Interline Travel Guide to the Best Beaches in Vietman

If you have not been to Vietnam you are missing a treasure unlike probably any destination you have visited before. The people are wonderful and land is beautiful. But most folks overlook the incredible beaches that this country offers interliners. While most American? have heard of China Beach, they know little about it or other options. Many fine resorts are being built in the resort locations of Vietnam and now is the time to go visit them.

Here is an overview of your beach options in Vietnam:

Starting in the Far North, bordering China is Tra Co, not a beautiful beach by anyone? standards what with its muddy flats at low tide; but it? a pleasant place to stay if you?e on your way into our out of China, before heading to Halong Bay.

Bai Chay beach is the nearest to Hanoi, so it draws a huge crowd of people on the weekends and in summer. It too doesn? live up to the beauty of the southern beaches, but does serve up some good seafood harvested from nearby Halong Bay. It certainly isn? a place to come in winter as temperatures can drop to the 15 degree C mark.

Halong Bay offers plenty of small beaches, most of them on islands in the middle of the Bay (though the majority of islands are too steep and rocky to have beaches).These are best visited by kayak because large touring boats don? have the shallow depth to approach the rocky shore.

The North Central Coast of Vietnam stretches all the way down to the Hai Van Pass, and is almost a continuous stretch of golden sand pounded by huge waves churned by the frequent typhoons. Its an area rarely visited by travelers, because most either fly or take the train straight between Hue and Hanoi, but if you?e got time they are beautifully deserted and make excellent places to go for long walks. Locals will regard you with great curiosity, and may even follow you to practice their English.

Though the facilities are scarce here, (you won? find restaurants selling to tourists just yet) it is a rewarding break from the long drive on Highway 1. Take note however, that its not a wise idea to walk any of the beaches near the DMZ and Dong Ha, because of mines, unexploded ordinances can still be found in this area.

The Central and South Central Coast of Vietnam offers the countries best beaches: from Hue to Nha Trang, the miles of coast is populated with coconut palms and dotted with fishing villages with lots of facilities and choices to make your vacation comfortable.

My Khe beach to Vietnamese, or China Beach to foreigners, looks out at Monkey Mountain east of Danang Bay. It? by no means deserted, because locals use the beach as a place to play football, do morning exercises and just chat away with friends. It has some of Vietnam? best surf beaches and in November waves can reach two meters.

Its here where 5 star resorts like the Furama and the Lang Co resort (north of the Hai Van Pass) are situated and offer the best services in the country including al fresco dining, water sports and day tours.

The beach is also incorrectly linked with the first landing of American Marines in 1963. In fact, it was Red Beach, around the point in Danang Bay, where this took place. My Khe was the spot where numerous attacks took place in the American war and it was a center of fierce fighting in the late 1960?.

From Danang, the lazy coastline stretches all the way down to Nha Trang. Dozens of beaches, many of them just a few meters from Highway I can be visited as you drive south. Facilities are mushrooming up to meet the demand of the numerous tour buses that now ply these routes. Seafood restaurants, guesthouses and other businesses are making this area easier to visit.

Nha Trang is the epicenter of the beach travel industry in Vietnam, and if you?e looking for a secluded beach, you won? find it here. But if you want to enjoy a day trip out to the islands in Nha Trang Bay, where you can snorkel and swim, then Nha Trang is the place for you. One of the best things in the city is its marvelous seafood, which includes abalone, prawns, scallops and crabs.

Doc Let is 40 kilometers north of Nha Trang, and its here where you?l find solitude and long deserted beaches; the shallow bay in front is perfect for a swim and the place is famous for its boiled crabs.

Even further south is Phan Thiet and Mui Ne, close enough to Saigon to be a popular weekend outing destination for residents there. Its got a laid back feels, and includes 4 star hotels like the Nototel Corallia, so roughing it isn? required here.

Even closer to Saigon is Vung Tau, and serves much the same function as Bai Chay near Hanoi; it? the closest and cheapest destination for Saigonese to escape the crowded city streets. Again, if you””re looking for solitude, this isn? the place, because on Sundays the beaches are packed.

Phu Quoc has the whitest sand beaches in the country, and if you want to watch the sun set (it? the only place in Vietnam where you can do this) this is the place to come. Geologically, it”’’s totally different to the other beaches in Vietnam, because it”’’s in the Gulf of Thailand, and Phu Quoc closely resembles Koh Chang or Koh Samet near Bangkok. Just an hour flight from Saigon and you?l be enjoying the sun, sea and seafood of Vietnam? most southern beach.

Eilat Vacation Tips for Airline Employees

Eilat’s year-round sunshine, abundance of water sports, hotels to suit all budgets and wealth of history are a guaranteed client-pleaser.

Back in the 1960s, Eilat and the Red Sea region were not part of the international traveller? consciousness.

Israelis would travel south to Eilat, which had one or two hotels, to escape the troubles of the rest of the country (until last year, there had been no violence in the region) but the rest of the world had little idea of what was on offer.

These days this resort town on the edge of the Negev Desert is full of luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, hip clubs and buzzing beaches and is one of the world? most in-demand winter and summer sun holiday spots.

The weather plays a part ?it almost never rains ?and the desert breeze does not affect the Red Sea, making for perfectly calm conditions for diving and a whole host of other water-based activities.

Israel Tourist Board director Uzi Gafni said: ?ilat is the kind of place that continues to attract visitors from all over the world ?whether they?e looking for a relaxing beach break or some adventure. For this reason, tourism in Eilat continues at a steady pace.?r

By day
Clients can view the exotic coral and fish at the Underwater Observatory in Eilat? Marine Park, where some 40 aquariums showcase the marine wildlife ?or swim with bottle-nosed dolphins at Dolphin Reef.

Alternatively, relax on one of the beaches. Head for Village Beach for a pacy, young feel; Princess Beach for a tranquil experience; or Reef Beach for water sports.

Kids will also love King? City in Eilat, a theme park devoted to the bible and the history of the region.

Nature lovers should try a Land Rover tour of the area surrounding Eilat, which contains The Red Canyon, a vast natural phenomenon of colourful granite stone.

History fans should head to the Timna Valley National Park (pictured above) in the Negev Desert. Situated about 20 miles north of Eilat, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty with amazing archeological ruins and prehistoric rock drawings.

The nearby Uvda Valley has a heritage going back thousands of years and there is evidence of 150 prehistoric settlements. Key sights include the 9,000-year-old Leopard Temple, which bears strange feline carvings, and the Eilat mountains.

By night
If there? one thing Eilat? not short of it? nightlife: this place is teeming with places to eat, drink and shake your thang.

Head for the pubs and clubs around the New Tourist Centre and North Beach Waterfront Parade for a loud, funky experience.

The Three Monkeys near the Royal Beach Hotel is a perennial pleaser for the 18-30 crowd but for a more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere try the open-air bars along the coastline at Village Beach and Papaya Beach.

The international hotels?piano bars and clubs also attract a trendy crowd and are less formal than you might expect. Head for King Solomon? Palace or the Princess Hotel.

For a more traditional Israeli evening, the Kibbitz Elot, two miles from town, puts on Middle Eastern nights for tourists. Hotels also put on weekly folklore nights.

Best Beaches in South Africa

Interliners often overlook the incredible beaches in South Africa. While it might be a long flight to get there, the beaches of South Africa offer you a great way to unwind and relaz before exploring the country…… or just stay on the beach! South Africa boasts some of the finest beaches in the world. From the pristine coastal stretch of Cape Vidal in KwaZulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape”””””””’’s famous Wild Coast, from the penguin colony of Boulders Beach to sun-drenched Camps Bay in the Western Cape

Introducing the Next Mayan Riviera

Most interliners know of the Mayan Riviera. That stretch of land south of Cancun that is loaded with great all-inclusive resorts. For those who have been traveling to Cancun for years, you can easily recall the dates when there were few if any resorts in the Mayan Riviera. It was just a big stretch of nothing expect for a few small towns with small boutique hotels. Now look at it! Most interliners wish they had bought land in the Mayan Riviera 20 years ago.

Well now we want to introduce you to, what we think, will be the next Mayan Riviera. The Riviera Nayarit is an area north of Puerto Vallarta. This is area offers over 100 miles of beaches to discover, luxury resorts and charming boutique hotels, history dating back to the Aztec civilization, unspoiled fishing villages and ?own home?Mexican cooking, world class golf and deep sea fishing: these are just some of the reasons travelers will want to be the first to experience Mexico? newest destination, Riviera Nayarit.

If you are looking for a place to invest in a 2nd home or you just want to buy some land for your retirement, then this is an area worth checking out!

Hugging 100 miles of Pacific coast north of Puerto Vallarta and protected by the dramatic Sierra Madre Mountains, Riviera Nayarit blends the timeless authenticity of Mexican culture and hospitality with the latest in tourism facilities and services. The Four Seasons and St. Regis are among the hotel companies bringing a new level of luxury; superstars like Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus are redefining the game of golf here. An extraordinary abundance of wildlife from giant manta rays and whales to protected sea turtles and rare migratory birds draw both vacationers and experts from around the world. And, with ambitious plans for new resorts, hotels and recreational facilities, Riviera Nayarit is well on its way toward making a major impact on North American tourism.

This new destination is located in the State of Nayarit, extending from the Rio Ameca beside the resort town of Nuevo Vallarta along Banderas Bay to exclusive Punta Mita, then further up the undeveloped Pacific coastline to the colonial town and wildlife sanctuaries of San Blas.

For visitors, the gateway to Riviera Nayarit is Puerto Vallarta International Airport, only ten minutes away from Nuevo Vallarta. Most of the region? current tourism facilities are located on Banderas Bay, one of the world? largest bays, which is also renowned for its extensive variety of water sports from diving and snorkeling to sailing and deep sea fishing. Riviera Nayarit is also fast-becoming one of Mexico? foremost golfing destinations. Renowned professionals and designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Tom Weiskopf, Robert Von Hagge, Jim Lipe and Joe Finger have created aesthetically pleasing golf courses with varying degrees of difficulty. Among the highlights is the El Tigre Golf Club at Paradise Village designed by Von Hagge; the Jack Nicklaus designed course at the Four Seasons Golf Club in Punta Mita; and the Mayan Golf Resorts Vallarta by Lipe.

And there is so much more to discover in Riviera Nayarit.

Ecological wonders abound on this ?lice of heaven on earth,?like whale watching on a catAmecan, viewing of sea turtle preservation efforts and snorkeling in crystal clear aquamarine waters to get closer to colorful coral reefs and underwater species. Precious ecological sanctuaries for rare birds are located in Islas Marietas and La Tovara National Park. In Las Caletas and Banderas Bay, visitors can even swim and interact with friendly seals. For outdoor adventurers the rich natural habitat that is Sierra Madre beckon culminating in a visual hike and 2,000 feet stop above sea-level.

North of Banderas Bay and Punta Mita are miles of seemingly endless white sand beaches, the somewhat bohemian surfing town of Sayulita and friendly fishing villages where new tourism facilities will be developed in the next decade. Driving along the thickly forested and scenic two lane highway north of Punta Mita to San Blas, visitors cannot resist stopping in colorful roadside markets to sample homemade candies, fresh juices and succulent tropical fruits.

Riviera Nayarit? cultural history dates back thousands of years, encompassing four ethnic traditions, including pre-Columbian cultures and the Huichols. Nayarit? excellent preservation of its culture can be seen in its native Huichol tribe who have preserved their rich culture and ancient beliefs through their art. The Huichols are renowned for the detailed and elaborate yarn paintings and these evocative paintings contain elaborate symbols borne out of their culture and shamanistic traditions. Mexcaltitan is a small island of floating mangroves that is reputed to be the birthplace of the Aztecs. Archeological sites with hundreds of petroglyphs and vestiges of ancient villages remain still wait to become accessible to visitors.

With every visit to Riviera Nayarit, there is always something new to discover and the essence of this destination will rejuvenate and excite the most jaded of travelers. For more information on Riviera Nayarit please visit www.VisitRivieraNayarit.com. For interline rates in the Riviera Nayarit contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.