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Flamenco Beach (Photo: Lena Katz)

Flamenco Beach (Photo: Lena Katz)

By Lena Katz

You don’t exactly swim in the limpid blue-green sea off the shore of Puerto Rico’s famous Flamenco Beach; you bob like a cork. The warm, calm water and soft sand make this one of the most swimmable beaches in the Western Hemisphere — and hardly trafficked compared with others of its stature. This is only one of many surprises that make Puerto Rico one of America’s favorite Caribbean vacation destinations.

 

Though it hasn’t been given statehood, Puerto Rico’s much more a part of the U.S. infrastructure than most people realize. This is immediately obvious when you step off the plane, passport in hand, to discover that you can whiz straight to bag check and thence to your hotel without passing through Customs. Then once you’re out, behold! Real modern roads, normal taxis and bilingual signage. Walgreens, Haagen-Dazs and Starbucks cater to the everyday needs of the numerous East Coasters who shuttle back and forth from Boston/Jersey/New York to San Juan on a regular basis.

El San Juan Hotel

El San Juan Hotel

While the presence of the familiar makes Puerto Rico comfortable, the exotic and unique sense of place is what makes it fun. There are the impromptu rumba parties Saturday evening at Ocean Park Beach. In Placita el Mercado, vendors blend up fresh banana batidas, and stalls display a busy rainbow of tropical fruits, plantains, random root vegetables and wicked-looking little chilies. When going out for a Friday night on the town — barhopping on Fortaleza Street or merengue dancing in the lobby of the magnificent El San Juan Hotel — locals dress and act like they’re going to a grownup prom. And in the daytime, people take a table smack-dab on the sand at Dos Palmas or Terraza and spend the entire afternoon sipping sangria or Dos Palmas’ signature fresh juice mimosas (passion fruit, tamarindo, grapefruit and more).

Food is a huge part of life in Puerto Rico…and sadly, because of the key ingredients (plantain, yuca, beans, rice, cheese, roast pork) and the cooking methods (fried, fried, stewed, fried) it can only be a Caribbean vacation indulgence for most of us. Dishes like mofongo (fried mashed plantains stuffed with meat or seafood) and arroz con pollo are the ultimate in comfort food. You might not think you can manage them on a tropical 90 degree afternoon, but guess what? After a few glasses of sangria or an ice cold beer, you’ll get in the spirit of things.

Look around at places like Raices Restaurant in Old San Juan — every table is full, with people ages 8 to 80 feasting on fried things and merrily clattering their tin cups on the wooden tables. Lunch is a sport here! Local pit stops like the Luquillo Kioskos offer an endless assortment of fritters, empanadas, and little fried dumplings. And if you tire of traditional dishes, eat a chorizo-stuffed hamburger or Medalla beer-battered tilapia washed down with white sangria at El Jefe Burger Shack, a newcomer to the Kioskos.

There are big, once-in-a-lifetime sights to be seen on this island. Vacationers often make a day trip to El Yunque Rainforest, also known as the Caribbean National Forest. Or they take a night paddle to Laguna Grande in Fajardo or Mosquito Bay in Vieques, where bioluminescence causes the protected waters to glow blue-greeny-silver.  But don’t pack each day and night full of activities. Spontaneity serves you well here, especially if you’re staying on Condado Beach or in Old San Juan.

Caribe Hilton

Caribe Hilton

If you’re in one of the bigger hotels, you won’t need to leave your property to have a fully blissed-out Puerto Rico vacation. At the Caribe Hilton, beachfront hammocks and a bird sanctuary lend tropical flourish to the self-contained luxury resort experience. At Hotel El Convento, which used to be a Carmelite convent and was later a guesthouse for VIPs and diplomats, Colonial history and Old World elegance are preserved, while amenities and services are fully modernized.

Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino

Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino

And at the Marriott Stellaris, business groups mingle with vacationers on permanent happy hour in the vast lobby lounge, while families and honeymooners splash in the pools or play in the Condado Beach surf.  In the 12,700-square-foot casino, the action goes round the clock. And at night, the Marriott Stellaris lobby lounge becomes one of the busiest spots on the island. Grab a table before 10 p.m., because even though it seems like this vast space could never fill up, it actually gets packed with salsa-dancing, people-watching, mojito-drinking patrons.

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Lena Katz is the author of SUN: California and SIP: California, part of the Travel Temptations series published by Globe Pequot Press.

Africa the “Dark Continent

Africa is called the “Dark Continent” for its supposed mystery, Africa is probably the most diverse continent on the planet, offering such a verity and abundance of topography and landscapes, a vacation in Africa can be a wild safari ride as well as a laid back spa vacation with amazing golf breaks in the middle.

No matter what kind of adventure you are looking for, Africa vacation has the power to make your wildest dreams come true. A vacation in Africa may prove to be one that you and your family will remember all your life. Most people choose to go to Africa for a safari, which is probably the main feature for any westerner, there is no place in the world that offers a human being a chance to see wild animals in their natural habitat, and since most people living in the west has grown apart from the wild side of life, this can be one very important lesson about the planet on which we live and who we share it with.

There is such a huge market for African safari that this article could not provide enough information about it, lets just say that form the very moderately prices to the very expensive, the safari trip can easily adapt to the travelers and their needs, some of these safaris are very expensive and from what I have heard they are certainly worth every penny, giving the travelers a truly once in a lifetime experience.

If you are thinking about going to Africa you should know that South Africa has many of the top ranked resorts and hotels in the world, these resorts are world renowned for their entertainment, casinos, golf and activities for all the family. There is an accommodation for everyone, for every kind of price range, and all that in some of the most spectacular places on earth, from the deep blue ocean to the mountain tops you will feel the power of Africa while traveling in South Africa.

One last point, in every travel to another country the traveler is advised to research the local culture and the way he should conduct himself in this unfamiliar territory, this is even more important in South Africa and Africa in general, without proper research and understanding the traveler might get himself into trouble, and this is not a place that provides the protection and the relatively fast solutions as the west does, so please do your homework and research, know where you are going and plan ahead carefully so that your trip will be a successful one. Good and Safe Travle.

Galapagos

Located off the coast of Republic of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands call for an ideal vacationing experience for travelers from all over the world. Whether in sea or in land, Galapagos Island Vacation offers you the most striking natural treasures on earth. The Ecuador Galapagos travel will offer you a perfect getaway with its unusual beauty and charm almost unparallel when compared to the great places on this planet. Invaded by the pirates and buccaneers, the islands offer the most mysterious and turbulent history to have a look. Today, the Galapagos Islands form to be the most impressive natural destination of the country. With the turn of 21st century, Galapagos Islands have been rediscovered as the most enchanted islands offering a pleasurable vacation for all you adventure lovers. A travel to Galapagos Islands will take you to a dream expedition where you get to enjoy scuba dive along with the attractive sea turtles, hammerhead sharks and see the pristine beauty that this place is known for. Galapagos holidays are not only for the adventure travelers; people looking for an escape to a quite and serene place to spend sometime with closed ones can also select it as their next holiday destination. All islands are isolated from the other ecosystems and each of them has evolved with an entirely unusual biodiversity with time. At present, the Galapagos tours make for a perfect location to spend time some in sheer enjoyment with friends away from home. In addition, all newly wedded couples looking to spend some time in togetherness away from the hustle and bustle of other holiday destinations can select Galapagos Islands as a honey moon destination to explore the natural reserves together. Ecuador Vacation Travel Guide offers you all kinds of comprehensive traveling information making your Ecuador Islands Tours a wonderful one in all respects. The traveling information includes different modes of transportation facilities available helping you out to reach the far off islands. With their map, you will be able to tailor and create your vacation tour chartering a cruise or a yacht with closed ones. Galapagos Cruises: Galapagos Islands Cruise will be the unique way to explore more secluded islands, which are located far away. There are a range of Galapagos cruises lined for you to offer you a memorable journey. Meeting your time and price range, the cruise journey can extend from a 4 day long journey to an 8 day long cruise journey. As each island includes its own distinct biological and geographical world, journeying in Galapagos cruises will offer you the best of the islands. You will be able to walk and experience along the volcanic rocks and the changing landscapes and the lush green highland forests. By far it will be a great learning and adventure experience to remember. Galapagos Island Vacation Yachts It's the Galapagos Yachts that calls for the most exciting and wonderful Galapagos Vacations. For some interesting and true expeditions to these islands, you can select yachts that offer great opportunity for scuba diving. Most people coming to Galapagos from different parts of the world feel that Ecuador Tours can never be complete without a trip to its most enchanting islands. Every traveler will find some or other activity to experience and enjoy a wonderful vacation. With a variety of recreational activities on offer, you will never want this journey to end. So the next time you come to Ecuador, look for recognized Galapagos tour operators that promise you to offer the best out of Ecuador vacations. There is no place on Earth quite like the extraordinary Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 kilometers west of continental Ecuador. The islands are geologically young and are famed for their great number of endemic species (that is, species unique to a particular geographic location) which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. Darwin's research there contributed to the inception of his theory of evolution by natural selection.

The Galapagos Islands, formed due to an uneven line of chasms and ridges known as the Galapagos Rift, are in and of themselves a study of geology in action; in fact, the Galapagos Islands comprise one of the most volcanically active areas on Earth. More than 50 eruptions in 200 years have been recorded from the Galapagos volcanoes, six of which are still active. Most of the islands were made from a single volcanic cone rising to a high point with gentle slopes and a flat coastline. Española (the oldest of the chain) and Fernandina (the youngest), with their single volcanic cones, represent typical Galapagos volcanoes which are known as shield volcanoes - said to resemble a warrior's shield.

The creation of the islands was due mainly to the existence of three plates of the Earth's crust: the Pacific, the Nacza, and the Cocos. As a result of the spreading of the sea floor along the Galapagos Rift and the East Pacific Rise, the islands are moving east at more than seven centimeters per year. Because of this movement, the "hot spot" that formed the islands keeps forming new islands, resulting in the "trail" of islands that we call the Galapagos.

The best way to see Galapagos is on a boat-based cruise, although it is also possible to make day trips from a hotel on the islands. The islands are managed by the Galapagos National Park (GNP), which require all tourists to be accompanied by a qualified naturalist guide. The Park has designated more than 60 visitors' sites, enabling tourists to see all the best wildlife; the rest of the National Park is out of bounds to tourists. In addition to the land sites, Galapagos offers excellent diving opportunities.

Cheap europe vacation

Cheap europe vacation

 

Are you are inclined to spend these vacation in the paradise of the world and the second largest continent of the world? Europe is one of the best contenders among top holiday destinations. A diverse continent that spreads out widely comprising numerous countries, enriched with rich culture and several tourist spots. The astounding architecture, historical sites and vibrant night life which can cast spell on anyone.

A low airfare enables you to make your trip cheap. The flight tickets have higher charges on weekends so better book your tickets in mid days i.e. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Even your return tickets can be on the weekdays. This way you will be able to save great deal of money for yourself.

To make your trip cheap and convenient you will have to plan everything beforehand. Right from deciding the luggage to carry, booking your tickets, reserving your hotels, hiring a tourist guide and shopping to be done everything should be decided in advance. You can even select holiday package from an array of packages to make your trip convenient and affordable. Everything can be planned according to your financial parameters and preferences. You can make a list of counties that you would want to visit and fall under your budget. For making your holiday cheap you can choose some low cost hotels that offer good amenities as against the five start hotels. This would bring down your cost and help you save a lot.

If you are planning to take professional help, then go for a travel company or agency that specializes in European vacations and is quite reliable. You can choose their package that fits your requirements and budget both. Having a good and experienced guide is basic requirement. This can really help you plan a cheap European vacation. But if you are still unsure then accessing the information online can help you. You can grab all the required and necessary information online.

Winter in France

 

For the last twenty years the most popular skiing destination for European skiers has been France – and as skiing is an often repeated holiday it’s no accident that one country gets a higher share of the ski holidays market than any other.

The French Pyrenees and Alps both offer world class slopes, beautiful resorts and some of the best restaurants in the world. These elements combine to create the ideal location for the perfect ski holiday.

The French Pyrenees contains many spectacular ski resorts. One notable resort is Bareges-La Mongie, which is the second oldest resort in the country. Once used as a military training base, this is the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees, featuring over 100 kilometers of lift served ski runs. There are many more kilometers of off-piste skiing to be discovered and enjoyed, and snowboarding is gaining popularity.

In the early days of the Winter Olympics, many champions came from this area to dominate the sport. The hotels in the village are full of old-fashioned charm and avoid the lifeless feel of modern hotels. Several airports are located within an hour or two of the area, and both the motorway system and railways come through the area.

Another great ski resort in the Pyrenees is Saint-Lary-Soulan. There are fifty three pistes in the resort, with over 100 kilometers of runs. The resort is divided into three sections. There is a family section, an experienced skiing section, and a snow park section. There are restaurants with a wide variety of culinary delights from all over the world, as well of course fine French cuisine.

The French Alps offer beautiful resorts for everyone in the family, from the pro to the novice. The Alpine mountain range extends into Switzerland, Germany and Italy in addition to France, but many experts agree that the best skiing is found in the French part of the mountain range. In fact, the range allows for year round French ski holidays

If you’re a thrill seeking expert skier, be sure to check out the slopes of Chamonix. It is the highest peak in Europe, nestled in a beautiful skiing town. Imagine the rush as you rapidly descend nearly 16,000 feet from the top of Mont Blanc. If such a rush is at the top of your to do list, be sure to check into Chamonix.

Are you looking for a little less death defying action on the slopes on your French skiing holiday? Try out the slopes of Val d’Isere. It is one of the most family friendly ski villages in all of France. Novices and children will particularly enjoy the fact that certain slopes are reserved exclusively for the inexperienced in Val d’Isere. Of course, there are slopes of each difficulty in the village, so skiers looking for a challenge are welcomed, as well. Val d’Isere became well known when characters in the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous vacationed there regularly.

Whether you choose to take a ski holiday in the Pyrenees or Alps, skiing the mountains of France is an adventure for beginners and experts alike. From breathtaking vistas to the finest resorts in Europe, French skiing has something special for everyone, and will no doubt be the number one choice for the majority of European skiers for the 2010 ski holidays season as it has been for previous ski holiday seasons.

 

Source: http://www.nicevacation.info

European cruise holiday

If you’re considering a but have previously toured the Mediterranean and the Baltic, another option awaits you: a river cruise.

A river cruise provides a relaxing, scenic way to visit Prague, Vienna, Cologne, Budapest and many more centers of European history, art and culture. among the cities, you’ll find lovely villages and calm countryside.

River cruise ships are different from their ocean-going equivalents. On these tinier, lower-profile boats, you’re not likely to discover amenities such as swimming pools or casinos. But, you will find comfortable cabins and public areas, which usually have wide windows and wide-open decks for viewing the ever-changing view. The boat’s flat bottoms offer a calm ride, reducing any worries regarding motion sickness.

The smaller dimension of river cruise boats also signifies they may reach places that their larger, ocean-going cousins cannot. River cruise ships can literally sail into the heart of each destination, docking close to city centers. There will be something new to do and see on shore every day, and a lot of coastline excursions are included in the base cost of a river cruise.

The very popular river cruises in Europe may be those that float below the Rhine or the Danube, however cruise ships also tour on the Main, the Seine and many others. For example, in the Low Countries of The Netherlands and Belgium, cruise boats tour the Nieuw Maas, Waal and Schelde Rivers to call on Amsterdam, Antwerp and Rotterdam. Spring is an amazing time to cruise there, as the windmill-dotted scenery comes lively with multi-colored tulips.

A lot of river cruise travelers enjoy consuming a number of additional days in the cities – such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris or Lucerne – where their cruises begin or finish, taking days to know more about a city that can’t be reached by an ocean cruise.

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Scheduling a Mexico vacation

Are you interested in vacationing in Mexico? If you are, have you already made your vacation plans? If not, you will have to start making those plans soon. When it comes to scheduling a Mexico vacation, you have a nubmer of different ways to make your reservations. You may be wondering which method is the best.

Booking a Mexico vacation is similar to booking a vacation anywhere else in the world. Before making reservations, you will have to select a vacation destination. Mexico is a large area that has a number of popular tourist attractions. If you are interested in vacationing at a well-known resort, booking your vacation may be easy. The most well-known vacation destinations in Mexico include beach resorts and golf resorts.

If you are interested in staying a resort, it is likely that the resort will have an online website. Many popular resorts in Mexico allow you to make and pay for your reservations online. If you are pressed for time or are looking for a simple way to book your Mexico vacation reservations, you may find this method of booking the best.

While beach and golf resorts are popular in Mexico, they are not the only place that you can stay while on vacation.

Mexico most wanted resorts

Depending on where you want to visit in Mexico, different resorts offer different facilities and attractions. Many people who choose to vacation in Mexico arrive at their resort and spend the entire duration of their stay at their chosen location. This is because many resorts in Mexico are well equipped with a wide range of accommodations and services, ranging from tennis courts and golf courses to fitness centers and spas. If you find yourself itching for activity outside of what your resort offers, there are plenty of other activities to be had as well.

Many resorts in the southern regions of Mexico, particularly around Yucatan and Quintana Roo offer the ability to take daily trips to archaeology sites, as well as a number of other adventurous activities, such as boat riding, water skiing, paragliding, and much more. On the Pacific Coast, the Grand Velas Resort and Spa in Peurto Vallarta is a great example of a resort which offers you hundreds of activities to engage in. If you’ll be finding yourself in the Baja region of Mexico, you’re in for the most stunning sunset cruises you’ll find anywhere in the world, coupled with whale watching and a great many opportunities for sports fishing.

Because many different resorts offer a wide variety of activities which cater to different requirements and budgets, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re looking for before you settle on any particular establishment. The most popular resort destination in Mexico is Cancun. Cancun is a pre-planned city and totally self-contained, but there are many attractions nearby, including archaeological areas, as well as other eco tourism attractions.

Aside from Cancun, the second most visited place in Mexico is Acapulco. Acapulco has two distinct areas, defined as the old town, and the newer, more recently developed “Punto Diamante”, or Diamond Point. It is situated further south along the coast, but offers some of the best experiences which can be had in the area.

Two other great spots which have sprung up recently include Huatulco, on the Pacific Coast, and Loreto, in Baja California. Huatulco is famous for its low-rise resorts which have plenty of activities both in the resort and the surrounding area. Once of the most popular is an excellent golf course which overlooks the ocean. Loreto is Mexico’s newest resort area, which offers many first class facilities on the Baja peninsula.

Mexico Vacation

With all of the romantic destinations in the world, you may be wondering why you should vacation in Mexico.

Romantic getaways in Mexico are popular for an unlimited number of different reasons.  Perhaps, the climate is what draws in most couples.  Almost all year long, the climate in Mexico is tropical, warm, and inviting.  Many couples schedule a Mexico vacation to escape their cold weather. In addition to escaping cold weather, there is just something about a tropic environment that generates romance.

Aside from the weather, many of the vacation destinations found in Mexico are geared for couples that are looking for a romantic getaway.  There are a number of popular vacation destinations in Mexico, the most popular being Mexico’s beaches.  If you are interested in scheduling a romantic getaway at a Mexico beach, you have a number of different options to choose from.

When vacationing at a beach in the United States, many couples visit the beach and then return to their hotel room. Similar accommodations are available in Mexico; however, the area is most famous for its beautiful beach resorts.  If you are looking to have direct access to the beach and everything it has to offer, you may want to consider booking a stay at a Mexico beach resort.

In addition to having onsite accommodations, many Mexico beach resorts are known for their romantic environments and atmospheres.  By directly contacting a beach resort or by researching one online, you can easily determine whether the resort caters specifically to couples.  When looking for a romantic beach resort, you may want to consider the onsite activities for children.  If children are allowed to stay onsite, many romantic hotels refrain from offering onsite activities; this may help to keep the setting more mature.

The Mexico destination you select to vacation at is important when planning a romantic getaway. In addition to destinations, you will want to consider the activities that you can participate in.  Mexico has an unlimited number of vacation activities that can be found all around the country.  The best way to bring romance to your vacation is to determine which of the vacation activities brings you pleasure.

Just a few of the many things that you can do while vacationing in Mexico include boating, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and horseback riding.  Many couples find beachside horseback riding to be relaxing and romantic, all at the same time. While snorkeling or scuba diving, you may be amazed with what you see and learn. For many, this excitement helps to generate romance.

When booking your romantic Mexico getaway, you may find that the cost of vacationing in Mexico can be expensive.  If you are planning a romantic vacation, while on a budget, you can still visit many of the above mentioned destinations and participate in many of the above mentioned activities.

To obtain low-cost reservations in Mexico, you are encouraged to search for vacation packages or all-inclusive packages. Traditional vacation packages often combine hotel and travel accommodations.  In addition to including hotel and travel accommodations, all-inclusive vacation packages are likely to include your cost of foods, drinks, and possibly your entertainment.  You can easily search for these Mexico vacation packages by directly contacting a vacation resort or by visiting the resort’s online website.

While it is nice to plan your own romantic Mexico vacation, you may want to consider acquiring the services of a travel agent.  Travel agents often operate locally or online.  In addition to offering you suggestions on romantic vacation destinations, your travel agent will likely save you money.  A large number of travel agents are given special deals and discounts on many vacation destinations, including Mexico.  Many of these deals are not available to the general public.

Whether you choose to enjoy a romantic getaway at a Mexico beach or you choose another location, you are sure to enjoy your trip.  With all that it has to offer, Mexico can easily be considered a lovers paradise.

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