Quiet setting in the hills in a beautiful old house with pool in Moux. Karen is well qualified in Iyengar yoga. Art classes available too. Runs from July 26th to early September.

www.acy-holidays.com/?page_id=3

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A less well known but picturesque and interesting road trip is along the Mekhong in Thailand. Travel from Bangkok – by car, bus, plane to Loei which is worth a few days in itself with its many national parks. If you arrive in June you could go to Dan Sai village for the Ghost mask festival- Phi Ta Kon.
From Loei drive the 50 kms to Chiang Khan passing mountains and the many flower growers. It is a sleepy traditional town by the Mekhong.
It has wooden shop houses and guesthouses overlooking the misty Mekhong in winter. You could stay in a guesthouse on the banks of the river. Then drive 10kms to Kheng Khut Khu to take a boat trip along the Mekhong to see the two coloured rapids.
From there you can take a winding road all along the Mekhong river. You can get to Nong Khai in about four hours, or stop along the way at Sang Khom which has river islands of sand in the dry season and a few restaurants right next to the river with uninterrupted views of Laos on the other side.
There are also waterfalls, forest temples and other sights if you wish to take a few leisurely days exploring the region.
At Nong Khai you could take the road bridge to Ventienne, or in October go to see the famous fireballs that mysteriously appear every Buddhist lent. They are attributed to the Naga living in the river.
(If you wish to drive back to Bangkok you could travel via Udon Thani – famous for its prehistoric settlement – Ban Chiang- dating back 3,000-5,000 years depending which archaeologists you believe.
Then go to Khon Khaen and stay at the very comfortable and sleek Pullman Raja Orchid hotel which was managed by Sofitel till a couple of years ago. If you wish to stay a couple of days a visit to the dinosaur museum and quarries at Kalasin There you can see the dinosaurs still being excavated.
At Khon Khaen you could drop off the car and fly back to Bangkok, or drive back through Khorat and visit Khao Yai forest and Praast Hin Phi Mai – Khmer ruins as day trips from Khorat.)

www.thailandunplugged.com/index2.html
www.tourismthailand.org/attraction/kalasin-46-4683-1.html

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It is the undiscovered sister of Ha Long Bay. We sailed through its green waters and looming limestone karsts and saw only a handful of boats - all local fishing boats. If you want to sail on unpolluted waters and avoid touts book a trip through Ethnic Travel. They can arrange a homestay on quiet Van Don island where you cycle from the port. We had a boat between five passengers and was served delicious freshly cooked food on board.

www.ethnictravel.com.vn/english/index.htm

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A sleepy old town by the Mekhong which as yet is traditional and undiscovered . It still has wooden shop houses and cheap guesthouses by the river. It has a laid back feel and can be the start of a scenic boat ride, bike ride or car drive along the Mekhong River to Nong Khai where Ventienne, Laos, is just across the friendship bridge.

Chiang khan, Loei province north of Loei town. Thailand

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

We were travelling with our two kids aged nine and 14 and the serviced apartments were just right. The apartment building is a converted mill and stands right next to Darling harbour and the monorail. The apartments are compact but cosy with everything you need for a family.

243 Pyrmont Street
Darling Harbour, NSW 2009
Phone +61 2 9518 5166
1800 996 922

Google map: tinyurl.com/pqts47

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A great travel agency that organises small group,
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.

Ethnic Travel, 35 Pho Hang Giay, Hanoi in the Old Quarter
www.ethnictravel.com.vn

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Great for lunch. Go to the deli section, order a pie, sandwich, coffee etc. They have Greek, Italian, Vietnamese - you name it. Then find a seat in the alley out back and they will bring it to you. It is a sunny spot if the weather is fine. Afterwards you could stock up on bargain souvenirs to take back home. There is often some kind of street theatre going on too. It is a lively, vibrant place and definitely should be included on a visit to Melbourne.

A city tram drops you near to the market.
www.qvm.com.au

Google map: tinyurl.com/nncs2n

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends