The Top 10 Design Hotels

September 28, 2009

Elemente, one of Canada’s design magazines, has fashioned a  list of the top 10 design hotels around the world. Included are hotels in big cities, resorts, and in out of the way locations. The hotels include the following:

    • Indigo Patagonia in Natales, Chile (think the bottom of the world here!)
    • Hotel Unique in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The hotel looks  like a little watermelon
    • Alva Park Resort and Spa in Fenals, Spain, one hour south of Barcelona
    • The Outpost in Kruger National Park, South Africa where you can watch elephants from your room
    • Five Hotel, Paris, France

2130741562 c916c7aca1 The Top 10 Design Hotels

  • Lefay Resort and Spa in Lago di Garda, Italy
  • Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in Australia
  • Casa Dell’Arte in Bodrum, Turkey
  • Commune by the Great Wall in Shuiguan, China, an hour northwest of Beijing
  • Luna2Private Hotel in Bali, Indonesia

Given the chance I think most of us would be happy to stay in a design rich, ecelectic spot rather than a chain hotel providing that it was remotely affordable.

Many of the hotels noted above are reasonable if one considers the market they are in. Indigo Patagonia has high season rates of $US260 per night whereas the Bali hotel is out of reach for most of us at it’s lowest rate of $US3000/night – and that’s without meals. The Parisan hotel is suprisingly affordable, in light of what is regularly charged in that city whereas The Outpost in Kruger National Park is expensive but inclusive of meals and game watching and very much on par with hotels of a similar ilk in the park.

The websites of these hotels are very inspiring and a little dreaming never hurt any of us.

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Hiking, backpacking, walking, Miscellaneous travel tips | Leave a Comment 

The Green Route – Quebec’s Cycling Network

September 24, 2009

The Green Route or La Route Verte, as it is known in the province of Quebec  is the largest cycling network in North America, though it remains largely unheard of outside of the province. It is considered to be one of the ten best bicycle routes in the world as selected by the National Geographic Society.

IMG 1227 The Green Route Quebecs Cycling Network

Eventually The Green Route will offer cyclists (and walkers) 4,300 kms of signed paths which will include a mixture of dedicated paths, paved shoulders and some roadway.

The Green Route is attempting to link all regions of Quebec. I have just finished cycling several hundred kilometres in the Eastern Townships, an area about an hour by car east of Montreal. Other notable regions of the route include Montreal, Quebec City and surrounding area, the lower Saint Lawrence region (Bas-Saint-Laurent) and the Abitibi-Temiskaming area.

The Green Route in the Eastern Townships can be comfortably done in three days. You don’t even have to retrace your steps because of a service known as the Velo Taxi. In this area it operates during the cycling season (May to October) on a 24/7 basis and provides a taxi service to anywhere you want to go along the Green Route – for a price of course. If you have a bike breakdown and you are mechanically challenged then all you need to do is call. They cover 225 kms of territory and approximate prices are $40 for 40 kilometres. It also provides some piece of mind when you are a lone cyclist.

You can get maps sent to you by the Eastern Townshops tourism bureau. On my website you can get a free, detailed, downloadable itinerary for cycling the Green Route through Quebec’s Eastern Townships.

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Biking, Canada | 1 Comment 

Quebec’s Most Beautiful Villages

September 19, 2009

In researching and biking the Eastern Townships I was fortunate to visit three of Quebec’s most beautiful villages –  Knowlton (now Lac-Brome), Stanbridge East and Stanstead. There are only 37 villages that make the cut  in 10 different regions of Quebec.

IMG 1102 Quebec’s Most Beautiful Villages

Lac Brome - formerly Knowlton and one of Quebec's Most Beautiful Villages

Visiting at least one of Quebec’s most beautiful villages will enhance your vacation experience.  The villages have been chosen to represent Quebec’s important architectural and historical record. Not many people live in these villages but that only adds to their charm.  The villages I saw had homes that are reminiscent of the New England Style with great wrap around porches. Sitting within sight of each other might be a green house with white shutters, a pink house with white shutters and a bright blue house with black shutters. It’s a feast for the eyes.

IMG 1084 Quebec’s Most Beautiful Villages

IMG 1079 Quebec’s Most Beautiful Villages

One of Quebec's Most Beautiful Villages

The villages in the Eastern Townships that have the Most Beautiful Village designation were first settled by Irish immigrants around 1820 and by the British and Scottish in 1840.  That’s the reason you see so many English names.

Come and visit Quebec. Discover the personality and hospitality that make up the Quebecois people- even if you don’t speak a word of French.

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Biking, Canada, Miscellaneous travel tips | 4 Comments 

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Latest Post

Another Free Guide – Cabot Trail Biking Tour Guide

Palm Springs, a desert resort city of 40,000 plus people, is located 100 miles east of Los Angeles and 130 miles northeast of San Diego. It is one of nine cities that make up the Coachella Valley with mountains surrounding it on all sides.

Inside Cabot Trail Biking Tour Guide you will find the following

1. Fantastic scenery, especially along the western coast of Cape Breton Highlands National Park

2. the climb in the afternoon of North Mountain rewards with excellent scenery too

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