Top Notch Cruises
May 20, 2010 by Owen Jones
Filed under Travel Tips
If you enjoy travelling and seeing new destinations, I advocate a cruise. I have cruised the Mediterranean and the Baltic and my next cruise will be a Caribbean cruise. I am genuinely looking forward to it. If you have never been on a cruise, start saving up now, because it is luxury like you have never imagined before.
Never having been on a Caribbean cruise before, I do not know how much the various Caribbean islands differ from one another, so I do not know how varied that cruise would be. However, I have cruised the Med and the Baltic and woken up to a different country every day and in both of those seas and every country is very different from its neighbours.
On our Baltic cruise we departed from Southampton and cruised to Gothenburg in Sweden. From there we went to Helsinki and Leningrad (in those days). On the way back, we called into Copenhagen and the Tivoli Gardens. None of those countries was in any way similar to another or even Britain.
Similarly, my Mediterranean cruise left from Minorca in north eastern Spain going east to Sardinia and then north along the southern coast of Europe. Italy, France and Spain. The second week of the cruise left Minorca again and went to Sicily and then south along the northern coast of Africa including Malta.
The luxury on a cruise is practically indescribable to someone who has never been on a cruise. There is no standard higher than five stars, but the cruises I have been on offered superior levels of luxury than any five star hotels I have stayed in anywhere in the world.
Food and shore trips play a major part of cruising. The food is top notch with no mistake. Breakfast on a cruise liner is better than most Americans and most Europeans have for dinner. Whatever you want from prawns to steak, from exotic fruit to porridge. Lunch and dinner are even more sumptuous.
Shore excursions are well prepared too. They include a ferry from the cruise liner to the land and then a coach trip by a local firm to the destination, which could be an historical site or a shopping mall. Most cruisers go on these trips, but some prefer to remain on board and take advantage of the reduced number of passengers and the free food.
I went on every shore tour and thoroughly enjoyed each one. The trips are usually pricey though, but you are part of a trapped audience, so what can you expect?
I thoroughly recommend a cruise holiday to any and every one. You should go at least once in your life, but do not leave it until late in your life because you will want to go again.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with St Croix Hotels. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.
Exotic Twin Centre Holidays In Cuba
February 2, 2010 by Jose Maurette Garces
Filed under Hotels
Touring the islands of the Caribbean would eventually reveal the exotic charisma of Cuba. Booking the stylish twin Centre Cuba holidays means receiving extraordinary service, which is what every traveler wants. An it’s an easy way of organising your vacation.
Apart from picking which tourist attractions suit you the most, the rest is done for you as part of the deal. All accommodation needs are set up, flights and transfers booked and arranged to make it the most convenient vacation you ever need to have. Landing in Havana, the capital of Cuba you will be directed to transportation that takes you directly to your lodgings.
Beach lovers will enjoy a package mix of sunny days on the beach and historical sight seeing adventures or some natural explorations of the Cuban Archipelago. Hemmed in by the Caribbean Sea and the Yucatan and Florida Peninsula’s, Cuban’s natural beauty sits at the entrance of the gulf of Mexico.
It can’t be called anything more exciting than an exotic delight. Cuba’s national bird, the Trogon bird can be found in the people friendly forest area of the east. Renown for it’s singing the Trogon bird or as the locals call it, the Tocoroco, was named for it’s exotic cry. The Manatee are known to swim in their clear waters in the warmest months of the year from around mid July to September in certain locations.
Souvenirs of the holiday can be bought in the resort “Tiendas” or at an artisan market. Dolls in colorful national costumes that are locally made and T shirts with mostly political history and promotions are the main items for sale. Cuban coffee is in abundance as are the famous Cuban Cigars.
Twin Centre Holidays in Cuba are a real treat not to be missed. Let the experts do all the travel arrangements for you while you simply decide what adventures you want to take. It is sure to make for a very relaxing vacation.
Beautiful beaches, wonderful food, great fun, and spectacular scenery are all waiting for you to enjoy when you plan your Cuba holidays. Contact Twin Centre Holidays in Cuba today and make your reservations early!
Astonishing Geological Treasures of Cuba
December 12, 2009 by J. M. Maurette
Filed under Hotels
Viales Valley is one of the most known and attractive areas of Cuba among holiday makers. It offers an outstanding panorama featured by the mixtures of spectacular natural beauty, the preservation of the environment, the harmonic man’s action in the fruit growing, fundamentally the tobacco industry, whose traditional growing and production methods earned an international recognition as one of the best quality in the world. This place allows the visitors to give free rein to their imagination.
There are many attractions in Viales Valley but today I would like to write about La Cueva del Indio. This is a immense cave, located under sea level, is visited in two stages: the first part of the visit is done by foot along its narrow passages and halls and the second part is by boat, a ride that will take you to the other end of the cave.
The appearance of the stalactites and stalagmites please the observer. Already in the exterior, you are able to see snails: the Polymitas, endemic of Cuba and of a supreme beauty, and other species originated in that region. When Don Carlos de la Torre, eminent Cuban naturalist, visited the cave, he donated to the institution considerable part of his collection of mollusks, during the first visit to this territory.
In the boat, a guide takes you to see the cave and at the same time he shows you the rock formations that exist in the cave and which have names due to the shapes they have. You may find a head of snake in the rock and you may wonder about nature.
The river inside the cavern is available for tourists for about 500 meters. Although the river is a lot longer, for safety reasons is not navigable along its entire course. The whole cavern has not being completely explored because there are some areas that are completely under water.
The mass of water is amazing but you got even more amazed when the trip finishes: with all the water that you have seen inside, it is crazy to see that everything ends in a waterfall as high as a half a meter! For a moment you think that you and the boat will crash, but it is an experience worth living. After the fright, you will want to enjoy the trip again, this time knowing all what will happen.
While in Viales having fun in your holidays, you must come here and enjoy this trip. This cave will have you breathless for sure. This is one of the many treasures that Cuba holds for you. Do not miss this chance.
My last recommendation for your Cuba holidays is to read as much info about Cuba as you can.
Honeymoon in Aruba : You Should Try !
May 28, 2009 by John Siekdof
Filed under Destinations
Honeymooning in Caribbean Islands gives a great high but Aruba is definitely something special. The ambience of Aruba is so charming that the visitors who visit the location for the first time, becomes loyal and keep on visiting the place repeatedly.
Whether the occasion is honeymoon, wedding or any romantic date; Aruba is just perfect. The area is more than just a honeymoon destination as the couple feel like home in Aruba. People in Aruba are very welcoming and they take great pleasure in showing important locations to their guests. Selecting Aruba as your honeymoon destination is thus a perfect choice.
Weather Conditions
One of the many brilliant features of Aruba is its weather conditions. This is the reason why varied honeymoon couples from different corners of the globe select Aruba as their honeymoon destination.
The desert-like island of Aruba makes it even more attractive. If you climb on top of a lighthouse, the serene beauty of the coastline will mesmerize you completely. You can just relax on a comfortable chaise lounge and enjoy the immaculate beauty of the beach. There are several sites that feature lovely pools where you can dip your toes and feel the nirvana.
Trivia about Aruba
1824 experienced a gold rush in Aruba. Aruba had an asset of more than six million kilos of gold due to this gold rush. You can know more about this Aruba gold rush at the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins.
Aloe Vera is another popular is another popular aspect of Aruba. Once around two-third area of the island was covered by aloe, which was introduced in Aruba in 1840. Another attraction of the island is the “tunnel of love.” Here the honeymoon couples love to spend their time. The shape of the entrance of this attraction called The Huliba Cave, is like the heart.
Aruba’s Attractions
By spending a honeymoon vacation at Aruba, couples can enjoy loads of scenic vistas and beaches. Thus, there are numerous honeymoon resorts and hotels that provide numerous offers to lure the honeymoon couples. The services, amenities and perks are superb and hence the couples find Aruba as a brilliant honeymoon destination. There is so much to see and so much to do in Aruba that one trip is not just enough. That is why; the couples keep coming in Aruba year after year.
There are many popular resorts in Aruba and the most renowned ones are OCH (One Cool Honeymoon) and Paradise beach Villas. When the honeymoon couples arrive at OCH, they greet them with a bottle of champagne along with a free night-stay offer on return visit and a souvenir gift. On the other hand, Paradise Beach Villas feature enigmatic vistas of ocean from all its rooms.
There are two phases of Paradise Beach Villas- the new phase and the old phase. The new phase has all the attractions to lure the honeymoon couples. Madame Janettes is a brilliant spot where the couples can dine out. For some excellent night drinks and fun, Black Hog Saloon is a fabulous destination.
Visit Aruba and refresh your honeymoon with the blissful offerings of the island.
9 Tips That Help You Save Money On Honeymoon Travel
May 20, 2009 by Dino Williams
Filed under Travel Tips
All the details of the honeymoon require one’s attention just as the wedding party does. Here are some tips to consider for a perfect honeymoon travel regardless of whether you choose the car, the train, the plane or the boat as a means of transportation.
Make reservations in advance and book tickets at hotels in case you make halts on the way to the destination. If you know how to make good planning you’ll benefit from great rebates; airlines are known to first sell all classes of seats at the most convenient of prices, but as the departure date approaches, only the business class seats are still available.
Honeymooners also benefit from lots of travel packages, with various options included. Hence, when you approach an agency for offers and quotes make sure you specify that you are looking for a honeymoon travel solution. Sometimes people go for the all inclusive variant and leave it to the agency to deal with everything from then transportation details to the lodging, while other couples take a more active approach to holiday planning.
A trip to a warmer place still requires smart packing, and that’s another honeymoon travel tip that you should not ignore. Of course this is not about taking sweaters and jackets when going to Hawaii, but rather about choosing to have some extra apparel items available for more special events, as you may want to wear something other than slippers and t-shirts. Make sure to include some extra bottles of water, a few snacks and all the essentials in the luggage too. By essentials we imply a list of emergency phone numbers, credit cards, cash and passports.
There are some very personal items that make honeymoon travel all the more rewarding . Take some music with you, preferably something to suit a romantic setting. Then, keep in mind that hotels provide all sorts of services on request, therefore, if you want to pamper yourself, the honeymoon could be the right time to start.
experience the authenticity of every location to really make the best of your honeymoon travel: try new food, new music, get familiar with local cultures, communicate with the local inhabitants, see relevant local sites and points of attractions. Keep bad moods away even if trifles may threaten to ruin the atmosphere.
Travel Lodge Tips
March 14, 2009 by Dino Williams
Filed under Travel Tips
Booking travel tickets and hotel rooms remains the first thing on the to-do-list when planning a trip. If you haven’t made arrangements in advance, the search for a good travel lodge before the vacation period is exhausting.
Tourism agents advertise extensively to sell their vacation packages, but you need to do your homework too and decide what your expectations are before seeing what you are offered. Consider the next tips when in search of a quiet inexpensive travel lodge, and and ask yourself these questions for a good start.
Are you planning a vacation on or off peak seasons? Have you got an exact date you need to stick to? How much can you afford to spend on a travel lodge? How many people are going on the trip with you? Travel lodge is available with lots of hotels, motels and hostels offering accommodation with different levels of comfort, starting with regular amenities and finishing with five star services. From travel lodge to travel lodge you’ll see that the rates differ, not to mention that far in advance booking contributes to getting a really fair discount. Thus, some hotels even allow one the flexibility to book rooms twelve months in advance.
Internet portals ease up the search for a travel lodge considerably, as many of them include travel-related functions. Without the technologies we enjoy today, it could prove impossible to find a decent cheap travel lodge in no time. So far we have talked about holiday makers who require convenient accommodation, but there are very business people who have jobs that involve a lot of traveling, and they too enjoy the use of travel-related web sites. Some companies sign rental contracts for a travel lodge in order to offer the commuting employees all the work conditions necessary.
The reservation for such a travel lodge is made only after a negotiation of the contract, particularly if the company pays on a constant basis to have the lodge available all the time. People in search of a travel lodge, who do not have the back covered by a corporation, should ponder over several rates agreeing to any further rental formality, and fortunately web sites do support comprehensive checking. As for the market tendencies, it is interesting to point out that there has been a modification in the travelers’ preferences for cottages, when traveling to Europe and Great Britain in particular.
Cheap travel around Cuba
March 1, 2009 by R. Maurette
Filed under Hotels
In this expose you will find some information on how to go about seeking cheap Holidays to Cuba . Cuba has turned into a very costly tourist destination in last decade but there are ways around to find an economical option.
When you contact a tour operator for a quote and your itinerary is including various locations they will simply use taxis to move you from A to B simply because there are no other options available that they can book make money from it.
There is a way to safe hundreds of dollars. Allow me to introduce you to Viazul. Viazul is a coach company that has terminal in most of the Cuban locations that are worth seeing in your holidays to Cuba.
So let?s put some examples here so that you can appreciate the difference in price. Let?s say you ask your tour operator for a package including Havana and Trinidad. That simple request will add around 150 GBP to your package. Instead what I recommend is to ask for flights and accommodation only and then book separately a ticket from Havana to Trinidad which will cost you 20 GBP.
I hope you can appreciate how ridiculous the difference in price is. Now think how much you could safe if you were to go all around the island using this advice. You could be saving hundreds on pounds.
Viazul offers service of transportation among several cities of Cuba. This company offers a punctual service and of good quality, is a good option for those that desire to visit several cities and to save in the transportation.
One common mistake most people do is not to read about the destinations they are thinking of visiting before hands. Distances in Cuba are quite long. I could take you up to 6 hours from Havana to Trinidad by Taxi.
While it is true that a Taxi will be the most comfortable way. Viazul is the next best thing. But in terms of prices nothing beats Viazul.
It May Be Time To Escape To Tropical Mexico
February 25, 2009 by Alvin Heen
Filed under Destinations
Budget Friendly Vacationing in Mexico is right in front of you, just look!
Has the thought of high prices interrupted your dreams of visiting a different country? Is cabin fever taking control of your life leaving you with the urge to just get away? Even if you are on a budget, you can still visit the beautiful country of Mexico and enjoy yourself while you are there without going broke.
One of the biggest misconceptions of travel is that you are on a budget and cannot afford to do so. Many people forget that with the proper planning and negotiating, you can save a bundle of money and still have a wonderful experience in one of the many Mexican travel destinations.
Let?s start with travel expenses. Did you know that you can save money on airfare just by having an extra stop in your flight? Did you know that changing your travel date from a weekday to the weekend may also save you money? There are many other deals that may suit your needs if you just do a little research. You may find that you save a high percentage of your budget, just by asking around and not accepting the first price that you are quoted. Your local travel agent may have even more deals for you. Asking questions and doing research is the key. So what are you waiting for? Mexico is waiting on you.
Accommodations are another great way to save money. If you have family of friends that live in Mexico, ask them if you can stay with them for all or part of your stay. If you do not, there are many nice places that you can stay and still keep your budget in tact. You can plan to do anything from camping to staying at a luxury resort, depending on your budget of course. Most travel agents can offer you great package deals on hotel accommodations, that may even have the airfare included. Most hotel packages will include a free breakfast for you, thereby saving you a little on your dining expenses.
Everyone loves Mexican food. There is no doubt that once you get there you are going to want to taste some of the best cooking in the world. When sticking to a strict budget ask the locals where they like to eat. Those will likely be less expensive than the usual tourist traps and the food will likely be of better quality. There are alternative ways to eat while in Mexico too by shopping their outside street vendors for fresh produce and meat.
From the hottest peppers to the sweetest fruits, you can find them all in their daily markets. The local people would be more than willing to show you these fine locations and you can save a considerable amount of money this way. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is also healthy. HINT: Make sure you wash the vegetables before you eat them and make it a habit to practice safe food handling.
You can also save by preplanning your travel while you are inside the country. Taking a bus may be cheaper than renting a vehicle and your local travel agent may be able to include that in a package deal as well. This way you will know exactly what your travel costs will be from the start. Always make sure that Taxi?s are arranged by the hotel that you are staying at.
Speaking of busses, you may want to consider taking a bus when traveling into the country. Some of the major bus lines such as Greyhound offer travel straight into the country. This could make your whole vacation more affordable for you.
Don’t let your budget stop you from enjoying one of the greatest vacation places in the world. Let it help you learn that you can travel a lot more, with just a little planning.






