Posted on

27 Websites For Booking Hotels And Alternate Accommodations

Total Page Visits: 3307

The site or web environment you choose to use depends on your travel style, how much you can afford and the location you want.

Getting a good hotel/accommodation comes at a price; indeed hotels aren’t cheap even though your money makes you enjoy every facility available for the little period you are spending.

In most cases when you are far away from home, and you need a place to pass over the night, hotels/private apartments can’t be avoided at the same time they are not just everywhere.

As much as you may love to make use of hotels/alternative accommodations while you are away from home, there is something nice about the luxuriousness of a hotel (the clean room, desk, bed, bottled soap, and strong shower e.t.c) makes you feel homely.




The most popular apartment/hotel booking site you can ever think of is Airbnb, Airbnb is a popular site where people not only get the best deal for booking a hotel space but an environment where you can find beautiful apartments.

You can as well choose to let out your apartment for the few periods you are away from home and allow Airbnb take care of the rental process for you just as they can give you access to another vacant apartment or hotels where you are going. 

This list of sites we shall be explaining here includes professionally vacated rentals; they also allow people who have extra rooms or empty apartments to list their properties online.



You will be glad to read through the lists of accommodation available that people don’t know. Here are some of the booking sites.

Courtesy: dimitrisvetsikas1969

  1. RENTALS COMBINED: rentals combined are one of the largest independent operators with over 600,000 hotels listed for apartments online.

  2. VRBO: the name stands for vacation rentals by owners, it’s one of the first websites that connects homeowners and travelers and has been around since 1996.

  3. FLIPKEY: FlipKey is also one of the excellent sites to use when looking for a home/hotel, with over 300 properties available for rentals. FlipKey has the best search engine that lets you filter the kind of apartment you want.

  4. HOMEAWAY: HomeAway is one of the major competitors with Airbnb, it has over one million properties located around the world making it one of the largest website you can get an apartment of your choice.

  5. HOMESTAY: has a unique way of managing clients, they allow clients to meet property owners and talk to the local host or family to express the kind of accessories they want in their apartment.

  6. ALUGUEST : aluguest is an Uruguayan company, and its primary focus is for people within the Latin American countries, it’s an excellent resource for people seeking properties in South America.

  7. BOOKING : this website is lovely; it has excellent deals offering no-fee last minute cancellation policies.

  8. HOTELS COMBINED: hotels combined are also one of the best places you can check before booking accommodation online. It’s not a booking site, but it’s a place that lets you quickly locate other booking sites with friendly price on a hotel.

  9. ONEFINESTAY : in many ways, onefinestay is similar to Airbnb, the only difference is that they pay attention only to high-end properties. They let out a whole property, so they deal with small apartments.

  10. SLEEPOUT : sleepout has focus countries; they operate in Africa, Indian Ocean Island, and the Middle East. It has facilities for everything from beach huts, guesthouses e.t.c

  11. RENTAVILLA : RentalVilla is an old website operating since 1983, they offer villas, houses in European countries like Greece, Spain, France, Portugal e.t.c

  12. QUEST APARTMENT : what makes quest apartment different from others is that they offer serviced apartment. They cater to leisure travelers and business people who want autonomy for their money.

  13. PERFECTPLACES : since they started operation since 1996, they have been able to acquire over 75,000 properties around the world. They offer both nightly and weekly rates.

  14. INTERHOME : Interhome in also pulling weight with its services having over 100,000 vacation rentals in countries with their focus on European apartments and vacation homes.

  15. COUCHSURFING: this site allows you to travel on a budget; it will enable you to connect local people who have a spare bed they want to rent out for a little while. It has over 400,000 hosts with 4 million registered users.

  16. OUTDOORSY: outdoorsy started not too long ago in the United States and had over time become the world largest peer-to-peer RV rentals where owners list out their available apartments for people who want to make use of them.

  17. travelmob: Travelmob has its base in Singapore; it allows travelers to connect with homeowners in the Asia Pacific region.

  18. OWNERSDIRECT : owners direct is a Uk based company that started operation in 1997, they offer over 125,000 vacation properties around the world. It still operates its distinct website and brand despite its acquisition in 2007 by HomeAway.

  19. LUXURY RETREAT : Luxury retreat’s primary focus is on high-end luxury villas and properties. It’s a great alternative to Airbnb. They have enough clients and property worth up to 3,000 in over 90 locations. 

  20. TRIVAGO: Trivago also offers an excellent deal for travelers who want to get nice apartments to rest their heads. They provide amazing services too.

  21. AGODA: Agoda is one of the best booking websites you can ever think of using. They offer low prices over and over again.

  22. AIRBNB: without being partial, Airbnb is the most popular of all. There is no other reason than the rate they offer deals bring homes close to the people.

  23. PRICELINE: Priceline is also an excellent place to book a hotel, they always provide a “name your price” feature that allows people to choose hotel rooms based on their budget.

  24. HOTELS.COM: hotels.com has a unique feature, guess what they give you one free night if you pay for ten nights.

  25. HOTELNIGHT.COM: This site has a great iPhone app to search for hotels rooms at any time of the day

  26. TINGO: is a new site for hotel bookers sponsored by TripAdvisor, it allows people to book early enough for vacations and gets money back if hotel rates drop.

  27. Expedia.com: Expedia is one of the best hotel booking sites in the united states.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter Here




You may also like to read 10 Easy Ways To Free Hotel Night

Read  Ways to make luxury travel more affordable

Read 9 Items most often left behind at hotels

Posted on

10 Things To Do In Thimphu For A Satisfying Experience

With a population of just under 100,000, Thimphu is not only the capital but also the largest and most populous city in Bhutan. The urban agglomeration is located on the western hills of the wang chu valley, at the height of over 2,300 meters above sea level.

Despite being at the same latitude as Miami and Cairo, Thimphu has a very different climate from that of the other metropolises due to the attitude, which keeps temperatures at fairly low values.

In January the values fluctuate on average between -3 and 12 degrees, even if there are not rare nights at -7/-8 degrees. In summer the highs exceed a few degrees above the 20 degrees mark, while the minimum hardly falls below 15 degrees.

The rapid urbanization of Thimphu in recent years has considerably increased the size of the settlement, the state’s main economic and political center.

A peculiarity is linked with the fact that  Thimphu is the only capital in the world where traffic lights do not exist, since, after the attempt by the local authorities to install some, the population protested by judging them to be impersonal and demanded that they are removed at once.

Therefore, you could imagine the traffic conditions, which is currently being governed exclusively by the theatrical gestures of the white brigade fighters. In another light, the white brigade fighters are real points of attraction of the region that almost no tourists let escape the lens of their camera.

Before the new road was completed in 1962, it took about ten days to reach the capital from the Phuentsholing; now six hours are enough. For the rest, once you have landed at the only airport in the country, Paro airport, you can take a taxi or rent a car to reach Thimphu, which is 53 kilometers away and a couple of hours away by a car.

The best way to move around the city is undoubtedly your legs, with which you will avoid the sudden traffic jams caused by the lack of traffic lights.

Several archaeological findings suggest that the area of Thimphu must have been inhabited as early as 2,000 BC when nomadic populations have been staying there to hunt.

The influence of Buddhism which began to spread among the population starting from the 2nd century AD was very important for the city, which still sees the presence of enchanting temples and ancient monasteries.

10 Things To Do In Thimphu

  1. Visit the Trashi chhoe Dzong

The Trashi chhoe Dzong is one of the symbolic attractions of the capital of Bhutan. The site, built on the western shore of Wang Chhu,  does not overlook the valley or the city as a real fortress but, on the contrary, its wonderful  portions and its modest  give it a remarkable magnificence the external  structures are two stories high and is covered with a thin layer of plaster, while at the four corners there are three- story towers with red and golden roofs  that jut out over the walls .

Unlike most decades, the headquarters of the secretariat, the throne room and other offices of the king, as well as the ministry of the interior and finance have been located within the complex.

  1. Explore the National Memorial Chorten,

This is a large Tibetan style memorial site built in 1974 in memory of the third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. It also comes as a great point of visit for all tourists.

  1. Visit the Changlimithang Stadium

The Changlimithang Stadium stands as the national stadium of Thimphu, as it houses the archery range, a large football stadium, a basketball court, and several tennis and squash courts.

  1. Explore the SAARC Building

The SAARC Building a large Bhutanese style building which was set up in the 1990s on the eastern bank of the river to host a meeting of heads of state from various South Asian countries held by the  SAARC ( South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation).



  1. Visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum

The National Institute for Zorig Chusum commonly called ” the painting school ” stands as a testimony to the high cultural level reached by Thimphu in recent years. This also comes as a delight because it provides students from all over the state with a four/six-year course that gives a complete artistic preparation.

  1. Visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine

The National Institute of Traditional Medicine is one of the most particular structures in the city, in which medicines based on medicinal herbs and other preparations are prepared.

  1. Visit the Thimphu museums

In Thimphu, there are several interesting museums scattered around the capital, such as the Folk Heritage Museum, the ” Museum of Popular Traditions,” housed in a building made of pressed mud and wood.

This tends to be an imitation of the typical Bhutanese rural houses, and the National Textile Museum used for the dissemination of the local art of weaving.

  1. Explore the Thimphu National Library

 In this list of ideal things to do in Thimphu, we can also fully insert the National Library, established in 1967 to preserve ancient texts in Dzongkha and Tibetan languages.

  1. Visit the traditional weekend market

Many tourists define the traditional weekend market as one of the most interesting and curious attractions of Thimphu. Starting Thursday evening and until Sunday, hawkers from all over the regions enliven the shores of Wang  Chhu immediately north of Changlimithang Stadium with stalls laden with food of all kinds, depending on the season, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and cheese.

Between one banquet and another, smells and flavors will stimulate your senses in a sublime way, and also enticing the reticent visitor to try some Bhutanese delicacies.

  1. Explore the Motithang Takin Preserve

To spend an afternoon in the open air inside the capital, there is nothing better than exploring the Motithang Takin Preserve. This is a site where there are several specimens of takin, the national animal of Bhutan.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter Here

Posted on

Things To Do and See In Pokhara

There is a beautiful and peaceful city of Nepal that stretches along the shore of a beautiful lake, the Phewa Tal. Her name is Pokhara, and surely many of you have never heard of her. However, it is a place that despite the calm that it transmits receives many tourists every day since it is the starting point of innumerable trekkings that take travelers to different circuits through the Annapurnas. It is also for this reason that the city has a large number of shops where you can get everything you need for those days that you will be away from civilization. Although there is no doubt that these outings to the mountains are the main attraction of the city, there are many more things to do & see in Pokhara.

If one decides to escape from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu and cross the country to the east, they will be rewarded by the calm of this small city that was taken by the hippies in the 1970s. From that moment on, the city grew and became important as a traveling destination in Nepal until the end of the 1990s, when a Maoist conflict prevented visiting Pokhara for almost a decade. Fortunately, the city resumed its rhythm and today is one of the most complete destinations to see in Nepal.  Some things to do & see here include:

  1. Climb to the Peace Pagoda

On the crest of a mountain on Lake Phewa Tal, you can visit this white Pagoda of World Peace. It was built by Buddhist monks of a Japanese organization and today is one of the best things to do in Pokhara. Even the pagoda can be walked up to the mountain, there is a route that can be done in one hour, and that crosses a forest, another one that takes two hours to pass through rice fields and a beautiful shore as forest.

But something simpler is recommended, which is to go up by bus or taxi to the nearest point to the pagoda and invest your natural strength in going down the mountainside to the lake. The views from the crest on which the pagoda is located are impressive, but the ones you have going down the mountain are also wonderful. Once in the lake, in order to cross it and get to the city, it is enough to get on one of the boats waiting for potential customers next to the restaurant at the end of the road. For a few rupees, you can do all the excursion and give yourself a cold juice to quench your thirst after the walk.

  1. Paddling in the Phewa Tal

This lake is the second largest in Nepal and one of the most charming places in the country. The landscape that surrounds it is really impressive, few lakes in the world can boast of being the mirror for some of the highest mountains in the world. To walk along its shore, to contemplate it from the Pagoda of Peace or to see it from the heights is a marvel, but it is also to end the day in a boat crossing its calm waters to reach the Varahi Mandir, a small temple on a lake island built in the style of a pagoda with two roofs. To get there, just hire a boat near the lakeside intercity bus stop.



  1. Go shopping on the shores of the lake

It is almost inevitable not to make any purchase on your visit to Pokhara. The entire area of Lakeside is full of shops, many of them offer clothing and accessories for trekking that start in the city, many others sell handicrafts of different quality, some show work of Tibetan women, whether in textiles or goldsmiths. Many of these things can also be found in Kathmandu, mainly in Thamel stores.

However, buying in Pokhara is more relaxed, the quality, in general, is good, and you can enjoy more of the pleasure of shopping. Also, never forget the art of bargaining. Although not everyone likes to go shopping, there is no doubt that it is something to do in Pokhara. Besides, looking is free, and you do not have to buy anything. You can spend the afternoon just snooping or chatting with the vendors because you can learn something from Nepal that you probably did not know.

  1. Eat and drink

Although it may seem a lie, eating and drinking are part of the pleasure of spending a few days in this city of Nepal. The gastronomic offer is varied; one can enjoy a dinner with Italian, Japanese or Indian flavor, savor delicious fresh fish or spend an evening as a couple by candlelight. The problem with so many visitors is to decide which one to opt for because one surely does not spend so many days in the city to visit all the restaurants that you would like.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter Here

Posted on

10 Best Things to Do in Langkawi

In the northwest of Malaysia, a natural paradise invites you to linger. Langkawi is the main island and at the same time the name of the archipelago of 99 islands.

Tropical forests, lovely mountains, spectacular waterfalls, lush paddy fields, and beautiful sandy beaches present the island in the most varied ways.

Langkawi was declared a duty-free zone in 1987. Since then, you can shop here in countless duty-free shops cheaper than in Malaysia or Thailand. Especially the wine is much cheaper than in the rest of the country.

Many locals come here only for shopping. But Langkawi is much more than a duty-free island. 10 Best Things to Do here include:

1. Visit the sky bridge

This is a bridge with a curved and decidedly modern structure that allows you to look out over the waterfalls of Gunung Mat Cincang, Telaja Tujuh.

The bridge is practically suspended almost 700 meters from the sea, but it is certainly worth it, especially if you love nature, photography, and video, just like many others.

To climb to the top, you can take advantage of the steepest cable car in the world, built by the infallible Austrians. Here you can also make the acquaintance of very nice monkeys, unique in their kind and among the most peaceful animals in the world. The squeaky leaf monkey, in fact, is found only in this area of the globe and are orange from small, completely black with white adult eyes.

In the pole that includes the entrance to the cable car, you will also find other attractions, such as the 4D cinemas, the 6D cinema and the beautiful 3D Museum.



2. Explore the Langkawi 3D museum – Art in Paradise

Absolutely surprising, so imaginative and original to keep you a few hours in there is the Langkawi 3D museum, as it is also a very special attraction of this island.

Inside the museum, numerous paintings on the walls make up scenes that almost come to life, catapulting you into a three-dimensional experience. You can have fun like a baby and take a billion photos here as well.

3. Visit the Piazza dell’Aquila

The Piazza dell’Aquila is a “sculpture” if we can define it like this, a bit bizarre, but dominant and surely a tourist magnet in the eagle square. In this square, there is a gigantic eagle 12 meters high.

  1. Take a Jet Ski Tour

You take the chance and enjoy a tour of a part of the island of Langkawi on the Jet Ski. If you organize your holidays well, this is an attraction not to be missed on the Langkawi Malaysia list of what to do! Other activities you could consider are parasailing, island hopping (where they take you to see the beautiful and wild neighboring islands) and snorkeling in the magnificent crystal clear waters!

  1. Visit the tomb of Princess Mahsuri ( Makam Mahsuri )

 Princess Mahsuri had to die because an affair was attached to her. However, her execution turned out to be in error, as the blood flowed in white color from her body. Seven generations had cursed the princess before her death. As far as the legend goes, periods of bad harvests and raids on Langkawi followed. Today, the grave is a beautiful farmhouse, and since the government has built the island into a tourist center, it seems to be uphill again.

  1. Visit the administrative center Kuah

Kuah is the main town on Langkawi. This is where the ferries land, but there is not much to see next to the shopping centers. Near the harbor is a boardwalk and Eagle Square with a twelve-meter-high white-tailed eagle statue. The eagle is the landmark of the island, and you will not miss it in the countless tourist shops.

  1. Visit the long beaches of Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah

On the well-developed roads, you can quickly reach the long beaches of Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah. The two sandy beaches are separated only by a cliff.

At the beach, countless stalls offer a variety of water sports activities, such as banana boat and jet ski. The main road parallel to the beach is paved with duty-free shopping malls, travel agencies, cafes, and restaurants, as well as large resort hotels. Various species of fish and a penguin colony can be discovered in the Underwater World Museum located here.

  1. Visit the Oriental Village

Only a few miles further is the Oriental Village. The site with artificial ponds, 6D cinema, duty-free and souvenir shops, a spa, as well as cafes and restaurants looks like a single amusement park. But most visitors come here because of the cable car. At 42 degrees, it is the steepest in the world and leads up to the jungle-covered mountains. At the intermediate stadium, you can take a break and enjoy the magnificent view, before taking a new gondola to the island’s second highest mountain, Gunung Mat Cincang.

  1. Visit the Pasir Tengkorak Beach

 The Pasir Tengkorak Beach is a small paradisiacal beach which usually invites you to swim and linger. The only sinister thing is the name. Pasir Tengkorak means “beach of the skulls.” Signs on the cliffs to the right of the shore tell you the different legends about how the beach got its name. Whether you prefer the story of the sea monster, the gigantic whirlpool, or even of the escaped prisoners, you have to decide for yourself.

  1. Have a Mangrove tour by boat

You can have a Mangrove tour by boat and also walk through the mangrove forest on some wood paths. For additional fun, refresh yourself further south in the cool waters of the Durian Perangin Waterfall. The cute, shady huts invite you to have a picnic, and this place is also great for children.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter Here

                                                                                                                       

Posted on

10 Awesome Things To Do In Manila

Often, we old mare against all forms of boredom- having to be in constant fight against apathy can be a great burden. One of the best ways to lose this burden is to allow the embrace of awesomeness in terms of traveling, meeting people, learning new things and doing what you love among other things.

There is one beautiful place to visit in a time like this- Manila!

Although Manila is blessed with the best sceneries, beaches, galleries, and adventures, there is a need to be mentally intimated about the core accommodations that can take you on that excellent ride. Few of the places to go for standard services are;

Raffles Makati.

You are in for the enjoyment of a lifetime at Makati. With top-notch luxury and a 4-5 star accommodation. Just from enjoying the right accommodation,  there is a guarantee that the memories of visiting Manila will stay with you until eons.

You are at liberty to enjoy free Wi-fi, spa, wellness center, outdoor pool, valet parking and modern air-conditioned rooms at Makati.

 

Picasso service boutique apartments.

If you take pleasure in having professionals massage your body, been made up and served coffee, the Picasso service boutique apartments have been made with you in mind. There is no excuse tenable for not making this place a must visit for you on your trip to Manila.

It also has corporate facilities which include; meeting rooms/ board rooms.

Rooms here are comfy- you do not have to worry about heat as they are well conditioned and extremely modern.

There is also an excellent feeding plan to rave about and a lot more than you bargained for.

Just prepare your mind to leave the accommodation well rested and mentally prepared for the real adventure.

Places to go to in Manila.

After a great night at one of the best accommodations you can ever have the privilege of craving, you can also  have the best time if you visit any of the following places;

Manila ocean park.

This is the only oceanarium in Marina. Get your curiosity about aquatic animals chuffed with just a single visit to the Manila ocean park. You will find all kinds of marine organisms that you have only ready about here!

Some aquatic animals like sharks, dolphins, jellyfishes, and stingrays among others are situated here.

Ocean Park is very instrumental in educating children about marine habitats, and animals. Ocean Park also takes joy in serving couples. This is evidenced by the few spots that have been designed around the park to accommodate a couple. Romanticizing your partner on your trip to Marina just became more interesting.



Yexel’s toys museum.

It is best to go to this museum with a partner because you may want to take as many pictures as possible.

Before you get to the end of the tour, you must have been well grounded and carried around for a trip in the toy section.

In the toy collectibles, you will find the presence of Disney cartoons, Barbie dolls, anime and movie figures present with full-blown love.

Some famous movie figures are marvel and star wars

After the tour, you get the chance of experiencing their main even called the optimum time bust.

Bay walk.

Located at the metro with no amount to worry about for entry is the Marina Bay.

This place is a great place to see the shore as you travel along the Metro. You will be amazed at the scenery that this simple place is capable of producing.

Mind Museum.

This place has been designed basically for lovers of science. Some adventurous activities to expect here are; interactive workshops, learning about animals and learning about astrology.

The mind museum is the perfect venue for a family getaway. If you want your children to have a great time I’m their holidays, you can bring them on a trip to Marina and make the mind museum a must see for them

Your children will be so excited about seeing Marina and ultimately having the scientific experience at the mind museum.

Philippines national museum

The few first things you need to know about the Philippines national museum are; it is one of the best places to visit in Manila, and it is for free.

For no amount at all, you can have the best time in Manila if Philippine museum is where you have chosen.

At this museum, you are allowed to book a date before your visit. A group of 20 or less is welcome.

Here, you have the chance to learn about all the things you have been curious about the Philippines for so long. The things to know more about to range from the arts, history, language, ethnicity, and archeology of the Philippines.

The future park.

The future park is also one of the great places you can visit on your trip to Manila.

The most exciting part about visiting the future Park is that you can go to the park with your family, including your children. Your children will enjoy a lot of the scientific activities that have been arranged for them.

At future Park, there is a chance to have a majestic experience from doodling and watching the images you have drawn come to life! Of course, your children will find joy undoing this with you. Be careful anyway because you may have to design a convincing strategy to take your children the land.

Resort World Manila.

This is a tourist center with a comprehensive service. You can enjoy a casino after the day of window shopping or a shopping spree. They do not only offer you adventurous fashion activity, but you are also allowed the chance to eat from their 5-star restaurants.

The resort world Manila also has a week accommodation and academic performances involving musicians and local actors prepared for all of their customers.

Your travel experience to resort world Marina is bound to stay with you forever because you are bound to have the time of your life.

Prepare your mind, body, and soul from an epiphany.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter Here