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Thursday, November 23, 2006

It's Better In The Bahamas

We all need a vacation now and then, right? There are few places that offer more relaxation as well as something for virtually everyone as the Bahamas. Travelers, business people, and vacationers from all over the world visit the Bahamas on a regular basis. New Providence Bahamas is recognized as the center of both business and industry for this island nation. One of the largest industries here is the very well-known international offshore banking center.

The islands of the Bahamas have attracted travelers for centuries, starting with sailors who jumped ship to pirates who are rumored to have buried many treasures on the islands. (Many of which are claimed to be still undiscovered!) The majority of the night life in the Bahamas happens in Nassau, where there is usually more night life than is found in many major cities in the US.

Probably the best way to get to the Bahamas is to take a Bahamas cruise. There are cruise ships leaving from many locations such as Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Cape Canaveral in Florida who have regular cruises scheduled to the Bahamas, and the prices are extremely attractive. What better way to start your vacation than to be pampered aboard a cruise ship and spending a day at sea before continuing your relaxation in the Bahamas! A large percentage of the cruise lines make the Bahamas one of their stops or "ports of call" because they have found that the passengers really enjoy spending time here.

Things you can do in the Bahamas for relaxation are almost endless. The dancing and night life in Nassau is upbeat, friendly and fun. There are many shops in Nassau where excellent deals can be found on things like jewelry, handmade nick-nacks from seashells, clothing, and much more. This area is well known for finding incredible deals on higher-end jewelry like Rolex watches. The white sandy beaches with the crystal blue ocean is a particular attraction to people who enjoy the water, the beach, or just laying in the sun on the sand. There are snorkeling trips that can be scheduled, as well as motorboat and sea-doos that can be rented.

The Atlantis Hotel and Casino is a must-see, even if you are not a gambler. The large casino offers the usual Las Vegas-style table games like blackjack, poker, and roulette, as well as row after row of slot machines of various denominations. But even outside the casino, the Atlantis is an architectural wonder, combining modern luxury with Old World touches. The large indoor aquarium just a few steps off the lobby is a definite must-see and very impressive.

During your stay in Nassau, you should definitely consider taking the short trip over the bridge to Paradise Island, a world famous destination with beaches beyond description and a world class golf course for hardcore golfers. You will find some of the most luxurious hotels and casinos to be found anywhere. One of the largest events in the Bahamas is the festival of Junkanoo which is celebrated from the day after Christmas through New Years Day, and promises fun for all participants.

Whether you take a Bahamas cruise or fly in, be sure to allow yourself enough time to enjoy all that the Bahamas has to offer. After visiting there, you will understand why the saying exists: It's Better in the Bahamas!

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Caribbean

You’ve worked hard all year and you finally have time to rest. Treat yourself to a piece of paradise by going on a trip to the Caribbean! Snorkel, go boating, hike, or just relax in the sprawling beaches – you can do absolutely anything you want.

The Caribbean has been a favorite vacation spot of tourists from the world over. In fact, millions of people visit the islands from the United States alone. The charm of the Caribbean lies not just on its beautiful beaches and romantic sunsets – it also has a rich history and a colorful culture that truly makes it addictive.

Also known as the West Indies, the Caribbean group of islands is actually located in the perimeter of the Caribbean Sea, very near the South American countries of Mexico and Venezuela. The Caribbean is composed of about 7,000 islands, each differing in size. The islands are grouped into the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas.

Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean centuries ago by accident, as he was trying to reach Southeast Asia (that’s how the Caribbean got its West Indies name). It was then occupied by an Amerindian group called the “Carib”; this the name “Caribbean.” The region was once very famous for its legendary sea pirates.

Now, most of the different Caribbean islands belong to the independent South American countries, but some are still part of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, or the United States.

Caribbean hotels and resorts are usually fully booked during peak season, so it is advisable to take care of your accommodations at least three months in advance. If you want more privacy, visit the less popular islands that offer the same first-rate accommodations. It’s not a good idea to visit the Caribbean from April to December, though, as these are hurricane months. If you still want to go during this period, always check for weather updates.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Top Honeymoon Destination

Hailed as the top honeymoon destination in the United States and certainly one of the best places in the world, Hawaii possesses these unique qualities:

A Prelude to Paradise – Located more than 2 thousand miles away from the U.S. Mainland and the rest of the world, Hawaii is an isolated group of islands set to give everyone, a taste of paradise. Hawaii sets itself away from other places around the world because of its endless shorelines, white sand beaches, velvet waters, magnificent sunset, spectacular underwater scenery, and a perfect weather condition. There is no other place in the world that can give you a taste of paradise than Hawaii.

Warm accommodation – From your arrival up to your last step off the island, you can feel the warmth of the place. There are several hotels that are rated the best in the world, which promise to provide you with the best accommodation throughout your stay in Hawaii. Hotels and resorts are complete with all the luxurious amenities you can get.

Everything: World-Class – World-class hotels; world-class resorts, world-class beaches; world-class underwater world; world-class food; world-class services. Simply there is no other world to describe how Hawaii can be so perfect.

Great Food – World-class restaurants offer wide array of foods. Gourmet foods are served with elegance. And since there is an abundant supply of seafoods in the island, each Hawaii restaurant serves the freshest fishes and seafoods right on your table. Tropical fruits like pineapples and mangoes, which become the symbol of Hawaii, grow in the islands.

Perfect Weather – The perfect location of the State of Hawaii gave it the advantage to acquire a perfect weather condition suitable for tropical activities. The perfect weather condition gives everyone the best outdoor and water sports experience.

Top-notched resorts and hotels - Kapalua Bay Hotel & Ocean Villas, Princeville Resort, Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Kauai Resort, Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, Sheraton Maui Resort Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, W Honolulu-Diamond Head, Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Hotel Hana, Four Seasons Resort Maui, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Fairmont Kea Lani, Princeville Resort, Kahala Hotel & Resort, Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, and Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. The names speak for themselves.

Nature at its best – Hawaii would not be very popular if not for its magnificent nature. Starting off with the underwater sceneries. Hawaii has several world-class diving spots revealing the world underneath the waters. The islands posses unspoiled forest considering that there are great migrations of people throughout the years.

Travel Spain

Traveling to Spain, the tourist hub of Europe is a satisfying experience. Spain is one of the most diverse and visually stunning nations of Europe. As the trip is planned, one is so overwhelmed with many fascinating sights, beautiful landscapes, and charming towns to fit into limited time and budget. A foremost cultural centre of Europe, it has beautiful cities and towns with old attractive monuments as well as ultra modern architectural wonders! Apart from the well known Flamenco music, dance, matadors and bull fights, this lovely land is also known for some pretty beaches, resorts and best vine yards. Idyllic rural settings coupled with bustling urban bonhomie make this destination a loved one among the traveler. Superb Spanish melodies listened at one of the clubs may forever haunt you. As Spaniards boasts themselves-“Spain is Different”, is aptly correct as a traveler steps on to the soils of the country.

Travel Spain offers too many options for a would-be traveler; a lengthy sojourn or a short tour over a week end. Or a budget travel with limited visits to only known places. Carry a big wallet and explore the nook and corners of the country with all the time at your disposal. Spain has offerings for travelers of all hues and kinds.

Once the mind is made up to travel this glorious country, a bit of preparation is definitely needed. A well drawn calendar and a defined itinerary are most welcome. Learn some basic words of Spanish and have knowledge of local custom and get ready to board countless numbers of flights operating from all corners of the world. Once in Spain, travel is relaxed, accommodation plentiful, the climate benign and soothing, the people relaxed and easy going, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy get and full of regional variety. You can be one of the most satisfied tourists among the similar 50 million visiting each year. Spain is a favorite playground of British, Dutch, and German tourists who badly wants to escape their own extreme winter climates for some Spanish summer sun. Exotic beaches of Barcelona, Marbella, Malaga and Canary Islands are always alive with cool beer, hot Sangria, bathing parks and bewitching beauties! Spanish travel is one beehive of pleasant surprises!

As one travels interior up north, there are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore interspersed with great vine orchards along the way. Just hopping in to one of the wineries will open the taste buds of any Wine connoisseur. A cool evening with loved ones in a fine restaurant can offer bewildering array of food and choicest of famed wines. A drive to Seville can open up plenty of entertainment possibilities with varied experiences. Beaches on the northern coast are entirely different from their southern counterparts; most of them being isolated and idyllic offering plenty of privacy.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Have You Heard About Hvar Island?

Hvar Island is situated in the Adriatic Sea and belongs to Croatia. The island spreads out on 80 km from west to east and it is truly paradise for its tourists. People all over the world visit all four major parts of the Hvar Island as its surprises are many and diverse.

During its existence, the Hvar Island was know by other names also, depending on what culture it belonged to. First it was known as Pharos and after that it was called Piteyeia (around the third century B.C.) as we know from the Greek poet Apollonius of Rhodes. While it was under Roman rule it was called Pharia and later Fara. The Slavs, people that occupied the island during the middle ages, named the island Hvar. Even if the island was under Slav occupation, a lot of the inhabitants were Roman-speaking and convinced the Slaves to change the official name once more, this time into Quarra. In the eleventh century the Italians changed the name again into Lesina (meaning forest), a word full of meaning because at that time the island was perfectly characterized by a woody terrain. This name was kept until the nineteenth century when it was changed back into Hvar Island.

This place exists nowadays under the name of the Hvar Island, but the Hvar Culture has long been extinct. It is said that this culture existed from the year 3500 to 2500 B.C. The Hvar Island is an important piece in Croatian history being one of the important literary centers of this country during the Renaissance. Nowadays it is known as a producer of lavender, honey and wine and these aspects can be charming to those interested in stimulating their senses. Because of its climate and unique position, the Hvar Island is home to a lot of different species of flora and fauna like the Croatian Fighting Toad. An interesting fact about the Hvar Island is that it gets 2800 hours of sun per year. As you can see, there is no possibility for anyone to get bored on this island because it reunites history and culture for those with this kind of interests and it can be a great place to relax by bathing in the sun and admiring nature.

There are many cities to visit on this island, each with its own story and appealing characteristics. The town of Hvar had a population of little over four thousand people in 2001. It can be a tourist attraction because this is the place where the first public theatre was opened in Europe back in 1612. The town of Stari Grad located in the northern part of the Hvar Island had almost three thousand inhabitants in 2001. It is the site of some of the first human settlements on the Adriatic Sea from Antiquity. Jelsa, a town in the central northern region of the island, it’s said to have had a population of approximately 3.600 back in 2001. The fourth region that might capture your attention is the town of Sucuraj, a city of picturesque beauty situated on the east cape of the Hvar Island. Sucuraj has been named officially the center of the eastern part of the Hvar Island. The town is said to be 2300 years old, fact which can fascinate anyone. The city has been blessed with mild climate and a beautiful country side which makes it even more perfect for contemplation and relaxation. The 400 people settled here live off tourism and fishing therefore any person who is interested in this location will be received with open arms and will have a wonderful time.

The Hvar Island is thought to have been inhabited since the year 5000 B.C. Since then, a lot of different cultures living there in each age known to man have left their own fingerprint on the place. The Neolithic age proves its existence in the history of the Hvar Island by a fragment of pottery dating from the year 2500 B.C. The bronze pottery and hilltop sites represent the Bronze Age. The Iron Age left behind a lot of settlements including a castle; most of these settlements were even equipped with some rudimentary forms of defense. After that, the ancient Greeks became very interested in the Hvar Island. Remains of the Greek colony can still be seen through some of the defense walls that are still standing. After the Greeks, a lot of different cultures left their legacy to the people on the Hvar Island, like the Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, Venetians, Turks and even newer states like Austria, France, England and Russia had their own influence.

The Hvar Island is a great place for a vacation. One of the few places were you can escape from the big city life and all its problems, a place where you can really catch your breath and relax. Strolls on a forested sea path or a week of quiet life in one of the picturesque villages to see how life is without any connection to civilization. The Hvar Island is a relaxation heaven. There are a lot of sites to admire like one of the monuments of the Hvar Island, the Saint Lawrence Church which is known for the collection of paintings by old masters. The Hvar Island also has one of the largest naturist camps. There is simply no way you can get bored here.

One of the few places that man hasn’t destroyed yet, the Hvar Island is a must see just like other famous places in the world. It’s just that it hasn’t had so much publicity and this is perhaps the reason its beauty remains untouched. You can enjoy the scenery and you can see the way native people live there. This will give you an idea about the way our forefathers made a living without having to work in loud plants and polluted environments. As a fact, it is necessary to say that Hvar Island is one of the perfect places you can visit and unwire yourself.

Life in the big cities is tiring and soliciting. This is why people take vacations and search for the perfect place to forget their daily lives. One of the best places to do exactly this is Hvar island in Croatia.

Christmas Down Under

First things first: summer in Australia is the direct opposite of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Yes, you heard right. In Australia, summer actually happens from December to February. Which means Aussies celebrate their Christmas at the height of summer. Which means they get to do more things they otherwise couldn't do if they were in the wintry, arctic regions on the Northern Hemisphere. Blessed be the Australian summer.

But watch out: the Australian summer can be very hot and unforgiving, but this is just fine as long as you keep a handy bottle of sunscreen with you and arm yourself with a good pair of UV-proof sunglasses. For Aussie families, summer generally is the time to hit the beach and frolic in the waters. Summer also marks the mid-year break for students; instead of springbreak, they enjoy summer holidays or Christmas holidays. And for backpackers who roam and travel Australia, the Aussie summer can be a liberating experience. Even businesspeople who like to keep busy with work even during the holidays prefer to leave their freezing homelands and travel Australia to seek its cosy warmth.

Before you get any misplaced ideas about Australia as being just pure hard summer, you have to realise that Australia is such a large country that each region experiences different weather patterns. Up north where the tropical rainforests reign, it's mainly high temperatures and high humidity and distinct wet and dry seasons. In the centre of the country, where the Outback sprawls, it's dry, desert regions with high daytime temperatures and occasional bursts of rain. In the south are the temperate regions with moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from hot to cold.

To travel Australia in all its entirety is to witness nature's awesome and breathtaking display of colors, heat, frenzy, and vibrance. It's a land of extremes: one moment you could be enjoying a runny pistachio ice cream under the scorching sun, the next, you could be snuggling tight with a loved one under the velvety pouring rain. There's no perfect weather in which to travel Australia. After all wherever we go, we all bring along with us our pieces of sky and sun and climate.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Travel to Greece

Traveling to any new country away from one’s homeland for a vacation is exciting and filled with fun and when the destination country is such as Greece the excitement and joy attached with it are limitless. Traveling throughout Greece has been a hot favorite amongst both the historians and modern day vacationers. Many of the cities in Greece like Athens, Crete, Macedonia and other Islands of Greece hardly need any introduction. They are the most famous cities of ancient times and offer limitless opportunities for a present day traveler.

The geographical location of many cities in Greece favor wide spread physical structures in those regions. People can find both mountains and seacoasts along side the main city region. This creates an exotic view for any traveler that they would long cherish even after their vacations. A trip to any city in Greece would prove the richness of ancient culture and architecture in this country. A walk around any city would reveal the magnificent historical remains and the museums throughout Greece carry the stories of rich cultural past.

Names such as those of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and many more all have their roots in the city of Athens in Greece. One of the most popular places in Greece is Athens which is a must visit region for any traveler here. It offers numerous options for sight seeing, visiting the most world famous museums and also a great shopping spree. Being a center for tourist visit the area also has various choices of hotels and eateries. All provide excellent services and things as suited to individual requirements.

Greece presents an amazing mix of ancient and modern culture. The archeological sites and latest modern structures all co-exist on the streets of Greece. Also there are immense food options available here. The recipes are mouthwatering and the delicacies served are an excellent blend of traditional food adapted to the modern eating habits. Restaurants in Greece are world famous for providing fabulous traditional dishes and hence it is also a paradise for food lovers.

Numerous islands here are a perfect place for water enthusiasts and the hotels offering rooms with an ocean view only make the place more attractive. Most places in Greece require some movement on foot to enjoy the best experience in these islands. The streets are narrow and vehicular traffic could cause congestion at those places hence vehicles are best avoided. Also an added attraction of the region is the lively nightlife that spreads through the entire region. Nightlife here is rampant and high in sprits offering another option for fun loving people.

As if the ancient views, exotic eateries and other reasons were not enough, being a home to many of the mountains and water bodies Greece also offers numerous facilities for water games and mountain hikes. Sea beaches along the islands are perfect time pass for visitors who can spend the day strolling through the fantastic views of the seashore. Rowing, rafting and boating are also common in this area. Hiking on mountains is an adventurous activity possible in Greece. Whatever be the taste of any traveler Greece has a reason for everyone to visit the country.