Travel Lightbulb

One of my recent travel rambling posts talked about  safari holidays , and today I'm featuring a luxury lodge near Victoria Falls on the banks of the Zambezi River. Tongabezi prides itself on exclusivity and attentive service, and is one of the most romantic looking lodges I've ever come across. Photo courtesy of  Tongabezi Safari Lodge Service is so important here, that each house and cottage has its own valet to take care of guests throughout their stay, and act as a private concierge. The houses are all private, even though there are no windows to shut out the sounds of nature - you can lie in bed and enjoy the sound of the hippos in the river! Photo courtesy of  Tongabezi Safari Lodge  One thing that many guests comment on is the fact that you can dine wherever and whenever you wish - from your private dining room, to the look-out where you can watch the sun set over the Zambezi. Guests at the lodge can do as much or as little as they like, and that's...

Zona Rosa is a neighbourhood in Mexico City which is known for its shopping and nightlife. It's located to the west of the historic centre of Mexico City itself and has a real bohemian feel about it. There are charming squares, beautiful gardens - all very cosmopolitan.  Room Mate Valentina is a beautifully designed, and inexpensive hotel, and is the perfect base from which to explore.  There are 62 funky rooms, which are also very large. They all have flat screen televisions, satellite TV, and ipod stations. There is free high speed internet at the hotel, and a Spanish style breakfast buffet which is open until 12pm daily - a nice touch if you've had a bit of a late night! Speaking of late nights, the neighbourhood is a great place to party at the weekend, and although the rooms are sound-proofed, you may want to ask for a room that doesn't face the street. You can rent bikes from the front desk (less than USD$5 per day) which is a nice touch and a gr...

On a recent holiday, I was lying on a beach....looked up, and saw the view in the photo below. A stunning rainbow like circle around the sun. I'd never seen anything like it, so as soon as I got back I went online to see if I could find out what it was. It turns out it is an optical phenomenon produced by ice crystals creating coloured or white arcs and spots in the sky. They can also form around the moon, so keep your eyes peeled, and see if you can spot one! In fact, if you've ever seen one let me know by leaving a comment below I'd love to hear if you've seen this amazing phenomenon. I welcome photographic contributions from any of my followers, so if you have a cool travel photo you would like to send, e-mail it to: travellightbulb@hotmail.co.uk - all I need is your name, and a little bit about where the photo was taken. You may see it on Travel Lightbulb in the near future! I look forward to your contributions!

Leeds is city full of things to do. It has so many attractions it really does offer something for everyone from great shopping; arts; dining and nightlife. During the industrial revolution, it developed into a major industrial centre, and many of the buildings around the city have been converted. 42 The Calls is a prime example. Photo courtesy of 42 The Calls The 4 star boutique hotel is a converted riverside corn mill which makes the most of its original features.  It's brilliantly located just a few minutes walk from the town centre, overlooking the River Aire. Photo courtesy of 42 The Calls The rooms feature oak beams; industrial grinders, and exposed brick walls. With cream paintwork and lush bed throws, it all ends up looking very classy. You have a great variety of rooms to choose from, with the more simply study rooms, to the Director's Room and Junior Suite. Photo courtesy of 42 The Calls They pride themselves on locally sourced food at 42 The Calls...

Today's post comes with a feast of photos - Monte do Chora Cascas (Hill of Weeping Bark) is one of those places where you have to keep snapping! This stunning country house is situated in the relatively undiscovered Alentejo region in Portugal.  It's set in beautiful gardens with amazing views across fields from the swimming pool terrace. There are just six rooms (named after angels), and they're all beautifully stylish. Think colour-washed walls, four posted beds, and embroidered bedspreads. Instead of noisy air conditioning, there are ceiling fans, and shuttered windows to keep you cool. I visited in the hot month of September, and never felt the need for air-con. Two rooms share a terrace (see photo below) and the others have a shared patio. There are so many outdoor spaces to enjoy though, that you don't really need a private space apart from your room.  The day beds by the pool, for example, are the perfect place for an afternoon sn...

The Maldives is one of those places where you just can't stop taking photos. Even on a stormy day like the one when today's photo was taken, it looks dramatic, and the colours mean you can't put your camera down! I took this one while wandering around the island after lunch. This cheeky chappy clearly can't read - either that, or he simply likes disobeying the rules! I welcome photographic contributions from any of my followers, so if you have a cool photo you would like to see featured here, e-mail it to: travellightbulb@hotmail.co.uk - all I need is your name, and a little paragraph about where the photo was taken. You may see it on Travel Lightbulb in the near future! I look forward to your contributions!

I continue value for money week by heading to Greece and featuring a hotel that won first place in the top 25 trendiest hotels in Greece in the Travelers' Choice Awards 2012. The Fresh Hotel has 133 bedrooms and is located in the heart of Athens, within walking distance of the museums and the Acropolis. The rooms are minimalist, and perfect for both business and leisure travellers. They have comfortable beds, and ultra-modern bathrooms with free toiletries. Also included in the rooms rate is a breakfast buffet, with a selection of hot foods. One of the highlights of this hotel is the stunning roof-top bar, which has panoramic views of Athens at night (see photo below). Many guests say it's nice enough to tempt you not to leave the hotel at all! There is also a pool on the roof which is open during the summer months. The hotel also has a small gym and sauna - again features you may not expect at a low price.  There are many hotels to choo...

Following on from last month's luxury picks here on Travel Lightbulb, I have dedicated this week to a couple of finds that are more affordable! I wanted to feature some cool accomodation that doesn't break the bank. If you're looking for a holiday in New York , then Yotel New York is part of a chain of hotels which may fit the bill.  While I normally find hotel groups can lack character (especially if they are at the cheaper end of the market), today's find is different. Photo courtesy of Yotel The people at Yotel have tried to create a first class hotel experience at great value. So how do they do it? They keep things simple. They have automated check in and out (see above photo) which frees up members of the team to help guests elsewhere. Photo courtesy of Yotel Instead of rooms, they have cabins, which they describe as "small but perfectly formed" and I have to agree!  The design is very clever - extra space has been created by u...

I love receiving contributions from followers of my blog, and today's Travel Photo was taken by Alex Proctor Pearson. So let's find out more.... The photo is of Yvoire Chateau in France on Lake Geneva. You can get to the village of Yvoire by car, but the best way is by paddle steamer either from Geneva or directly across the lake from Lausanne. Pedestrian only cobbled streets flanked either side by various arts and craft shops. Top tip: There is a great restaurant at the top of the high street (Restaurant la vielle Porte) which has a terrace overlooking the village and lake where the local speciality is filet de perche, which is fish from the lake cooked in lemon and butter - a local speciality for lake dwellers. Thanks for the contribution Alex. If you would like to see more of Alex's photos, then take a look at his photography website  www.appphotographs.com . If you have a photo of your own that you'd like to see featured here, then please send it to travell...

Sometimes hotels pop up in a location and it's the building that dominates that area. Very rarely do they fit into the landscape, and incorporate the local culture into their style, but today I feature a place I believe does just that. Located twenty minutes drive from Hangzhou (one of the most charming cities in China) there is a property discreetly located in the middle of tea plantations, and surrounded by some of the most famous temples of the city.  Photo courtesy of Amanresorts In fact, despite the amenities of a 5 star resort, you could be staying in a Chinese country village.  There are 42 rooms, suites and villas and no two rooms are identical. The style of the rooms is just what you'd expect from such a resort - minimalist, yet beautifully stylish.  The rooms are huge, and there are little touches that make a difference - fresh fruit each day, and heated stone floors. Photo courtesy of Amanresorts As well as the local area, there is also ...

So far in my travel ramblings feature, I have covered a wide range of topics from owning your own  private island , to the benefits of going  long haul.  This month I decided to focus on one of the things I think is one of the highlights of travelling - discovering new tastes. On a recent trip to Peru, I came across the dish in the photograph above - 'aji de Gallina'. It's a delicious, traditional Peruvian chicken stew in a sauce that can only be described as spicy, nutty and cheesy! It was my first meal in the country, and was the start of a love affair with the food of South America. Food can be a very important part of enjoying a trip to a new country. When I return home I sometimes try and replicate dishes I've experienced on my travels - it's almost as if I'm trying to take my taste buds back to where I experienced the food!  I come back from the Caribbean with bottles of hot pepper sauce. I return from Portugal with all sorts of piri piri ...

One of the most amusing parts of travelling is funny road signs - I remember one from years ago that said "CAUTION DANGEROUS BEDNS AHEAD"! Today's photo comes from a recent trip to the Caribbean, and doesn't feature a spelling mistake like that, but I found it just as amusing. We were driving around the stunning coastline of Tobago, and came round the corner to see this sign... It made me laugh out loud, and we giggled every time we passed it after that on our trip! Have you seen any funny road signs on your travels? I'd love to hear about them!  If you have a photo you'd like to see featured on Travel Lightbulb, then please send it to me at travellightbulb@hotmail.co.uk. Please include your name, and tell me where, and when the photo was taken. All contributions are welcome! Have a great weekend wherever you are.

I was inspired to start writing this blog after discovering places all around the world that I knew others would love. One of those places was the Sea-U Guest House in Barbados. Some people believe the island has started to get a little over developed on certain coasts but Bathsheba, on the island's rugged East coast, is one of the nicest areas on the island - overdeveloped it is not! Photos courtesy of Sea-U We stayed here for two nights during our holiday to Barbados. It's a great getaway, but a place that would also be perfect for your whole trip if you want to experience a change of pace from a busy life. It is as charming as these photos suggest with lush gardens and stunning views looking out over the Atlantic ocean. There are perfectly situated hammocks in which to relax and make the most of those views, and have a little nap while the ocean waves hit the cliff below. Photos courtesy of Sea-U The nine rooms are designed in 'island style', and are v...