Places to Stay in Punta Cana

Punta Cana lies in the most eastern point of the Dominican Republic. Because of its beautiful white sand beaches, Punta Cana has become one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean.

Ranked in the top five by the Traveler's Choice Awards in 2006, The Excellence Punta Cana is a prime example of the type of lodgings available in Punta Cana. The Excellence has laid claim to 1.5 miles of pristine, white sand beaches. In addition, there is a large swimming pool with a swim up bar. A standard spa is available on the premises, as well as a hair salon. Each of the over 400 rooms has a private balcony with views of the garden, the mountains, or the beach. In addition to 24 hour room service, a casual buffet, and a complimentary breakfast, the Excellence also offers 5 fine dining restaurants, serving Italian, pan-Asian, Continental cuisine, Tex-Mex/American cuisine, and Mexican/Dominican cuisine. Sports and adventure programs are available. The Excellence is an adults-only all-inclusive resort. For reservations, call 1-809-685-9880.

Also ranked in the top 5 is the Majestic Colonial Resort of Punta Cana. The Majestic is located on Bravaro Beach, another pristine, white sand beach. There are also pools for the family, for children, and for adults. While parents go to the nearby golf course or gamble away their time in the onsite casino, the kids can do a variety of activities with the kids' clubs. Parents can also make use of their time away from the kids by partaking in the spa services. For more details, contact the Majestic Colonial at (888) 774-0040.

Also located on Bravaro Beach and also ranked in the top five by Traveler's Choice awards in 2006 is the Gran Bahia Principe all-inclusive resort. Gran Bahia offers a children's program that can include various sports. There are many sports options available for adults, too, from windsurfing to dance lessons. For reservations, call (888) 774-0040.

There are three high-end golf courses available to tourists no matter which Punta Cana resort you stay in. All of the resorts have an active nightlife, but you can also come into town to mingle with the locals at the dance clubs. A full array of water sports are available through most of the resorts or at least can be found somewhere in Punta Cana.

Because Punta Cana is a resort town and each resort runs different specials, it may be helpful to go through a resort planner to find your best deal.

Find more resort spa destinations at ResortSpaDestinations.com.

Top 10 Best Places and Interesting Destinations in Thailand For Vacationing Family With Children

Thailand is the best place to spend family vacations. The country has plenty of beautiful and attractive places which parents and their children will definitely love. There are top ten best places in Thailand where most families from around the world love to visit. Here is the list of the ten most recommended vacation destinations in Thailand:

1.    Pattaya, Thailand - located along the Thailand Gulf. It is the most popular ocean site resort in the Southeast Asia. Pattaya has 300 affordable hotels to choose from, which are perfect for vacationing families of any size. There are also a number of markets and shopping malls. Lots of affordable restaurants are also found in Pattaya serving the delicious Thai delicacies.

2.    Phuket - the most popular tourist destination in the country with its beautiful white sand beach coasts. Phuket is also known as the "pearl of the South". Here, one can find the best variety of restaurants offering the best of Thai cuisines.

3.    Koh Samui - perfect to spend family summer vacations. Koh Samui has a large number of beach hotels where one can enjoy the amazing beauty of the white sand beaches along the coastlines. Resorts offer good budget accommodations which will surely please families.

4.    Chiand Mai popular tourist destination mostly because of the best shopping experience it offers. Here, one can buy a lot with just a dollar. Tourists often swarm the market of Chiang Mai that opens from 5pm and opens until midnight daily. The night marketplace has many products that will surely suit and satisfy everyone. Goods such as clothes, baggage, souvenir items, shoes and a lot more can be found here. There are also clubs in several places which offers very affordable prices. This is definitely a place for any family vacation.

5.    Koh Chang Thailand - is a marine national park which attracted thousands of visitors worldwide. The island has a nick name of "the last untouched paradise in the Southeast Asia", because much of its place are not yet been discovered by modern explorations and haven't been built in with establishments and infrastructures. Here, one can fully appreciate the pure gifts of nature. Koh Chang has everything nature has to offer. Perfect getaway place for families who wants to have a quiet and peaceful vacation. Families can rent natively designed bungalows where they can feel at ease and comfortable all throughout their stay.

6.    Krabi, Thailand - an island territory of Thailand that has fine-looking coastline and offshore islands. This location was used in the movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo di Caprio. These beaches are truly pictures perfect panoramas, together with the coconut palm trees and the blue waters of the ocean. Krabi has been a favorite place for vacationers coming from different countries.

7.    Hua Hin - a place which combines pleasure and beach holidays and also a place for several sports. Golf has been the most famous sport here wherein visitors can play under the shade of the coconut trees.

8.    Chiang Rai - a located in the mountainous regions of Thailand, which are said to have retained much Thailand's culture. Popular attractions here include the White Temple, which is the only handcrafted temple in Thailand with striking botanical gardens. Visitors love to visit here and take a look at the Buddha statues built in Buddhist temples which truly spectacular.

9.    Cha-am Thailand - located 160 kilometers south of Bangkok, about two hours drive via car.  Cha-am beach resort is known as the longest white sand beach in Thailand. It is also a place for golfing which many of vacationers enjoy to play. Perfect for vacationing families.

10.    Bangkok - the main attractions in Bangkok are the magnificent temples and shrines along the city. These religious buildings were made with artistic architecture design which are truly captivating to the eyes.

Ms. Pinky is a mom of 3 school children. She is a Systems Engineer, a Technology Researcher and an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. She and her family is well-traveled all over the world!

Her blogs and websites focuses on stay-at-home moms, dads and students who wants to work at home, build homebased business http://www.mommyisworkingathome.com.

Visit her Interesting Site on Asian Travels and Destinations. Discover Asia's Culture and Great Food at: http://www.goingplacesinasia.com.

Martha's Vineyard Bike Rentals - Places to Rent and Scenic Routes

One of the best ways to see Martha's Vineyard is by taking advantage of Martha's Vineyard bike rentals. The scenery on the Vineyard is fabulous and you really appreciate it while riding a bike around some of the side roads.

The Vineyard is larger than many folks realize and it is mostly flat, with some rolling hills, and perfect for biking. If you are a fitness fanatic, you can get in some nice 10 - 20 miles rides. Or, you can do some short tours through the charming neighborhoods of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven.

One of our favorite rides is between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown along the beach. You can rent bikes in either Oak Bluffs or Edgartown and ride towards the other town along the beach. This is a flat ride, with sidewalks and plenty of great scenery. Another good ride, although much further, is to bike from Vineyard Haven to Menemsha. This ride has some small rolling hills and is about 12 miles each way. You'll pass through some beautiful country and farming areas and end up in the charming fishing village of Menemsha. Keep in mind, this is a very rural area so there are few stores.

If you prefer to ride on a very flat and safe bike path, the Vineyard has that too. There is a spectacular bike path between Vineyard Haven and Edgartown. It's mostly flat, about 8 feet wide, and very popular with families. One possible drawback to this route is that the scenery is not as exciting as other routes on the island. You'll pass through some fairly basic neighborhoods and not see the water or beach.

Of course there are multiple places that rent bikes on Martha's Vineyard. You can find bike rentals in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven. The Martha's Vineyard campground also has rentals. We've rented bikes from Anderson's in Oak Bluffs and had a great experience. They are located right next to the Oak Bluffs Harbor and the Hyline Cruises dock. They offer all sorts of bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, kids bikes etc. Your rental includes a helmet, island map and bike lock. They also provide a phone number for calling for assistance and they will come and help you if needed. If you are biking with kids, they have a great bike that pulls the kids bikes like a trailer.

Biking on Martha's Vineyard is a great way to really enjoy the island. We hope you have a chance to explore some of the many routes available.

To learn more about Martha's Vineyard bike rentals, visit http://www.marthas-vineyard-vacation-tips.com/marthas-vineyard-bike-rentals.html

Scott Garrity and his family love Martha's Vineyard and enjoy documenting their visits to the island. Scott is one of the co-founders of http://www.marthas-vineyard-vacation-tips.com, a site where he shares personal photos and tips about Martha's Vineyard.