Tall Storey - The Arrecife Gran Hotel in Lanzarote

There are many good quality hotels in Lanzarote.  As you´d expect from a holiday island that attracts over 1.5 million tourists annually.  But one in particular stands – quite literally - head and shoulders above the competition.  As the Gran Hotel in Arrecife is the only high rise building on the island.  Granting incredible views down to the capital of Arrecife below.

Thanks to an island born artist and architect called Cesar Manrique high rise construction was outlawed on Lanzarote during the 1970´s.  In order to ensure that the island didn’t suffer the same fate as the Spanish Costas – which were being submerged beneath a sea of hotels as tourism took off in Spain under the aegis of General Franco.

Manrique however urged a more restrained approach on the island of his birth – and thanks to the fact that he had friends in high places in the form of then island governor Pepin Ramirez Lanzarote today still remains largely unspoilt.  With advertising hoardings also banned and the island’s main holiday resorts all well contained. 

The shell of what is today the Arrecife Gran Hotel was sneaked up by developers whilst Manrique was off the island during 1988 – but on his return the project was soon halted.  As it clearly contravened his edict that any building should be no taller than the height of a Canarian palm tree.

As a result the concrete shell stood empty and derelict for many years.  And was even the victim of a fire back in 1990.  But the cost of demolishing the edifice was so prohibitive that the island government eventually decided to hand the building over to a property developer.  And granted permission for the construction of a five star hotel on the site.

As a result the Arrecife Gran opened its doors for business after a €26 million renovation in June 2004. Boasting seventeen floors, a roof top restaurant called the Altamar, 52 double rooms and 104 suites.  Along with a Spa Centre, swimming pool and direct access to the city beach at Playa El Reducto. Making the Arrecife Gran an attractive alternative to other accommodation options such as apartments or villas in Lanzarote.

Further improvements to the environs of the hotel are also afoot – as the island government forges ahead with plans to create a lido swimming area, with bars, restaurants and shops to a plan drawn up by Manrique at the nearby Islote de Fermin.  A project very similar in style to the extremely successful Parque Marítimo de Santa Cruz on the fellow Canary Island of Tenerife.

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Filed under: Accommodation

Useful Advice About Booking A Hotel Online

Some people are having problems when it comes to planning a trip, like going abroad. There are a lot of questions in their mind. Questions like “how are they going to get there?” “Where will they stay when they arrive?” “Where will they go after arriving at the airport?” and more. They have enough budget but they don’t know how are they going to get there. That’s why there are travel agencies who give answers to questions about travel.

But what if there is no travel agency in your place? Or there is no travel agency near you, so that means you still need to go out and look for a travel agency that can help you answer your questions. That means it needs much of your time, gas for your car and extra cash.

That’s why there are online travel agencies who will take care everything about your travel without going out of your house, without spending much of your time or gas for your car. They will take care of your Hotels reservation, airline ticket, and even airport transfer.

If you are going for a tour, then they can arrange it for you so that somebody will pick you up at the airport as you arrive and take you to the hotel or take you to some tourist destinations. It is as simple as going to their website and look for a hotel where you want to stay in and fill up their inquiry form or reservation form and then send then you start communicating with their travel agent.

You can even negotiate with the agent about the best price. They also offer tour packages. Some travel agents even give you some advice about where or what hotel is best for you. But that also depends on what travel agency you communicate with. It is much better to have your hotel reservation long before your travel date to make sure the hotel of your choice is still available.

Because if you make a hotel reservation close to your travel date, especially during peak season, most of the hotels will be fully booked. Make sure to check their website and see the hotel information. Choose the hotel which you think will satisfy your stay.

TravelBooth Asia is the site which offers vacation rental, vacation packages, car rental options also offering destination guide for visitors for finding their destinations, there are many destination you can search.

TravelBooth Asia aim to provide travelers with cheap and discounted hotels all over the world. TravelBooth Asia provides huge list of hotels ranging from luxury 5 start hotels to budget hotels. TravelBooth Asia also have great deals and discounts on some of the best hotels in the world.

Providing cheap discounted rates and special deals are not always found at the best hotels in the world, but now only one search will give you access to cheap best deals of some luxury hotels around the world.

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Filed under: General

The Best Place to Get Travel Insurance

Bon voyage! To make sure that your trip is indeed a good one, you truly do need travel insurance to cover all of the unexpected, possibly tragic things that can happen. The best course of action is always to do your research first, with a basic starting point being online. Look for web sites that offer side by side comparisons of the 19 major travel insurance companies, as well as some of the smaller, lesser known companies. You need to know what is covered and not covered, and consider every possible detail no matter how small.

Travel insurance should cover you from the moment that you actually start booking your trip to the time that you return home. You should be sure that the coverage will be there for cancellations, changes to destinations, loss of reservations or adverse travel conditions. Your travel coverage should also include medical coverage in case you get injured or become ill while away from home, especially if you are traveling to a foreign country. Ask if your personal belongings are covered, and if not, ask for a policy which will cover them. Buy a separate policy for your jewelry, or consider leaving it in your safe deposit box until you return from your trip. Safety is more important than wearing Grandma’s pearl necklace to Tuscany.

A good travel insurance policy will also help you if things are not quite what they were supposed to be. For instance, if you had purchased a package deal that included a suite upon arrival, and you find yourself shown to something less than what was promised, your insurance policy can help resolve that issue.

If you have arrived at your destination and your suitcases did not, that is a grumble worthy problem. If your suitcases contain your medication for a serious medical condition, however, it can become a life threatening one. Travel insurance policies can include medical care, which might mean the difference between a few tense hours to a frantic hospital visit to a foreign emergency room. In most situations, replacement medications will be obtained for you in a matter of a few hours without a huge problem. Your life and vacation are saved!

But, let’s say that you have not even left for this trip yet, and there is already a problem. Your boss calls and says that there is an issue with your vacation time and that you will absolutely have to come in. Your prepaid trip is now being cancelled and you are out all of that money, right?

Not necessarily. If you insured your trip as soon as it was booked, this cancellation would be covered as an unforeseeable event. Likewise if the trip is cancelled by the booking agent, or if it is cut short for weather or something else. If you get to your destination, and a civil war breaks out in a neighboring area on day one of your vacation, then of course, you must head for home. That would be covered by your travel insurance policy as well, you did not plan for a war to break out now did you?

Book your trip, and then ask your travel agent for recommendations for a good travel insurance company to deal with. Speak to your homeowner/auto insurance agent and see what that company offers. Do good research and get the best coverage for the best price.

Be safe and realistic, especially if you are heading out of the country; leave the priceless heirloom jewelry at home in the safety deposit box. Cover all of your bases, and have emergency plans in case of a mishap. Traveler insurance may save the trip or at the very least, some of your money, so make sure you get the coverage that you need. Have fun, be safe and come back home in one, happy piece.

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Filed under: Travel Insurance

Live For Cape Town Rental

If you’re looking for a holiday experience like no other then jetting off to an Essaouria holiday in North Africa is just the ticket for you. Sunny beaches, waters so blue you could swear they were freshly colored by crayon and scenery to make your jaw drop. That is what an Morocco Holiday is all about! Something so spectacular you will almost forget to take pictures – but of course you won’t forget.

You may have forgotten though that Essaouria was once called Mogador and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Listed city. Who would want to miss seeing something with that much history behind it? Reminds me of Cape Town Holiday come to think of it. Of course you will revel in the old 18th century town and take long, leisurely strolls through the ancient medina. Just think, this old town still showcases the ramparts and fortifications that once protected the city from invaders.

If architecture if your abiding passion, you will have died and gone to heaven in Essaouria where you will be surrounded by amazing carved wooden archways, stunning, yet simple homes featuring deep blue shuttered windows – the ambience is alluring and the scents in the air totally intoxicating. Just like an Essaouira Holiday has many things to show a traveler bent on explorations.

The other things you will no doubt be unable to resist is a beach visit, and why not, the sun shines for 300 days of the year in Morocco. And if you’re into water sports, the waters near Essaouria are excellent for windsurfing. Imagine surfing the sparkling blue waters while admiring the stunning mountains in the distance.

Shopping is second nature on an Essaouria holiday and will take on a real air of adventure as you scope out the market place for carpets, jewelry and other unique items to take home as personal treasures of your vacation. Don’t forget to check out some of the more popular museums such as the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaire. And, if you love music, this Essaouria holiday will introduce you to some superb examples of African gnaoua music. Now, sit back, relax, and close your eyes and dream of your Essaouria holiday.

There are so many beautiful wonders to explore in a place like this. Whether it is simply a chance for you to get away from the family and find some peace or alternatively take the family with you, there is always something to suite you and the kids fancy. Enjoy!!

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