Planning Gay Travel to Australia

By Howie Holben

Australia is an incredible gay vacation destination, filled with nature adventures and exciting cities. Its cities are open and gay friendly. and vibrant, perfect for gay holidays or tours. The country is diverse with wonders, both natural and manmade.

Australia offers gay travelers a welcoming destination, brimming with activities to suit the whims of any traveler. And that's probably the reason that so many gay couples and singles are saying, "G'day, mate," and making a beeline for this beautiful continent.

When you're in Australia you are rarely far from experiences that will excite you as never before. For the wine connoisseur, try going to Yarra, Coal River or Swan Valleys. Visit the wineries and their tasting rooms to experience first-hand the contrast between a smooth white and smoky red. Excitement junkies can go diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland or Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Visitors can swim with giant whale sharks at Ningaloo. In the Northern Territory at Darwin Harbor, you can dive World War II shipwrecks. In Tasmania you can hike national parks and ancient rainforests, home to interesting plants and animals.

Australia is home to one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world: Sydney. From the grandeur of the Sydney Opera House to boho galleries and fine dining; from the North and South Coast beaches to tropical environmentsin Sydney, the gay traveler is just steps away from action and new experiences at every turn. Museums, art galleries, zoos, gourmet dining, first-rate shopping, spas and sporting events"these are just a few of the diversions you can find in this historic city. Be sure to grab a copy of the Sydney Star Observer (Sydney's gay newspaper) for information on the local scene, including nightlife and clubs.

Oh, and don't forget the cuisine"from purely Australian, to Asian, with a generous helping of Mediterranean, French and other exotic offerings, there is enough to satisfy the most discerning palate.

Since Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are opposite those of the Northern Hemisphere. For example, summer in Australia takes place December through February. Because Australia is such a large continent, be sure to check with your travel professional for precise weather information about your particular destination.

Australia welcomes its visitors with diverse accommodations: bed-and-breakfast inns, romantic getaways, relaxing spas, hotels and hostels, making a gay vacation to Australia affordable, no matter what the budget.

About the Author:

Howie Holben is the owner of Spirit Journeys, a gay tours organization that focuses on spiritual travel. He has travelled the world for over thirty years learning from indigenous cultures. You can learn more about Howie, his work and conscious travel with a spiritual focus at www.SpiritJourneys.com.

Thailand Holidays: Expect The Unexpected

By Alan Leighton

If you truly want the holiday of a lifetime and crave an exotic wonderland full of exciting people, amazing beaches, beautiful food and fascinating culture, then you need look no further than the exotic country of Thailand. It may sound like an adage, but Thailand truly is a dream destination in every sense of the phrase.

The bustling and steamy capital, Bangkok may very well be your first port of call and it does not disappoint. It may be a hedonist's playground, but there's also something here for the culture vultures too, from fascinating ruins to beautiful temples and historic architecture. It can be overwhelming at first, but keep your wits about you and after a day or so, the excitement of the place will be sure to grab you.

When planning your holiday, a time to avoid may be September. Monsoon season occurs about then so be wary of booking holidays around this time. Apart from that, the months from March to June can be very humid and hot so please come prepared in terms of clothing. In fact, a trip to the beach may very well be in order at this time.

Thai people are very welcoming to visiting tourists. They are also famously laid-back and tolerant. The food is also excellent and a far cry from the bland Thai curries which can be bought in a jar in your local supermarket. Street food is also tasty, filling and very reasonably priced and the atmosphere and smells on a Bangkok street at night are to be savoured.

Thailand's beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world and picture postcard views are afforded from them. Water sports are available in abundance with everything from scuba diving to jet-skiing to kayaking well catered for. A special treat for lovers of marine wildlife would be the special trips to the many remote reefs and islands scattered throughout the land. Indeed, 'James Bond Island' is even here, made famous from its appearance in 'The Man with the Golden Gun'. Although I doubt you'll catch a glimpse of Bond himself!

Last but not least, Thailand's nightlife is truly legendary and not for the faint-hearted. If that's the sort of thing you are after, then believe me, it's all here waiting for you. It really is as outrageous and off-the-wall as everyone says it is - and more so.

In summary, if you like lazing on a beautiful golden sandy beach, like sunshine, like fantastic tasty food and friendly locals then you could do worse that Thailand holidays. They really do take the breath away.

About the Author:

Learn more about a holiday to Thailand. Stop by Alan Leighton's site where you can find out all about a Thailand Holiday and what it can do for you.

Washington DC: A Travel Destination

By Chris Linch

Nowhere else in the United States is American history so easy to experience as in Washington D.C. For example, just a short walk from the Washington Monument, you can visit (and stay in!) the same hotel that Martin Luther King Jr. did before giving his "I Have a Dream" speech shortly before the March on Washington in 1963.

If you want a great hotel that will keep you near such popular attractions as the Smithsonian, the Washington Monument, and the Library of Congress, book any hotel in D.C.! Some particularly great hotels are the Willard Intercontinental of the Hay-Adams, which offer beautiful views of the White House, and the Downtown and Capitol Hill hotels, which are near the National Mall. All of these beautiful hotels are the same as those booked by leaders and diplomats visiting the U.S., and are close to all the attractions in the city.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel specifically is near the Jefferson Memorial, though a bit farther from downtown. On the other hand, you can stay close to the night life by booking a room in any of the hotels in Dupont Circle.

These beautiful hotels are certainly one of a kind, but there are also budget-friendly options all over the city. You can find some of the most economical hotels and motels in the Washington D.C. on Connecticut Avenue, which is near the zoo and the National Cathedral. These accommodations are also very close to shopping and dining.

While many hotels in the downtown area are a bit more expensive, it's a good idea to consider how much driving you'll need to do from a hotel outside the downtown area. Although less expensive to reserve, you'll need to drive from these hotels and park, which can be expensive. Think carefully first about the sites you want to see the most, and find a hotel near those places, so that parking fees are less of a worry.

Unlike many cities, Washington D.C. doesn't have a regular "off season," so hotel prices are generally the same throughout the year. This means that you can visit during any time of the year for about the same price. Bear in mind that summer will be slightly busier, in terms of seeing attractions. The best way to save money on your trip is to find package deals or other discounts online that you can use when you make your reservations.

About the Author:

Chris Linch is the owner of homeshophotels.com where you can find Cheap Hotel Rates and other incredible travel savings. Chris travels frequently and is well published on the internet for some of the information he provides consumers.

Car Travel: Things You Need To Have A Good Trip

By Chris Linch

In order to ensure that your trip gets off to a smooth start, it is always smart to pack items you will need in advance. This will allow you to start your trip relaxed knowing that you have all the required items with you already, there is no need to rush or be stressed out about anything, just focus on the trip.

Starting of a trip in the right frame of mind is so important, that is why advance planning really works. You begin the trip knowing you have what you need, you are relaxed and even have time for some coffee. You also can pick up those foods you will want to much on during your journey, which will add to your enjoyment level of the experience.

If you are planning a trip, it is important to figure out everything you will need before you are ready to leave for the trip. Perhaps the most important item to consider for packing purposes is clothing, you must have clothing and shoes that are appropriate for your trip. It is important to consider such things as weather, terrain, whether you will be active or sedentary, and whether laundry services are available.

You may want to consider including some antibacterial wipes when you are packing for your trip, they come in very handy for cleaning dirty hands, wiping down surfaces, or just about anything else. Some small towels are also great to keep handy and available for any accidential spills you may have, to wipe things off, or other general purpose use.

1 Including snacks when you are packing for your trip is essential, the snacks can really make or break your road trip. By having food on hand the travelers will not have to deal with fast food lines, restaurants, or other stops just to get food. Consider including some nuts, carrots, salads, or other healthy snacks when you are doing your packing.

About the Author:

Chris Linch is an avid traveler and author. Chris spends most of his time providing sound advice and information to travelers. Chris has traveled all over the world and writes not only about his experiences, but how to save on travel. Chris also runs a money saving website where you can find Cheap Hotel Rates among other travel deals.

Don't Pay Too Much For Your Hotel In London

By Rajul Chande

Does it cost the earth to stay in a London hotel?

Many visitors to London certainly comment that London hotels are super-expensive. Do they have a point?

"Expensive" means something different to everyone. Often you can spend a lot of money and think it was brilliant, while at other times just the opposite is true. Cheap is not always best.

So what does the hard data say? London comes 5th in the ranking of the world's most expensive hotels, lagging behind Moscow, New York, Dubai and Venice (the source for this is Hotels.com).

A different survey (source: Hogg Robinson) suggests that London hotel prices are the 10th dearest. According to this survey, London hotels are cheaper than Stockholm and New York among others.

The bad news is that London is pricey because there is plenty of leisure and business demand to visit the UK's capital city. This unfortunately keeps prices high throughout the year.

The good news is that you can still get great value in London and London hotels but ONLY if you know where to look. To do so, you must use independent blogs (like the one linked below). Please do NOT rely on hotel or booking websites that only have a vested interest in selling you a room.

Ready for more good news? A separate survey (from the Economist) looked at the most expensive cities for all spending (beyond just hotel prices): this discovered that Paris and Copenhagen for example are a lot more expensive than London.

So while hotels in London look expensive to many overseas visitors, you have to benchmark this against the world's other premier tourist destinations.

The most important advice is to always book your hotel in London after searching out the best price on the internet. If you book based on just one website's pricing, you will almost always be missing out on the best rate.

Never be fooled by a best online rate guarantee. It is often hard to enforce this in practice (just try to read the small-print!) as well as being time-consuming.

The author of this article is a London hotels "insider" who has his finger on the pulse of London hotel pricing. There are big price differences for the same London hotel on different websites, so it is very easy to get ripped off if you are not well-informed.

There is just one way to ensure that you obtain the very best London hotel deal: you need to use a "meta-search" tool which compares lots of different websites at the same time (preferably more than 20 or 30 sites). It is now as easy to do a one-click search of many websites for the best deal as it is to search a single website.

The blog linked below has a price comparison tool which checks dozens of the world's best-known hotel reservation websites to find you the cheapest rate for your London hotel.

A hotel meta-search engine lets you feel secure that you're getting the best possible deal. It also means you're left with more money to enjoy London's amazing bars, restaurants and theatres!

About the Author:

Before booking your London hotel, please make sure that you check the London Hotels Insight blog for independent information on choosing your ideal London hotel. The blog is edited by the author of a book on hotels in London and has a useful meta-search tool which searches 30+ websites to get you the cheapest deal.

An Introduction To Horse Race Betting

By Ross Everett

One of the reasons that the popularity of sports gambling has skyrocketed in recent years is its accessibility. It's easy to bet on most major sports because everyone understands the basics, which teams are good and why they win. Horse handicapping, on the other hand, is a completely different and somewhat arcane discipline. Where there are some shared concepts, success at sports betting doesn't guarantee the same playing the ponies. Legendary sports handicapper Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder was famous for killing the books with his sports plays--and giving it all back with his inept horse bets.

The information below is the bare bones basics of what you need to know to enjoy a day at the horse track. If you're interested in becoming a serious horse handicapper, you're best advice to start with one of the countless books or DVDs that deal specifically with the discipline.

Arm yourself with information: The first step for any horse handicapper is to pick up a copy of the Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the track program. The publications give the names of the horses, jockeys and trainers, the morning line odds, and the types of bets available for each race. You'll also have past performance charts, which are crucial for serious horse handicappers. These charts reveal a lot about a horse and what they've done on the racetrack, including its record, where it ran, the quality of competition it ran against, and what position the horse was in at various points in the race.

You're playing against other bettors, not the racetrack: A big difference between sports wagering and horse betting is the function of 'the house'. In horse racing, you're not playing against the track--instead, you're betting against the other patrons. The track simply serves as a 'banker', accepting money and paying bets. For this service, they take a percentage of the money bet on each race (called the 'takeout'). The odds on a horse aren't set by the track, but rather by the amount of money bet on each entry.

The odds in the newspaper are known as the 'morning odds' and are essentially educated opinions. They're not much different than 'overnight lines' in sports betting. They can serve a function for handicapping, but often will not reflect what will transpire when the actual betting begins.

Horse handicapping basics: This is where horse racing gets complex--there are countless theories about how to handicap a horse race. Some handicappers consider the breeding lineage of the horse, while others are more concerned with past performance. Still others put more weight on the training a horse has received, or its workout performance.

Once a bettor reaches a conclusion about what he thinks will happen in a given race, it is still subject to the odds that are available when betting. This is similar to sports gambling, where an underdog may be more attractive due to an excessively high payback potential than he would ordinary, or, conversely, a clear favorite becomes an unattractive wagering proposition due to a prohibitively high price. Its all a matter of the math"if I could speak to the teenagers of America, Id try to impress upon them the importance of doing well in math for no other reason than its importance in all forms of gambling.

Horses and Trainers: Some handicappers place a great deal of importance on the horses breeding lineage"the quality of his parents and grandparents "as an indication to his performance potential. This may be particularly important early in a horses career, but after a half dozen or so races what hes done on the track becomes more important than his pedigree. Trainers, like Bob Baffertt, can also be an important consideration much in the same way that coaching can play an important role in sports wagering.

Jockeys: Jockeys are independent agents, and thus to make the most money they need to win the most races. The more a jockey wins, the better 'rides' he gets and the more money he makes. Surprisingly, many serious horse players put minimal importance on the jockey. It's essentially a case where even the best jockey can't win with a bad horse. In other words, if a jockey is seen as 'competent' there are many other more significant factors for the handicapper to consider.

Don't Go Overboard, and Try to Find What Works For You: As with any new betting discipline, its always sound advice to not go overboard with the amount of money you wager. These are just the basics of how to bet a horse race and what some of the salient factors are in determining who will win or lose a race, and doesn't even to begin to scratch the surface of successfully handicapping the sport. If you want to learn more, Id suggest starting with the Daily Racing Form website, after which a simple Google search can expand your options from there.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance writer who has written on sports betting and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared on TV and radio talking about boxing, hockey and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a lynx.

South Kuta Accommodation

By Lee Smith

The hotels in South Kuta are specified along the same lines as the rest of Bali and you'll find the same assortment of accommodation anywhere that you need to stay. The basic hotels offer budget rooms that are not fancy, but are always clean and neat and are extremely inexpensive for those on a truly small budget. Then you'll find places that offer moderate accommodation that have a few additional facilities like their own restaurant and bar. Next are the superior types of places that will be rated by stars, often from 3-5 stars and offer you better views and more personalized service.

Deluxe hotels are 4-5 stars that as you expect will be of a much higher standard with pretty much all you need to chill on your vacation without venturing too far. These places will have in-house spas, massages and shopping areas. Then if you actually need to splash out you can go for pure luxury, these are the top Bali hotels that are all over Bali and South Kuta luxury hotels are a selection of the best to be found on the island. Everything found in these establishments is 5 stars, the eateries, bars, coffee shops and shops, they offer everything that the other hotels have plus a load more, pampered is a good way to explain how you may feel when staying there.

The majority of folk who visit Bali will come to visit the white sandy beaches and clear blue seas that are in and around Kuta. Being such a popular destination you'll find many hotels to stay in that offer every kind of services and individual packages to suite your wishes. South Kuta was not always a busy holiday maker attraction, with restaurants, discotheques, shopping areas and all the amenities that tourists have come to expect when visiting such a lovely island. Not so long ago it was a quiet fishing town with fishing boats lining the beach and simple homes made from bamboo along the shore where now stands all of the craft shops, wonderful restaurants, up market bars and clubs.

The majority of South Kuta Hotels have a website that you can book your stay through and make the beginning to your holiday a straightforward one. Having a hotel pre-booked is especially important if you're traveling a long distance to get to Bali. After arriving an Ngurah airport on one of the long haul Bali flights the last thing most of the people wish to do is go gallivanting around. It is best to head straight from the airport, drop your bags and relax for a few hours and get some shut eye.

Having a holiday in Bali will leave you feeling rejuvenated and prepared to take on the real world again. To make sure that your holiday is an agreeable one and not ruined by simply avoidable mishaps, use some common sense and do not forget that you are on holiday this is when folk tend to let their guard down.

Keep your valuables, jewelry and most importantly your credit cards and passport in a safe place. Never leave them unwatched, if your hotel has safes use them . Each hotel will charge differently, but it is really worth the additional cost than having to cope with the problems that spring from lost passports and visa cards.

When traveling into the more agricultural areas you'll come across some, how to put it, less than desirable toilet facilities. Always carry a roll of toilet paper with you, even some budget hotels do not have any, and some hand cleaner. If you end up looking round for the handle to flush the loo and are scratching your head, look left or right next to the bowl. The bucket with the scoop in, that is what you are looking for, scoop the water and flush, all part of the experience.

Most of the temples in Bali require you to wear a sarong when entering. You can rent one at every temple as you visit, but if you intend to visit many temples it's a good idea to buy your own when you arrive or bring one from home.

About the Author:

If you are looking for South Kuta Hotels or any other information to help you decide on your Bali holiday check out Bali Accommodation. From Budget to deluxe we can help you find the right accommodation for your Bali Holiday.