Best Nude Beaches in Europe

Always wondering what is a nude beach. It is now your chance to travel to the best nude beaches of Europe. The naked body amazes most of us. Seen as a source of visual evil by puritans, the human nude form has inspired artists and writers everywhere. Europeans are less likely than Americans to view the human body as evil. You'll see nudity at most any beach along the Mediterranean, or at least toplessness. That's the reason when Forbes released their Top Topless Beaches, 3 of ten are found in Europe. Find below some of the Best Nude Beaches in Europe:

Plage de Tahiti - Tahiti Beach in Saint Tropez, France

Saint Tropez is known for its beaches, and there are plenty of options for folks with families who wish to keep their modesty intact. The Côte d'Azur town is packed in summer. Avoid arriving on weekends, especially if you don't have hotel reservations.

Brigitte Bardot and Ursula Andress started the craze in itty bitty bikinis that shocked even the Europeans in the 50s. By the 60s, the trend toward toplessness became a steamroller, and now just about any beach along the Riviera is topless tolerant.

Plage de Tahiti is noted for its clothing-optional policy and risqué atmosphere, its name a tip of the hat to laid back (French) Polynesian culture. Go in Summer to see celebrity tanners.

Paradise Beach - Mykonos Greece

Mykonos is the most popular island destination in Greece. In the summer it's crowded and a bit expensive. You reach it by plane or ferry from Athens. Mykonos is also the name of the port city, where you'll want to stay if you're a partying beach-goer.

Paradise Beach can be reached from Mykonos town by bus, taxi, water taxi, or rented car or moto. One observant and math-savvy reader pointing out that it's "50% topless and 30% nude. All ages...teen to 70." This isn't your star gazing, relaxing bit of sandy shore, especially after 4pm when the beer and music turn Paradise Beach into the ultimate party beach. There are two bars at the beach, the Sunrise Bar and the Tropicana. Once a month in the summer they hold a full moon party at Paradise beach, so check your moon calendar if you like to party.

Playa d’en Bossa - Ibiza, Spain

Nudism is part of your rights in Spain. Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands. Spanish company Trasmediterranea has a regular ferry service between Ibiza and the ports of Barcelona, Palma de Majorca and Valencia. Ibiza has a long history -it was founded by the Carthaginians in 654 bce. Its walls were built in the 16th century.

Playa d'en Bossa (Platja d’en Bossa) is the longest beach on Ibiza, a place know for hedonism and beaches, 3 km outside of the capital. Its popularity has caused it growing pains recently, but that means there's plenty of bars and cafes on the beach, which is very popular with partygoers heading over to the Bora Bora beach bar as well as families.

Travel Madeira Island

The island of Madeira is a haven from today's modern society and just a short traveling distance from most European cities. Madeira is in  the lap of Portugal, at the banks of the waters of the Gulf Stream with warm comfortable summers and mild winters which make it an enchanting holiday destination all year round. Below you will find some information which may help you plan your last minute travel deals to Madeira Island. Years ago people discovered on this island a welcoming population, a wonderful climate and an ever increasing and diverse supply of hotels and other tourist accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Early tourists to Madeira were the passengers of the great cruise liners because Madeira was an important station and excursions into the countryside were a pleasant day’s break from the rolling Atlantic. From then, Madeira is brimming with smiles and colour. It is, more often than not, warm, sunny and mild.

The first hotel was built on the western edge of Funchal bay and English tea for the cognoscenti has been served there ever since. Many eminent and infamous visited the island during this time, like George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill and Napoleon, to name a few.

You can also rent a property for a few months which will give you an insight into the culture and people of Madeira Island.

• Madeira will be more beautiful during the various festivals. Continue Reading  a list of festivals in Madeira from my blog.

• Madeira and Portugal, in general, has long intolerance homosexuals. Continue Reading about Gay & Lesbian Travelers in Madeira from my blog.

What to do in Madeira Island:
The islands of the Madeira Archipelago is most popular for its golden sandy sea beaches. You can lay down lazily, or can take part in some water sport, or swim at your own wish. If you are animal lover, Madeira has some presents for you. The sea life of Madeira is extraordinary, and a caravel is the most comfortable way to enjoy the sea life.  Bonita da Madeira is such a boat, offering half or full-day excursions to Madeira's beautiful bays and to the Nature Reserve of the Desertas Islands, 15 miles south of Madeira. Leaving for the Desertas at 10am and returning at 6pm, there is ample time to explore, swim and have lunch, not to mention the dolphin and whale watching.

Just a 20 minutes walk can bring you into the lush green Boa Vista Orchids. The gardens include one of the last and oldest remaining systems of walled stairs terracing, as they were back in the 19th century to be found within the close proximity of the city centre.

No holiday in Madeira would be complete without a visit to the historic Jardim Botânico (Botanical Gardens). Set high above Funchal with views of the city and surroundings, the real attention-grabbers are the many exotic plants and trees collected in this wonderful garden. Easy to reach either by car or bus, the preferred method is the Teleférico Cable Car. Connecting the Gardens with the old town of Funchal, the cable car floats over the gorges and hillsides with some stupendous views on offer.

Among other tourist attractions in the Madeira archipelago, there are 3 wonderful golf courses- Santo da Serra, Palheiro and Porto Santo Golf.

Tourist Information Offices in Madeira Island:

The tourism offices can provide you with useful information about interesting places in Madeira Island and also bus timetables, which bus to catch to see ‘that’ place, island maps and other related services.

Once on the island, you can contact the Tourist Green Line by telephone on 800 296 296. They will be able to help you in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, advise you about places to stay, to see, to eat and give you information about cultural events and the major festivals happening at the time. This service operates everyday (including holidays), from 09.00 to 21.00 h.

But you can also go directly to the tourism offices spread around the entire island:

Funchal's Centre Tourism Office

Arriaga Avenue. Opened from 9.00 to 20.00 h Monday to Friday and from 9.00 to 18.00 h weekends and public holidays

Tel: +351 291 211 902

Famous Beaches in Caribbean

Caribbean is famous for its gorgeuos sea beaches. Good beaches with warm sun, crystal-clear waters, swimmable sea and fragrant sea air can be found on virtually every island of the Caribbean. Below I have listed some of the most popular sea beaches of Caribbean in a random order:

Shoal Bay (Anguilla): The stretch of silvery sand put Anguilla on the world-tourism map in the first 10 position. Snorkelers are drawn to the schools of iridescent fish that dart among the coral gardens offshore. You can take the trail walk from Old Ta to little-known Katouche Beach, which provides perfect snorkeling and is also a prime site for a beach picnic under shade trees.

Best Honeymoon Spots in the World

One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him. He shall be exempt for one year for the sake of his family, to bring joy to the wife he has married.”

Honeymoon is the traditional vacations taken up by newlywed couple.  Sea beaches and the romantic cities are always preferred for honeymoon. Find below some of the top honeymoon destinations in the world.

Italy:

Mexico:

Famous Beaches in the World

For most people, a summer vacation is synonymous with one thing--the beach. Whether you want to indulge in adventure sports, lie down lazily sunbathing, take a pleasant walk along the sea shore, or just admire the stunning natural beauty, beaches provide a wide range of options to unwind.


The perfect beach is more than just sand and waves, although these two, the clarity of the water and the quality of the sand, are the most important factors, the landscape around the beach must be beautiful along with them. Also the sea must be swimmable, there are some beaches I have felt are pretty bad just because there are lots of rocks and uneven hard surface which makes it impossible to swim. 

With these factors taken into mind, I have listed down some of the best beaches in the world, in a random order. Most of the top beaches in the following list have plenty of restaurants and bars to hang out. 

If your favorite beach is not in our list, please write a comment.

Seychelles, Honeymoon Destination

Seychelles is becoming one of the most popular honeymoon destinations now a days. Seychelles is an island country with 115 islands (42 of which are gigantic, Mahe is the largest one) in the Indian Ocean. There are many coral islands in Seychelles. The temperature of Seychelles varies between 24C to 30C, the weather is mostly humid with an annual rainfall around 2900mm. Seychelles is located to the northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600 km east of Kenya. It is part of the Mascarene Islands along with Mauritius and Réunion. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Réunion to the south, Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles has the smallest population of any African state.

The Beach of Seychelles is undoubtedly the most attractive of all. White sands with Crystal clear waters, backed by lush hills and big boulders. 

But these are not the all of Seychelles. You must be in confusion to decide which island should you go to. Don’t be confused. Be it one of the three main islands of Praslin, La Digue or Mahé - its mountainous interior being home to Morne Seychellois National Park - or any outlying island, you’ll strike gold.

With such a dreamlike setting, the Seychelles is, unsurprisingly, a favorite choice for a honeymoon. But there’s much more to do than simply opening a bottle of champagne with the loved one in a luxurious hotel. 

Seychelles earned a reputation as a paradise of ecotourism. There are several unique varieties of Orchids on the Islands of Seychelles. Seychelles hosts some of the largest seabird colonies in the world. The marine life around the islands, especially the more remote coral islands, can be spectacular. More than 1,000 species of fish have been recorded. 

Since the use of spearguns and dynamite for fishing was banned through efforts of local conservationists in the 1960s, the wildlife is unafraid of snorkelers and divers. Seychelles are famous for its tortoise. Many people visit Seychelles to watch this magnificent creatures. And when you tire of beaches you can venture inland on jungle trails, indulge in fine dining or enjoy the sublime laid-back tempo.

And the best part of Seychelles is that it has plenty of affordable self-catering facilities and guest houses, often situated on some of the best land., to suit all of your budgets. Though it remains an expensive destination, its tourist authorities are now targeting non-millionaires, promoting these economy options. But don't be panic, it will not be a touristy place like many other beach and you can enjoy the calmness year round.

So what are you waiting for? Go to your travel agent’s office to get the best travel deals to Seychelles and book your Airline travel ticket to paradise.

The photos are collected from the net.

Kovalam Beach, Travel to Kerala

The Kovalam beach in Kerala is one of the biggest attractions for visiting Thiruvanantapuram. The golden sand and the azure water make it perfect for beach holidays. The morning belongs to the fishermen, who bring the fishing boats from the sea using thick coir ropes. As the day progresses tourists and sunbathers throng the beach. By the time the sun is overhead the beach wears a deserted look only to reemerge with all its glitz and glamour in the evening. The festive-like ambience fills the air of Kovalam beach till late in the evening.

Kovalam beaches are excellent for swimming, surfing and boating. However, such activities are not encouraged during the monsoon.

Forts in Goa

It will always be a good idea to visit the forts and monuments of Goa and try to discover the enchanting beauty of these monuments that have tales of their own to narrate. After the fun and frolic at Goa carnival, these Goa Forts and monuments come as forms of serene beauty. Goa has a rich collection of forts, churches and temples.

The kind of architecture that has been applied in building these monuments is something that Goa can boast about. When you visit the forts in Goa, the concoction of different cultures-namely Portuguese, Hindu and Muslim- strikes you at the first instance.

Travel Goa at carnival time

Among the various colorful feasts and festivals that are celebrated in Goa, the Goa Carnival is the most eagerly awaited one. The 'Carnival’ was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled over Goa for over five hundred years.

The three-day festival during February is primarily celebrated by Christians, it has also absorbed Hindu tradition revelry, western dance forms, and turned into a pageantry of sorts. Though it started as a celebration enjoyed only by the local population, it has today crossed the state frontiers and attracts thousands of people from all over the country.

Baga Beach in Goa

Baga Beach in Goa is located just 10-km west of Mapusa and extends essentially out of Calangute Beach. It is quaintly located by the Arabian Sea on the west coast of Goa. It is nestled in the rocky, wooded headland. Unlike the very crowded and busy Calangute, Baga has many unperturbed nooks with unspoiled scenic beauty that is more varied than just the plain beach of Calangute. The Beach receives most of its tourist influx from the British package tourists. It has a beautiful retreat house serenely located atop a hill. 

Travel Paolem, beaches in Goa

Among the beautiful beaches in Goa like Anjuna Beach,Baga Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Benaulium Beach, Miramar Beach, Bogmalo Beach, Colva Beach, Paolem Beach is one of the most popular.

Like a slice of the moon it is a beautiful, and one of the famous beaches of Arabian sea in Goa. Its deep blue color, rocks, rows of coconut trees, exquisite beach attract many foreign tourists. Sunbathe on the beach, enjoy the bath in sea or, relax on a deck chair under the colorful umbrella....A perfect holidaying one can enjoy here in Palolem.

Calangute, Beaches in Goa

The most popular amongst all beaches in Goa is Calangute. Naturally most crowded with tourists both Indian and foreigners.

Rows of deckchair and umbrellas on the wide beach ready for your sun bathing. Colorful shops on either side of the road approaching the beach stacked with handicrafts and other materials will attract your attention.

Beaches of Goa, Anjuna

One of the famous beach in Goa with colorful reddish rocks and beautiful coconut plants on its beach. The beach where you can bath is less, but it is so beautiful to see the waves breaking on the colorful rocks. 8 Kms from Mapusa this beach is hot favorite for the foreign tourists.

Train-E-Disco, Goa on train

Disco train rolls to Goa - Luxury on wheels

SANJAY MANDAL

Goa beaches will be the main attraction of a 10-day train trip from Calcutta. Tickets are priced at Rs 35,000 per passenger A train with a discotheque, cabin crew and live music will roll out from the city on January 2 for a 10-day trip to Goa and Mumbai. A city-based private travel operator is organising the trip in collaboration with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC). The Rs 35,000 package per passenger will include journey in an air-conditioned three-tier coach, a three-night, four-day stay at beach resorts in Goa and a day in Mumbai. The 16-coach rake, booked by i-nova from Indian Railways, will take about 36 hours to reach Goa. “This is the first time a private operator has booked a train for retail tourism,” said Vivek Srivastav, the general manager (eastern zone) of IRCTC. “We will be responsible for the on-board services, including food, hospitality, housekeeping, public address system and security. A multi-cuisine menu will be served on board,” he added. “An entire coach will be converted into a discotheque. Folk and baul songs will be performed on board. There will also be other entertainment options,” said Rajib Mukherjee, the managing director of i-nova. Passengers will stay in beach resorts in north Goa. “In Goa, beaches are the most attractive places. Beach volleyball, water sports and rain dance will be organised. The route has been planned in such a way that passengers can enjoy the natural beauty,” added Mukherjee. A railway official said the train would be handed over to the company — which has paid Rs 60 lakh — four to five days before the trip. Winter is the peak tourist season in Goa. About 700 chartered flights fly in to Goa every year from Europe and the US, according to tour operators. If the project is a success, more such trips will be organised. “We are planning to organise similar tours to various destinations throughout the year,” said Mukherjee. The IRCTC, on its own, is launching a train, Village on Wheels, for budget tourists. The first Village on Wheel will set out from Howrah station for north India on November 15. It will return after seven days. Each passenger will be charged Rs 500 daily for food and sightseeing, said an official.  This article is taken from the Telegraph. Read other articles on Goa: Forts in Goa Goa at carnival time Baga Beach in Goa Paolem Beach in Goa Calangute Beach in Goa Anjuna Beach in Goa Train-E-Disco Goa

Continue Reading...

Travel guides to Mahe Island in Seychelles

When you have to decide for your honeymoon destination, one picture comes into mind, crystal clear water, sandy beach, lush green forest in the backdrop, luxurious accommodations and great cuisines. Now all these you can have at Mahe Island in Seychelles. Banyan Tree hotel in Seychelles is one of the best at this place, I just remember to add. So don't thing to much, rush to get your travel deals on Mahe.

By far the largest and most developed of the Seychelles islands, Mahé is home to the country’s capital, Victoria, and to about 90% of the Seychelles’ population. Small wonder that it has excellent vacation and adventure opportunities. Best of all, most spots along the coast are easy to reach by bus or car. Beau Vallon Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. The pristine sand, clear water and coral reefs make it an excellent spot for sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming and fishing. The beach was just a short walk from most of the hotels. The Coral Strand Hotel and several popular restaurants are located along the beach which makes for a nice beachside meal or cocktail.

While the dazzling coastline of Mahé is undoubtedly the main attraction of Seychelles in general, you should not miss to explore the island’s mountainous interior. One of Mahé’s highlights, the splendid Morne Seychellois National Park encompasses an impressive 20% of the land area of Mahé and contains a wide variety of habitats, from coastal mangrove forests up to the country’s highest peak, the Morne Seychellois (905m). Choked in thick forest formation, the enigmatic, central part of the park is virtually deserted and can only be reached by walking trails; you don’t have to go very far before the outside world starts to feel a long, long way away.

Visit Tenerife, the Island

Want travel deals and information to  Enjoy your Vacation in Tenerife Island. The oldest mountain ranges in Tenerife rose from the Atlantic Ocean by volcanic eruption which gave birth to the island around twelve million years ago. Tenerife is known internationally as the "Island of Eternal Spring" (Isla de la Eterna Primavera). The island, being on a latitude of the Sahara Desert, enjoys a warm climate year-round with an average of 20° - 22°C in the winter and 26° - 28°C in the summer and high sunshine. Tourism is the most prominent industry in the Canaries, and Tenerife is one of the major tourist destinations in the World. The lushness of the gardens and the comfortable atmosphere are very special features of Tenerife, which has lively places to stroll around. The city houses a number of buildings of great historical and artistic value such as the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña, la Ermita de San Telmo, el castillo de San Felipe, la casa de la Aduana and the old quay where small fishing boats are still moored. In the evening the streets near the Plaza del Charco and the promenade are pleasant places of enjoyment where one can eat at any of the many open air restaurants in Tenerife. Tenerife island is always in demand among tourists because of its year round sunshine. However, to find a cheap holiday to Tenerife, you might try a long winter holiday or keep an eye out for last minute travel deals. Monarch now offer a wide selection of great value holidays to Tenerife, giving you great access to the buzzing resorts, non-stop entertainment and blissful, vast beaches of "the Canary with everything".

What to see in Tenerife Island:
Tourism is more prevalent in the south of the island, which is hotter and drier and has many well developed searesorts such as Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. More recently coastal development has spread northwards from Playa de las Americas and now encompasses the former small enclave of La Caleta. After the Moratoria act passed by the Canarian Parliament in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, no more hotels should be built on the island unless they are classified as 5 star-quality and comprise different services such as Golf Courses or Congress facilities. This act was passed with the goal of improving the standard of tourism service and promoting environmentally conscious development.

Digha, the sea resort of West Bengal

Digha is the nearest and most popular sea resort of West Bengal.  Being the nearest sea beach from Kolkata, it is very famous holiday destination as a weekend trip for Kolkatans.

Digha is a 4 to 5 hour journey by bus from Kolkata. There is frequent bus services from Splanade, Korunamoyee and various other parts of Bengal. AC and super deluxe buses are also available at present.

Previously there were daily only one train from Shalimar railway station. But from 14th June 2009 two new trains are introduce from Howrah Railway Station, these are TAMRALIPTA SUPERFAST EXPRESS (the timing of TAMRALIPTA SUPERFAST EXPRESS is 6:40 AM) daily and KANDARI EXPRESS (the timing of KANDARI EXPRESS is 2:40 PM) daily. Sometimes special trains are announced on special occasions and holidays. The train from Shalimar has been withdrawn. In recent times a new train, named Paharia Express has been introduced from NJP to Digha.

Accommodation at Digha:
Accommodation at Digha is never a problem. There are countless hotels of almost all budgets.

Gay and Lesbian Travelers in Madeira Island

Portugal, in general, has a long history of repression and public intolerance of homosexuality. Gay and lesbian sex and marriage is legal in this part of the World and therefore in the Madeira Island. The age of consent in Portugal is 16.

But in Madeira the (local) gay and lesbian activity is still very discrete. In Funchal there are no specific clubs and bars for gays and lesbians, which is uncommon for a European city with over 100,000 inhabitants. Although the gay and lesbian community seems to be dormant in Madeira, a  notable part of the population enjoys this lifestyle. It seems that being gay in Madeira is actually quite acceptable, as long as you don’t brazenly flaunt yourself in front of the church elders at mass, perhaps. Many individuals enjoy a healthy relationship with like minded persons.

Continue Reading from my blog about

• Travel Attractions in Madeira Island 
• Festivals of Madeira Island.

It may surprise some visitors that there is even two gay beaches in Madeira, although not so popular since the beaches are not really made of golden sand but steep cliffs and rocks. The first is the steep cliff beach just off the Ponta Gorda, below the esplanade that separates it from the “Magic Gardens” near the Pestana Grand Hotel. The other is in Caniço de Baixo.

On Madeira Island, gay and lesbian travelers and indeed locals are becoming more mainstream and definitely more acceptable. The “pink” community is actually much larger than it at first may seem. There are no specific gay and lesbian bars or clubs although you will find that most of the larger nightclubs and mainstream bars are very mixed and gay friendly.

Unfortunately, there are still some anti-gay feeling among more conservative elements in Portugal. The consistently reactionary and influential Catholic church, for example, is still light years from accepting the homosexuality as normal. Also issues like single-sex marriage and adoption by homosexual couples still have to be resolved, as in other countries.

Before coming to Madeira, you might want to write to the 'Opus Gay Association' (Rua da Ilha Terceira 34- 2º 1000-173 Lisboa) or contact them by phone (+ 351 21 315 13 96). Their e-mail is opusgaynorte@hotmail.com.

On the Internet you will find a few Portuguese gay and lesbian sites. The most comprehensive is www.portugalgay.pt that is available in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French and German.

Festivals in Madeira Island

Madeira is home to various Portuguese festivals carnivals throught the year. Tourists from all over the world visit Madeira during these festivals.

Read about

• Tourist Attractions in Madeira Island

• Gay & Lesbian Travelers in Madeira Island

 
Find below a list of some of the main festivals in Madeira:


Madeira Carnival:
4th - 8th March

Madeira Carnival is an extravagant bonanza, celebrated in the capital, Funchal. Costumes, music, food… Everything you could ask for is here. No costume is too crazy for this beautiful Carnival!

Flower Festival:
7th – 8th May

The Madeira Flower Festival attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world to witness what is, arguably, one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see! Fresh flowers flood the streets and a delicate fragrance fills the air. If you choose to visit Madeira, make sure you attend this event. It is not to be missed!


São João Festival:June

This festival takes place on the island of Porto Santo, just off the coast of Madeira. Though it is of a religious origin, it also symbolises the beginning of summer festivites for all Madeirans. The festival encompasses beautiful firework displays, music and plenty of local gastronomy to try out!