Meteora: The Amazing Clifftop Monasteries in Greece

Meteora is a place of clifftop monasteries in the northwest side of Thessaly (Central Greece) and just beyond the town of Kalampaka in Greece. The name ‘Meteora’ means suspended in the air and the area of Meteora was believed to have been the place where monks settled during the 11^th century. Many tourists visit this amazing place because of the breathtaking landscapes of the area and to be able to experience the thrill and excitement of climbing its peaks. A visit to the Meteora Monasteries in Greece is highly recommended if you want to set foot in a very interesting place of history, art and religion, to personally see a marvel of nature and a place of mystery. Each monastery charges a minimal fee and the monasteries are open the whole year. A dress code is required, wearing sleeveless clothing and shorts are strictly prohibited although there are available skirts and shawls at the entrance for people not wearing accepted attire. During the months of May and June are considered to be the best months to visit Meteora because of the beautiful weather during these times which will allow guests to have a more comfortable and leisurely chance to explore this amazing place.

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A Paradise Resort in the Maldives

Maldives is known for its crystal clear blue waters, whale sharks sightings and exotic sceneries that calm the senses and relaxes ones mind and body. One luxurious holiday destination in the Maldives is the Diva Maldives Resort, an island resort paradise surrounded by a crystal clear lagoon and miles and miles of ocean in shades of blue and turquoise. It offers a perfect place for swimming and snorkeling, relaxing and basking on its beautiful tropical setting, and is located near the Maldives’ best dive sites and other tourists spots. Guests are set in dhonis, a traditional Maldivian boat and in water villas and suites standing on stilts over the lagoon. All the junior suites have sea view and are located on both side of the island. Each Suite has a bedroom, en-suite bathroom, terrace and private garden area. The water villas boasts of the gentle, shallow waters of the lagoon lap just right in the steps of the Villa, as you sit reading, sunbathing or taking an outdoor shower in complete privacy, or simply gazing at the wonderful expanse of sea or the neighboring islands from your own private terrace. The Beach Villas are as attractive as the Beach Pool Villas, with larger gardens but without individual swimming pools. The west-facing Beach Pool Villas offers sensational views of the lagoon and sunsets. The rooms are all luxuriously furnished and designed with their luxurious en-suite bathrooms. The pool villas are all pure elegance and the extensive use of local wood for the floors and fittings, as well as the Pierre Frey fabrics from Paris, give added luxury and warmth. Each individual terrace is more like extended living space, with its wooden decking and a settee for reading, lounging or simply gazing at the lagoon.

Photos: Naiade, Adelto

The charming and elegant Stoke Place Hotel in Buckinghamshire

Stoke Place Hotel in Buckinghamshire, England is one place that is truly beautiful inside and out. It is a very charming place to wind up and relax, a perfect setting for a vacation to rejuvenate and at the same time indulge your senses at the beauty of a rural English Landscape outside and marvel at the warm and elegant interiors of the hotel inside. Stoke Place's grounds consist of 26 acres of garden leading down to a 6 acre ornamental lake that were designed by Capability Brown during at the height of his fame. The hotel has 29 stylishly designed rooms which can accommodate up to 58 people for aleepng and over 200 for eating and drinking.

Stoke Place Hotel is not only a place of vacation and recreation but can also be a perfect place for people who are seeking to mix pleasure with business as it boasts of its four spacious and elegant function rooms that regularly host conferences, boardroom meetings, exhibitions and other private events.

Stoke Place Hotel is only thirty minutes away from the bustle of London and yet enjoys all the benefits of a rural English landscape. The three storey 'William and Mary' style house was built as a family home in 1690 by Patrick Lamb. Later, east and west wings were added to the building creating a substantial and impressive country house and the infamous talents of Capability Brown turned the surrounding grounds into a quintessential rural idyll.

The charms of Stoke Place weren't lost on Sir George Howard, equerry to Queen Charlotte, who bought the estate in 1764. His descendents called Stoke Place home for another 200 years. Then, the tenacity of the house's next owner, Richard William Vyse, ensured that the house and its grounds, in all their perfect glory, were protected from 'marauders and vagabonds'. The large red brick wall he constructed encircling the house and grounds is now a well-loved feature of the estate. You'll find that within its parameter Stoke Place still retains all those attributes that have caused generations to fall in love with it.

Images: Stoke Place