http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27946 A fresh water river runs along one side that has amazing swim holes and mini waterfalls. You can walk all the way up the river to its source.
The London couple that own it have built the most incredibly stylish and elegant wooden houses from trees from the land. The best time to be there is at sunset when the glow hits the Red Cedar of the houses and set them on visual fire.
The 320 degree views from the decks take in Morne Aux Diables to the French Islands of Les Saintes and Guadeloupe. The furniture that has not been made on site is super chic Roche-Bobois. This resort is unspoiled with only one access road and foot paths through the layers of woodland, from sub-tropical to mini forest higher up.
The houses are cool and very spacious with full kitchens and private bathrooms. They have huge extra-king sized water beds that add to the nature experience.
They are just opened so have a really good cheap deal at the moment. The cheapest in the area and best value on the island.
The resort is off grid & uses filtered rainwater.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27946 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26780
Through their responsible approach, these BioLodging green hotels of traditional, contemporary or wooden architecture, have already integrated reductions in their water and electricity consumption on a daily basis. Some of them have had these actions approved in the form of an Eco Award.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26780 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20710
On Friday we visited the lovely medieval town of Sarnano, ate at the excellent Le Clarrise ristorante in the Centro Storico and then dressed up and joined the locals at L'ex disco for Halloween.

The next morning we had to blow away the cobwebs using the local maps of old mule tracks walking in the fantastic Italian rolling hills, past the heady scent of locals making vino cotto (a cooked wine that was first made by in Roman times), past 13th century churches and a 15th century mill.

On Sunday, fuelled by a desire to eat something local and unpretentious, we hiked into the Sibillini mountains and ate at the rifugio (refuge) at Monte Amandola. This is one of a chain of mountain refuges at around 1500 metres, which walkers can eat, drink and stay at. The food was really tasty and included many seasonal dishes, including strozzaprete (literally priest strangler) pasta with truffle and sausage, and succulent lamb cooked on coals. The bill, including wine, coffee and home made tiramisu, was only €13 a head.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20710 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20069
The owner is green and he wants his hotel to be the same. That's why organic food is served for breakfast, the water from the showers is recycled, the staff is trained to save detergent and water and so on...]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20069 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20059
They also benefit from environmentally friendly solar power which works day and night, providing those essential hot showers and access to all your electrical needs! A real great place to relax and have a good time.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20059 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19979
We spent four blissful days at the lodge, got to within a stone's throw of various monkeys, snakes etc. and some of the most amazing flora I've ever seen. However, the kicker is every penny of your money goes into the project and helps re-establish the community and wildlife from a shadow of its former self.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19979 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19696 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19696 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19581 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19581 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19091 low-impact tours. We took two teenagers who thoroughly enjoyed our five-day trip around Northern Vietnam. We cycled, walked, sailed and stayed with local people. One day was spent cooking with a family in a small village in the Red delta. The trip to Bai Tu Long bay was heavenly. We met no tourists there and only saw local fishing boats. Ask for Khanh who will tailor a tour to your needs. All the guides are really friendly and soon feel like old friends - our guide was so calm and had a great sense of humour. There are tours across Vietnam including Sapa and the Mekong Delta in the South. They even managed to book our hotel in Hanoi for us which we had previously tried to contact unsuccessfully.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19091 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19061 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19061 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18683
Near the sea and near the moors - fantastic situation for everything. Great carbon-free getaway for two.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18683 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18615
My experience of Kerala was fantastic, it has the most verdant flora and fauna, vibrant culture and the people I met were so welcoming. Besides many teaching and renovation projects at schools that really need help and support, Yearoutindia gives you the opportunity to be involved with the local communities and make a real difference to the lives of people in rural South India. They also run link school projects with schools in UK and looking to so the same with school in France and USA.

The coordinators and staff really go out of their way make sure volunteers have a great experience and that they really make a positive and direct contribution to the people and communities they work with. They only take on limited number of volunteers (usually 2-3) per project site, ensuring a personal commitment to the projects and a unique individual experience.

Yearoutindia is also a non-profit organisation who don’t advertise in print media, all their ex-volunteers who work on community development projects, conservation and environmental work, teaching in schools and orphanages act as volunteer coordinators back in their own country. A true volunteer experience run by volunteers themselves!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18615 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18421
Also enjoyable local culture with traditional music, dancing, arts and drama.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18421 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18396
Beautiful space - an amazing gothic Victorian building with great views, 11 acres of land, organic walled garden (lots of the food is grown on site) and a farm - and a really good atmosphere. It's three miles from Charmouth and Lyme Regis for seaside fossils and swimming. You can also go there as a volunteer - help out in return for free board and lodging.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18365 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18365 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18249 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18249 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18152 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18152 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18033 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18033 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16864 www.mafiaislandtz.com, get there quick before everyone else discovers it.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16864 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16831
The Campaign for Better Transport are actually running a competition to win coach tickets down to various skiing destinations (including Val D'Isere).

Take a look at: www.bettertransport.co.uk.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16831