Vancouver - home to spectacular natural scenery

Vancouver is a perfect Pacific city, shimmering on the edge of a beautiful harbour. Nestled against the Coastal Moutains and remote from the buzz of Ottawa and Toronto, Vancouver is a laid-back, outdoor city, where residents are often to be found skiing, sailing or scuba diving after work.

With the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, it is no surprise that Vancouver is an ideal destination for lovers of the outdoors. In the winter, you can ski and snowboard on Grouse Mountain, a shortish trip from the city and then, if you are feeling fit enough, head down to the harbour for some sailing. There is also skating, kayaking and scuba diving on offer.

In the summer, head to Stanley Park, a 1,000-acre peninsula in the harbour where the trees are remnants of forests. It is an institution as well as a park and there is a $2,000 maximum fine for littering. Or hop over to Granville Island, where people picnic and bask and have coffee.

For the best views and a thrilling ride, have a go on a seaplane. You can go to Victoria, for some whale-watching. Orca (killer) whales can be seen in the waters off Canada's west coast around Vancouver Island during spring and summer, and Pacific greys can be seen as they migrate between Baja California and Alaska, travelling north in spring and south in autumn. Various companies operate whale-watching boat and kayak trips from Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Stay

Moda Hotel
Situated in the heart of Vancouver’s Arts and Entertainment district, the Moda Hotel is a unique boutique hotel like none other in Downtown Vancouver.
Standard Queen Room, CAD 99 (normal rate CAD 149)>> view more info


The Granville Grand
With an excellent, convenient location on the central nerve of the city scene, this stylish boutique hotel offers clean, comfortable accommodation at great rates.
Double room, CAD 69 (normal rate CAD 99) >>view more info

>> view more hotels in Vancouver

Beautiful Koh Samui

Koh Samui is one of the most beautiful island in Thailand, resulting in being rather popular and sometime crowded.
However, away from the main beach of Chaweng there are plethora of coves and bays, many of which are deserted.
Get off the beaten track, hire a bike or a car and roam the emerald isle for a place to park that is well away from the crowds.

Stay

X2 Samui is a fabulous new designer resort on the stunning island of Koh Samui. The latest addition to the X2 Resorts portfolio, this intimate property caters towards the cosmopolitan, creative and stylish guest looking for a first class, private resort without the formality of traditional luxury hotels.
Bungalow 4 500 THb (normal rate 5 625 THB) >> view more info


At Rummana Boutique Resort, every aspect of the hotel and its services is masterfully designed and implemented to ensure you have a truly enjoyable stay. Satisfy your craving for delectable Thai and international cuisine at Horapa Restaurant. Named after the sweet basil leaf, enjoy splendid meals and fine wines at this beautiful alfresco dining spot.
Deluxe Villa 3 990 THB (normal rate 4 500 THB) >> view more info


Banburee Resort and Spa is nestled in the folds of a picturesque hillside in the south of the island, offering some of the best get-away-from-it-all locations.
Deluxe Super Saver 2 970 THB >> view more info

Interline news

The Coral Beach Hotel & Resort in Cyprus is situated on 500 metres of natural sandy beach with its own private harbour and boat. It is close to the town of Paphos, 25 minutes from Paphos International Airport and 150km from Larnaca International Airport. This unique resort combines the traditional Cypriot décor of white walls and authentic woodwork with the modern amenities expected of a five star resort.

Travel Industry rate: €34 per person including breakfast, mountain view room
Normal rate: € 119 per person including breakfast

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Djerba - largest island off North Africa

Djerba hosts some paradoxes. It' a fairly big island, just off the North African coast, which has almost no islands.

Djerba is not only appreciated for it' architecture, made up of square whitewashed houses all over the island. The whole island is like a little world of its own, so compressed that lazy traveller' can cover most of it. Yet, there is enough here to make globe-trotters have a great time here for a good fortnight. The topography of Djerba is simple, and there are some kilometres between each village, each telling its own story Djerba is smooth, sometimes startling, and just as charming as enthusiastic Tunisians tell you it is.

On the island of Djerba, there are many villages, but almost no towns. The only real town is the beautiful Houmt Souq, while the second town, Midoun, is less exciting. Many travellers arriving at Jerba pass through the village of Ajim, but more picturesque is the little visited Guellala.

Stay

The magnificent Radisson SAS Resort & Thalasso can only offer 10% discount to Airline staff but i looks fantastic so maybe it´s worth staying there anyway.

Some facts:
Radisson SAS Resort is enviably located on a beautiful sandy beach and is connected to Athénée Thalasso, a newly refurbished Thalasso & spa center.
All 296 rooms and suites are designed in a contemporary style.
Free Broadband including wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel.
You can choose from four restaurants and five bars offering a variety of cuisines.
Fully-equipped health club.
Choose from a large variety of sport activities including a Club Mistral center for windsurfing and kitesurfing lesson.

>> view more hotels in Djerba

Not just looking for a hotel bed? Do you want an experience instead?

Check out the the World's Coolest Hotel Rooms - the first in a series of the cool hunter-branded books has just been published by Harper Collins Publishers (US).

From rooms decked out with a soundstage to concierges who can arrange impromptu tango lessons, trend-spotter and author Bill Tikos has roamed the globe to find hotels offering unique, luxurious experiences.

Tikos' book, the World's Coolest Hotel Rooms, features more than 50 rooms ranging from those that fulfil rock-star fantasies to others that elevate the meaning of luxury, boasting sumptuous day beds in lush, secluded gardens with private pools.

One of the hotels featured in Tikos' glossy book is the Goldman 25hours Hotel which catches the eye with its orange-and-blue facade.

Each room has its own theme, ranging from from a suite decorated in the style of 1890s Paris to another devoted to words and wisdom from 1950s poets.

San Diego

Glitzy LA may capture all the attention, but if you want to wet your feet and soak up the SoCal beach scene in serious style, catch a wave to affluent, conservative, golf-coursed, blessed-by-nature, merging-with-Mexico San Diego.

Its superb coastline, near-perfect climate and Mediterranean facade make it the quintessential Southern California beach city, but there's no chance to develop ennui. The smorgasbord of museums, zoos, animal parks and beaches will have you wondering which way to run next.

Last time iD Traveller went to San Diego we stayed at Tower23 at Pacific beach and we can´t wait until we get back! Wonderful long beach and a such a cool place to stay in.



TOWER23 - iD Traveller favourite!
Tower23 Hotel is San Diego's only luxury, lifestyle hotel on the beach and one of California's most stylish and contemporary urban resorts. TOWER23 Hotel derives its name from Lifeguard Tower 23 positioned on Pacific Beach in front of the hotel, and creates a cool haven to enjoy one of America's best cities. Neo-Modernist in approach, TOWER23 Hotel is a refreshingly minimalist but playful, creative study for the urban beach resort.
Spirit Pad, usd 209 (normal rate usd 309) >> view more info


500 West Hotel
From the moment you step into this historical landmark building adjacent to San Diego Bay, you realize this is no ordinary hotel. First, there is the vibe. Very contemporary. Next, there is the style and accommodations.
Double room, usd 64 ( normal rate 109) >> view more info

>> view more hotels in San Diego

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is an Asian tiger that roars: in almost 150 years, it has grown from nothing to a modern, bustling city. Take in its high-flying triumphs from the viewing deck of one of the world's tallest buildings, then dive down to explore its more traditional culture in the back lanes of Chinatown.
It's a modern Asian city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it retains much of the local colour that has been wiped out in other Asian boom-cities such as Singapore. It has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India.

Heritage Station Hotel
We are located in the Kuala Lumpur train station at the beginning of the Historical Row in Kuala Lumpur.

Situated in the heart of this exciting city, this hotel is very conveniently located. You will be a minute from the main depot of regional and domestic road transport, the light rail, commuter rails and long distance rails to Singapore and Bangkok.

Superior double room, MYR 88, >> view more info


Hotel Equatorial
Located in Kuala Lumpur’s renowned Golden Triangle, this 5-star luxury hotel is within easy reach of the city’s lively commercial centres, shopping areas and entertainment strips.

Superior room, MYR 290, >> view more info

>> view more hotels i Kuala Lumpur


Lonely Planet has just released a new guide book for Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Penang.

Lonely Planet Guidebooks