For a relatively small resort, The Cedars packs in great range and variety. There’s something for everyone here, from beginners seeking ski lessons to advanced snow sport addicts looking for some heady black-level slopes.

The Cedars features great cedar forests — a tree that appears on the Lebanese flag and is emblematic of the country. It’s perfect for nature-lovers. Another great attraction at The Cedars is the selection of Swiss-style chalets and other great lodging options.

Come ski at The Cedars on any budget! Here are three of our top picks in every price range:

1) Best budget option: Mon Refuge Hotel and Chalets

A great value for price, Mon Refuge Hotel and Chalets is a budget-friendly choice with a homelike atmosphere and warm, welcoming staff.
Proximity to The Cedars: just a five minute walk from  ski lifts
Price: from $41

2) Best midrange option: Cedrus Hotel and Suites

A top-rated ledge in The Cedars, Cedrus Hotel and Suites delivers for those who are seeking wintertime fun and cozy atmosphere. It is only a short drive away from Qornet El Saouda, the highest peak in the middle east at 3088 meters. Enjoy the warmth of the lobby’s hearth and the flavors of the hotel’s restaurant.
Price: from $141

3) Best Splurge: Cedars Palace

Pamper yourself in the elegance and luxury of Cedars Palace, a premier lodge in The Cedars with a true alpine wonderland feel. Choose from one of ten of the lodge’s suites, and wake up to your own private view of the majestic mountain and ski resort.
Price: from $364

When planning your winter getaway in 2012, think Lebanon. Get a little farther off the beaten track at The Cedars ski resort and book your hotel in The Cedars with Lebhotels.com, where you’ll find the lowest prices online, guaranteed.

Yet, people travel to Lebanon for many reasons beyond the several-day leisure holiday, so we’ve got options for all kinds of medium- and long-term visitors as well. Whether you’re staying awhile for business travel and conferences in Lebanon, relocating to work or study in Lebanon, or needing a place to call home while looking for something more permanent, you can check out our wide selection of apartments in Beirut.

Looking into housing in a new place is always a big task. Who has the best location for the best price? If you’re staying for a month or longer, there are several factors that you’ll want to consider while looking for an apartment in Lebanon. To make things easier for you, we’ve selected three furnished apartments and residences in Lebanon with great monthly rates for the longer-term traveler.

1) EWA apartments

A dining room in an Ewa apartment

At the comfortable and home-like EWA Hotel Apartments, you’ll be in one of 16 furnished and tastefully-decorated suites, each featuring a balcony or terrace with a lovely view of the Mediterranean Sea. The apartments are spacious and well-equipped with top quality facilities and amenities. Make yourself at home!

2) La Casa Apartments

A living room in an apartment at La Casa

On Commodore Street in the vivacious Hamra district of Beirut, La Casa Apartments offers a great location for exploring the best of the city. Here, from the 25 units, you can choose between a single room, a one bedroom apartment, and a two bedroom apartment. The apartments all include a fully-equipped kitchenette for you to make your own home-cooked meals. Take off your shoes and stay awhile at La Casa Apartments.

3) Lavender Home

The living room of a Lavender Homes apartment

Lavender Home is the newest addition to Lebhotels.com apartment and a darling new accommodation on Baalbeck Street in the bustling Hamra district of Beirut. You’ll notice that the theme inside and out is the color purple – ‘lavender’ is the palette, and ‘urban chic’ is the style. For the comfort and convenience of its longer-term guests, each apartment at Lavender Home provides you with a kitchenette, a work desk, tea and coffee facilities, and a cozy lounge area. You’ll want to invite friends over to your place at Lavender Home.

Adha is the perfect chance to make your Lebanon weekend escape at the most affordable time of the whole year. Hotels are slashing their prices in order to compete for the Adha weekend holiday-makers. Check out these seven incredibly discounted several-day packages available from some of our leading accommodations:

3-night Beirut Galleria Hotel: $735 now $490

Stay three nights in a standard double room and pay for two nights only, with buffet breakfast included.
Our favorite thing about Beirut Galleria Hotel: the closest to Beirut Airport. Read more about Beirut Galleria.

3-night Sky Suites Hotel: $480 now $435

Enjoy three nights in the small suite of Sky Suites Hotel in Beirut for only $435, with buffet breakfast included.
Our favorite thing about Sky Suites Hotel: pure relaxation in the outdoor swimming pool. Read more about Sky Suites.

5-night Mayflower Hotel: $850 now $770

Experience the luxury and value of Mayflower Hotel in Beirut for your Adha celebration. Price includes a double room, breakfast and taxes. Our favorite thing about Mayflower hotel: Ii  is the perfect spot connecting major exhibition and entertainments . Read more about Mayflower Hotel.

2-night Ramada Hotel: $440 now $380

The Ramada in Downtown Beirut has a two-night special that works well for those who want to spend part of Adha in the city and the other part in the country. Our favorite thing about the Ramada: walking distance to shopping venues, restaurants, cafe and archeological sites.  Read more about Ramada Hotel.

3-night Charles Hotel: $530 now $480

In Beirut, the Charles Hotel is a four star hotel in the heart of the city, and a great choice for couples. Price includes a double room and breakfast. Our favorite thing about Charles Hotel: its sunny location just blocks away from the coast. Read more about Charles Hotel.

4-night Parisian Hotel: $730 now $660

Looking for a small piece of Parisian charm in the Eastern Mediterranean? This deal takes you away for four nights in Beirut, including a double room and breakfast. Our favorite thing about Parisian Hotel: the menu at John Posh Cafe and Restaurant. Read more about Parisian Hotel.

5-night Bella Riva Hotel: $580 now $525

A great value for an extra-long Adha holiday getaway, the Bella Riva is offering a double room with breakfast included for five nights at an unbeatable price. Our favorite thing about Bella Riva: quiet area overlooking the sea with affordable prices. Read more about Bella Riva.

Get in on these hot Adha holiday deals, brought to you by Lebhotels.com. For booking questions or confirmation, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

When you’re running on empty, there are only a few things that can really recharge your batteries and get you back on your feet. A relaxing spa break has to be one of the best options. There’s simply nothing quite like putting your feet up and being pampered.

The view from the roof of the Edde Sands Resort

Luckily, Lebanon has a huge amount to offer when it comes to luxury spa holidays. In addition to state of the art facilities and highly-trained practitioners, the deeply relaxing atmosphere and climate add significantly to any holiday experience. Imagine unwinding during one of the many wonderful treatment options available, before further relaxing on a beautiful beach as the Mediterranean laps at your toes. Bliss!

The tranquil waters of Le Royal, Beirut's indoor swimming pool

Hotels providing spa services can be found all over Lebanon. Locations close to the coast are popular, given the relaxing properties of the sea, but there are also plenty of inland options. Several of Lebanon’s famous ski resorts are also home to spas, providing some TLC to skiers tired from a hard day on the slopes.

Here are some of our favourite Lebanon Spa Hotels:

• The Edde Sands Hotel and Wellness Resort – located just outside the old town of Byblos, this large dedicated resort offers a wide variety of treatment options and other relaxing activities. It boasts a fully self-contained spa – including a hammam, or Turkish bath – several swimming pools and a number of bars. It also has areas catering specifically to children, allowing parents to relax in peace while their kids are entertained elsewhere.
• Le Royal – situated on a hill with grandiose views over downtown Beirut and the Mediterranean, this opulent hotel provides an oasis of relaxation in the midst of the capital. It offers various facial and body treatments, in addition to a number of water-based therapies.
• InterContinental Mzaar Lebanon Mountain Resort and Spa – this high altitude resort, superbly located on the slopes of Mount Lebanon itself, offers snow lovers a great number of ways to wind down and rest their sore muscles. Options include balneotherapy, pressotheraphy, massages, sauna and even a Jacuzzi.

1) Edde Sands Hotel and Wellness Resort

Just 30 km south of the Lebanon airport and outside ancient city of Byblos, Edde Sands Hotel and Wellness Resort is ideally located to make the most of your time in Lebanon. On the resort’s sprawling 85,000 square meters of property, you will find everything you need for a holiday of beach lounging and total relaxation. Chill out on the sand, by one of the four pools, or at one of the resorts’ nine restaurants and bars. Pamper yourself with an appointment at the spa, or get active with a water sport like jet ski or kite surfing.

2) Portaluna Hotel and Resort

For those who lust for poetry, sophistication, and imagination, the Portaluna Hotel has the perfect ambience. It is situated on the romantic coast of Jounieh.  The beaches of Jounieh are some of the most acclaimed in the eastern Mediterranean. A highlight of Portaluna is its exquisite dining room, The Poesia Restaurant. From the domed tower on the roof of the hotel, you can see 360 degrees in every direction. Its name comes from the library where you can browse the writings of epic writers from all over the world.

3) Byblos Sur Mer

Set in the context of one of Lebanon’s most treasured historical sites, the Byblos Sur Mer is steeped in both legend and luxury. Imagine this place on a slope overlooking the Mediterranean, imagine watching the sunset over the water after a lazy day on the shore, imagine arriving in only 45 minutes from the Beirut airport.  Bring an appetite, because the resort’s L’Odyssee restaurant serves up fine specialties and international wines just above an archaeological site where you can meaner into cave ruins or over to the warmth of the fireplace.

In the same way that skileb.com is the ultimate online resource for all things skiing in Lebanon, Lebanonboats.com is designed as a one-stop guide to everything that floats in Lebanon. Whatever kind of getaway on the water you’re looking for, you can find out all about it on Lebanonboats.com.

As a coastal nation on the Mediterranean Sea with a number of exciting rivers as well, Lebanon is a destination for all kinds of boat excursions, from yachts and other motor boats to sailboats to fishing boats to white water rafting adventures. Through lebanonboats.com, you can even book yachts for 40 and even up to 80 people. Event planning has never been this fun — just take it to sea!

More than just a website, Lebanonboats.com is an active, growing online community about boating in Lebanon.  You can engage with other boat enthusiasts in Lebanon by following updates on the Lebanonboats.com blog, signing up to receive the newsletter, and finding Lebanonboats.com on Facebook.

Check out Lebanonboats.com today and let your imagination take you away. Picture yourself on the kind of on-the-water vacation that you you’ve been daydreaming about. Then, find the boat that’s best for you and go ahead and book before the lazy days of summer are over.  Let us take you far away!

Taking to the skies above Lebanon in a specially chartered Cessna is a truly once in a lifetime experience and offers you the opportunity to cover a great deal more ground than you would do on foot. A 45 minute circuit through the Lebanese air is ample time to take in some the capital’s most distinctive sites – albeit from a completely unusual perspective.

This bird’s eye view gives a much better idea of the both the city and the surrounding territory. It provides a glimpse of how this ancient metropolis has evolved and grown over the year; the placement of historic buildings that can be picked out from above suddenly make a lot more sense and their characteristic shapes provide a fascinating contrast to the lines and curves of the more modern developments downtown.

While it’s easy to drift off when you have your head stuck in the clouds, passengers on this flight can be guaranteed to be kept on target thanks to the expert narration provided by the pilot. His trained eye can pick out incredible focal points such as Raouche’s Pigeons’ Rock from high above, allowing him to call your attention to details that would otherwise be missed.

Other sights included as part of the tour include Jounieh Bay and the ancient port of Byblos. Nothing compares to the spectacle of the sun’s rays glittering off the gentle swells of the Mediterranean waters when viewed from above. As the pilot carves an expert course above the bay, it’s tempting to try to pick out a waterfront cafe in which to relax later once your feet are back on solid ground.

In between snippets from the pilot, losing yourself in the moment is made even easier by music piped in directly to your own pair of noise-cancelling stereo headphones. That’s right – your personal flying tour of Beirut even comes complete with a soundtrack!

Beirut from the air is truly the ultimate way to tour this ancient and fascinating city. It’s the ideal blend of adrenaline, information and pleasure. In addition to Cessnas, why not consider Paragliding in Beirut or Beirut by hot air balloon?

The Qannoubine Valley - a great destination for hikers. Photo by David Holt, Flickr.

Lebanon boasts a huge variety of fantastic hiking routes, which make the most of its outstanding natural features and rich history. With the right preparation, planning and guidance, most of these routes can be enjoyed throughout the year. High temperatures during the summer months may be daunting, but getting up early to catch the sunrise or hiking through the twilight are both great options. Summer is also a great time to plan some routes for the autumn, when things start to cool off, making long walks easier.

Here’s a list of just a few of our favourite hikes:

• Al-Chouf Cedars Nature Reserve Hike – 50km outside of Beirut, this huge nature reserve is home to a wide array of species and is the ideal destination for lovers of the natural world. A guided hike through its foothills and forests is the perfect way to get back to nature.
• Hiking from Laklouk to Balaa Pit – This route takes walkers through the Tannourine Cedars nature reserve to experience some of the most unusual sights in all of Lebanon. The village of Balaa is home to a huge cavern, or sink hole, which provides a staggering backdrop to walks in and around the area.
• Hiking in the holy valley of Qannoubine – One for history lovers. The Qannoubine valley is an area steeped in tradition and is home to churches, convents and caves that have been used as places of worship for centuries. Above 900m in elevation, this is a challenging hike, but one that can be appreciated by all who take part.
• Reach the Highest Summit 3088m – This is the ultimate; a journey to the very highest point in Lebanon. Departing from the Cedars ski resort and getting an early start is the best way to enjoy the climb. The views from the top are beyond compare.

Hiking in Lebanon is an experience that can be enjoyed by just about anyone, but common sense does apply. Prepare in advance and always bring suitable clothing, sun protection and water.

After a day of hard walking, what better way to unwind than pampering yourself in a top Beirut hotel? Curling up in a soft bed is the ultimate tonic, and while you may have sore feet for a while, the memories will last forever!

Anjar

The Anjar UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lebanon. Photo by Bengt B

Nestled in the fertile Beqaa Valley, close to Lebanon’s easterly border with Syria, the origins of the city capital of Anjar can be traced back to the 8^th Century. It was founded during the reign of Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik.

A complicated and beautiful series of buildings and fortifications, the city was completely abandoned less than fifty years after construction began. Gradually reclaimed by the desert, Anjar’s ruins were preserved until their rediscovery by archaeologists in the mid 20^th Century.

Hotel recommendation: Grand Hotel Kadri

Baalbek

The Propylaea entrance of Baalbek. Photo by Heretiq

Also located in the Beqaa Valley, Baalbek was founded by the ancient Phoenicians but retained its importance during the rise and fall of both the Greeks and the Romans.

Its temple complex – known to the Hellenes as Heliopolis – can be explored to this day, and continues to inspire awe and wonder in visitors to Lebanon.

Byblos

The Crusader Castle in Byblos, Lebanon. Photo by Citypeek

Located on the coast mid way between Beirut and Tripoli, Byblos is one of the world’s oldest Phoenician cities.

As with many other beautiful coastal towns on the Lebanese Coast, Byblos has been constantly occupied since pre-historic times and has many visible layers of history on display. Persian walls, Roman roads, Byzantine buildings, Crusaders’ Castles – the whole town is a miniature reflection of Lebanon’s history.

Hotel recommendation: Byblos Sur Mer

Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)

Cross in Qadisha Valley, Lebanon. Photo by Bdell555

Lebanon’s biblical history and connections to biblical antiquity are well known. The Qadisha Valley is home to some of Christianity’s earliest and most important monastic sites.

Its shadowy glades and rocky outcrops seem to have changed little since the days of the apostles and continue to offer peace and space for spiritual reflection to those who visit Lebanon.

The nearby Forest of the Cedars of God is an ancient woodland that has survived for thousands of years. It is one of the best known homes to cedrus libani, the Lebanon Cedar which graces the Flag of Lebanon.

Hotel recommendation: Hotel Chbat

Tyre

Tyre, Lebanon. Photo by Petteri Sulonen

The ancient and mighty Phoenician capital; a rock (the literal translation of its name) upon which great empires were built. Home to mythological luminaries such as Europa and Elissa (Dido), Tyre is also believed to be the birthplace of purple dye – an incredibly expensive and prestigious substance in the ancient world.

Located on the coastline to the south of Beirut, close to the modern border with Israel, Tyre is Lebanon’s fourth largest city and is home to many outstanding Lebanon Hotels from which to explore its wealth of ancient treasures.

Hotel recommendation: Al-Fanar

Lebhotels.com is always looking for new ways to take the guesswork out of your trip to Lebanon.  We’re pleased to announce that now you can book your Beirut airport transfer online for complete peace of mind once you land in-country. From booking online of the best hotels in Beirut and other exciting regions, to planning a Lebanon ski trip in the winter and other fun activities, and now even airport transportation, we’ll help you build your trip entirely online.

Flying into Beirut: book your transfer online and enjoy the view!

How does the airport transfer service work? In just three easy steps, you can tell us your flight information, your destination, submit your payment details online, and rest assured during your flight that once you arrive to the Beirut airport there will be a driver there waiting for you and holding a sign with your name at the exit terminal of the airport. From there you will be chauffeured directly to your Beirut hotel, or even to your your hotel in Jounieh or whatever part of Lebanon you will be exploring. Just check out the long list of destination regions on the Beirut airport transfer booking page to find your destination of choice.

Why book your airport transfer ahead of time online? Transportation to and from the airport can be the most stressful leg of any trip.  When arriving in a new country, there’s already enough to worry about — visas and customs, currency exchange, baggage claims, finding your way around, signs in foreign languages, etc.  Nobody wants to stay at the airport for even a minute longer than necessary, and after a long flight, nobody is in the mood to negotiate with unknown taxi drivers either.

With lebhotels.com’s convenient online Beirut airport transfer booking, you can bypass all the hassle and headache of dealing with local taxi drivers.  Finalize your itinerary (and your budget) beforehand online and you can know exactly what to expect once you land in Beirut.  Our drivers are friendly and prompt.  They’ll be waiting just for you and your party in an air-conditioned car, 7-seater or mini-bus.  Spend two minutes booking your Beirut airport transfer online, and save yourself the time, stress, and headache of waiting and negotiating upon arrival.  When it comes to transfers to and from the airport, it’s better to plan ahead – don’t just ‘wing it.’ Book your hotel transfer service now!