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If you have ever planned to visit San Francisco and dreamed of travel along the stunning coastline from San Francisco Bay north to Eureka to experience the stunning rocky cliffs and spectacular views of the Pacific, see the Muir Woods National Monument, stop at the scenic Jenner, visit the former Russian Fort Ross, the legendary Mendocino and the Avenue of the Giants, but wondered where would be best to stay, the answer is Napa.

Using Napa as your base is not only convenient for day trips to San Francisco, Napa Valley is also warmer than the often cold and foggy city. Above that Napa offers easy access to laid back Sonoma Valley all the way to the wineries of Garberville north of Napa Valley itself.

With over three hundred wineries and a railroad to visit many of them Napa never disappoints. Ease of travel by road, quick escape to quiet and romantic corners of the valley and regions surrounding it makes Napa an ideal place where to stay.

With millions visiting every year lodging options in Napa are numerous but for a great and quiet location and the finest in amenities, few can rival Vino Bello Resort. Being on the southern end of Napa, it makes it easy to jump on a highway and drive to Sonoma, connect to San Francisco, zip up the Valley to Calistoga or elsewhere up north or the coastal Highway One.

Vino Bello offers one and two bedroom condo units as well as studios. The Tuscan style of architecture fits perfectly into the wine country. The bedroom units come with a large living area and a fully equipped kitchen. From marble countertops to 27-inch plasma screen TVs, a jetted tub, washer-dryer and furnished patio or balcony, your comfort is assured. From designer silverware and wine glasses to quality bedding, wall art and ambiance lighting, Vino Bello exudes luxury. Above all the price of luxury is made affordable ever more so if you plan your trip for the lean months when prices are very affordable. Here is a chart of the rates and applicable discounts based on your possible travel dates.

Further inquiries and to book, Contact Us.

It’s a common misconception, from the new holidaymaker to the vacation veteran, that booking direct with a hotel will guarantee cheaper prices. However, recent research shows that by booking via a third party instead can save you up to an overwhelming 45%.

Research carried out by travelsupermarket.com has shown that an average saving of 14% can be made by simply booking a hotel via a third party. By using hotel brokers such as Laterooms.com and online agents such as Lastminute.com or Expedia, as well as checking the prices with the hotel itself, people can see the discrepancy first hand, which in particular instances can be more than 40%.

Take a city break in the Apex City Hotel in this occurrence, from the 13th July; this night stay in Edinburgh will set you back a jaw dropping £234.50 if booked directly with the hotel. When you compare this price to booking with a third party online, you’ll be pleased to find an astonishing saving of 45%, with the same hotel, same weekend costing only £129.37.

And it’s not only Edinburgh this is true for. From the 11th of September, a weekend break in the Catalonia Barcelona Plaza will charge £123.61 directly, while a noteworthy online agent will be looking to charge £77.45, an exceptional £46.16 saving. European destinations aren’t the only ones to benefit; the same can be seen with a week break in the Millennium Hilton, New York, where you can find a £59.55 reduction via online brokers or agents.

Top Deals 

Hotel	Cheapest Online Quote	Booking Direct	Diff £	Diff %
Apex City – Edinburgh 13th July for 2 nights	£129.37	£234.50	-£105.13	-44.84%
Catalonia Barcelona Plaza – Barcelona 11th September for 2 nights	£77.45	£123.61	-£46.16	-37.35%
Millennium Hilton – New York 13th July for 1 week	£157.07	£216.62	-£59.55	-27.50%
Midland Hotel – Manchester 13th July for 2 nights	£71.00	£94.00	-£23.00	-24.47%
Hilton Las Vegas – Las Vegas 13th July for 1 week	£46.29	£52.64	-£6.35	-12.07%

 Top 5 money saving tips for your hotel:

• Using online brokers or agents instead of booking directly with the hotel, won’t just give you a great deal, but will also expose you to a wide range of different hotels, including ones you may never have heard of.
• If you have a familiarity with the name of the hotel you wish to stay at, try searching for it with a leading site. You’ll be able to get a variety of different quotes for the same room depending on your needs. Searching by name will also bring back a host of different providers with different prices to compete for your business.
• If you’re travelling with your children, consider opting for a family room for additional discounts.
• For weekend bookings, try an early reservation rather than last minute in order to obtain early booking offers, and book earlier on for recreation rates.
• For the best offers on late deals, book during the week. Book late when it comes to business nights, to give you a better chance of a last minute deal.

Guest post by Michael Wade of the city breaks team at travelsupermarket.com.

Information sourced on 02.07.2010 taking 13 popular cities and resorts at random from the top 30 most searched hotel destinations. Searches completed on travelsupermarket.com and on the hotel’s own booking website at same time.

Orange Walk District and its principal town of the same name, are situated north of Belize City. Orange Walk Town is about 55 miles from Belize City. The main tourist attractions are the New River and the famous Mayan ruins of Lamanai. Mexican influence is evident and there are some Mennonite communities in the area.

Located in the Cayo District, San Ignacio features cathedral-like forests, shimmering emerald rivers, caves, mountains, cascading falls, and mighty ruins. It is here where the Mountain Pine Ridge and the Mopan and Macal rivers are located. The various lodges in the area offer diverse activities including hiking, trekking, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, and bird watching. It is also in this area where the Mayan ruins of Caracol and Xunantunich are located.

Ambergris Caye is the largest of Belize’s nearly 200 offshore cayes . Commuter planes (15- minute ride) and water taxis (1-hour ride) link it to Belize City. The airstrip is in the heart of town, so most resorts are just a jump away. This is the capital of carefree and casual: there are no paved roads, traffic lights, and no high-rise buildings. Although most resorts are beach-front, Ambergris is not a beach destination in the traditional sense.

10 Nights from $1625* $1699 w/tax
Departure from Houston All Airports, TX
Itinerary Includes:

* International round-trip airfare
* All transfers between cities
* 3 nights in Orange Walk
* 3 nights in San Ignacio
* 4 nights in Ambergris Caye
* Daily breakfast (most hotels)
* Hotel Taxes

Price history for this itinerary (past 14 days):
From Chicago Ohare Intl, IL for 10 nights $1,816 $1,935 w/tax
From Dallas Ft Worth, TX for 10 nights $1,699 $1,767 w/tax
From Hartford, CT for 10 nights $1,736 $1,811 w/tax
From Houston G.Bush Intercont, TX for 10 nights $1,624 $1,697 w/tax
From Los Angeles Intl, CA for 10 nights $1,662 $1,737 w/tax
From Miami, FL for 10 nights $1,804 $1,865 w/tax

The itinerary can be customized per your preferences — Book / Inquire / Contact Us

40% Off Luxury 7 Day Itinerary – $969 Net Per Person!
- June to November 2009

In collabration with our Guatemala partners and the luxury boutique hotels of Palacio Dona Leonor (Antigua) and Laguna Lodge (Lake Atitlan) we are proud to offer a 7 Day Luxury Tour of the Guatemalan Highlands for just $969 per person – thats 40% off the normal net rate of $1615 per person
• Availble for tours June to November 2009
• Only for the itinerary listed below
• Start day has to be Sunday
• Price based on double occupancy – please enquire for single or small group travelers
• Book / Inquire

ITINERARY OUTLINE

SUN – ARRIVAL & PRIVATE TRANSFER TO ANTIGUA
• Guests will be met at Guatemala City Airport by their bi-lingual Drive
• Private transfer to Antigua (1hr)
• Overnight Palacio Dona Leonor

MON – ANTIGUA WALKING TOUR & FREE FTERNOON (B)
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Your private guide will meet you at your hotel for a half day walking tour of Antigua
• Free afternoon
• Overnight Palacio Dona Leonor

TUE – FREE DAY IN ANTIGUA (B)
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Free Day in Antigua – book tours locally to visit Coffee Farms, Maya museums, textile tours, climb the active volcano of Pacaya or any number of interesting activities.
• Overnight Palacio Dona Leonor

WED – TRANSFER TO LAKE ATITLAN (B)
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Private Transfer to Lake Atitlan (Approx 2hr 30 trf)
• Private Boat transfer from Panajachel to the Lodge (15min)
• Overnight Laguna Lodge – Eco Boutique Lodge
• (N.B Gourmet Vegetarian Food Only in this Hotel)

THU – CHICHICASTENANGO MARKET (B)
• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Private Transfer to Chichi by boat & vehicle (Approx 1.5hr)
• Time to explore Chichi Market (Unguided)
• Private Transfer back to your hotel by boat & vehicle (Approx 1.5hr)
• Overnight Laguna Lodge – Eco Boutique Lodge

FRI – LAKE TOUR (B,L)
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Private Full Day, Private Lake & Village Tour by boat to San Juan La Laguna and Santiago -Includes Lunch
• Overnight Laguna Lodge – Eco Boutique Lodge
• (N.B Gourmet Vegetarian Food Only in this Hote l)

Maya textiles

SAT – TRANSFER OUT (B)

• Breakfast in the hotel
• Transfers to Airport in time for international flight departure. (3hr)

Book / ASK US ABOUT EXTENSIONS TO INCLUDE THE JUNGLE & MAYA SITE AT TIKAL

HOTEL & DESTINATION INFORMATION

ANTIGUA
Antigua Guatemala. La Antigua (the old one), former colonial capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala, combines 17th and 18th century buildings and ruins with all the modern conveniences discerning travelers desire. The city was established as Santiago (St James) in 1543 after a mudslide destroyed the former capital. Santiago’s history was punctuated by massive earthquakes, followed by rebuilding and reparation, until the earthquake of Santa Marta in 1773 prompted a move to the present capital in Guatemala City. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Antigua exudes a unique atmosphere of history, intrigue and surprise. Resting in a fertile valley at 1530 m and surrounded by hills and volcanoes, Antigua’s climate is likened to ‘eternal spring’.

Luxury Boutique Hotel – Palacio de Dona Leonor
An authentic colonial mansion is the location for this beautiful 12 room boutique hotel right in the heart of Antigua. Just half a block from the central park this is Antigua’s most central hotel. Each room is named after a historical figure from Antigua’s past and is decorated in a different way still in keeping with the colonial theme of the hotel. There is a restaurant, breakfast room, outdoor lounge and breakfast areas in the central courtyard. The hotel prides itself on offering the best service in Antigua and lots of personal touches to make the guest’s experience truly outstanding. This is a wonderful hotel for couples and small groups.
Facilities: 12 Rooms, Restaurant, Tea room, Outdoor lounges.
Location: Heart of Central Antigua, 1/2 block from the main square

LAKE ATITLAN
Lake Atitlanhas been called by many “the most beautiful lake in the world”. It is indeed an amazing setting with the crystal blue waters of the lake surrounded by the three lofty peaks of Toliman, San Pedro and Atitlan Volcanoes. You can take a private boat to villages surrounding the lake and experience the local indigenous customs, traditions, dress and crafts. In the village of Santiago guides can show you where the local Mayan community worships an image called Maximon feeding him alcohol and cigarettes in an attempt to make their wishes come true. This village is also f
famous for its primitive art and beautiful woven “huipiles” – women’s tunics.

Laguna Lodge – Luxury Eco-Boutique Hotel
* VEGETARIAN FOOD ONLY
Laguna Lodge is a luxury, boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Atitlan close to the village of St Cruz. The hotel is in fact located on a large private area of land called the Tzantizotz Nature Reserve and the hotel is operated with a strong focus on sustainable travel best practice. The rooms and bathrooms are spacious and with balconies that offer wonderful views across the lake to the San Pedro and Atitlan Volcanoes. Food is gourmet vegetarian. A great hotel for honeymooners, couples and small groups.
Facilities: 7 Rooms, Vegetarian Restaurant, Bar, Hiking on private nature reserve
Location: Accessible only by boat. 10mins from Panajachel.

CHICHICASTENANGO
Chichicastenango is famous for its large craft market on Sunday and Thursday. This is when craftsmen and villagers from all over the highlands converge on this small town to sell their wares. Sunday is an interesting day to visit because as well as the hugely colorful market, many village shamans will come from miles around to “Chichi”, as the locals call it, to perform Mayan rituals on behalf of people in their community. There are many hillside Mayan altar sites where the rituals are performed and, yet more strangely, many are performed on altar slabs inside the catholic church. Chichi is one of the easiest places for travelers to experience the strange way that Mayan & Catholic faiths have merged in Guatemala. During a trip to Chichi, you can also visit the small mask factory and see a traditional dance display performed by the local children.

LAKE TOUR DESCRIPTION
Guests are picked up from their hotel & transfer to San Juan La Laguna Village where they visit a local textile cooperative to see the back strap loom in use and to see how they still dye with natural dyes. Guests also visit the home and workshop of local naïf painters before boarding the boat onto Santiago Village for lunch. After lunch guests will walk with their guide to find the house where the Maya God Maximon is living. Each year a different “brotherhood” has the privilege of taking care of their God so his location changes. Once with Maximon you may see local shaman performing rituals for local people and if you wish you can ask your guide to help you hire the services of a shaman for you to have a personal ceremony performed. After visiting Maximon guests can visit the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town and also see the market and learn about the distinctive textiles and primitive art that is famous from this area. When guests are ready they will be transferred back to their hotel.

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