travel | hotel

Cheap Family Fun Vacation Destinations in the USA – Unique and Affordable Ideas

November 15, 2018

| travel, vacation

Cedar Breaks National Monument, located in Dixie National Forest in south western Utah, is a great spot for camping with family without breaking the family vacation budget. The place is very beautiful and inexpensive also. This region is popular for valleys, mesas, rivers, and cliffs. In summer, the lush green alpine meadows and beautiful wildflower shows attract everyone. This natural landmark offers many facilities like fishing, boating, hiking, cycling, wildlife watching, or discovering the place with your camera. The Cedar City-Brian Head Tourism Bureau can guide to plan your tour making it kids-friendly and economical.

Another idea to make your family vacation a fun in an economical way is to use the facilities provided by the RV Industry Association. One can hire a motor from El Monte RV to travel with children. You can take with you everything required during the trip, as the company’s motor is lust like a huge home-on-wheels. You can stop where you want to. This gives a sense of adventure. There is no need to pay airfare, stay at shabby motels and costly hotels. You can make your meals and enjoy it on board, and avoid spending on expensive food items.

Fort Collins, located in northern Colorado with the beautiful Colorado Mountains in the background, is a wonderful and quite reasonable family vacation spot. Fort Collins has hundreds of miles of bike tracks and nature trails ideal for biking and picnicking. There are many family-friendly activities to do in northern Colorado. Poudre Canyon is known for picnic, hiking, and biking. Besides, there are Westville Zoo; Gardens on Spring Creek; Greenway Paths; and Bee Family Centennial Farm, an interactive museum where one can know about farming in the past and present.

Fort Collins has many parks covering more than 800 acres of devoted park area, plus the easily reachable playground at the new Spring Canyon Park. Other attractions include Science by-way – Cache La Poudre/North Park Scenic Byway, Old Town Square live music concerts, Fort Collins Museum, and Environmental Learning Center where one can watch rehabilitated birds, stroll on the nature paths, or take part in current educational activities. All these unique ideas can make your family vacation fun-filled and inexpensive.…

Las Vegas – The Best Way to Enjoy a Las Vegas Vacation is When it is Free

November 12, 2018

| hotel, vacation

Yes, I said a free Vacation to Las Vegas, and no I have not had a few too many free cocktails at my favorite Las Vegas casino. Over the last few years I have made many trips to Las Vegas and a couple of them have been free. The trips included airfare and hotel. With those two major expenses taken care of, I had more money to see shows, eat in fancy restaurants, and gamble.

You have to remember that finding a free vacation will take a little effort on your part, so if your willing to exchange a little time for an airline ticket and a free hotel room this information is for you.

The first way to acquire a free vacation is not for people who can not end a lousy sales person talking to you for one to two hours. If you can constantly say no, then taking advantage of the companies selling timeshares may be for you. Simply go to your favorite online search engine and type in timeshares and you will be seeing a lot of companies offering vacations and other gifts, if your interested simply contact them and sign up. If you can not take a two-hour presentation, or you can be talked into buying things you do not need avoid this method at all cost.

I went through one timeshare company and three hours and saying about a hundred times, I finally left with my vacation package. I had to pay the taxes and wait about sixty days before I could actually go because of date restrictions, but finally with a little persistence I enjoyed my free, three-day vacation in Las Vegas.

The second way I won a vacation was by entering a sweepstakes on the Internet. Well, actually I entered about twenty! I remember my girlfriend telling me there was no way I could win. So when I did win and it included three nights at the Bellagio I made her apologize before I took her with me!

The third way is to search all your local charity raffles. I can usually find several a year that offer inexpensive tickets with a chance to win a free Las Vegas Vacation. I always buy these tickets and if I do not win at least the money goes to a good cause. Sometimes you can find these raffles on the Internet locally or all across the country with your favorite search engine.

Always remember that even if you win a free Las Vegas vacation you will have to pay the taxes. So if you are willing to invest a little time and effort a free vacation can be yours.…

Swing Away During Newquay Holidays

November 10, 2018

You can splurge your dog-friendly holidays in Newquay with a plethora of thrilling activities you can explore along the coastline, with Mother Nature, or indoors. Your dog-friendly Newquay holidays will be most memorable if you take time to visit all the local attractions. Beach bums will love to get a good tan or just hang out at pristine beach resorts. For compulsive shoppers, enjoy some retail therapy. Pub lovers will not be disappointed with the traditional pubs offering great food and drinks as well as warm hospitality. For water sports adventurers, you can engage in swimming, diving, jet-skiing, water-skiing, kayaking, sailing or boating. For those who wish to have a gastronomic journey, you can head out to fine dining establishments. If you are a golf enthusiast, swing away in one of the awesome golf course around Newquay.

Cape Cornwall Golf Course

Your Newquay holidays will be most satisfying if you can visit this golf area. Play to your heart’s content in its premiere location. It will be a worthy endeavor during your holidays in Newquay because you can get to explore the fascinating fairways, cliff drops, and lush vegetation in the course way. The surroundings are ideal settings to a peaceful game of golf with your buddies and other visitors. Relax frayed nerves and ease anxiety and tension while swinging away the best you can. You can be sure of the many benefits that your game of golf can bring, like improved resistance, stronger muscles, a slimmer body, and a healthier and improved immune system. If you visit Newquay frequently, you can also avail of memberships in the Cape Cornwall Golf Area. The friendly golf members would welcome you openly.

Bowood Park Hotel Golf Course

This magnificent golf course is set on 230 acres of excellent golfing area. During your Newquay holidays , visit Bowood Park Hotel Golf Course and be revitalized by its charm and beauty. The beautiful hills, verdant trees, and complete amenities are luxuries you deserve during your dog-friendly holidays in Newquay. Take advantage of the challenging golf games as much as you can. You can meet many businessmen and holidaymakers here. Swinging away in its lush greereries is a therapeutic session. The exciting golf manoeuvres executed in this golf area are similar to that of world-renovated golf courses around the world. You will be treated to a picturesque view while playing golf. Concentrating on your next move is not hard to do especially if you are surrounded with the beautiful and serene landscape. Tee time at Bowood Park Hotel Golf Course is a fun and inspiring activity for family and friends. Golfing is a good exercise for physically active people who would like entertainment and healthy routines at the same time.…

An All Inclusive Vacation in the Beautiful Caribbean Islands

November 7, 2017

| travel, vacation

There are many all inclusive Caribbean vacation packages that are available to tourists worldwide. The typical cost of an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation can range between $ 700 and $ 1000 per person for a four-day trip. There are many options that are offered by travel agents and you should browse your options thoroughly before making a decision.

All inclusive Caribbean vacation packages

Travel agents often perform many promotional activities in order to further their business, especially during holiday season when competition is highest, and it is this time that you can find the best deals for all inclusive Caribbean vacation packages. Since these packages are typically announced close to the holiday and fall seasons you really need to be careful with your planning so that you can get your tickets booked and everything mapped out in order to cover as many places as you can visit in the short duration of your all inclusive Caribbean vacation package.

Depending on the type of package that you opt for, there will be different kinds of concessions and facilities offered to you. For example, some packages may include sailing, kayaking, and tennis at the place where you stay. Some other packages would go a different way and offer more options for kids. Yet others would offer casinos, spas, health clubs, temporary golf memberships, and so on. And there are always the extra offers at an additional cost that might include water-sports, fitness centers, piano bars, and so forth. It should be clear that the greater the options provided within and all inclusive Caribbean vacation package, the higher will be its cost.

Fine Print

Most people just look at the broad details of all inclusive Caribbean vacation packages but that is a very bad idea, you should look at everything in detail, especially the fine print (or items that are followed by a *), because these are the hidden costs that no one will tell you about until you get the bill. You are going on a vacation for a pleasant time, so do not let something as silly as a hidden cost spoil your fun. Most packages will include the air fare and accommodation costs but you should read to be sure whether the meals are included or not and how much, if anything, you will have to pay for the local activities once you are on vacation.

Resort choices

Do not select an all inclusive Caribbean vacation package solely on the merit of cost and features. Check out all the facilities that will be available at the resort you will be staying and whether it measures up to your requirements. Different people have different needs. Some need fitness centers, beauty shops, sports activities. Families with children have different kinds of requirements so you should be sure that you will be comfortable where you are going.…

Best All Inclusive Cruise – Get Away on a Great Vacation Cruise

November 22, 2016

| travel, vacation

If you are looking to taking a cruise vacation and you may want to choose an all-inclusive option. Many of us dream of getting away on a vacation cruise and now with many of the cruise companies lower their prices it can be a reality for you. There are many advantages to taking an all inclusive type of vacation. The largest advantaged you will have is a have is your entire vacation will only cost you one price.this can be important because when you take a regular vacation you never know what it is going to cost you for food and other activities. With an all-inclusive cruise your room, food, and activities are all paid for in one price.

It is always better when you take a vacation if you can have everything included in one price. This is the advantage you get in taking an all-inclusive cruise vacation. Make sure that when you talk to your travel agent you ask them to look for a cruise where everything is included. it is important that you make sure that before you book you know about all the fees that you’re going to pay so there are no surprises in the end. If you are planning a vacation usually consider a cruise to a destination that you have always wanted to go to.

Remember that taking an all-inclusive cruise is your best option for an affordable vacation. Many people are taking advantage of paying one prize for their food, room, and all activities. In a traditional vacation you usually pay for the room but there are many other costs involved such as food and activities.…

Alaska Ski Vacations – Is Alaska The Best Skiing Spot In The World?

November 13, 2016

| hotel, vacation

The word Alaska brings to mind a sense of wealth and sheer open spaces, while being recognizing as a natural source of awe and mystery – plus being one of the best skiing spots in the world. Considered by some as one of the finest four season resorts, the Alyeska Prince Hotel and Ski Resort – located 35 miles south of Anchorage, Alaska – has a top elevation of 2,751 feet with a 2,501 vertical drop. Alaska has some of the best skiing in the world, yet at the Alyeska Resort we do not find overly crowded slopes with long lift lines. To accommodate the large number of skiers, there are nine lifts, which includes six chair lifts, two surface lifts, and one cable car line. There are 68 trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts, with the major of the trails designed for intermediate skiers.

Nighttime skiing is allowed, which helps to make the ski experience more adventurous and thrilling. Exciting views such as the snow-capped mountains, hanging glaciers, and of course, the famous Northern Lights can be seen during this time. Skiing Magazine rankings this resort number nine of the top 25 killer ski trips. Every year, this skiing winter wonderland receives about 631 inches of snow, warm the hearts of the world’s skiers who enjoy traveling to Alaska. Once a person stays at the Alyeska Prince Hotel, there never will be a doubt this is the place to stay for the utmost Alaska ski vacations!

The ultimate enjoyment of their elegant rooms and exquisite dining, combined with popular nightly entertainment, shows the Alaska ski resorts are the perfect places to vacation, where you can not only ski but also enjoy the last of our country’s great frontiers. At the Alyeska Resort, the perfect winter vacation can be experienced when spirited outdoor skiers brave the elements, then return to the Alyeska Hotel for some old-fashioned, home-style pampering. Get a taste of what Alaska is really about and what serious skiing is! There are enjoyable activities for the entire family, from grandma and grandpa on down to tiny toots, with many area sights and attractions to be seen. If you decide to “go out on the town” while touring the area, several nightlife spots are just as fun and enjoyable, but are not associated with the Alyeska Price Hotel.

Mid-November is when the skiing season begins at the Alyeska Resort, running until mid-April. This area encompasses the longest daytime hours in the United States, having sixteen hours of daylight each day in the month of April. During December, however, there is only seven hours of daylight, which means there is more time for night skiing. If skiing is something that does not interest you, then tubing may. The Glacier Tubing Park features two lanes of terrain, with a surface lift – everyone in the family will enjoy spending time here. Also is the Alyeska Terrain Park, an absolute must for snowboarding enthusiasts.

Other winter activities that can be enjoyed in …

Getting a UAE Visa

April 19, 2019

To work in the UAE you must have a sponsor. This can be someone already living there or an employer who will sponsor you for admittance so you can take up a job.

There are different kids of visa for different kinds of work and lengths of stay and the one you need will be decided on the basis of number of things that are taken account like whether you are coming to work or for a holiday, the country you are coming from.

If you are already a citizen of one of the countries in the Gulf Cooperative Council then you don’t actually need a visa – merely your passport (those countries are Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, The United Arab Emirates and Oman).

Otherwise you will receive your visa on arrival at the airport.

If you are a citizen of an Arab Gulf Country Council (but not one of the GCC countries) and belong to a list of certain professional occupations then you will be allowed a 30 day visa. These occupations tend to be the professions – doctors, accountants, engineers and public sector workers.

If you belong to one of the countries on an approved list then you can get a free single visit visa – but verify with a UAE embassy before travelling. The countries on the approved include the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the countries within the EU and some others. A full, up to date list can be seen on the UAE immigration services website.

If you don’t qualify for a visa under any of these more-or-less automatic critera, then you must apply for a visa through a sponsor. The sponsor must sort out all of the paperwork on your behalf:

A sponsor in the Hotel and Tourist Industry can apply for a 14 day Service Visa, a 30 day Tourist Visa or a 30 day Visit Visa which can be extended for another 30 days at a later.
Airlines can apply for a 4 day Transit Visa for airline staff.
Other sectors within the UAE can only seek to obtain Visit Visa’s and Service Visas but not Tourist Visas.
If you have a friend on relative already living the UAE then they can apply for a visa on your behalf as a sponsor.

If these rules sound fairly straightforward that’s because, in most cases they are. However visitors from countries including Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Niger have further limitations. It is always advised that you check with The Naturalisation and Residency Administration of the Ministry of the Interior for the region of Dubai to get proper, up-to-date information.

If you are coming to the region to work and your employed is sorting out the visa on your behalf there a few things to be aware of.

The sponsoring company handles all paperwork required for your visa application, and employment visas only last an initial 30 days (although they can be extended).
You can’t leave the sponsoring company without their permission

…

Five Star Hotels in Singapore Are Lined Up on All Prominent Online Hotels Booking Websites

April 18, 2019

Singapore is a trend setter example for those ones who are always looking for some excuses for hiding their weakness. It does not have natural resources but remarkably established itself as a prominent regional hub for international trade, shipping and air transport. Most of the fortune multinational companies have established their office in Singapore. The prominent industries in Singapore are electronics, chemicals, financial services, petroleum refining, food processing, ship repair, offshore platform construction, biotechnology and entrepot trade.

Such fine business centre needs high end luxury hotels. Hence, numerous five star hotels in Singapore are lined up on all prominent online hotels booking websites. This cosmopolitan city is friendly for every community. Major religions in the country are Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Almost all people regardless of community and religion have high level of disposable income compared to other Southeast Asian country people. Such statistic also encourages Singapore 5 star hotels for their further expansion.

Domestic and international telecommunication services in Singapore are the best in the world which is an essential component of being world class business spot. Even transportation system is excellent here. The country magnificently manages sea and air carriers. The major trading partners of the country are Malaysia, US, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. Exported goods include electrical and electronic products, machineries and equipments, processed foods, consumer goods, chemicals and mineral fuels. Similarly, major imported goods are machineries and equipments, mineral fuels, chemicals and foods.

Star hotels Singapore is perfectly aware with the needs and sentiments of the guest as most of guests are business persons who frequently come into the country. Usually, these person belongs to Malaysia, US, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea and star hotels always keep prepare themselves for all sorts of demands like conferencing facility, meeting rooms and so on. Even, prominent online hotel booking websites also may offer several special packages for frequent business persons. Numerous discounted offer packages and deals from foremost hotels turned them into good quality budget hotels which attract wide range of middle income group as well.

One can be benefited with several ways while booking their accommodation through these websites. Apart from discounted packages and deals, numerous special offers may be available here for students and senior citizens. Few additional benefits also may be offered like airport transfer facilities, tickets for events and shows and so on. Hence truly, time has arrived to embody your dream tour to Singapore.…

Honeymoon Vacation Ideas Can Be Economical

April 17, 2019

| travel, vacation

If you are looking for honeymoon vacation ideas that will be the most enjoyable without putting you into massive debt, consider some of these tips.

The purpose of the honeymoon vacation is only minimally to live for a few days like extravagant royalty. The real purpose is for and your loved one to have the most beautiful and memorable experience of your lives. Decide exactly how much you really can afford to spend, and spend it all (but not more). It's always good to be frugal, but do not be stingy! After all, this is your honeymoon.

Honeymoon vacations are even more important than your typical week away from work. Do all the planning in advance – and make contingency plans, as well – to make sure you and your spouse will be totally free from stress for the entire occasion.

A travel agent will have an array of honeymoon vacation packages for destinations all over the world. These include a stay at an all-inclusive resort, a rental vehicle, and a schedule of various activities for your entertainment. Since just about everything is included in the price of the package, you can end up paying less than if you had booked it all separately.

A "prefab" honeymoon vacation package will provide some bang for your buck, but there are also some issues to keep in mind. For one thing, there is only so much that can be done to customize the experience to your preferences – and doing this can add to the price. During certain times of the year, the more traditional honeymoon vacation spots can be teeming with tourists and fellow honeymooners. Ask your travel agent for some statistics to help you book a destination during its off-peak season.

Not many people have the budget to fly around the planet or pay the price of hand-and-foot service at a posh resort. There are many ways to create the romantic ambience and enjoy the perfect honeymoon vacation with even the smallest of budgets. For example, everyone sees to associate honeymoon vacations with travel. It's as if there were no romantic getaways within 1,000 miles of anyone's home. That is obviously crazy, since there are probably couples visiting their own honeymoon vacation spaces within a few miles of you right now!

Instead of setting your sights on the ancient monuments of Europe or South America, look first in your own locale. In all likelihood, you can build the ideal honeymoon vacation package without even leaving your state. It will not include the glamor of flying to an exotic, remote island, but all that money you would have spent on plane tickets and passports can go towards even better things. …

How to Hike Like a Sherpa and Tips For Your Next Outdoor Recreation Adventure

April 16, 2019

The best path to good health involves exercise. This does not mean joining a gym and hiring a personal trainer. A brisk walk is great for a cardio workout. Best of all, it's free to walk. After making several circuits around the neighborhood, it might help to expand the walking route. This is where the idea of hiking along a trail comes into play. The abundance of state and national parks means no one would be prohibitively far from a hiking trail. Just because someone has mastered the energetic walk does not mean that they are ready to take on the next level of outdoor recreation that would be an intense hike. This is an exercise that should be approached much like the hike itself: Slow and steady. Here are some valuable tips to make sure a hike experience can be a winning one.

Leave the Denim in the Drawer

Check the label on a pair of denim jeans. It will read, "Made with cotton." That's great for casual wear but horrible on a mountain trail. Wet denim takes forever to dry out. It also draws out body heat leaving the wearer shivering. Embracing outdoor recreation means being prepared to embrace the elements and geological waterways. Cotton is not the clothing to be worn on these adventures.

Always Drink Water

Headaches, dizziness, and lack of focus are all signs of dehydration. The number one sign is when a person becomes thirsty. At that moment, the body is asking for water. On a hiking trail, the hiker needs to carry his or her hydration. Ideally, that would mean a six-ounce drink every twenty minutes. That keeps the hydration flowing before the body has a chance to get thirsty. Keep in mind that water is needed just as much on the way down as on the way up.

Break in Hiking Shoes Before the Hike

The first time a person goes on a hike is not the time to break in a pair of hiking shoes. Those shoes should be worn around for a few days before hitting the trail. It is also helpful to give the feet a break. During lunch or rest, remove the shoes and massage the feet. A nice foot cool down will help prolong the outdoor recreation.

Start Early

Hikes work best in the early morning hours. The sun has not had a chance to reach its zenith for the day, and that means cooler temperatures. The longer a hiker waits to take to the trail, the less actual time they'll have outdoors. Getting stuck on a trail after dark is not recommended even for the most experienced hikers.

Notify Friends

After all the preparation, an outdoor recreation adventure can go south in a heartbeat. Look no further than "127 Hours" for a prime example of that. There is nothing wrong with wanting to commune with nature by hiking solo. However, it is highly recommended that any hiker tells a friend where they are going and what …

Let Your Guests Play A Game To Win An Upgrade

April 16, 2019

Sometimes guests get bored in a hotel room. They do not want to watch TV, read a book or relax, but are looking for something else. How about giving your guests a jigsaw that is fun to complete? In addition, the completion of the jigsaw could be worth a prize of your choice.

Let’s say one of your guests finishes a jigsaw of yours and brings it down to the reception to pick up the promised gift.

This is a wonderful situation for both parties. The guest is enormously happy and proud that they finished the jigsaw and receives an awesome gift from the hotel; you, on the other hand, can be certain that this guest is not going to forget this experience and triumph.

The gift is the icing on the cake for the guest. If you provide a delightful one it ensures that the guest will talk about this experience with family members, friends, and colleagues. It is not common at all to provide a guest of an accommodation business with the chance to win an amazing price simply by putting together a jigsaw. That is pretty unique.

In addition, who says that the jigsaw has to be easy? Nowadays you can easily produce your own jigsaw. Simply put, you can choose your own layout and the quantity of pieces. I recommend creating three levels of difficulty for your jigsaws. Each level has its own prize. Your guests can choose one level during their stay and they only have one opportunity. You can make it even harder to complete by setting a time in which the jigsaw has to be completed after picking it up at the reception.

Another strategy would be to have a 5000 – 10,000 piece jigsaw available that has to be completed within one week. The completion is worth two more days in your accommodation free of charge. By following this strategy you could convince your guests to stay longer!

You could make the whole game even more interesting and challenging by saying that a borrowed jigsaw game has to be at least half completed at checkout, otherwise, the guests have to do something silly (for example saying I love XYZ HOTEL into a camera, etc.).

Guests that complete your jigsaws are ideal for taking pictures of, which you can use for your social media marketing. People that see these pictures online will ask themselves what this is all about and you will undoubtedly create curiosity with it. Imagine that you are the first accommodation business that provides such games and prizes for regular guests in your own town. That alone is a powerful reason for guests to book your accommodation again. This strategy adds massive value to your accommodation business, and adding value is one of the best ways to rise to the top and become really successful in what you do.…

Time and Money – The Two Things You Must Have to Travel

April 14, 2019

| hotel, travel, vacation

"He who does not travel does not know the value of men." – Moorish proverb

If you had more time and more money, what would you do more of?

The overwhelming response is:

"Travel!"

Almost everyone wants to travel more. But there are two things most people need more of that essential to travel:

1) Money
2) Time

Let me explain that money really is not the issue for many people, although most tend to think that it is the # 1 thing that they need more of to travel.

This simply is not true. Travel agencies have programmed us into thinking that travel is expensive. They try to make us think that it costs $ 4,000 plus round-trip airfare for a short 10 to 14 day vacation.

Travel agencies try to sell us travel. The fact of the matter is – trying to sell travel is like trying to sell air – it's completely unnecessary.

But they certainly try to charge you for it.

World travel can be done for only $ 1,000 a month – or less. No, this does not mean that you'll be sleeping on the streets and eating out of dumpsters.

Instead, you'll be doing everything you want to do, and travel very comfortably as well.

When you cut-out those ridiculously over-priced packaged tours, you pay what the locals pay. In some countries you can have a full-blown buffet at a nice restaurant for a measly $ 0.50, or book a 3-star hotel for $ 10.

When you know how to do it, the cost of world travel averages to only $ 1,000 a month (there are others who travel without spending anything – do a Google search on Peter Jenkins for an example).

As you can see, when you know how to travel independently, money is not the problem.

The # 1 thing people need to travel is – TIME.

Earning $ 1,000 a month is easy. What you need is the time to travel. We're not talking about a once a year two-week vacation. I'm talking about traveling as much as you like, when you like.

The biggest problem most people have with getting the time to travel is their job.

You could earn more than enough money to travel the world at your job, but you do not have the time. If you quit your job to have the time to travel, you do not have the money.

If I was making $ 10,000 a month at a job I hated that would not let me travel, or if I could make just $ 2,000 a month and have the time to do anything I please, I'd choose the latter.

What you need is a way to make money while traveling. Let's say you earn only $ 2,000 a month – but you do so from anywhere on the planet. It only costs about $ 1,000 a month to travel the world. So this way you'll have the time and the money …

South Padre Island – A Dream Vacation

April 13, 2019

South Padre Island is a one of a kind vacation experience which offers an assortment of activities and events for everyone. Whether you are young or old, there is something for everyone at South Padre.

If you have a family, there are a large number of fun beach activities you can do while on the beach. You can build sand castles, collecting seashells, chasing crabs, use boogy boards, and body surf. There are also wave runners, jet skis and even family rides on a banana boat.

If you are a thrill seeker or enjoy faster paced activities, South Padre has plenty to offer as well. Common thrills include kiteboarding, windsurfing, parasailing, bungee jumping, and sky diving.

For those with an interest in fishing, you have entered a fisherman's paradise, as South Padre Island Fishing offers you the choice of bay fishing and deep sea fishing with an assortment of over 500 different species of fish to go after. For those who really want to try something new, there is even canyon deep sea fishing. This lets you get 40 to 50 miles away from the coast and go over the really big fish.

Nature and animal lovers are also accounted for because South Padre has a very rich habitat of unique aquatic wildlife. There are a number of places to visit, such as the Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center and the Laguna Madre Nature Trail. Also, there are dolphin watching tours and is even a Sea Turtles Rescue. Each of these activities gives you an opportunity to see exotic wildlife in a unique habitat.

If you are a history buff, South Padre Island has a rich history that includes pirates, explorers, shipwrecks and buried treasure. You can go scuba diving to explore these shipwrecks at Devil's Elbow or visit the museums. There is also more modern history as you can visit the Port Isabel Lighthouse and Museum. Of all the lighthouses constructed on the Texas coast, it is the only one that is made available to the public.

For those interested in a romantic getaway, South Padre Island offers you quiet walks along the beach after dark, beautiful and exciting tours of the island in a helicopter or amphibious vehicles, and great accommodations and restaurants for food, drink, and seclusion.

For everyone, you will find unique accommodations that suit just about everyone's budget and idea of lodging ranging from camping, hotels, motels, condos, and other rentals.

Last, but certainly not least, South Padre Island is home to some of the world's best shrimp and red snapper at South Padre Island and also a wide assortment of other wonderful seafood. Whether you like oysters, crab, lobster or fish, you can find them all in South Padre.

All and All, South Padre Island has something for everyone. If you are looking for a new vacation spot or have not been back for a number of years, it is a great to book your next trip to South Padre Island. We …

Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Travel

April 13, 2019

| hotel, travel, vacation

What is sustainable tourism?

In the past decade people started to acknowledge that hotels are not in all aspects a blessing for the local population and eco system. More recently, we also started to understand what impact traveling has on the ecological systems and global warming. Where ECO tourism and sustainable tourism have much in common, sustainable tourism also considers the social impact on the area where the facility settles down. But, historically there are many ECO resorts with excellent social programs who could consider changing tags.

Has sustainable tourism only a local impact?

In most cases sustainable hotels and resorts concentrate on how they impact the local community in particular and the country in general. They are called sustainable hotels / resorts / lodges or sustainable destinations if there are more of them in an area or country. Add the impact of the travel to the destination and we have sustainable tourism.

Is green energy a viable option for hotels?

In most Western countries one can chose to buy green energy. That option is not available in the Caribbean. Consequently the only way is to generate electricity. While there are many forms of green energy (please refer to: my article Green Energy Options in the Caribbean) we will only discuss wind and solar power as these are the most obvious ones.

Wind Energy

Paradise Bay installed a 80 kW windmill with an expected year yield of 180,000 kWh. It is the first utility-grade windmill installed in Caricom and we could not find any resort that already installed a windmill, although there are several with plans and one under construction. With an estimated annual power use of 120,000 kWh the resort will be better than zero carbon, once the connection to the mains is realized, as the reminder of the energy is sold to the local electricity company.

In our case it was feasible to place a windmill because of the direct position towards the wind, while the windmill could have been placed in a backward location, non-intrusive for the guests. We only get positive reactions about the windmill.

A company from the Netherlands (www.mainwind.nl) recognized this gap and deliveries solutions in the form of used mid-range windmills (250-750 kW) that come from upgraded wind parks. The need for upgrading is obvious; it is most easy to increase capacity to the current current technology (2 – 3MW) at already existing wind parks. The smaller windmills are taking down, completely revised (reconditioned) and are sold with an as-new warranty and optionally with a 15 year all-inclusive maintenance contract.

The cost per kWh is competitive with larger windmills, typically between 7-9 US $ cents; 5-6 times lower than the mains

Solar Energy

The price of photo-voltaic cells has come down substantively as production increased because of subsidies in the past decennia. In the Caribbean we have now reached the point where the solar cost gets close to the electricity company's charge. This is in contrast to Western hemispheres where the cost of …

A Wonderful Japan Trip with My Family

April 11, 2019

After almost six months of working very hard, I'm taking my break to the premier city of Japan – Tokyo. Since I was a kid, I really wanted to go and visit the different exciting sceneries in this part of the world. I have been to Disneyland many times but that's in US, this time I want to see how Tokyo Disneyland fairs with that in America. Some of my friends, who have been there, already told me that there's not much difference between the two. However, I am not satisfied with their stories; I want to see it personally before my very eyes.

Since, this Tokyo Disneyland is one of the main attractions in Japan, I am bringing my whole family with me so that the children will be able to see the difference. My wife is also excited about this trip and she's preparing the things already. The children are also excited about our vacation because this will be their first time in an Asian country. Hopefully, after this trip in Tokyo, we can still go to Hongkong Disneyland as well as other tourist spots in Asia. But for now, Tokyo Disneyland is our main destination to have fun and enjoyment.

After my family and I visited the beautiful Tokyo Disneyland, I suggested that we visited Mt. Fuji. We were a bit disappointed since it's not one of the popular tourist spots in Japan like we thought. We then decided to visit Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavillion located in Kyoto. It is the most famous of all tourists attractions in Japan. Some of my friends were shocked when I told them that Mt. Fuji is not the most famous attraction in Japan but Kinkaku-ji. This temple was said to be built originally in 1933 and served as home for retired Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. It became a Buddhist temple when the retired leader died. The temple is famous for having pillows over the lake which was designed to emphasize its place between heaven and earth.

It was also said that this Buddhist temple was reconstructed back in 1955 after a young Zen Buddhist set fire inside it. Reports said that the man despised beautiful things like the temple that's why he tried to destroy it. After the reconstruction, the temple became beautiful and spectacular. It's really stunning being wholly covered with gold leaf with a phoenix on top. Therefore, the Temple of the Golden Pavillion is another must-see attraction in Japan aside from Mt. Fuji. So, if I were you, I would start saving money for a chance to see this remarkable Japanese creation. …

Don’t Forget the Small Stuff – Top Travel Accessories

April 11, 2019

| hotel, travel

If you’re off on a trip, whether it’s a two week holiday or a six month equivalent of the Grand Tour, you need to make sure you’ve packed everything. It’s easy to make a list of the big stuff you need to take with you, but often, it’s the little things that really matter. The right travel accessories can make your journey easier, safer and more comfortable, so don’t forget the small stuff.

Wherever you’re travelling to, and no matter how long you’re away for, you’ll have a limited amount of space, so you can’t fill your luggage with unnecessary travel accessories. That means it’s important to choose the accessories that have real practical advantage. Top tips include:

Travel adaptor – it may seem like an obvious choice, but you’d be amazed at how many people arrive at their destination only to find they can’t plug in their laptop, phone charger or hair straighteners. A worldwide travel adaptor is designed to work with a variety of socket systems so that you don’t have a problem docking when you need to.

Ear plugs – for many travellers, this is the one travel accessory they can’t do without. Whether it’s to help you get to sleep on the plane, shut out the noise of the street below your hotel room or just to help you sleep during the day until you get used to the new time zone, ear plugs are invaluable.

Hand gel – as travellers become more aware of hygiene issues, disinfectant hand gel has become one of the most popular travel accessories. It enables you to keep your hands clean even when there’s no access to clean running water, so it can come in handy any time, any place.

All these travel accessories and more can help to make your trip a breeze.…

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