Category: accommodations

New Backpacker Lodge Opening

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Mount Cook Backpacker Lodge in the Southern Alps, New Zealand.

Mount Cook Backpacker Lodge will officially open on November 11, 2010.

The lodge is near the ‘must-see’ itinerary trail of the South Island,’ Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

Every year, the local community welcomes thousands of backpackers and budget conscious travelers.

Official opening celebrations will feature live music from Sonic Mojo starting at 7.30 p.m.

The Lodge has undergone renovations to update and modernize the former Hermitage’s Glencoe Lodge.

The Chamois Bar and Grill has reopened with outdoor beer garden.

Lodge sleeping options are 20 four-bed dorm rooms; 23 double/twin rooms and 7 one-bedroom units.

Facilities also include a self-catering communal kitchen, the Global Gossip Internet café, a tour booking desk, guest laundry and grocery store.

For more info, visit the lodge site.

Image courtesy of Mount Cook Backpacker Lodge

The Glass House In Japan

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The Glass House in Niseko.

Fancy staying in a luxury home in Japan’s Niseko Ski Resort?

Travelplan Ski now offers The Glass House in Niseko for rent.

Travelplan Ski is an Australian operator of snow holidays to some of the world’s great ski resorts.

On the western coast of the island of Hokkaido, Niseko has one of the most consistent and biggest snowfalls in Japan.

In Niseko Ski Resort, Travelplan Ski offers extensive in-resort services.

The program is run by local bilingual Tina, Saoka and Mari, who know Niseko and ensure guests have an excellent Niseko experience.

One of Japan’s top luxury homes, The Glass House was designed by Hikohito Konishi.

The spacious home features three bedrooms; three bathrooms; a kitchen; open plan living and dining areas and a double garage.

Panoramic windows open to Mount Youtei and Niseko’s main river which winds through the countryside to the south.

For more info, visit the Travelplan Ski site.

Image courtesy of Travelplan Ski

New Ski Chalets In Europe

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D.02 Le Belvedere, Le National, Montreux, Swiss Alps.

UK private rental provider Holiday Lettings has brand new ski chalets in Europe available for the 2010/11 ski season.

The company promises chalets for everyone, whatever your need, desire and budget.

Here are the new ski chalets:

  • Chalet Nikita, Meribel, The Three Valleys, Savoie, France (138324).  “A spacious, three-storey chalet with five bedrooms and typical clad interior. The stunning views from the balcony, the under-floor heating and log fire, plus storage for wet skis and boots make this a well thought out pad for guests.”
  • D.02 Le Belvedere, Le National, Montreux, Swiss Alps (137661) (above).  “On the ground floor of the Le Belvedere building, part of the 5 Le National de Montreux complex, this stylish apartment has two bedrooms and an open plan living space.  For ski lovers, Villars is 20 minutes away and all guests have access to on-site facilities including a spa, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, gym and steam room.”
  • Platzerschhof 5*, Klosters Platz, Swiss Alps (138875). “In the heart of the popular Klosters village, this deluxe apartment has a stylish interior, a private sauna and is 10 minute’s walk from the ski lift.”
  • Chalet Kirsty, Oscadnica, Low Tatras, Central Slovakia (102695).  “A traditional Slovakian wooden ski chalet, with picturesque views of the surrounding Velca Raca Mountains. The chalet has four bedrooms that comfortably sleep 10.  (It) is just five minute’s drive from the ski lift and 10 minutes from the village centre.”

For more info, visit the Holiday Lettings site.

Image courtesy of Holiday Lettings

Top 3 Mountain Hostels

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Blue Mountain Hotel, Villach, Austria.  Photo credit: HostelBookers.com

Tara Sena-Becker wrote this post and works as a travel writer for HostelBookers.com specializing in budget travel solutions. HostelBookers.com is an online booking service offering youth hostels and cheap hotels across 3,500 destinations worldwide.

With summer sun giving way to autumn chill, there’s no better time for a mountain holiday escape.

Think burning fireplaces, panoramic views, hot chocolate, hiking, skiing and more.

To whet your appetite for a mountain escape, here are HostelBookers’ Top 3 Mountain Hostels:

Mountain SKIt Hostel, Sochi, Russia: Located in the centre of Krasnaya Polyana village, site of the 2014 Olympic Games, Mountain SKIt is a picturesque mountain villa perfect for autumn/winter escapes.  Krasnaya Polyana offers a range of outdoor activities including skiing; snowboarding; rafting; rock climbing; gliding; fishing; mountain cycling and horse riding.

Youthpalace Davos, Davos, Switzerland: Situated 1,600 metres above sea level, Youthpalace Davos combines magnificent views with invigorating air.  The hostel is located near the longest downhill run in the Alps.  Don’t miss the enchanting horse-drawn sleigh running from Youthpalace Davos.

Blue Mountain Hotel, Villach, Austria: The Blue Mountain Hotel is a luxury, family-run business situated on Verditz mountain in southern Austria.  Ski-in, ski-out to the doors of this panoramic hotel.  Other popular activities include ice parties; husky rides; hot air ballooning; mountain biking; windsurfing and paragliding.

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3 Wilderness Retreats

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La Confluencia Wilderness Lodge, Argentina.

Wilderness retreats let you explore off-the-beaten track destinations.

Holiday rental company One Off Places features a selection of stylish wilderness retreats worldwide for adventure seekers who want some pampering.

The wilderness retreat destinations range from an Australian Bush retreat on a rocky hilltop to a deserted beach in Mexico.  Here are 3 Wilderness Retreats:

  • La Confluencia Wilderness Lodge, Argentina (above). Nestled in a remote, lush mountain valley, the lodge is within 200,000 acre Rio Azul Protected Wilderness Area.  Activities include trekking; horseback trips; white water sports; mountain biking; canyoning and rock climbing.

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Faraway Bay, Australia

  • Faraway Bay, Australia (above). On a rocky hilltop overlooking the Timor Sea, this bush camp is in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.  A luxury bush stay, it offers eight large, private cabins with 180-degree views of the cliff-lined bay.  Six cabins feature ensuites with a private outdoor, solar-heated, spring-water shower.

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Villa del Faro, Mexico

  • Villa del Faro, Mexico (above). On a deserted beach on the Sea of Cortez, the hotels offers five holiday rentals. Local artisans and architects created the hotel on twelve acres of gardens and desert. Known for its turtles and snorkeling, travelers can swim and surf here all year.

Images courtesy of One Off Places

Top 10 Ski Chalets

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Chic ski chalet in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Eurostar has opened ticket sales for its new services from London to the French Alps.  

Ski apartments and chalets in prime locations can book up quickly, says HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, and advises travelers to start looking for their perfect ski holiday home.

The company features 37,000+ ski properties worldwide.

HomeAway Holiday-Rentals has selected its favorite ski chalets to rent in popular ski destinations around the world.

Here is the company’s Top 10 Ski Chalets on its website:

 

 

 

1 Chamonix, France: Luxury ski chalet at the foot of Mont Blanc;

2. Serre-Chevalier, France: Architect-designed chalet with spa, home cinema and wine cellar;

3. Meribel, France: Traditional ski chalet a few minutes from Meribel centre;

4. Saas Fee, Switzerland: Luxury holiday chalet with sauna and whirlpool spa;

5. Zermatt, Switzerland: Modern and airy chalet with lovely mountain views;

6. Carinthia, Austria: Exclusive holiday chalet in dream location, Nockberge/Bad Kleinkirchheim;

7. Dolomites/South Tyrol, Italy:  Charming and cosy chalet in the Dolomites;

8. Whistler, Canada: Luxury townhome with private hot tub;

9. Farellones, Chile: Stunning rental chalet comprised of lower and middle level apartments and

10. South Island, New Zealand: Chic chalet in Queenstown with beautiful views.

 

For more info, visit the HomeAway Holiday-Rentals site.

Here are more scenes of the Top 10 Ski Chalets:

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Living room in luxury townhome in Whistler, Canada.

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Wellness and massage area in ski chalet in Zermatt, Switzerland.

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Outdoor dining, Chalet La Moraine, Chamonix, France.

Images courtesy of HomeAway Holiday-Rentals

New Backpacker Hostel In NZ

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Backpackers in New Zealand will soon have a new hostel at Aoraki Mt Cook.

Mount Cook Backpackers, The Hermitage Hotel’s former Glencoe Lodge, is scheduled to open October 1, 2010.

Says Andrew Cleverley, general manager, The Hermitage Hotel:

“Mt Cook is a both a small community and a world-renowned destination so it’s very exciting to be able to expand its current range of accommodation and entertainment choices to better cater for different budgets and tastes.  Demand for backpacker priced accommodation has grown in response to the increased range of activities.”

NewZealandTheHermitage New Backpacker Hostel In NZ

The new backpacker hostel will offer 20 four-bed dorm rooms with ensuites, 23 double/twin rooms with ensuites, and seven one-bedroom units with bathroom and cooking facilities.

The original Chamois Bar will be relaunched with a new beer garden.  A favorite local watering hole, the new-look bar will be a ‘relaxed and friendly place’ for an evening drink, pub meal, game of pool, big screen TV and events.

Images courtesy of The Heritage Hotel.

Living Like A Local In Italy

ItalyMountainViewHouse271881 Living Like A Local In Italy

Living like a local can lead to the most authentic mountain travel experiences.  If you’re planning a trip to Italy, you might find the perfect place through Holiday Homes in Italy.

One of their newest holiday homes is the charming villa Casa Bella Bellagio in Lake Como, which has panoramic views.  This family-friendly home features three bedrooms, open plan lounge/dining room, patio and garden.

ItalyMountainHouse271890 Living Like A Local In Italy

The villa is close to Bellagio shops, restaurants and bars and regional buses. Nearby, the ferries connect to other lakeside towns including Varenna; Menaggio ; Lecco and Como.

If you’re traveling by car, you can reach San Primo Mountain and Lugano in about half hour and Milan in 90 minutes.

For more info, visit Holiday Homes In Italy.

Images courtesy of Holiday Homes In Italy.

Last Minute Mallorca Deals

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Fancy some mountain island living on Mallorca?  Self-catering travel company Mallorca Farmhouses now offers up to 40% discount on late availability bookings.

Mallorca Farmhouses features luxury villas, country houses and cottages which include a swimming pool, maid service and starter pack.  If you want still more luxury, there is also car hire and a gourmet chef service available.   Among the properties are:

Demana (shown above)
“Demana is a three-bedroom, stone-clad country cottage in a truly outstanding peaceful location near Pollenca old town with wonderful far-reaching views along the Colonya Valley and up into the Pollenca hills. Full of charm and character, the cottage boasts beamed ceilings, a master bedroom with en-suite and outside there is a private pool and covered terrace set amid the property’s large garden filled with almond and citrus groves, as well as ancient pathways to scented Mediterranean fennel and lavender.”

For more info, visit Mallorca Farmhouses.

Image courtesy of Mallorca Farmhouses.

Top 10 Budget Holiday Rentals

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Holiday home rentals can be greener and less expensive accommodations for your next mountain trip.

Homeaway.co.uk features 10,000+ budget rentals worldwide including modern apartments with mountain views, spacious houses and villas in Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.

Here are the latest Top 10 Budget Holiday Homes on HomeAway.co.uk:

1. BULGARIA: Modern, high standard apartment in the Magic Dreams resort, Sveti Vlas.

2. ITALY: Beautiful apartment in Umbria with private pool and breathtaking views.

3. COSTA DEL SOL: Brand new apartment overlooking Miraflores Golf Course in Mijas Costa.

4. SLOVENIA: Quiet apartment in beautiful village with mountain views, Mojstrana.

5. THAILAND: Large villa with private pool and Jacuzzi minutes from beach.

6. MEXICO: Colorful house with spectacular views in San Miguel de Allende.

7. PARIS: Charming one bedroom apartment near Bastille and Marais.

8. ISTANBUL: Deluxe flat in the city centre.

9. MARRAKESH: Recently restored fully staffed riad in Marrakech Medina.

10. LONDON: Spacious house close to Wimbledon and within easy reach of main central attractions.

For more info, check out HomeAway.co.uk.

Image courtesy of HomeAway.co.uk.