Bali has long been referred to as the “Island of the Gods”, and numerous tourists flock to the island each year. While any time of year will be filled with different sights and activities, those who visit during certain times will experience an added bonus to their visit. Bali is host to several different festivals that occur each year, and some of these bring excitement and sights that are unmatched anywhere else on the planet. Knowing when these festivals occur and what to expect can make planning or enjoying your stay in Bali boutique hotels even more enjoyable than normal.

Small festivals occur with regularity, due to the over twenty thousand Hindu temples that cover the island. Each temple holds its own celebratory festival twice each year, sometimes more. Funerals that occur on the island are also colourful affairs and often see the dead being cremated in extravagant rituals. While these small festivals and events are common and hard to pinpoint an exact time for, other festivals that are much larger and more significant are easier to predict and much more of an event. In some cases the Bali boutique hotels may even take part in the festivals, for better or for worse.

Every two hundred and ten days, the ten day festival known as Galungan occurs. This celebration is held in honour of the death of the ancient tyrant Mayadenawa, and bamboo poles bear gifts for the returning spirits of Gods and ancestors alike who visit the island over the course of the ten days. This is truly a spectacle and a unique experience, and you’ll likely see the signs of it from any of the Bali boutique hotels that dot the area. But all of these festivals pale in comparison to Nyepi, the Hindu New Year. This is both an extravagant celebration worth seeing but can also create hassles that travellers may not be prepared for.

Nyepi is known as the Day of Silence, and the days leading up to it will be filled with the creation of huge colourful giants and will culminate in a massive parade. The spectacle is incredible and will create a lasting memory, but the following day will not be as enjoyable. No flights will leave the island, no businesses will be open, and guests at Bali boutique hotels will be asked to remain inside and keep as quiet as possible. It can be a great excuse to relax and unwind, but you should be prepared for it if you’re visiting during the time that Nyepi falls within.

Indoor Tennis resorts in Europe

In order to play tennis in the winter, rain or cold days , you have to play tennis indoors if you are not in a warm country. To find a resort or hotel which has these indoor tennis courts is hard to find. That is why we have selected the best resorts we could find which are suitable for winter tennis.

Starting in Austria, we have the following resorts;

1) Kanisfluh tennis hotel in the city of Mellau. The resort has 5 indoor courts. The hotel has it’s own tennis school, where you can improve your skills even more. This hotel, 30 kilometers from Lake Bodensee in Austria, focuses on tennis and wellness. Its tennis center features 5 indoor and 3 outdoor courts, 5 hitting lanes, and its own tennis school, one honored with the “Austrian Seal of Approval.

2) Bio Hotel Stanglwirt in Tirol. The resort has 6 indoor tennis courts. Luxurious ecologically-friendly Biohotel Staglwirt, surrounded by the stunning Austrian Alps, drinking in the super-clean air, starring at the beautiful blue sky, and contemplating your next Alpine treatment at the 13 treatment room spa, fitness centre.

3) Warmbaderhof in the city of Villach. This resort has 5 indoor courts.Warmbad Villach – this hot springs resort is located at the entrance to a 20-hectare nature park. It has 10 outdoor and 5 indoor courts as well as a tennis camp.

In the United Kingdom we have the following resorts;

1) Chewton Glen in New Milton. It has 2 indoor tennis courts.

New Milton, Hampshire, England, an English Original…Chewton Glen is a Luxury Country House Hotel.
In the hotel grounds we have a dedicated tennis centre with two indoor and two outdoor tennis courts and on-site tennis professional.

In Switserland we have:

1) Gstaad Palace in Gstaad. It does not have it’s own indoor tennis courts, but they are near the hotel. The hotel itself dates to 1913. At 150 rooms, it is Switzerland’s largest pension.

Among its amenities are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and fitness center, an indoor squash court, and mountain bike rentals. Golf, horseback riding, clay-pigeon shooting, and river rafting are all nearby.

All these hotels can be booked directly on Tennis Resorts.

During the Caribbean Marketplace event hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in the Bahamas, leading international hotel chain Choice Hotels International announced plans to expand its business in key Caribbean holiday destinations including Aruba, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands.

While these markets form part of Choice Hotels long term strategy, spokespeople for the group have stated that opening new Jamaica hotels in 2012 are part of the company’s more immediate plans. Bill Clegg Regional Vice President for Brand Performance and Programs of Choice Hotels International, pegged Jamaica as one of their top five target markets in 2012 in a nod to the growing popularity of Jamaica holidays. We are very keen on re-establishing our presence in Jamaica and driving more business to an already robust tourism destination within the region noted Mr Clegg.

While the Choice Hotels Group is keen to launch its economy and midscale brands to offer affordable Caribbean hotels it is now most excited at the prospect of launching its luxury brand: the Ascend Collection. Choice Hotels provides the opportunity for historic, boutique or otherwise distinctive independent Jamaica hotels to be part of the of the luxury Ascend Collection brand through its membership programme. Jose Salvador Icaza, the Caribbean Franchise Development Director for Choice Hotels International stated the following of the membership programme, Hotel members benefit from our powerful marketing and reservations systems, education and training, and are given the tools to strengthen their commitment to service excellence We’re excited about Ascend and hope to bring Jamaica online in the near future.

Choice Hotels eagerness to launch in Jamaica is part of a growing trend of hotel groups seeking to gain a foothold in the Caribbean island as it continues to prove itself as one of the leading Caribbean holiday destinations. Many people anticipate that the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games will thrust the island further into the spotlight with high hopes of another dominating performance from track and field star Usain Bolt as well as other top performing Jamaican athletes.

Tourism officials in Jamaica have acknowledged the 2012 Games as a key marketing opportunity that can lead to a substantial increase in the number of people booking holidays in Jamaica. Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Dr. Wykeham McNeill noted that the islands sports personalities would be key in building the islands tourism brand and marketing Jamaica holidays to travellers from key international source markets.

In 2009 you experienced the fever Bolt crated at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin. Well its only gotten bigger because Bolt was adding to Jamaicas past Olympians and world record holders. Today the list goes on and on with Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Veronica Campbell-Brown, Dr Wykeham said.