5 ideal hiding places for the 2016 summer

(#wanderlusttips) If you want to escape from the sweltering sun this summer and find a safe haven, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the immense ocean, or enjoy the cooling fresh air in the charming scenery of the mountains, the following 5 hotels and resorts are the ideal destinations for your vacation.

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1. Swiss-Belresort Tuyen Lam Dalat

Surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful blue lakes, Swiss-Belresort Tuyen Lam Dalat has 151 comfortable rooms and sits amidst charming and idyllic scenery. This is the ideal vacation destination for this summer. The resort is designed like a botanical garden with Anglo-Normand architecture, located within an 18-hole golf course. Its location allows you to easily travel to popular tourist destinations such as the Valley of Love, Prenn Waterfall, Emperor Bao Dai’s Summer Palce, Truc Lam Temple, Dalat Cathedral, and the Clay Tunnels. In the afternoon, you can take a walk along the hiking trails, learn about Dalat’s specialties in cooking classes, relax with yoga sessions, or enjoy European – Asian cuisine at the Swiss-Café Restaurant.

Swiss-Belresorts Tuyen Lam Dalat will give Vietnamese citizens an opportunity to enjoy a perfect holiday with its promotion program “Summer Escape”. For only 2,890,000 VND, you will get a 2-night stay in the deluxe mountain view room, along with other incentives such as complimentary breakfast, complimentary lunch or dinner, late check-out up to 3 p.m., 30-minute complimentary use of sauna and Jacuzzi, shuttle bus to and from Dalat city centre, in-room welcome amenities, and 15% off food & beverage and spa services. The program is available until October 31, 2016.

Address: Zone 7 & 8, Tuyen Lam Tourism Area, Ward 3, Dalat City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 63 3799 799
Website: www.swiss-belhotel.com

2. Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village

Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village is situated atop Ba Na Mountain, which is dubbed an Elysium at an altitude of 1,489 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by a complex of entertainment, tourism, shopping, indoor pool, restaurant, bar, and worship areas.

The hotel currently has 494 rooms divided into different types: Standard, Superior, Deluxe, Executive Suite, Family Suite, Royal Suite, all are elegantly designed in a neo-classical style. From your room, you can enjoy a view over the architecture of a 19th century French village, or the majestic Ba Na mountain.

With its convenient services and prime location, Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village promises to be a new vacation destination amidst the lovely scenery of Ba Na Mountain this summer.

During the Summer of 2016, Mercure Ba Na Hills French Village offers a special promotion: only 2,209,000 VND (99 USD) per night, with complimentary breakfast for two, complimentary use of indoor four seasons pool, fitness centre, breakfast for children under 12 staying with parents, and other incentives. The program is available until July 31, 2016.

Address: An Son Hamlet, Hoa Ninh Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 511 3799 222
Website: www.accorhotels.com

3. Fusion Maia Danang

Located at My Khe Beach, Fusion Maia Danang is the first beachfront resort in Asia with included spa and wellness packages, each guest will be guaranteed two treatments per day. The resort’s architecture is inspired by Hue Citadel, with minimalist yet sophisticated designs. All 87 villas are equipped with modern facilities, with private pool and garden.

In addition, Fusion Maia Danang is also the first resort in Asia with a private swimming pool for each area. Guests have the freedom to explore and experience the resort, with dining and recreational services.

Each villa is designed with wide windows overlooking vast open spaces, under the cooling green shades of bamboo trees. The low fences surround a charming garden filled with colorful and aromatic flowers. Private villas allow guests to be immersed in nature, making you more relaxed and comfortable.

Enjoy a different and refreshing summer at Fusion Maia Danang. For only 1,485 USD/2 people, you can enjoy a 3-night stay at a villa with private pool, complimentary breakfast anytime, anywhere, free spa treatments, free airport shuttles, etc. The program is available from now until June 30, 2016.

Address: Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang, Vietnam
Phone: +84 511 3967 999
Website: www.fusionmaiadanang.com

4. Ana Mandara Hue Beach Resort & Spa

Ana Mandara Hue Beach Resort & Spa is the first beach resort in Hue, located on the beautiful Thuan An Beach and next to Tam Giang Lagoon. This special location, along with the complex of villas and rooms, makes the resort feels luxurious, yet gentle and elegant. The design of every space inside the resort gives its guest a rustic and familiar feeling, a quiet and peaceful sensation of the Vietnamese countryside.

If you feel tired of the street noises and the bustling crowds in the city, this resort will be your paradise. The whirling sounds of the waves, the songs of the birds, or the cheers of the delighted fishermen docking their boats after a successful fishing trip, will be the sounds of nature waking you up in the morning, with the sunlight spreading across the horizon signifying the beginning of another exciting day.

The restaurant here is a wonderful combination between European and Asian cuisine and regional specialties. There will be an abundant source of energy for you to enjoy another peaceful day at Ana Mandara Hue Beach Resort & Spa.

In addition, the ocean-view pool and bar inside the resort is where you can immerse yourself in the blue water, enjoy a cocktail, or unwind with a therapeutic massage at Le Cochinchine Spa. These will make for unforgettable experiences during your time here.

Located by the ocean in a green and airy space, Ana Mandara Hue Beach Resort & Spa is not only a destination for leisure travel, but also a suitable choice for outdoor parties, team building activities, and the perfect place to host a romantic beach wedding.

At twilight, the ocean glistens romantically under the moonlight and candles adorn the dinner table accompanied by the sound of the wind, the waves bring in the salty taste of the sea, and the songs of the cicadas fill the resort’s garden. This will feel like a warm gift for you and your beloved.

During the Summer 2016, Ana Mandara Hue Beach Resort & Spa offers a special promotion, available from now until August 31, 2016. For only 1,940,000 VND++ per deluxe room, you can enjoy one night for 2 adults and 2 children under 6. The price includes the use of outdoor and indoor pool, shuttle bus to the city centre, and many other services. In addition, the resort also offers a 10% discount for mud baths and aromatherapy baths.

Address: Thuan An Town, Phu Vang District, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam
Tel: +84 54 3983 333
Website: www.anamandarahue-resort.com 5.

5. Amankila, Bali

Rated one of the best resorts in Bali, Amankila is located in the city centre, an ideal start point to explore ancient Bali with its many temples and heritage sites. The palaces of Ujung and Tirtagangga inspire the resort’s design; its tables are made from coconut shells and surrounded by rattan wicker chairs.

The resort has 34 spacious villas with thatched roofs, making the space feel airy yet cosy. The villas offer a beautiful view of the hillside and plumeria and bougainvillea flowers. You will have a choice of accommodation, including the Indrakila Suite, which takes its name from the hill on which the resort is located, and Amankila Suite, which is bigger and offers private butler service.

The corridors of Amankika have a beautiful ocean view, and a highlight of the resort is the pool, which sits on a cliff. The pool is designed like a terrace, with water flowing from one step to another, creating a beautifully strange landscape.

Guests can enjoy Indonesian and Western cuisine at the main restaurant, sip afternoon tea by the pool, and eat lunch at the Beach Club. The Beach Club also hosts entertainment program at night-time, such as traditional Balinese dances and live music. There is also an outdoor bar with a thatched roof and filled with bamboo furniture.

From this peaceful oasis, you can go on to cultural excursions to visit local shrines, temples and water palaces, or participate in activities such as mountain biking and diving.

Aman Wellness recently launched their “Individual Wellness Immersions” package, in addition to the existing “Group Retreat Experiences” package. The individual package is available at every spa inside Aman resorts around the world. The treatment will deeply relax, purify and regenerate your mind and body, helping you feel pure and happy.

Address: Manggis, Bali, Indonesia
Tel: +62 363 41333
Website: www.aman.com/resorts/amankila

Trang Nguyen | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Raja Ampat: Diving paradise in Indonesia

(#wanderlusttips #Rajaampat #seadiving) The mesmerising beauty under the sea of Raja Ampat tranquil beach will make it the must-come attraction for tourists, especially divers who love to explore the colourful undersea life.

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Located off the Northeast of Bird’s Head Peninsula in New Guinea in the West Papua Province of Indonesia, Raja Ampat or the Four Kings is an archipelago with over 1,500 islands scattered around the four main islands Misool, Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo, and a smaller island called Kofiau. Raja Ampat Islands are part of the Coral Triangle, home to the greatest biodiversity on earth. It forms part of the new West Papua Province, which was formerly Irian Jaya. This area is mainly made up of docking ports for cruise ships.

With its pristine landscape and impressive ecosystem, Raja Ampat is among the world’s most beautiful diving spots. Diving enthusiasts need to visit this underwater paradise at least once in their lifetime. According to scientific research, the biodiversity in West Papua is greater than in other areas of the Coral Triangle stretching over Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

With more than 1,200 species of fish, 600 types of coral and 700 species of molluscs, the underwater world of Raja Ampat is incredible. Visitors will feel as if they have travelled to an ancient time when diving freely between inhabited islands and enjoying nature in its purest form. The amount of creatures you encounter during a diving trip is overwhelming. In some areas, there are giant schools of fish, as well as sharks, rays and turtles. In areas close to the shore, you can wear goggles, go snorkelling and play with dolphins, and if you are lucky you might even meet a whale.

Due to the strong currents, scuba diving in Raja Ampat is not suitable for beginners. It is a spot for experienced divers. There are a few spots though inexperienced divers can go to with a diving coach. There are several famous diving spots: in the north there are Kri, Sel Pele, South Penemu and Waigeo island, in the centre is the Jef Fam Group of Islands and Manta Ridge, in the south of the archipelago there are Boo, Fabiacet and Farondi island.

Tourists do not have many choices when it comes to accommodation in Raja Ampat, because of its small population. The most common option is a cruise tour, with prices ranging from 2.800 USD (5 days) to 4.400USD (10 days), which includes a full range of services such as dining and diving training. You can choose from a selection of famous cruise tours including SMY Seahorse, Waow Indonesia, Mermaid I or Raja-Ampat Aggressor. Tourists can also book accommodation at resorts that offer diving courses such as Agusta Eco, Hamu Eco, Wicked Diving, Waiwo or Alter Native Stay. Prices range from 50 – 300 USD/night. The food offered here is mostly seafood and other Indonesian dishes.

Diving season in Raja Ampat lasts from October to April when weather conditions are favourable and currents weak. From Vietnam, tourists can fly to Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, and then fly or take a boat to Sorong Harbour. From here, the cruise or resort that you have booked will pick you up to begin a wonderful journey to Raja Ampat.

Minh Hang | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Emirates Airlines lauching new amenity kit using augmented reality

(#wanderlusttips #Emiratesairlines) Emirates airlines has announced that it has launched the world’s first interactive amenity kit in economy class. The bags, which include necessities like a toothbrush, earplugs and eye mask, use augmented reality technology to unlock immersive content on traveller’s phones.

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By using an app called Blippar, customers can scan the bag and unlock activities, music or health tips. The app is a “visual browser” that allows customers to point their mobile at a variety of objects recognised by Blippar to get more information and interesting facts. There will be updated content every six month for frequent travellers – though it’s unlikely to reach the heights of the popular augmented reality app Pokemon Go.

There are six different designs for the bags inspired by six regions in the company’s network, “Australasia, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Far East”. According to Emirates, it is the first airline to introduce the technology into amenity kits, “making it the world’s first interactive kit bags”. The bags will be available on Emirates’ flights starting in August. But, even if you’re not into augmented reality, the bags – which are made of water resident material and feature unique designs – can at least be reused.

Lonely Planet | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Fullmoon season of delicate delicacy at Pullman Hanoi

(#wanderlusttips #fullmoon #Pullmanhanoi) On the annual occasion of fullmoon season festival in the middle Autumn, Pullman Hanoi Hotel presents to its customers a fine selection of mooncakes.

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This year, the moon cakes of Pullman Hanoi will tease guest’s tastes with four unique flavours and recipes from the hotel’s own chefs: green tea, lotus, red bean, and taro. The boxes, hand draw paintings by the talented Vietnamese artist Mr. Vu Tuan Anh, are depicting this century old tradition with the dancing procession that brings back memories of one’s lovely childhood times.

There are three kinds of beautifully themed boxes giving the customers a wide range of choices. Box “Autumn” boasts 4 moon cakes of 100gram, priced at VND600,000 net, box “Moon” features 6 moon cakes of 100gram, priced at VND800,000 net and box “VIP” showcases 4 moon cakes of 150gram and 1 bottle of Merlot, priced at VND1,388,000 net. (10% VAT included).

A special offer will be applied when purchasing more than 10 boxes and additional 5% off on top for order before 1st August 2016. Cakes are available for sale in the hotel’s grand lobby.

Pullman Hanoi Hotel

Add: 40 Cat Linh Str., Hanoi
Tel: (+844) 37330688

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Great autumn-winter deal at Palm Garden Resort

(#wanderlusttips #Palmgardenresort #Hoian) To welcome the season of Autum – Winter, Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa Hoian has offered exclusive discount for any minimum 2 night stay booking.

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The discount is from 36% to 42% for accomodation allowing guest to stay in a cosy Superior Garden View room at VND2,496,000/night or in a classy and spacious Deluxe Garden View room at VND 2,610,000/night when guest book at least 02-night- stay.

The accommodation package includes buffet breakfast for 02 persons at Terrace restaurant, two discount voucher of 50% for body massage at Palm Spa, free use of sauna, steam-bath, Jacuzzi, fitness center, pool and private beach, complimentary round-trip airport transfer or a meal for two persons and many other services.

Set in five hectares of landscaped tropical gardens of palm trees and plants right along 220-meter stretch of famous Cua Dai Beach, Palm Garden Resort is a charming upscale beachfront 5-star retreat. The low-rise resort maximizes the tropical surroundings with a choice of two restaurants that overlook the sea and the Palm Spa which is nestled amongst the resort’s gardens.

Palm Garden Beach Resorts&Spa

Add: Lac Long Quan Street, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.
Tel: (+84 510) 3927 927
Fax: (+84 510) 3927 928
Email: info@pgr.com.vn
Website: www.palmgardenresort.com.vn

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Ko Samui: Diving paradise in Thailand

(#wanderlusttips #Kosamui #Thailand) There are many ways to hide from the tropical summer heat. You can find refuge in the green valleys filled with grass and flora, the windy mountains, or the stunning yet tranquil beaches. For adventurers who love the ocean, why refrain from visiting some diving paradises in Vietnam and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. Sea diving is one great way to delight your summer.

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Ko Samui is one of the biggest islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The island in Surat Thani Province is famous for its beautiful beaches shaded by coconut trees, dense forests and crystal-clear waters. It is also home to many luxurious resorts and exciting nightlife, attracting many visitors from all over the world.

There is little opportunity to be bored on Ko Samui simply because there is so much to explore and experience. In Na Thon and Mae Nam tourists can book day tours to Angthong National Marine Park in the Angthong archipelago. The archipelago is made up of over 40 small islands with majestic limestone cliffs, secret lagoons, caves, coral reefs, white sand beaches and green forests. The perfect backdrop for your photos.

The island has many beautiful beaches including Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Maenam and Lipa Noi. They are famous for their white sand, crystal clear water and lush greenery lending shade. Bring your favourite book, find a place in the shade and enjoy a relaxing holiday. Those who prefer physical activities can visit Nam Tok Na Muang waterfall in the centre of the island, about 12km from Na Thon. During rainy season, the majestic cascade falls down to reach the purple rocks, creating a unique natural pool. In the north of Ko Samui on a small rock island Wat Phra Yai temple houses a 15-meter Buddha statue, standing in the middle of the sky and the sea. Nearby, guests can visit Laem Wat Plai home to a giant 18-handed Buddha statue.

On Ko Samui, Scuba diving is a not-to-be-missed activity. It is an experience of a lifetime. In the main areas of the island, there are many training agencies and tour providers who offer scuba diving lessons and tours. Bophut has a number centres that have received good reviews on TripAdvisor, including Discovery Dive Centre TripAdvisor, CSI: SAMUI Dive School or The Dive Academy. When booking a scuba diving tour, visitors will get a training day at the centre, and will be accompanied by a diving coach throughout the tour. Prices of these tours range from 4,500 Baht to 13,000 Baht (2.8 – 8.1 million Vietnamese Dong), depending on the stops and length of the tour. Usually a boat takes divers from Ko Samui to the beautiful surrounding waters filled with coral reefs and marine animals around Koh Nangyuan or Koh Tao islands.

The best time of the year to visit Ko Samui is from December to June. The weather can get extremely hot from March to June. Currently, there is no direct flight from Vietnam to Ko Samui. Fly to Bangkok and from there with Bangkok Airways to Ko Samui. This trip can be expensive and a way to save money is to fly or take a bus to Surat Thani from Bangkok and take a ferry to the island.

Food on the island is cheap and delicious, including fresh seafood on the beach that you certainly should not miss. You can find affordable restaurants almost everywhere, or visit highly recommended restaurants like Dining on the Rocks, Sabeinglae or Five Islands. Stroll around Hua Thanon Market to enjoy local specialties.

There are three main areas with accommodation in Ko Samui: Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut. Hotels by the ocean are more expensive than those further inland, with differences ranging from 300,000 – 500,000 Vietnamese Dong per night. If the budget allows stay in a seaside resort at higher rates. Chaweng is the most exciting area featuring a beautiful beach and dynamic nightlife. Bophut is more quiet and peaceful, but in its Fisherman’s Village, the nightlife is not any less exciting. Lamai has many resorts and peaceful scenery, best for those who are looking to relax and unwind.

Minh Hang | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Sipadan: Diving paradise in Malaysia

(#wanderlusttips #Sipadan #Malaysia) Besides lying on beautiful beaches, swimming in the clear blue ocean and enjoying fresh seafood, scuba diving has become a popular activity for people to explore the sea. There is nothing greater than seeing with your own eyes amazing coral reefs or colourful sea creatures, while experiencing the freeing sensation of being submerged in the deep blue sea. Sipadan in Malaysia is the perfect place for diving.

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Sipadan is the only volcanic island in Malaysia. It is located in the Celebes Sea just off the coast of Sabah. The island is formed by coral reefs and is home to a thousand-year-old extinct volcano. Sipadan is located in the heart of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, one of the richest marine regions in the world. The ecosystem here is made up of more than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds different kinds of coral.

Sipadan is one of the world’s most beautiful diving spots. The island’s biodiversity makes it one of the most popular destinations for divers. It is on par with the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador and Chuuk State in Micronesia. It is not easy to reach Sipadan but its great beauty makes it worth the trip especially for scuba diving enthusiasts. It is difficult to name all of the sea creatures and coral reefs one can encounter while diving around Sipadan. Divers can expect to see herds of jack mackerel and whale and hammerhead sharks at one of the 40 diving spots around Sipadan.

Since 2005, Sabah National Park has been on a mission to reduce the effect of tourism in this pristine scuba diving spot to ensure future travellers for generations to come can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Many resorts on the island were closed and tourists cannot stay overnight. In addition, tourists must obtain permission before scuba diving here and the maximum number of divers per day is 120. Diving time is from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and diving is not permitted at nighttime.

To reach Sipadan tourists stay at nearby islands like Mabul or Kapalai. From there, it is a 30 minutes canoeing trip to Sipadan. Accommodation and food on Mabul and Kapalai island are not cheap. There is one other option, which is Semporna village. This fishing village is the gateway to Sipadan and other beautiful diving spots. Semporna has many delicious and affordable seafood restaurants, but this village is quite bland and doesn’t have many attractions.

If tourists wish to dive around Sipadan, they must book in advance. Diving licenses are not sold directly, but are distributed to resorts and training centres like Borneo Divers Mabul like, Kapalai (Pulau Sipadan), Sipadan Water Village, Sipadan- Mabul or travel companies like Bharman Sipadan, Borneo Jungle River Island Tours, Scuba Junkie (Dive Semporna), and North Borneo Dive. The best way to ensure a Sipadan diving license is staying at a resort on the distribution list, or register in advance with a travel company. Resort prices range from 500 USD for 4 days to 1,400 USD for 10 days, which includes diving expenses.

Visitors can fly to Tawau, the nearest airport to Mabul island, from Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Upon arrival, if you have booked a resort, you will be picked up and taken to Semporna port, where you can take a speedboat to Mabul island. If you are travelling independently you can catch a boat to the island or book a tour. The weather in Sipadan island is sunny almost all year round so there is no specific travel season.

Minh Hang | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Stunning salt terrace on Andes moutains of Peru

(#wanderlusttips #Morasvillage #Peru #saltmaking) Moras, an ancient town which locates on over 3,350m height of Andes moutains is also a 600-year-old co-op harness gravity and sunlight to harvest the world’s most elemental seasoning.

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“Every time I come here, I’m surprised,” says one of Peru’s best-known chefs, Virgilio Martinez, about the village of Maras. “There’s a huge mountain of shining white pools that produce this very beautiful and very pure pink salt.”

Martinez makes a pilgrimage to the Andean town a few times a year to source the seasoning for his Central restaurant in Lima. The chef organizes his 17-course tasting menu by altitude and serves Maras salt coarse—“we like to really feel it.”

A mineral as well as a metaphor, the crystalline substance signifies both authenticity (“salt of the earth”) and capability (“worth his salt”). In ancient Rome, legionnaires were sometimes paid with the stuff (hence the word salary).

Most salt production involves mining, but that’s not the case in Maras, where the Incas engineered an ingenious system for harvesting sodium chloride six centuries ago: The tiny Qoripujio spring unearths halite (the mineral name for salt) as it trickles through a labyrinth of man-made channels that feed some 3,000 shallow pools, terraced down a mountainside.

Today, men in dusty trousers and women in full skirts, all members of the town’s salt co-op, wait for the pools’ thin layers of water to evaporate. They rake the deposits into baskets and take them to the co-op’s warehouse to be bagged and sold. This slow dance continues throughout the dry season, roughly May to November. Family members have long passed pools down to their offspring, setting up the next generation.

In addition to attracting rock-star chefs and tourists, this marvel of ancient engineering drew photographer Juan Manuel Castro Prieto, who captured these images. “The people of Maras have preserved traditions that have been lost elsewhere,” Prieto says. “I’m always looking to reflect everyday life. Nothing extraordinary happens in my pictures.” Here, however, the ordinary is nothing short of astounding.

Modern Farmer | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Condotel: A unique and classy vacation

(#wanderlusttips) Spending a vacation in a fully serviced luxury apartment perfectly combines comfort and the feeling of privacy as of your own home. These are the superior features that have made Condotel a popular option for contemporary holidayers.

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Condotel is an interesting combination of condo and hotel, a popular vacation option in Vietnam. All apartments are equipped with the facilities of a regular apartment, with a living room, a kitchen, bedrooms, a bathroom and a toilet. The apartments are individually owned.

The difference to a normal apartment is that these luxury apartments are inside a hotel or high-end resort. They have standard equipment, managed by a professional property management group, and residents can enjoy the full range of services including the gym, a pool, restaurants, spa, nightclubs, cafés, shopping, opportunities and a casino.

These hotels and luxury resorts are usually located in popular tourist destinations, surrounded by beautiful and charming scenery. There is nothing better to help you relax and regain energy than a cup of hot tea on your own spacious balcony, in a quiet setting filled lit up with sunshine and cooled by the sea breeze, overlooking a garden or the blue ocean. These are invaluable quiet moments away from the hustle and bustle of life today.

Being away from home does not mean that you have to sacrifice your privacy, which is fully respected, though all services will available when you need them. This is what makes Condotel superior to a regular hotel room. For families with young children, families with several generations travelling together, or groups of friends, there is no better option than Condotel. You and your family can relax in a cosy 2 or 3-bedroom apartment, where you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee from a professional coffee maker or buy fresh ingredients and cook a delicious local recipe in a fully equipped kitchen. Condotel has options for 1, 2 or 3-bed room apartments, or even penthouses covering an area of several hundred square meters, for those who wish to enjoy the luxury lifestyle.

With these advantages, Condotel is gradually starting to dominate the resort market, with a series of developments along the picturesque coastline of Vietnam, including in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Danang and Ha Long. This promises to provide travellers with countless unforgettable experiences, and the ability to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of this enchanting tropical country.

Ảnh: À La Carte Danang Beach

Nhung Nguyen | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Home at a stranger’s house

(#wanderlusttips) AirBnB hosts never need to travel far to experience the world. They live vicariously through the stories that travellers bring to their homes. And AirBnB tenants? They find a home wherever they go.

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Home at a stranger’s house

As a single father, Jonathan used to struggle raising three kids in Echo Park, Los Angeles. He had to work 80-hour-weeks at a job that was unfulfilling and he still scrambled to take care of his three children. And with such a schedule, his passion for ceramics fell by the wayside.

When his hours at work got cut back, Jonathan decided to renovate and list an extra room in his home on AirBnB. His first guests gave him such a positive review that more lined up, and he was soon renting out a second room through he online bed and breakfast community. He started welcoming more and more guests to his home. AirBnB changed Jonathan’s life, as hosting became not only an extra source of income, but paved the way for Jonathan to pursue his work as a potter. More importantly, being an AirBnB host brought joy to his house and he had interesting encounters with his guests.

Shell, a woman from New York, did not share much about the reason why she became an AirBnB host, but talked a lot about how the decision changed her view on life. Having hosted over 180 guests from all over the world, Shell refers to her home as a magical doorway, welcoming guests with unique personalities. She calls her guests “characters in a great novel”, who help her discover a little more about the bigger stories of life.

Jonathan and Shell are only two among two million AirBnB hosts who have opened their homes to welcome travellers, giving them an authentic experience of a place they are visiting.

“Belong anywhere”

Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, AirBnB is one of the most successful platforms using the “community sharing” business model. The website allows travellers to book accommodation at local homes. Staying at an AirBnB often means you are sharing the facilities with homeowners, and get an insight into the habits that shape their lifestyles.

With over two million listings in over 34,000 cities in 191 countries, AirBnB is currently the largest accommodation booking website in the world, opening up an infinite number of unique experiences for travellers.

Everything you have ever dreamed to experience has never been easier to reach. After only a few clicks, someone will be ready to welcome you into their home and unique experiences await you. You can sleep on a houseboat on an Amsterdam canal, become a princess inside a castle in Southern France, find a writing muse in a villa on the shores of the Mediterranean ocean, or live in a penthouse apartment in the middle of a big city. These are only a few among millions of options.

Finding accommodation is easy, but what makes AirBnB different from other homestays or hotel options is that it allows you to stay with a host as if you were an old friend who happens to stop by the house. AirBnB is not a relationship between customers and service providers, as hosts can also rate their guests. If you misbehave during your last stay, don’t be surprised when your next booking request is rejected.

You are staying at someone’s home and they have the right to welcome you or not.

When you are welcomed into someone’s home, you will be delighted when tasting their grandmother’s homemade jam, borrowing a book that the host has not finished reading, listening to an old vinyl record, or harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables from their garden.

Fate will decide the experiences and lessons and no one really knows what awaits them. AirBnB’s newest motto is: “Belong anywhere”, may many share this spirit, so that each wandering heart has a reason to wander.

Trang Ami | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet