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The popular town of Los Cristianos is the second largest holiday resort in the south of Tenerife, the largest being its next door neighbour Playa de Las Americas. Despite their close proximity to one another there is a distinct difference in the atmosphere of the two, especially at night.
One of the main differences you will notice is that in Los Cristianos, unlike in Las Americas, the town has a history pre-dating its transformation into a tourist resort. Prior to undergoing major development in recent years, Los Cristianos existed as a small fishing village. It has an old town centre, complete with Catholic church, stretching from the port up to the main shopping street Avenida de Suecia. This grid-like centre is entirely pedestrianised, which is great news of course for tourists and a welcome change from dodging mad taxi drivers in Las Americas. This older area consists of houses in which much of the town’s local Canarian population still lives. In the port, which itself has been extended, you’ll find a still active fleet of small fishing boats. Depending on the time of year you can see international yachts of all shapes and sizes (and prices!) waiting to set sail for the Caribbean. It is from Los Cristianos’ port also that the ferry and hydrofoil depart daily to the islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro – the three islands which, together with Tenerife, make up the autonomous Spanish province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (the other province of the Canary Islands is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, comprising the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Graciosa and four other uninhabited islets).
These days you will find it difficult to determine where Los Cristianos finishes and Las Americas begins. Both towns have been built up and augmented to the extent that the boundaries between the two become blurred, especially around the seafront area known as San Telmo, where you will find the excellent and newly completed beach Playa de las Vistas. This is in fact still a part of Los Cristianos, while the neighbouring Compostela Beach area, only a short walk away along the seafront, is in Playa de Las Américas. In reality what happened is that Las Americas kept expanding eastwards until it reached Los Cristianos and couldn’t go any further! (Now the ongoing development of Las Americas is concentrated on its western end, in the area known as Costa Adeje.)
Los Cristianos boasts an expanse of beaches along its entire seafront; the aforementioned Playa de las Vistas, which was completed in 1997 using sand imported from the Sahara, is the best in town. Next to the port, right amid the hustle and bustle of the town centre, is another good and popular stretch of beach with many bars, restaurants and shops all around. While Los Cristianos does offer beaches almost along its entire seafront expanse, the quality in these other areas can vary. All of the towns beaches are kept clean and well maintained by the local council.
As with much of Playa de Las Americas, you’ll find many of Los Cristianos’ newer holiday complexes a little further away from the beaches and town centre. When the town first began to realise its potential to cater to larger numbers of tourists, the first area to be developed was obviously around the town centre/seafront area. But this was as much as 30 years ago, when architecture was more functional than aesthetic, so some of the available accommodation in this central area is not tremendously inspiring (which is not to imply that the quality is necessarily any less). The newer resorts further inland, many built within the last ten years, show that much more attention has been paid to appearance and style. While I’m talking about resorts ‘further inland’, perhaps I should put the distances involved in perspective; even the resorts further from the sea, in the Oasis del Sur area for example, where construction still continues to date, are little more than ten minutes walk from the beach. Admittedly it might take longer coming home as the return journey is uphill, but that’s Tenerife for you: wherever you go you’re either going up a hill – or down one! On the subject of hills, Los Cristianos (and Las Americas for that matter) is not generally so steep, for the most part, as to pose undue problems, except perhaps for visitors with severely limited mobility. If this is a consideration for you or someone in your family, it is certainly worth checking that the location of your hotel or apartment won’t cause unforeseen problems.
Many visitors to Tenerife rent a car while they are here, and driving on our island is nothing if not a ‘memorable’ experience. In the centre of Los Cristianos parking can be a problem and you should be wary of double-parked cars and delivery vans half blocking the road. If you find yourself blocked in such a way, just sit in the car and hoot the horn – the culprit will usually arrive fairly quickly and move his vehicle. The town centre is often slow to negotiate due to the narrow roads and volume of traffic so if you are heading for the town by car from the motorway we’d recommend that as you come down the hill (the new golf course will be on your right) you take a left fork at the bottom and head for the seafront that way – it’s only a short walk to the centre and parking is much easier just outside the town centre. If, instead of taking the left, you go straight, then you’ll be heading straight for the town centre and may have a problem finding a parking space. The local council has recently begun a policy of towing away illegally parked cars. There is an underground car park being constructed in the town centre.
Los Cristianos is a match for Las Americas in the quality and variety of retaurants available for your lunch or evening meal. Everything you could wish for is here somewhere – Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Spanish and Canarian of course, to name but a few. And of course the ubiquitous ‘English Breakfast’ abounds in both Los Cristianos and Las Americas. And for the holidaymaker partial to a drop of liquid refreshment, there is no shortage of bars and pubs in which to unwind and take the weight off your feet. Thanks to the relaxed licensing laws over here (Hoorah!) you’ll never be stuck for somewhere to sample the local brew, day or night, whenever the fancy takes you.
One area, however, in which Los Cristianos does not compare with Las Americas is that of nightlife – nightclubs, discos, ‘fun pubs’ – that type of thing. While you can, to some extent of course, find all of the above in Los Cristianos, it is really in Las Américas that you’ll find the unadulterated, no-holds-barred, downright crazy and hedonistic nightlife, particularly in the areas known as ‘Veronicas’ and ‘The Patch’, where drinking and partying until 6a.m. is the norm. There are two observations about this. Firstly, this is not everyone’s cup of tea and many visitors will surely be glad to be far away from there for this very reason! Secondly, if this is your idea of fun but you find yourself staying in Los Cristianos rather than Las Americas, don’t forget you’re only five minutes and a few hundred pesetas away by taxi, so it’s not a big problem – taxis are plentiful at any hour. (Oops …. I don’t want to give the wrong impression of Las Americas and hope I am not inadvertently doing so: it is considerably larger than Los Cristianos and I should stress that it, too, has many areas where it is quiet and relaxing at night! I’m just emphasizing certain characteristics by way of making a comparison.)
So how to summarise Los Cristianos to the uninitiated in a few words? I’d say the following: it’s a fairly small town with a lively town centre but with spacious and relaxed ’suburbs’, it has some fine beaches, usually good weather, an international clientèle, all the shops and restaurants you could wish for, is in some ways more attractive, perhaps even more ‘exclusive’ than Las Americas but lacks the nightime ‘edge’ of the latter which some, particularly families and older visitors, may see as a blessing, while others might find it a bit ‘quiet’ at night.
The state capital and largest city in Arizona is Phoenix it is also the sixth largest city in the US. The city is located along the normally dry Salt River. It is known as the Land of the Desert Sun. Phoenix is one of the more attractive metropolitan cities in the midst of the Arizona desert and mountain ranges.
It continues to be an important farming and industrial centre for the south west. Since the 1950s, Phoenix has been voted Americas Best City five times.
Scottsdale and the Biltmore District of Phoenix along Camelback Rd are the Valley’s main up scale shopping areas. Old Town Scottsdale is the most popular tourist shopping area in the Valley. Arizona Centre shopping complex sits among towering palms, dramatic fountains and lush gardens. The centre has over 50 shops and restaurants, a cinema, massive sports bars and open-air vendors.
The most elegant hall in the city is the 1929 Orpheum Theatre, a Spanish-colonial baroque building with immense style. Broad way shows and international touring companies appear here.
Phoenix offers a lot of night life from clubs, to operas, and every thing. There is a multitude of Arizona night clubs, bars and dance clubs spread across the valley The younger set hangs out in Tempe, around the massive university, where there are many bars.
Golf is perhaps the most popular activity in the city with nearly 200 golf courses. Golf is not cheap in to play here. Eighteen holes at some of the Valleys premier resorts cost in excess of one hundred pounds.
The Heard Museum was founded by Dwight and Maie Bartlett Heard in 1929 to house their collection of American Indian artifacts and art. The original museum was eighth the size of to day’s building. It has grown to more than 2,000 pieces of landscapes, poetry and person recollections.
The Desert Botanical Garden offers the finest collection of desert plants from a round the world in a out door setting. The garden has more than 50,000 plants on display throughout five thematic trails, which illustrate topics such as plants, conservation, desert living, desert wild flowers and people of the Sonoran Desert. The garden has lectures and work shops on desert landscaping and horticulture, nature art and photography, botanical art and illustration, health and wellness, and natural history. In addition, the garden offers specialized tours, concerts, special events, seasonal exhibits, an out door cafe, a gift and plant shop.
Playa De Las Americas is the largest and most popular resort in Tenerife; situated in the south of the island next to Los Cristianos and near the Renia Sofia Airport. Although suitable for all ages, Playa De Las Americas is mainly favoured by the younger generation for the profusion of night life to be found there and budget hotels. Whatever age you are thought, Playa De Las Americas resort is action packed and packs a punch.
Playa De Las Americas has a large amount of good quality hotels that offer a lively atmosphere and superior service. One such hotel is Caledonia Park. From there you can easily reach the main site of Playa De Las Americas including the bars and restaurants, beaches and the aqua park which provides anyone with a fun day out. The Caledonia Park Hotel offers lots of great facilities, good food, fantastic atmosphere and gargantuan cocktails on demand! It is one of the most popular hotels within the resort.
Playa De Las Americas offers much in the way of cuisine with restaurants offering a variety of dishes such as Chinese, Mexican and English foods and many more, tapas bards offering the very best of what Tenerife has to offer. If you’re a person who is constantly on the go then fast food stalls will help suit your lifestyle. Nightlife in Playa De Las Americas is astounding to say the least, with most places offering a happy hour or two which tends to lead to a few hours of happiness for the customers! Most places stay open till the early hours of the morning and offer the very best of music and entertainment.
There is so much to see and do in Playa De Las Americas that one holiday is normally not enough. There is plenty of shopping, trips around Tenerife, water sports by the bucket load, bungee jumping and even swimming with dolphins to keep you occupied, and that’s not to mention the beaches! Whilst often crowded, offer fantastic swimming and sunning opportunities and a lively atmosphere. So if you are thinking of taking a trip to Playa De Las Americas, be prepared for a seriously good time!
David has written on behalf of Sunmaster Holidays, providers of a wide range of package holidays. For further information on holidays in Tenerife, please visit our website.
If you are looking forward to a great vacation, South Lake Tahoe should be your destination. From lodging to activities to entertainment, it offers a wide array of choices fit for all kinds of people—families, students, business groups, or newlyweds.
The living accommodations vary from hotels, bed and breakfast, private home rentals, vacation rentals and cabins, campgrounds, and RV parks. For quaint and intimate setting, bed and breakfasts, like Inn at Heavenly and Black Bear Inn Bed & Breakfast will be the perfect place to stay. It is less costly without sacrificing comfort. For people who like luxury and pampering, hotels and resorts are available all over Lake Tahoe with amenities like heated pool, full service day-spa, and Jacuzzi tubs. Condos and homes are situated in the top areas around the lake. This is an alternative for families who are staying longer than usual and for those who prefers privacy and comforts of one’s home. During summer, campgrounds are just the right backdrop for those burnt marshmallows and barbecue.
Although there are many choices, booking may be a problem especially during peak seasons. For less hassles, you can make reservations online. For the townhouses, the real estate will be more than happy to accommodate your needs.
South Lake Tahoe is the best place to be, whatever time of the year it is. In winter, they offer skiing and snowboarding. It is, after all, North America’s largest concentration of ski and snowboard resorts. From November until April, the place is filled with tourists seeking fun and adventure in snow.
In summer, they have activities like golf, boat-riding, and hiking to keep you occupied. Lake Tahoe is the home of Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course where the 18th annual American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament. More than 75 stars in sports and entertainment visited and loved the golf course.
With the breathtaking mountain view of South Lake Tahoe, weddings and honeymoons are made unforgettable. Chapels, ministers, coordinators, and photographers are handy to make that walk-in-the-aisle truly a memory to cherish. One of the famous hotels in the area, 3 Peaks Resort & Beach Club has a Romantic Lake Tahoe Vacation Package including champagne, romantic dinner, and a dance cruise. Newlyweds will surely go back to Lake Tahoe for their second honeymoon.
If you are one of those people who lives during the night, your nightlife is not going to suffer while staying in Lake Tahoe. Good music, grilled food, friendly bartenders, well-stocked wine cellar, chilled beers—you can find these in the local bar and restaurants. There are specials once in a while like dinner/dance cruises and karaoke.
If you are not the bar type, entertainment still would not be a problem. Casinos are open all days of the week providing first-class entertainment like annual Summer Outdoor Concert Series. Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa has a theatre house featuring movies old and new.
You won’t worry where to eat your next meal. There are over 100 restaurants in the South Lake Tahoe area. Whatever you are craving, be it Italian or traditional Mexican, it’s just a short walk away from your hotel.
Of course, before going home, shopping is a must for souvenirs, mementos, and postcards. For this task, Tahoe Emporium boasts stores offering local, regional, and national brand names. From clothes to sports equipments to books, you will find what you are looking for. The stores are conveniently located near resorts and hotels.
Vacation is something all people are looking forward to. It is like a much craved dessert that you would want to savor bite after bite. South Lake Tahoe has all the ingredients that will satisfy even the most fastidious appetite there is.
The author is a contributor of Lake Tahoe and Tahoe. Check these sites for more of Lake Tahoe.
If you were to go to the four corner points of America, you could not find four more different places from one another. From the coast of Maine to the tip of California to the rocky shores of Washington State with its active volcanoes and nonstop fog to the Caribbean like atmosphere of Florida, the cultures of the many areas of America are as diverse as are it’s people.
Of all of those places, none other is quite as exotic as sunny Florida. As soon as you step off the airplane in Miami, you know you have landed in a place that is as different from the rest of America as the moon is from the earth. There is a feel of being far away, where the world melts away and you can give in and be a Caribbean creature for a little while.
This is what is glorious about sightseeing in America. There are so many exotic and very different locations that you can stay in one country and virtually see and experience almost every climate and environment in the world. Florida brings you into the exotic feel of living on a desert island far away from civilization. But then you can get up from the beach and within a short drive be in the middle of a modern, sophisticated city full of the most exciting nightlife in the world.
You can go on dozens of vacations to sightsee in America and not repeat an experience. But when making your list of great sightseeing spots in America to visit, make sure Florida is near the top. And while you are at it, plan to spend some time there because there is a lot to take in including…
- Snorkeling in the warm clear gulf waters on one side of the Florida peninsula and in the ocean waters on the other.
- The amazing theme parks of Disney, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and many more.
- Ancient mansions up and down the beaches of Florida from the early days when Spanish ships landed here to discover this big new world.
- Wonderful foods from Cuba, the Caribbean and all across South America.
- The always unforgettable Everglades that seem like a trip to the Jurassic Period during your brief tour there.
The fun goes on and on. One thing is for sure, you will have at least one new experience each and every time you do some sightseeing in Florida. One time you may thrill to the sight of dolphins or a whale on a whale watching tour. The next time you may go deep sea fishing so far out to sea that the land disappears entirely.
The next visit you may become completely fascinated in the history of this very unique peninsula and the role it has had to play in the development of America. And then the next time you may just want to lie on the virtually perfect sands on the gulf side and let the cares of the world drift away.
You talk about sights you have never seen before. What about the sight of your family becoming carefree and full of fun as they literally transform into Caribbean natives wanting nothing more than to frolic in the waters of the gulf or ocean for as long as God lets the good sun shine down on them? And when you see that family you love reach that perfect level of relaxation that a visit to Florida can give them, you know you will have chosen well your vacation destination for that year.
Durban is the second most populous city in South Africa.The city lies on the Indian Ocean Coast of South Africa and is the capital city of the Kwa Zulu Natal province of the country. It is famous as the busiest port in Africa.
It is also a major centre of tourism due to the cities warm subtropical climate and beaches.The beachfront will be alive with action when an even more spectacular Beach Festival lights up the Golden Mile from June.
The third FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has started in Durban and is the first of six qualifying events for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to be held.
A city with a rich, and diverse culture all of its own, where you can shop in a super mall in the morning, picking up the latest designer bargains, spend the afternoon relaxing or surfing on North Beach, then wander through some spellbinding temples and mosques before eating dinner in one of the many top class restaurants that the city boasts in the evening, or grab a snack, and head to one of the lively bars and clubs on the waterfront to dance the night away with other travellers from all over the world.
The most cosmopolitan city is a place with a unique mix of peoples, bringing influences from all over the world for instants China, India and South America then combining them with the traditional Zulu culture of the region to create an intriguing blend, that when mixed with the spectacular countryside and beaches making up the area that surrounds the city, Durban is without a doubt a truly exceptional destination.
It has only a smattering of theatres and concert venues, and great nightlife should not be high on your list of expectations when visiting this city. Not to be too harsh, with a little exploration it is possible to find some interesting events at memorable venues. Just dont expect to see anything that has been on circuit back home.
There are good value flight offers to Durban throughout the year and at certain low season times, seats can be as little as half price. When you couple this with the low price of accommodation, and eating out when you are there it becomes a destination that is often more affordable than you would think.
Well worth a visit come and see for yourself any time of year and you wont be disappointed.
As most guide books state, the best you can find in Colombia is people. Also tourists that have stayed in the country advise new visitors to try to get in touch with locals because they are amongst the friendliest people on earth, thus before going somewhere, it is important to know which are the best places not only to have fun but to meet people.
As all the big cities of South America, Bogota has a very rich nightlife with the right atmosphere to meet the locals, therefore there are many web sites that give information about restaurants, bars, cinemas, discotheques, shows, theater and all the events that are considered special each week.
It is well known that the best areas of the city to enjoy through the night are in the north part of the city, some examples are El Parque de la 93 which is located in one of the most exclusive zones of the city between the 93A and 93B streets and the 11th A and 13 avenues; La Zona Rosa which is the main nightlife zone of the city because it comprises a great number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs that can that please every taste; La Calera which is a route through the east hills of the city and has a wide variety of restaurants and nightclubs; and the called Zona T in Chapinero with an amazing range of establishments.
Getting into more detail, Bogota has some places and offers some activities that are ideal in order to meet people. In terms of places El Salon, located on Calle 93A No 11-30, is a restaurant that opens from 7 a.m until 3 a.m during the weekends and until 1 a.m on week days and has original live shows performed by the waiters who are artists or in other words, by the artists who are waiters. There are twenty artists that sing, dance, act and besides wait at tables. While some of them are taking the orders, others grab a guitar and go from table to table singing a song. When the hit of the night is on and the place has reached the proper atmosphere the waiters take their dance couples and give an excellent dancing show.
In terms of activities, La Chiva is a very good way to run La calera route and to see the best of the city while passengers sing and dance. La Chiva is like a big bus but has more space and does not have any glass on the windows, it is a typical and colourful means of transport and lately it has been transformed into a rolling nightclub. Some of the chivas include in their prices drinks, food and the entrance to some discotheques.
No doubt Bogota is full of alternatives to get to know the friendly locals, you just have to take the time and search for the right places.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA (October 23, 2009) – South America ranks as one of the world’s great destinations, and with the recent awarding of the 2016 Summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has gained even more worldwide attention. MSC Cruises has established itself as one of the leaders in South American cruises, with a flexible array of 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- and 9-night itineraries from Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Buenos Aries from October 2009 through mid-May 2010.
Guests on the more than 140 MSC South America cruises can expect to experience the natural beauties, vibrant cities, and nightlife which have made the region an increasingly popular vacation choice. Port calls, depending upon itinerary and cruise length, will include Ilhéus, Macei?, Ilhabela, Ilha Grande, Punta Del Este, Búzios, Ubatuba, Recife, Fortaleza, Cabedelo and Montevidéo.
MSC Lirica will open the season, her first in Brazilian waters, sailing from Santos on Oct. 23 and calling at Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, Ubatuba and Santos. She will be joined by MSC Musica, MSC Opera, MSC Melody, MSC Armonia and MSC Orchestra.
Theme Cruises Spice up the Cruise Season
To add additional spice to the South American cruise experience, MSC Cruises plans these 20 special themed sailings targeting guests’ popular special interests:
• Dance: MSC Musica, Nov. 22; MSC Opera, Feb. 7, 2010; MSC Armonia, Feb. 11, 2010; MSC Orchestra, March 13, 2010
• Music: MSC Musica, Dec. 6; MSC Armonia, March 10, 2010
• Fitness (Sea and Action): MSC Armonia, Dec. 12; MSC Orchestra, Feb. 6, 2010; MSC Opera, Feb. 21, 2010
• Fantastic World (dream world & magic for children & adults): MSC Orchestra, Jan. 23, 2010
• Circus: MSC Armonia, Jan. 24, 2010
• Fashion: MSC Orchestra, Jan. 30, 2010
• Wellness: MSC Musica, Jan. 31, 2010
• Beauty: MSC Musica, Feb. 7, 2010
• Food & Drink: MSC Armonia, Feb. 20, 2010
• Artmar (arts & crafts): MSC Orchestra, Feb. 20, 2010; MSC Armonia, March 18, 2010
• Bossa Nova: MSC Musica, March 1, 2010
• Dolce Vita (physical, mental and spiritual balance): MSC Orchestra, March 6, 2010
• Humor: MSC Orchestra, March 31, 2010
For more information about MSC Cruises, visit us online at www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or contact a local travel professional.
Press author for Mediterranean Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Bill Ospring brings news of MSC to cruise fans. Topics vary from MSC in the industry, new ships, and deals for cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Europe and theme cruise packages.
Just north of Venezuela lays Isla Margarita, or Margarita Island, possibly one of the best vacation destinations in the Caribbean. It offers visitors five star resorts, high quality dining, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Best of all, vacationing here generally costs a fraction of the price in comparison to other popular Caribbean destinations. Despite its location in the Caribbean Sea, Isla Margarita boasts more of a South American flavor, rather than a typical Caribbean island. This makes things all the more interesting as you explore some of the best beaches and greatest shopping districts in the region.
To start with, La Caracola beach, located in the Coata Azul sector of the major city of Porlamar, draws the highest number of young visitors. Along with white sandy beaches perfect for jogging the shoreline, getting a tan, or taking a dip, this city is full of fun things to do, and boasts a happening nightlife. Another popular beach is Playa El Yaque. Famous for its nonstop wind, it is known the earth over as one of the best windsurfing beaches in the world. In addition, its shallow water and minimal waves make it one of the best beaches for children to enjoy.
Playa Puerto Cruz, with its kilometer long gorgeous beach, and warm oceanic water, offers visitors a great place to kick back and enjoy the natural beauty of the island. The lighthouse of Punta Zaragoza, located on this beach, is also a fun place to explore. Perhaps the most popular beach on the island, Playa El Agua, located in the north, offers visitors 4 kilometers of fine sand to stretch themselves out on. This tranquil location not only provides visitors with great scenery, it also has much to offer in the way of shopping, fine dining, and a great nightlife.
One of the most amazing places to explore on Isla Margarita is the National Park of La Restinga. You can reach the 10 kilometer beach traveling by land through the Macanao peninsula or by boat. Crossing the Restinga Lagoon takes about 45 minutes, and is an extremely enjoyable voyage. The mangrove lagoon is full of wildlife, including parrots, pelicans, flamingos, starfish, and seahorses. Weaving through the channels and tunnels of the lagoon is a treat, and visitors are rewarded with even more amazing sights within the Park. Isla Margarita, dancing to its own beat, is a relaxingly beautiful vacation hotspot that should not be left undiscovered.
Isla Margarita is a relaxingly beautiful vacation hotspot. Venezuela Attractions include beautiful beaches, greatest shopping districts and more. ProtoTravels offers reliable travel booking services to destinations of your choice.
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