Archive for the 'Travel' Category



Cruise to Bermuda for a Special Vacation Destination

Posted By Giles Alton on May 28, 2009 @ 7:33 am
by Giles Alton

Imagine warm, pink sand running through your toes while the warm sun shines down on you. Sounds like paradise? The up and coming cruise destination of Bermuda is sure to live up to all your expectations. With activities such as shopping, museums and historic sites to snorkeling and scuba diving, there is something for everyone on this small island.

Is golf more your speed? There are more golf courses per square mile in Bermuda than any other country in the world. If you are delighted by historic treasures, then you will be pleased with what St. Georges has to offer. In this 17th century seaport, you will be transported back in time while walking on cobblestone streets and visiting the World Heritage Site. The city of Hamilton is the bustling capital city and is known for its shopping and restaurants.

Bermuda is found about 600 miles off the coast of North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean. The even climate found in the small British territory will please anyone - the temperature during spring, summer and fall ranges from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to bring your hat, sunglasses or sunscreen so you can enjoy the beaches without getting sunburned. You will also not have to worry about hurricanes on your Bermuda cruise vacation since Bermuda is generally out of the main path of the storms.

There are eight major ports in the United States that offer cruises to Bermuda. Those ports are: Fort Lauderdale, Norfolk, Charleston, Boston, Philadelphia, Cape Liberty, New York and Baltimore. Most of the Bermuda cruises sailing from these ports are five or seven day vacations.

Bermuda hosts several regular callers in its ports every cruise season, which is April through November. The most frequent cruise lines to send ships are Carnival, Norwegian Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Celebrity so you will have plenty of cruises to choose from.

There are three ports to choose from in Bermuda, but only two are accessible by the largest cruise ships that now frequent the island. Kings Wharf and St. George are the two largest ports.

At the east end of the island is St. George’s, which is a 17th century seaport so it is smaller with fewer amenities, but more charm for those who seek it out. King’s Wharf at the west end has more activities like the Bermuda Maritime Museum.

Since Bermuda is quite small, tourists cannot rent cars to get around. You can travel the length of the island on rented scooters or use one of the public buses. You can purchase day passes for public transportation once you arrive in port or you can pay per ride. There are also ferries available to shuttle you around Bermuda.

Consider taking a Bermuda cruise - it is one beautiful destination that is sure not to disappoint!

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Running a Travel Blog

Posted By Gary Ardnt on @ 6:52 am
by Gary Ardnt

Travel blogs are a great way to share those great moments on the road with people you love. You can tell them the stories and show them photos while you are on the road. It’s a great way to document your trip and meet other travelers by networking. Starting a blog isn’t difficult and if you follow a few basic tips you’ll be able to start a great blog.

A travel blog will allow you to share all the memories of your trip. They are used to show photos, tell stories, and keep your friends up to date. Sending out constant emails can be a pain and running a travel blog about your trip is a great way to tell everyone you know about what is happening without constantly having to send emails or clog up their inbox.

What is a blog? A blog is a type of website maintained by an individual. It is a combination of images, texts, and links to other blogs. It is made up of commentaries, graphics, videos, and articles about events. Blogs are usually called online diaries because its contents are arranged in a chronological manner according to a certain time an event was done. Most of the time, blogs are textual while others are focused on photographs, videos, sketches, music, and video. Blogs are simply online journals.

If you have a travel blog, you can easily convert it into a travel information site. Think about all the information you got while traveling. You have a wealth of knowledge. Use that knowledge you gained on your trip to extend the life of your website until your next trip.

When you have decided which host to use, sign up and make sure to remember your username and password. Then if you have successfully signed up you can send emails to your friends telling them where to find your blog. In running your travel blog, it is best to note bits and pieces of every detail about you trip every once in a while. Find an internet caf while on the road and log on to your blog to boast to your friends about the great exciting activity you had.

Travel blogs are a great way to communicate to your friends and family about your adventures. This way you can also have a journal for your memory of your trip for the future and you can tell everyone about it. The internet is never going to go anywhere so it is like a permanent record of your travels. Next time you go on the road, be sure to start one.

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Non Beach Island Activities

Posted By Matthew Kepnes on @ 6:05 am
by Matthew Kepnes

Most people visit tropical islands to get a taste of activities like fishing, shelling, and sunbathing. Still, many tourists aren’t aware that there are many more activities other than just spending a perfect day on the beach all day. There’s more to a tropical island apart from the beach, and, if you are looking for something else to do, you’ll never run out of options.

Tropical destinations offer you a lot of different types of activities you can do. You can go on a food trip and try the authentic cuisine of that particular island. This is one of the best ways to experience the local culture. Since there’s a close relationship between food and culture, so an interesting way to learn about it is to try your hand at cooking local food. Attend a cooking class as an alternative to going to the beach.

Alternatively, you can try shopping. Most major attractions on the island will be lined with at least one on-site gift shop or a variety of vendor stalls selling souvenirs from t-shirts and handicraft items to postcards and other standard merchandise. Top of the line, finer, and more valuable items such as diamond solitaires, Swiss watches, crystal, and perfumes can be purchased from and state of the art shopping centers.

Apart from the usual tropical island activities, tropical island destinations also offer many unique attractions for visitors who are enticed and intrigued in delving deeper into the history and culture of that specific place. Most islands will have cultural history museums and historic buildings that you can tour.

Your body may be on vacation, but it doesnt mean you have to be lazy. Get up and get outside to explore nature. The natural landscape of an island doesnt stop at the beach, but extends far inward. Try hiking through the jungle. Relax in some waterfalls. Climb a mountain. Go cycling around the island communities. There are a lot of things to do on an island and many things to see beyond the beach.

Most tropical island destinations encourage visitors to come and enjoy their world class spa resorts and hotels. Book yourself a relaxing spa appointment in the peaceful setting of your resort. Treat yourself and take a day or two just to relax and relieve your stress. After all, you can’t spend every day in the sun, and this will help reduce the chance of getting a sun burn while making you feel well.

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Enjoy Summer With The Complete Family In St Lucia

Posted By David Hughes on @ 5:58 am
by David Hughes

If you desire to spend your summer holidays with your family in the Caribbean, then one choice worth taking into consideration is a luxury holiday to St Lucia. St Lucia is renowned for many great and exclusive things, the most mentionable among which are the splendid waterfalls, coral reefs, and the honey coloured beaches. The water is turquoise and the beaches are a breathtaking sight to behold.

The water sports and activities are truly enjoyable and interesting, and the nightlife and bars offer the great Caribbean experience. The waterfalls are picturesque, and the botanical gardens are also very interesting. In St Lucia, there is also a drive in volcano which is one of its kinds in the world. This drive in experience is truly amazing and is nothing like any other activities you have ever performed.

The natural exquisiteness of St Lucia is exclusive, and there is an assortment of a range of views like the gorgeous beaches, tropical rainforests, and the crude and uneven mountains. This stunning natural prettiness is another thing that is limited to St Lucia. There are different packages offered at various hotels for the season so that you can experience St Lucia at its best.

Another one of a type experience that you can take pleasure in with your family during your summer holiday is diving in the reefs. If you want to do some substantial exercise, you can also spend a day mountaineering or biking through the stifling rainforests of St Lucia. Most of the suites in the hotels have their own private roof terraces where you can unwind while taking in the spectacular sight.

There are many great resorts and hotels in St Lucia that have the most excellent to proffer in comfort, and you can treat yourself for a few days and loosen and get pleasure from at the same time. The most obvious among these hotels and resorts are The Body Holiday at Le Sport, Almond Morgan Bay Beach Resort, Rendezvous, and St Lucian by Rex Resorts, The Jalousie Plantation, Cotton Bay Village, and the Coconut Bay Resort & Spa among many others.

At these resorts, you would be able to experience the best of St Lucia, and you can enjoy a laid back atmosphere and take a break from the usual life routine. The Jazz Festival that takes place in the month of May every year is famous all over the world.

St Lucia has the sort of pleasing views that act as the perfect backdrop for such an event. Another occasion that is prominent in the complete Caribbean is the St Lucia’s Carnival, which is the most embellished event on the island. Different gorgeous competitions and performances take place during the affair. The Rose Festival in August is another event in St Lucia.

The Marguerite Festival is another happening that celebrates the splendid flower, Daisy. There are also copious sailing events above and further than the other ones, which keep up the allure of the island vigorous.

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Barry, South Wales: Ancient History: Part 1

Posted By Owen Jones on @ 5:42 am
by Owen Jones

Most of what we know or have guessed about Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales has come from observing the buildings situated there, the majority of which have been sadly neglected for far too long. There are historical tales, such as the one about Joseph of Arimathea, who traded tin in Glastonbury, just across the water and was one of the first missionaries to go to this area.

Tradition has it that the father of Caractacus took his son on a journey to Rome, where they were converted to Christianity. Later, they returned to the Vale of Glamorgan with Bran The Blessed, the missionary. It is a fact that Christianity was a popular belief there early in the Fourth Century and that south Wales sent several bishops to the Council of Rome.

St. Baruchs Church on Barry Island is one of the oldest shrines in the area, but it too is sadly dilapidated. Barry Island itself became one of the most important monastic retreats in south Wales. Steep and Flat Holms, the old Viking island settlements in the Bristol Channel just off Barry, were also significant in this regard. Another most important link in this chain was St. Illtyds Seminary of 2,200 students in Llantwit Major.

There was an ancient Roman fort and accompanying naval dockyard on Porthkerry Point, which had obviously jutted out further into the sea than it does now and later a castle was built on their ruins. There have been found many wolf and deer bones between Sully and Barry - enough to show that they had existed there in great numbers. There have also been a large number of findings of arrowheads, flints, needles and coins, proving that people were there to prey on them too.

Barry Island was first known as Baruchs Island after St. Baruch, who was found drowned, washed up on the beach in 700 AD. He had drowned on his return from Flat Holm, where it was customary for Saints and religious students of the seminaries to spend Lent.

He and Gwelches were both students of St. Cadoc and when they had got back from Flat Holm, they realized that they had left their enchiridion (religious manual) behind. St. Cadoc made them go back for it. Neither monk returned from the trip alive.St. Illtyd, St. Baruch’s most famous disciple was educated there too.

Barry Island has had several names, including Island of the Saints and Insular of Peiros. St. Peiro was the leader of the seminary after St. Illtyd and the mentor of St. Samson. St. Doeninas was also a leader of another abbey near Friars Point on the island.

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Encinitas California Beaches and Inns

Posted By Heather Hunnefeld on @ 4:32 am
by Heather Hunnefeld

Encinitas is a little town located on the Pacific Ocean about 20 minutes north of San Diego airport. It’s just like a 1960’s California beach town. Hand made jewelery shops, the world famous Swami’s Mediation Retreat, more than two dozen yoga studios and spas, a dozen Mexican take-out restaurants, and locals and tourists alike walking around with surf boards give Encinitas a 1960’s feeling.

Ann Dunham owns a delightful Bed and Breakfast in Encinitas called the Inn at Moonlight Beach. Only a three minute walk from Ann’s Inn, Moonlight Beach is the perfect beach for a picnic, to swim, soak up sun, find a game of beach volleyball, go surfing, try boogie-boarding or body surfing, or just read a book.

Every one of the four rooms or suites at Ann’s Inn At Moonlight Beach are decorated in the best of taste in the flavor of a French Beach Inn. Every morning will find Ann baking her guests warm-from-the-oven rolls, croissants, breads and pastries for breakfast.

Guests at the Inn might begin their day with a walk on the beach in either direction at the crack of dawn and then return to the Inn for Ann’s home-made breakfast - all included in the cost of the night’s stay. Swami’s Beach was made famous in 1963 by the Beach Boys and is just a ten minute walk along the sandy beach where world class surfers still surf every morning.

Guests who leave their windows cracked open at night can hear the sounds of the surf at night and then awaken in the morning to the melodic sound of the of the meditative waterfall. Now it’s their choice: they can drift back to sleep or get up and take an early morning walk on the beach or through little town as Encinitas awakens.

After their early morning activities, guests return to the Inn and relax with a cup of fresh, hot Starbucks coffee and the morning newspaper in Ann’s breakfast sunroom, or enjoy their breakfast outside in the sunshine next to her soothing waterfall.

After sunset, guests can take a romantic moonlit walk on the beach or simply relax on the Inn’s front porch and sip a glass of wine, enjoying the evening twilight over the ocean and the little “lost-in-time” town of Encinitas. When they’re ready for bed, guests can snuggle down into their fine cotton bed linens, down-filled pillows and comforters and let the calming songs of the outside waterfall lull them to sleep.

Encinitas is a wonderful place to live and to visit. No other beach town in the San Diego area has such a great selection of restaurants from Mexican take-out to fine Italian dining. If you come to visit, bring your appetite!

Moonlight Beach is just a 4 minute walk from the Inn at Moonlight Beach. Stone Steps Beach, Beacon’s and Grandview beaches are a short walk up Neptune Avenue or the beach, north of Moonlight Beach.

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Low rider bikes are an interesting lot

Posted By Alison Addy on @ 4:30 am
by Alison Addy

In today’s hot and happening world, the custom low rider bicycle has acquired a special status. Everyone seems to dream of possessing this style of bicycle. Are you wondering why this has happened? Well, simply because riding this bicycle is an experience in itself. One feels a great sense of adventure and freedom while riding this bicycle. No wonder it has become almost a fashion statement to own a custom low rider bicycle.

To put the record straight, these bicycles are not a modern invention. In fact, they go as far back as the ‘The Munsters’, a television show from the 60s. The central character Eddie Munster was the initial owner of this style of bicycle and he seems to have owned a Schwinn Stingray and that too a modified version. Even though this style faded away for some time, today it has bounced back and the Eddie style lowered and elongated look for this bicycle has become a ’symbol’ of the new century.

The defining characteristic of these low rider bicycles is style. As a result of the rising demand for these bicycles, you have a lot of options in today’s market. No one wants a low rider bicycle just like the ones owned by the others. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that people seek to express their individuality and personality by designing the low rider bicycles according to their desires.

So it is very common to see customized low rider bikes where experimentation has been done on the upholstery, and you have other special features like sound systems, rims, special whitewall tires etc. Some low rider bicycles have risen to the level of art and they are equipped with neon, murals that are hand painted, and even hydraulics and steering wheels. All of these also escalate the prices of these bicycles and people at times spend thousands of dollars on their customized low rider bicycles.

Passion for these bicycles has risen to the extent that clubs have mushroomed in many places for exchanging ideas about low rider bicycles. Riding and creating different personalized designs seems to be the main thrust of these clubs. All the members help each other in the creation process and customized bicycles that are new are displayed as and when available. Clubs in different areas also organize meetings and have fun showing off their latest bicycles.

If you are new to the low rider bicycle scenario, there is no need for you to worry. You can purchase a low end bicycle for as much as $210. If you are interested in adding other features like rims, tires, murals etc. then the cost could go up by a thousand dollars or so. There is no dearth of manufacturers for custom low rider bicycles. You have plenty of options like manufacturing a bicycle particularly for you or getting a simple low rider and enhancing it with hydraulics or murals or special bicycle parts from an expert.

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Cabo San Lucas Beach Guide

Posted By Paul Garnett on @ 4:25 am
by Paul Garnett

Beautiful and pristine beaches abound in Cabo San Lucas. In fact, these are the main attractions in the area. Whatever beach you choose to stay in Cabo, you will never get disappointed as the beaches in the place offer nothing but the best. This made Cabo a world-renowned holiday destination.

Here are some beaches that will truly give you a great experience in Cabo.

● Playa Santa Maria

Do you want a beach that offers something new like a nicely-coved beach? Then you must go to Playa Santa Maria. It has a beautiful protected cove. The beach is shaped like a horseshoe with a sand color and consistency of pink rice.

The beach is a protected cove and home to a colorful marine life. This makes Playa Santa Maria a good site for snorkeling and scuba diving adventures. This relatively secluded beach is also a good place for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of nature.

● Playa Barco Varado

Playa Barco Varado is also called the shipwreck beach because of the presence of a wreckage of a Japanese boat on the rocks by the beach. The view of this boat wreckage on the shores has provided the beach a different look. The place will soon be much more popular because of the construction of a new hotel in the area.

● Playa Palmilla

Playa Palmilla is also a place that should never be missed in Cabo. It is home to the luxurious Palmilla Resort and the Jack Niclaus golf course, and it has beautiful beaches that would surely complement your relaxing mood. You can snorkel or dive in the clear waters of the protected cove, do kayaking or just relax in its beautiful oceanfront.

● Playa Cabo Real

Playa Cabo Real is a perfect place if you want to spend a day or two in Cabo alone and in quiet solitude. You can probably do your meditation or just listen to the sound of nature in this beautiful haven.

If you want to switch to a livelier place to start a good adventure, you can always go to the neighboring beach club, La Concha. There you will find restaurants, tide pools and swimming pools and equipment rentals.

Is it a personal quiet space or fun summer? You have your options here and you can have the best of both worlds too.

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Your Guide to Preparing for a Cruise Ship Voyage

Posted By Lindelwa Laz on April 19, 2009 @ 3:03 am
by Lindelwa Laz

It is never a good idea to put off travel preparations until the week before your trip, instead, you should start as soon as you book your trip and the type you’ve booked is vital to preparation. A large number of cruise ships sail international waters and in addition, there are many that stop at international ports. Before you can board, you may need to present identification and on international cruises this identification often includes a passport, as well as a driver’s license.

A huge problem, when it comes to getting a passport that some people will wait till the last minute and although last minute passports can be obtained in the event of an emergency, most require at least a week or more to process. You aren’t immediately supplied with a passport but must instead apply for one and while almost all individuals that fill out the application are granted one, planning ahead is the best option. So then. if an error is made on the information you supplied, you will have enough time then you can repair any mistakes before it’s time to set sail.

The passport and license aren’t the only documentation that you should board with. If you are covered under a health insurance plan, you are encouraged to take your cards. In the event you fall ill while on vacation, your insurance cards will allow you to get treatment.

With the cards you should take along all of your needed medications, in fact you may even want to consider packing extra meds. A number of physicians will actually write extra physicians for their patients that are traveling on a cruise ship so should your medication become lost or misplaced, the extra prescriptions can be used until you make it home. When you ask for extra meds from your health care provider, you should also ask questions regarding safety onboard ship.

To be able to afford the onboard and port activities, you’ll need to take extra money. Taking a vacation on a cruise ship is exactly like taking a vacation anywhere else in the world so it’s not advisable to carry huge amounts of money. If you must take cash along, you would be wise to scatter your money and put it all in safe locations though the majority of ships and ports take credit cards, cashiers checks, money orders, or traveler’s checks which are good alternatives to packing cash.

When traveling aboard a cruise ship, you should give a copy of the itinerary for friends and family members which will make it possible for you to contact you in the event of an emergency. When booking a cruise you may also be required to give the contact information for someone who can be reached in an emergency. Your first instinct may be to give the contact information for your spouse children, or a close friend however, if you do that, you should ensure that they’re on dry land and easily accessible.

When you’ve made the preparations mentioned you can then focus on alternate preparations such as packing your luggage but remember when you pack you are urged to keep the climate of your selected cruise in mind. Additionally always be ready for unexpected weather and making the proper preparations to make sure your vacation will be a success.

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Tips for Successful Single Mom Trips

Posted By Ken Morris on March 7, 2009 @ 6:52 am
by Ken Morris

If you are a single mom, traveling alone may seem like a frivolous expense you cannot afford. But if you don’t take time out for yourself, you will be doing everyone around you a great disservice. Everyone needs alone time, time to reflect, and time to think about their lives. Even though you may have many responsibilities in your life, you also need to take care of yourself as well.

When planning a vacation, the first decision is to figure out where you want to go. Even if you don’t travel too far, it should be somewhere that you will enjoy. Visiting a new state or region of the world is a great idea. If you don’t want to travel alone, you can go with a group of friends. Single mom travel weekends can be a tradition that you and your group of single friends can start. Each year, one person in the groups chooses a place to go that is new and exciting.

When it’s your turn to plan the group vacation, find out if there are any places in particular that those in the group want to travel to. Then you should determine how much everyone can spend. This may vary from year to year, so make sure that everyone is comfortable paying for the vacation. After determining the budget, you should research places that are within your price range and find out more about getting there as well. If you decide to drive in order to save money, you should also determine who will be driving.

Planning a group vacation can oftentimes be more stressful than planning one for yourself. But when you plan correctly, everything should fall into place. Make sure you set deadlines as to when the money for the trip will be due. This is important so you can book enough rooms, airplane tickets, and make other arrangements. After planning your trip, remind those in your group what they will need to bring on the trip and any other details at least one month before the trip. If making arrangements to watch the kids, do this at least a month in advance as well.

After deciding where to go be it Mexico or La Manga in Spain, you should choose when to go and book all of your flights, hotel, and rental car needs. You should also decide where your children will be staying while you are gone. Many moms let them stay at relative’s homes or friend’s homes when they are away. After finding a place for the children, you should research where you are going to find some exciting places to visit once you get there.

Even though it will seem strange traveling without your children, you will be able to relax once you arrive at your destination. There are many fun activities for those who are traveling alone and those who are traveling with a group. You will enjoy being on your own without having as many responsibilities. Once you return, you will find that even though you missed your children, getting a break is what you needed.

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