China Travel Blog

I’m a 16 year old girl going to Paris next easter with my school French class and I would like to buy a travel guide but I don’t know which one is best. Please tell me what you think is the best travel guide and (if possible) what features of the book make them your favorite. I also appreciate any advice from you guys on how to travel in paris (what to see, what to do, how to act, what to eat, where to go, how to dress, what camera to bring, what safety precautions, etc.). Thanks

I’ll be in Chengdu studying for a year and will likely travel around quite a bit. I want a good travel guide that has of the beat places, great information, also pointed at a person of my age, 27.

I’m off to Lake como for a long weekend and am looking for the best travel guide book to buy. Pocket sized and with great restaurants and must sees

My friend and I are going to the Galapagos in six weeks. I’ve rented all of the videos that Netflix has, but I’d like to get a great travel guide as well. Any thoughts about which one would be the most helpful?

So many travel guides out there on peru that one does not not which one to use..in your opinion What is the Best Travel guide for Peru?Any suggestions on Guides one should read or use during your trip?

We are going for the Florida State/Alabama game in Jacksonville at the Alltell Stadium. I found a resteraunt for Thursday night. I need to find a “top 4 -5 star” resteraunt for Friday night. There will be 8 in our group. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Copyright (c) 2008 Ontarian Ke’Chan Hawkins

As a travel agent, there are a number of benefits that come with the profession. Typically, travel agents are those who are enthused with traveling. And because of this, it is the very nature of the profession that attracts these kinds of people. Here are seven reasons by you as a travel enthusiast will enjoy this wonderful job opportunity.

1. Learn about the world- As an enthusiast about the different cultures and locations around the world, there is nothing better than getting to study and learn about everything the world has to offer. In order to be an effective travel agent, you have to know about any and every travel spot available. In order to do this, it is up to you to take the time to learn about the different cultures and entertainment various spots have to offer.

2. Flexible schedule- With this position, typically you have a flexible schedule to work off of. In fact, many people end up working for themselves. This gives you the freedom to go out and enjoy some traveling of your own.

3. Access to travel shows and receptions- In order to keep up to date with everything that is going on in the travel industry, you will get the opportunity to attend various travel shows and receptions. This gives you the chance to travel and enjoy yourself at different locations.

4. Training familiarization- As a travel enthusiast, obviously you want to experience as many different locations worldwide as possible. As a travel agent, part of your training is going to agency sponsored training familiarization trips and cruises. While you get to become familiar with the different locations, you also get to enjoy yourself.

5. Supplier sponsored trips- In addition to getting agency sponsored trips, you can eventually become qualified for supplier sponsored trips. Again, these are trips given to you so you can enjoy yourself and experience what various hot spots have to offer.

6. Reduced rates- One of the big perks about working in the travel industry is the reduced rates you will be given. Everything from reduced rates on hotels, car rentals, cruises and many other things will be given to you. This way you can enjoy as many places as possible for a reasonable rate.

7. Last minute travel deals- There is nothing worse than waiting to the last minute and having to spend an arm and a leg to get the trip going. As a travel agent, you will have access to incredible last minute travel deals so you and your family can enjoy the vacation of a lifetime.

As you can see, travel has many perks for those who decide to endeavor in becoming a travel agent. Travel is probably the #1 searched term on the internet with it being a $7 Trillion industry. I am convinced that nothing in this economy will ever be able to slow down the momentum of the travel industry.

In today’s modern fast paced world dinning out isn’t just about eating and leaving. There are many things involved in your experience. Today a restaurant must have a good ambiance, quality food, a good range of wines and drinks on their menu but is this enough. Today’s individual is exactly that, an individual with personal tastes and expectations, this person goes out to spend their hard earned money at a restaurant of their choice because it offers them the things that they want the most at that particular time. If I go out it is always about good service, fast but not rushed service, a good choice of different things, such as a nice choice of aperitifs, good tasting but not overdone food, a good wine and beer choice as well as a good choice of hard tack if I’m in the mood for that, a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere and most importantly “simplicity.” A restaurant that over does things by trying to be too extravagant, in their menu’s, their décor and service tends to be a restaurant that will rarely, if ever, see me.

The Wine magazine has a top 100 list that comes out every year and to be on this list is a highly coveted thing. The list for 2008 is as follows:

Eastern Cape

Smokey Swallows in East London with a trendy atmosphere and fine dinning food range including a touch of Indian and oriental foods.

Free State

De Oude Kraal in Bloemfontein, offering an incredible variety with Free State Farm style cooking with a touch of French Flair.

Seven on Kellner in Bloemfontein with a hip and happening atmosphere and Mediterranean African style foods.

Gauteng

Al Amin in Pretoria. Pakistani style food with flair of its own.

Amsale in Johannesburg.

Assagi in Johannesburg with its comfortable casual ambience and Italian style cooking.

Auberge Michel in Johannesburg is an elegant restaurant with French style cuisine and is the 1st restaurant to achieve a 5 star rating from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa

Le Canard in Johannesburg is an incredible upmarket restaurant set in a Georgian House. Visited by dignitaries, royalty, and a host of the famous and the not so famous, Le canard is famous for its ambiance and Old French style cooking.

The Green Truffle in Johannesburg is a mix of classic elegance meets contemporary cool. If you enjoy truffles (the chocolate or mushroom varieties) or anything with truffle as an ingredient then this would definitely be the place to go. The type of food served is contemporary mixed with fusion.

De Hoek in Mogale City.

Linger Longer in Johannesburg is a fine dining restaurant with its own special brand of elegance. Food served is fine dining with a South African Flair.

La Madeleine in Pretoria is an upmarket restaurant with French Mediterranean flair

Mosaic in Crocodile River valley is a sublime setting with an amalgamation of modern European and slightly spiced oriental cooking it is definitely worth coming.

Osteria Tre Nonni in Johannesburg with it’s relaxed atmosphere and Italian style cuisine.

Pomodoro in Johannesburg. Italian style cooking with hints of Spanish and French.

Ritrovo Ristorante in Tswane is Authentic Italian fine dinning.

Roots in Muldersdrift has African and Asian Cooking combined with French roots.

Sai Thai in Johannesburg. Meaning connected to Thailand lives up to its name as this restaurant serves some of the most authentic Thai food to be found around.

The Saxon in Johannesburg is a beautiful fine dinning restaurant with contemporary modern cuisine.

Sel et Poivre in Johannesburg has French Cuisine at its heart with undertones of African flavour in classical surroundings.

Le Soufflé in Johannesburg

Villa Francesca in Pretoria is an Intimate restaurant with beautiful surrounds serving choice Italian dishes.

Yamato

In Johannesburg is an upmarket Japanese style restaurant serving seafood, sushi and health foods.

Zemara in Pretoria is a Family friendly restaurant serving halaal African cuisine.

Kwazulu Natal

9th Avenue Bistro in Durban, an upmarket feel with fine dining elegance.

Aubergine in Hillcrest, Durban has a wonderfully relaxed ambience serving French cuisine.

Cleopatra in Kamberg Valley is A haven for food lovers with a style that is eclectic, contemporary Country cuisine.

Granny Mouse in Lidgetton has an Elegant ambiance with South African and International cuisine.

Hartford House in Mooi River is an elegant fine dining experience.

Havana in Durban is a vibrant grill and wine bar in the glamorous Sun Coast casino complex.

Ile Maurice in Umhlanga with its Upmarket feel and French style cuisine.

Lynton Hall is an Upmarket restaurant with fine dinning at heart.

La Petite Normandie in Ramsgate has a classic elegant feel with French cuisine at its core.

Spice on Florida in Durban with a relaxed atmosphere and a fusion style of cooking.

Umami in Salt rock is a fusion of Eastern, Mediterranean and European cuisine.

Limpopo

L’Orange Bleue in Bela Bela is a French Belgium restaurant with 4 star rating.

 

 

Mpumalanga

Artists’ Café in Hendriksdal with a comfortable hip and happening ambiance and Italian style cooking.

Mrs Simpson’s in Dullstroom has a comfortable intimate environment with Local cuisine.

Northern Cape

Die Hantam huis in Calvinia serves traditional fair in comfortable surrounds.

Le Must in Upington with its typical Kalahari warmth and comfortable hospitality.

Northwest

Silver Orange bistro in Hartbeespoort. South African classics with a modern twist.

Villa Del Palazzo at Sun City with its classic regional Italian cuisine.

Western Cape

95 Keeroom in Cape town. Italian with a reasonably priced menu and contemporary cool ambiance.

The Atlantic in Cape town has fine dining with an upmarket feel.

Aubergine in Cape Town is Fine dining at its best with a relaxed atmosphere.

Bahiados Vaqueiros in Mossel bay is A fine dining Portuguese style restaurant with an upmarket feel.

Barnyard Brasserie in Cape Town. Its meals are described as classic French peasant with modern sensibility.

Bibi’s kitchen in Cape Town. Indian style fair with an upmarket feel.

Bon Appétit in Cape Town has French cuisine with an upmarket ambiance.

Bosman’s in Paarl is Apart of the Grand Roche Hotel, the only Relais Gourmand in Africa and has fine dining at its heart with a luxurious upmarket feel.

Bouillabaisse in Franschhoek is a trendy Asian style seafood restaurant set in the heart of Franschhoek.

Bread and Wine in Franschhoek has contemporary style dining with a relaxed atmosphere.

The Cape Colony in Cape Town is apart of the luxurious Mount nelson hotel and of course has fine dining with an upmarket ambiance.

The Cape Malay in Cape Town is a quiet relaxed restaurant with Cape Malayan Cooking at its core.

Cargills in Cape Town is intimate, romantic and sophisticated, with fine dining, and French contemporary cooking.

Castle Hotel in Cape Town has Portuguese style cooking with a comfortable and casual ambiance.

Catharina’s in Cape Town with Fine South African Dining and an upmarket ambiance.

Caveau in Cape Town is a continental Wine bar with a relaxed atmosphere.

The Cedar in Cape Town.

La Colombe in Cape Town offers modern and innovative French cuisine with touches of Asian elements.

Constantia Uitsig in Cape Town a Wine farm atmosphere with Italian cuisine at heart.

Daniela’s in Knysna is an intimate and elegant restaurant at leisure isle lodge.
Emily’s in Cape Town has an upmarket atmosphere with a South African Style Cuisine.

Firefly in Knysna is an intimate restaurant on the lagoon.

The Food Barn in Cape Town French cuisine mixed with South African flavours. Fine dinning to suit every pocket.

Fu.Shi in Plettenburg Bay is a fusion cuisine restaurant.

Ginja in Cape Town. Fine Fusion dining with an upmarket feel.

Grandeprovence in Franschhoek has French cuisine at heart with a special upmarket feel.

The Greenhouse in Cape Town has global international food types with an upmarket ambiance.

Haiku in Cape Town has a Contemporary cool Ambiance with Asian flair.

Haute Cabriere in Franschhoek has an elegant ambiance with continental fusion cooking.

Ile De Pain in Knysna has a comfy and casual ambiance with French Mediterranean cooking.

Jardine in Cape Town has a Contemporary cool atmosphere with Continental, South African cooking.

Jemima’s in Oudtshoorn.

Joostenberg Bistro in Stellenbosch with its casual comfort atmosphere and organic cooking.

Kitma in C ape town.

De Leeuwen Jagt in Paarl. Good South African cooking in a relaxed atmosphere.

Magica Roma in Cape Town is a warm traditional restaurant with Italian in every nook and cranny.

Manna Epicure in Cape Town, a Trendy ambiance with tapas and Bistro style cuisine.

Manolo in Cape Town is a Trendy restaurant with contemporary fusion style cuisine.

Marc’s in Paarl has Mediterranean style meals with a very relaxed atmosphere.

Megu in Paarl is a chic Japanese style restaurant.

Mon Plaisir in Stellenbosch with its Traditional French recipes and warm, relaxing atmosphere.

Mzoli’s Place in Cape Town lively and full of fun. You buy your meat at the butchery and they offer to braai it for you well worth the visit.

Noon gun in Cape Town is relaxed with traditional Malay meals.

Reuben’s in Franschhoek has contemporary cuisine with a Comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Sand in Plettenburg Bay is a sophisticated fine dining, upmarket restaurant.

Serendipity in Wilderness. Fine dinning with definite South African flavours.

The Showroom in Cape Town. Contemporary cool ambiance with contemporary fusion cooking.

Sinn’s in Cape Town. Continental with a relaxed atmosphere.

Stonehill in Little Brak River is an intimate restaurant with French style dining.

The tasting room in Franschhoek.

The Tea Garden in Paternoster.

Terroir in Stellenbosch has French South African cuisine with a touch of elegance.

 Tokara in Stellenbosch.

Topsy and Co in Franschhoek.

Zachary’s in Knysna has a traditional atmosphere with contemporary cooking.

Top 10 everyday restaurants

Bibi’s in Cape Town

Carlton Café in Pretoria

The food barn in Cape Town

Ile De Pain in Knysna

Joostenberg Bistro in Stellenbosch

Le Soufflé in Johannesburg

Mzoli’s place in Cape Town

Sai Thai in Johannesburg

The tea garden in Paternoster

Zemara in Pretoria

Top 10 smart casual

Bon Appétit in Simons Town

Bread and Wine in Franschhoek

Jardine in Cape Town

La Madeleine in Pretoria

Megu in Paarl

Ritrovo in Pretoria

Spice on Florida in Durban

Terroir in Stellenbosch

Umami in Salt rock KZN

Yamato in Johannesburg

Top 10 deluxe

Auberge Michel in Johannesburg

Aubergine in Cape Town

Bosman’s at Grand Roche

Cleopatra Mountain Lodge in Kamberg

Hartford House in Mooi River

Linger Longer in Johannesburg

Roots in Krugersdorp

The Saxon in Johannesburg

Tasting Room at le Quartier in Franschhoek

Zachary’s in Knysna.

Go try them out and enjoy the good life.      

If you are one of the lucky international visitors that will be staying in Beijing during the Olympic Games, there is a huge variety of accommodation available to you. Everything from super-luxury properties, to rock-bottom budget accommodation is available in Beijing -however if you don’t book your luxury hotel in China soon, you may not be left with a choice! In this article we look at some of the best of the best when it comes to luxury accommodation in Beijing.

There are some general accommodation guidelines that you can follow on your luxury travels in China, and more specifically, Beijing. If you are only staying for a short time, you will want to be close to the action, and we recommend staying in the city center of Beijing, close to Tian’an Men Square and also the Forbidden City. You will easily be able to find your way to the Olympic Complex, and transport fees and time will be drastically reduced.

If you are taking the opportunity of being in China to do some extra sightseeing and have a luxury holiday in China apart from the Olympic Games, you will have a greater choice of convenient places to stay. The southern half of Chaoyang, just outside the East Second Ring Road, is a hotbed of luxury. Shopping in this area is also excellent, and you are close to both the airport and the San Li Tun district, known for its nightlife and dining.

If business is part of your reason for being in Beijing during the Olympic Games, then the China World Beijing caters specifically to you. It is part of a shopping complex which offers a full scale business center, including conferencing facilities, free wireless connectivity and Beijing’s finest European restaurant.

The Kerry Centre hotel can also be found in this quite central location in Beijing. It has been named the most child-friendly hotel in the city, and also is known to have the most extensive fitness facilities. If you find yourself inspired usually by seeing others do things, then after watching the Olympic events you may want to stay at the Kerry Center Hotel. It has a running track as well as the usual fitness facilities, and courts for just about any sport you can imagine.

The southwestern part of the city is known as Xuanwu, and hotels here offer access to transport options like Beijing Railway Station and the metro line. Beijing Zoo is located in this quarter. There are some beautiful gardens here, notably Shangri-La Beijing’s traditional gardens that the hotel surrounds. This was named as the best hotel garden by Frommers, a travel site frequently quoted by NBC News in the US. Shangri-La in Beijing is quite a large hotel, with 528 rooms in the main complex, and 142 in the recently opened Valley Wing which houses the hotel’s state of the art health club, the Blu Lobster restaurant and lounge, and a rooftop garden as well as the gorgeous larger central one. Another luxury Chinese hotel in this district is the Bamboo Garden Hotel, with three courtyards filled with rockeries and bamboo stands.

There is a wide variety of accommodation in Beijing, much of it built especially for the Olympic Games. However, the already large city is expected to swell in size for the Olympics, and you would do well to book your luxury accommodation in China ahead of your departure!

There are many cheap Hong Kong hotels you can choose from. To ensure value for your money, choose cheap hotels in Hong Kong that have the best reviews.

No matter what the purpose is for traveling to Hong Kong, it offers a myriad of activities and conveniences to a vacationer, cultural explorer and nature lover. It is truly one of the most exciting and diverse destinations in the world. The moment you step in this city and book into one of the luxury or cheap Hong Kong hotels, you’ll never run out of reasons to love it.

For one, Hong Kong provides you with a host of memorable attractions. You’ll marvel at the diverse contrasts. Imagine cityscapes near soaring mountains and then finding yourself in heritage sites close to an extensive countryside. Check out Victoria Harbour and ride the Star Ferry. Visit The Giant Buddha – deemed as the tallest bronze, outdoor-seated Buddha in the world. If you want spectacular views of Hong Kong, The Peak should never miss your itinerary. If you’re traveling with your kids, what better way to enjoy the city than to bring out the child in you through Disneyland!

As most of the attractions are close to cheap Hong Kong hotels, there are also budget-friendly accommodations near the pride of Hong Kong – its shopping districts. This means, you can conveniently bring it all to your hotel suite before you embark on a new shopping experience. Whether its gadgets, clothing, home décor or accessories you’re after, the city can offer you with several shopping destinations. They have glitzy malls, funky street markets, trendy boutique stores, themed shopping districts and even traditional Chinese product stores. Everything from antiques and collectibles to the latest designer fashion can be found here.

Of course, after a whole day of touring and shopping in Hong Kong, you need to retire for the day so that you can start on a new adventure the next day. Most tourists who visit Hong Kong find it hard to resist the urge to shop so it’s best to plan your trip before you go to this city. As much as possible, set a budget for your shopping, touring, food and for your hotel expenses. To save more, you can book into decent yet cheap Hong Kong hotels with 2- or 3-star ratings. When it comes to amenities and facilities, these accommodations are still highly recommendable.

Budget-Friendly Hotels in Hong Kong

New International Guest House – If you’re looking for nice yet cheap Hong Kong hotels, this lodging should be in your list of options. Aside from its convenient location In Nathan Road Kowloon Hong Kong, it offers clean rooms and comfortable services. Amenities and facilities include AC units, Wi-Fi access, security, room service and airport shuttles as well as dry cleaning services, clean linens, coffee and tea makers. Accommodations include single, double, twin and triple rooms.

Cosco Hotel – This hotel has many positive reviews as compared to other cheap Hong Kong hotels. For a low $54 US per night rate, it is perfect for business travelers. It offers clean rooms with en suites and TVs. Although they don’t serve breakfast, their rooms have a small fridge and kitchenette where you can stock up on food. They also have computers with free Internet access in the lobby.