comcredo

Going to Monaco is best when booking a heli from Nice and flying in with ‘the locals’.

My recommendation – Alila Manggis Resort http://www.alilahotels.com/manggis/

If you have time and money – stay at the Explora http://www.explora.com/

A cross-polination of French-Belgium-Holland and a bit of Germany… great place to chill (everything is slow and quaint).

It is a nice little Dutch place. Benefit: you’re close to the seashore (Zandvoort) and at the same time 20min away from Amsterdam … need I say more !?

Beware the locals trying to sell their tourist stuff. They’ll follow you up and along the whole stretch of the wall and expect you to buy something – or pay-up anyway.

The grass-lands are truly phenomenal. Up in the hills, looking where the eye can reach. No roads, power-lines, fences, ..

everything said about NZ is not exaggerated !

stayed in the wonderful Explora hotel
more info: http://www.explora.com/atacama-e.jsp

Beijing is in ‘fast forward’, trying to catch up to Shanghai and Hong Kong in terms of stature and reputation. In 2008 they will have made a big step but not quite what they have in mind for the future.