consider a no-frills stay at several youth and backpacker hostels ideally-situated in such centrally-accessible areas as Central Station and Kings Cross.

Budget accommodation in Sydney pride themselves in offering amenities and services that can satisfy your basic lodging needs as well as more upscale hotels. For one, many of them have rooms which are air-conditioned and come with good quality beds along with familiar amenities such as coffee-makers, television and Internet connectivity. What’s more, room service and private or communal kitchens may also be available.

You have learned that the right cheap Sydney hotels can afford you not only a pleasant and memorable stay, they also allow easy access to your favourite tourist and business hotspots. Hence, you should search for your ideal accommodation on a credible hotel booking portal and compare the plethora of accommodation available before you make your booking decision.

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