Caribbean travel tips and tricks
Caribbean travel, islands, all inclusive vactions and more!
Archive for June, 2009
Caribbean Experience at ITB Berlin 2009, Part 2
Author: admin
Caribbean vacation destinations showcase at ITB Berling 2009, interviews with key tourism stakeholders on state of industry, reasons for exhibiting at ITB and what the future holds. Visit: http://www.caribbeantravel.com; http://www.onecaribbean.org
Duration : 0:5:43
read comments (0)Hot Winter Travel Destinations for Canadians
Author: admin
Ask Canadians where they are heading for a winter break and you are most likely to hear Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Caribbean cruises. These tourist spots are quite hot among Canadians, because of their sun-soaked beaches and mildly warm climate. Industry experts agree that tourism demands for all these locations are hitting their all-time high because of the lavish accommodation, sight-seeing arrangements, and the variety of travel packages, which these destinations offer.
Mexican Coastal Resorts
In Mexico, Mayan Riviera, Cozumel on the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun, and Los Cabos on Baja Peninsula are the most popular tourist destinations. Particularly, the Yucatan has witnessed a spectacular rise in resort and hotel development because of its amazing beaches and Mayan archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza and Tulum. The Mayan Riviera is also popular as the top destination for Canadian travelers. Climbing up the popularity charts are also Puerto Vallarta and a revitalized Acapulco on the Pacific coast. In Puerto Vallarta, the destination that is gaining rapid popularity is Nuevo Vallarta, which is located at north of the old town.
Growing Golf in Cuba
Cuba was devoid of any golf culture until the famous Varadero Golf was built. After it was set up, the island has just not looked back in terms of the sportâs popularity. Today, Cuba is the most sought after golf destination and is a vital attraction for the local as well as international sports lovers. Currently, the much famous Varadero Golf Club does over 32,000 rounds annually. It intends to add nine more holes to its existing facility, according to the management. A European has been given the responsibility to design the new golf site that is likely to have five holes on ocean, instead of the existing two.
Dominican Republicâs all-inclusive Packages
The growing popularity of The Dominican Republic as a tourist spot is reflected in a spectacular rise in its hotel rooms to nearly 40,000. The destination is among the favorite tourist spot for the Canadians, because of its all-inclusive vacations. In such packages, one up-front payment covers facilities including airfare, accommodation, unlimited alcohol, food, and resort activities like tennis and windsurfing. So much so that the popularity of the Dominion Republicâs all-inclusive packages have reached Caribbean and Mexican destinations. Canadian tourists heading to the Dominion Republic pay as low as $999 per person for an all-inclusive trip to a hotel/resort situated at just 10 minutes away from Puerto Plata.
Caribbean Cruises
Even the biggest tropical storms move at snailâs pace when compared with the cruise ships, which is the biggest reason for the growing popularity of the Caribbean cruises. The nice weather of the Caribbean serves like an icing on the hot cake. Even a hurricane in the cruiseâs path seems like a vacuum cleaner that sucks the moisture out of the air, leaving behind bright sunny days for the tourists. Moreover, with the political uncertainties across the globe, the Canadians prefer holiday trips close to home, which is another reason contributing towards the increasing popularity of Caribbean cruises.
Jo
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/hot-winter-travel-destinations-for-canadians-112441.html
Does your business have job sites scattered all across the country or the globe? Do your employees have to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to make important meetings, while their expense accounts add up? With advances in technology and reductions in costs, now your business can take advantage of video conferencing, too.
As employees travel great distances away from their normal job sites to attend important meetings, hours of employee productivity are lost. And after you reimburse all of these employees for their travel time, air fare, car rental, hotel, and food, the cost can become astronomical. When you invest in video conferencing capabilities, the equipment can potentially pay for itself in one meeting, depending on your own unique business needs.
How many times have you gathered your employees together, taking them away from their usual job sites, only to realize too late that they have forgotten some important piece of data, or a resource crucial to the success of the meeting? Video conferencing eliminates the worry and hassle associated with traditional travel and meeting options.
And, imagine how relieved the employees of your business will be, to know they no longer have to spend days or even weeks away from home, far from their families. When you invest in video conferencing equipment, you can have important meetings with all the advantages of face to face, instantaneous communication, without any of the disadvantages or hassles.
Video conferencing also allows you to call important meetings without having to spend weeks or even months coordinating, scheduling, and planning. With just a few phone calls, meetings can be set up and conducted, almost at the drop of a hat. This means no more missed opportunities or time wasted waiting for employees to travel.
The equipment needed for your business to take advantage of video conferencing costs much less now than it did only a decade ago. Many businesses are not taking advantage of this technology because they believe it is still too expensive for them.
Ten years ago, video conferencing packages could easily cost as much as $50,000 per site. But now packages are available for less than half of that. Some businesses find the equipment pays for itself after only a few meetings. And some video conferencing providers allow businesses to rent or lease the equipment for monthly payments less than $100.
Because video conferencing integrates video and audio signals, employees are able to see and talk to each other the same as if they were still meeting face to face in the same room. But, they can remain on their regular job sites, with their data, their resources, and - even more importantly - their families close at hand.
Video conferencing eliminates costs, headaches, and hassles associated with gathering employees together for important meetings. Big decisions can be reached more quickly, no more hours get lost to travel time, no more money is wasted on traveling expenses, and employees are happier and more productive. Video conferencing benefits everyone involved, but it benefits your bottom line the most of all.
Jason Roberts
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/now-your-business-can-take-advantage-of-video-conferencing-54686.html
I asked this question before and did not receive any helpful answers. I am thinking of Bahamas, Jamaica or Aruba and need to know what (if anything) people think of these areas
Mexico is out because her mom is worried about swine flu. What other areas in the Caribbean would be fun for a 17 year old—beach, pool,water sports,shopping?
Mexico would be the ideal place to go because you get all of what you want, beach, pool, water sports and shopping at a really cheap rate. The rates are even less now with the Swine Flu outbreak.
I have been to several of the places mentioned.
I would stay away from the Bahamas. It is the start of Hurricane season and the weather is very unpredictable now. I found that the people who ran the hotels in the Bahamas were simply not very friendly or helpful.
Jamaica is ok if you stay within the confine of the complex. I prefer Negril because it has a younger crowd.
Aruba tops the list for nice weather all year round. The people are friendly and helpful. The beaches are beautiful. Holiday Inn SunSpree is quite nice and they have an all-inclusive package which covers food/drink. The Rui is also very nice, but much more costly.
I would probably go with Aruba. It is not in the path of Hurricanes!
I asked this question before and did not receive any helpful answers. I am thinking of Bahamas, Jamaica or Aruba and need to know what (if anything) people think of these areas
Mexico is out because her mom is worried about swine flu. What other areas in the Caribbean would be fun for a 17 year old—beach, pool,water sports,shopping?
Mexico would be the ideal place to go because you get all of what you want, beach, pool, water sports and shopping at a really cheap rate. The rates are even less now with the Swine Flu outbreak.
I have been to several of the places mentioned.
I would stay away from the Bahamas. It is the start of Hurricane season and the weather is very unpredictable now. I found that the people who ran the hotels in the Bahamas were simply not very friendly or helpful.
Jamaica is ok if you stay within the confine of the complex. I prefer Negril because it has a younger crowd.
Aruba tops the list for nice weather all year round. The people are friendly and helpful. The beaches are beautiful. Holiday Inn SunSpree is quite nice and they have an all-inclusive package which covers food/drink. The Rui is also very nice, but much more costly.
I would probably go with Aruba. It is not in the path of Hurricanes!
Choosing Your Best Travel Destination
Author: admin
Mostly, travelers go on a trip recommended by friends, but is this what they really want? It’s never too early to plan for your trip and to do what your heart really desires.
Here are several questions to ask yourself before starting to plan your vacation. Do I want to relax? Do I want adventure or a learning experience? Do I want to get away from my job? Once you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.
Vacations are needed for our emotional, physical and mental balance. Vacations give a person a chance to relax, renew his energy, and free him from his daily routine. Vacations can be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It provides satisfaction, which is far more important than the destination itself.
Generally, there are some different types of travel according to the activities involved. Here are some of them:
1. Responsible Travel. Traveling doesn’t always have to be self-serving. With responsible travel, one could have enjoyment as much as respecting the local environment and the people.
2. Rediscovering nature. Rediscovering travel is all about nature and everything in it. It revitalizes the soul while experiencing everything there is to know about nature.
3. Tribal cultures. In today’s world of high technology, it is wise to experience the simpler life of the tribal people who have lived close to nature in the same way for thousands of years.
4. Responsible Diving. Diving not only lets travelers appreciate what is in the sea but also helps make the traveler more aware of efforts concerning conservation of our natural resources.
Plan your travel to a country that will leave a great mark in your traveling diary. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:
1. Thailand. Thailand is also known as Siam. It is an Asian country bounded by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Behind the back draft of Thailand’s jungles of bamboo, rubber trees and vines are the Five-star hotels of modern conveniences. In some parts of the country, elephants are still being use to lift timbers and buffalos are still being used in farming.
2. China. China is now the second largest country and fastest growing economy in the world. Most parts of China are still unexplored by tourists; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourists. First class hotels now offer the highest class of amenities and dozens more are still being built.
3. Italy. Italy is a boot-like shape country bounded by Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. The main attraction of Italy is St. Peter’s Square where the Pope resides.
4. Caribbean. Caribbean is an archipelago of islands, 2000 square miles across. Most of the islands are plateaus and eruptions of underlying mountain systems. It has nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.
The success of any vacation will not depend on how much money the traveler spent or the destination. The final outcome will depend on the degree of enjoyment experienced by the traveler.
James Yee
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/choosing-your-best-travel-destination-136938.html
Belize Islands - A Taste Of Paradise
Author: admin
Belize islands offer ordinary people like you and me the opportunity to live like royalty on our own private island!
Islands in Belize are mainly small enough to be owned privately, although there are some larger islands which are more like Caribbean resorts, where investors can purchase luxurious apartments benefiting from all of the mod cons that a holiday resort area offers.
When considering purchasing a Belize island, the general rule is that the more remote the island the cheaper it will be to buy, but the more expensive it will be to develop.
Belize islands are often referred to as cayes (pronounced: keys); most of these can be found along the southern coast of the country, quite close to the mainland, although there are still some to be found around the peninsulas of Placencia and Dangriga. In total, there are over 200 cayes of varying sizes and types available in Belize; basically, ‘you pays your money, and you takes your choice’!
A large coral reef spanning 187 miles, parallel to the coastline, which dictates the size, type and location of Belize islands, surrounds Belize. There are also several large atolls which have their own coral reefs spanning a further 140 miles.
Arguably, the most spectacular of the islands, in terms of terrain and outlook, are the islands that are located on the reef itself; these are often referred to as coral cayes. These coral cayes will, normally, have a bedrock base and generally have beautiful sandy beaches that are perfect for swimming.
In contrast, Mangrove cayes have less in the way of usable land and rarely have sandy beaches, although they will normally have lagoons that are sheltered and ideal for boat mooring and swimming.
If you are considering the purchase of your own private island, then a boat, (or ideally two), is essential. Bear in mind that you may be several miles from your nearest neighbour and further still from the mainland, so doubling up on vital pieces of equipment is always a wise move!
Prices of islands vary dramatically and depend on the size, type and location of the island that you are hoping to purchase. In general, an island that is undeveloped but has plenty of usable space, sandy beaches and is between 5 and 15 acres, will set you back between US $200,000 and US $2,000,000.
When looking to purchase a private Belize island, the process is the same as for any other real estate purchase, in Belize. Look for adverts; listen out for word of mouth opportunities. As with other real estate in Belize, the islands are often sold privately, so it is always worth visiting the area and asking around for any likely islands for sale.
A visiting trip to locate that perfect island may take a bit longer than a standard visit. As you will have to travel longer distances between plots, you will generally be reliant on someone with a boat to transport you and, of course, the weather could have an adverse effect on your explorations.
If you want the idyllic island setting, but without the hassle of creating your own haven, then consider looking towards one of the larger cayes, such as Caye Caulker and Amergris Caye, both of which have their own airstrips, making access relatively easy in comparison to some of the more remote cayes.
Beachfront plots on these cayes can be purchased from US $75,000 and offer direct access to the beach and also guarantee at least 50 feet of secluded ocean frontage. The plots themselves are around 160 feet by 400 feet and allow you to develop your own property with relative ease. Perfect!
Belize islands have so much to offer, including unrivalled beauty that you can own, all for yourself!
Tem Pearson
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/belize-islands-a-taste-of-paradise-91373.html
All the Ways you Should be Saving Cash
Author: admin
As the cost of living increases and we find ourselves paying more for things we’ve always bought, finding easy tips to save a few pounds are always welcome. Today you can find bargains by following a these easy tips for keeping money in your pocket and out of the till!
Home Purchase
Always have a thorough survey completed on the house and use the findings to negotiate a lower price for a smart sale.
Mortgage Refinancing
If you can refinance your mortgage, look for a rate at least one percent lower than your current mortgage and commit to several years with this new rate.
Major Appliances
As always, research the appliance beforehand and save yourself up to£50 or more! Compare the quality of various brands and contact at least four retailers for a quote, always asking for the lowest price.
Home Improvement
Research qualified and experienced contractors who are fully licensed and will submit written, fixed-price quotes for the job. Always inspect contracts and never sign asking for full payment before the project completion.
Telephone
Check phone bills a few times a year, reviewing calls and costs from at least three months before. Take note of the rate of local, long distance and international calls, and compare them to new packages and offers from other providers.
Credit Cards
Switch to a card with a low annual percentage rate (APR) and get rid of excess cards, keeping the two you use most, or pay with cheque, cash or debit card at the till. Reduce fees by avoiding late payments , staying within your credit limit and save hundreds of pounds a year by paying a credit card balance by its monthly due date.
Food
Begin with a shopping list and try local bargain grocery stores. Skipping expensive convenience stores could save hundreds of pounds a year! Always compare price-per-pound and lower unit prices on shelf labels , stocking up when the price is right.
New Cars
Save hundreds on new car purchases by selecting one with low maintenance, petrol and repair costs, and researching low financing and insurance rates for that car. Checking quotes with at least four dealers, letting them know you’re contacting other sellers, will give you a clear idea of the actual cost.
Car Rental
Shopping around is a great tool to compare the prices each car rental agency offers, and can save you quite a lot on basic rates. Always ask the agent about any additional charges before booking, and be sure to inquire about special offers the company might be running.
Petrol
Compare the prices of petrol at many stations. Keeping a well tuned engine and properly inflated tyres at the proper pressure could snag you an extra £20 at the end of the year.
Airline Fares
Flexibility is key to saving a bundle on air travel; buying in advance, using low fare carriers and taking trips with Saturday evening stay-overs can bring the cost of your flight down by as much as two- thirds!
Martin Lukac
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/all-the-ways-you-should-be-saving-cash-98881.html
I often hear from Jamaicans,Trinidadian's and Bajan's that they hate Haitians they hate us why is this.? I do also notice a majority of English Speaking Caribbeans are Mixed Heritage while Haitians are not
Most people in the Caribbean are perfectly fine acknowledging and understanding their ancestry. They don't need to say the vague term ''black'' every where they go, like Americans. They're proud of being apart of the nationality and culture they're apart of and they understand the West African influences in their culture.
Demographically speaking, Haiti is one of the most African descended islands, but there still are many mulatto's on the island. Jamaica's had more recent immigration, but 91 percent of the island is reported as ''black'', only 4 percent less than Haiti. Without the immigration, it's similar. The Caribbean islands that have the highest concentration of European ancestry are the Spanish speaking islands. Cuba used to be predominantly of Spanish/European ancestry, until their affluent defected when the Communists took over. Puerto Rico still currently is majority of European descent, and not mixed. The reason for this is the Royal Decree of Graces, implemented by the Spanish Monarchy in 1815, effective through 1898. It gave white European Catholics free land to move there to ''whiten'' the island. Many of these descendants still live there. 1/4 of Puerto Rico left to the U.S. from the mid-40's through the mid-60's. More of those people proportionally were black and mulatto. Those with money and education didn't need to leave as much. The Dominican Republic is about three-quarters mulatto. There's similar amounts of European and African ancestry in that country. In Haiti, most of their white (French) population left in 1804, after France lost that war. Many actually went to the whiter Caribbean islands. They had an alliance with Spain that'd allow for them to move in apart of the Royal Decree. Some went back to France too. Eventually, the mulattos took over the power of that country, as they had the most wealth, in 1804, and still do.
Most black Jamaicans, Trinidadians and Bajan's are actually less likely to be ''mixed'' than African-American's. It's all about how you look at it. Because the majority of those islands are of full or near full African descent, being ''mulatto'' is more unique and sticks out from the black population. People there would socially refer to themselves as ''mulatto'' more commonly. With African-American's, most trace roots to the southern United States. During the time of slavery, there was a similar population of white's and black's living there. Many African-American women were raped, but there was also much voluntary sex between both, leaving a mulatto offspring. The difference is many American's look at that as just ''black.'' In much of Spanish speaking Latin America, that's just ''white.'' In the English, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean, that's ''mulatto.''
The reason why some Dominican's don't like Hatians is because they're on the same island of Hispaniola and their civil unrest directly effects them. Many people sneak into the Dominican Republic seeking work or more comfortable living. Many don't have education or skills and they don't like that. Haiti's the only undeveloped country on the western hemisphere. There may be other Caribbean countries that don't like them for that reason. I don't think many people specifically hate Hatians. I'm not sure why they would. Many Jamaicans, like us Americans, just think their better than every other group period, so don't take what they say too personally. Most Caribbean islands that have higher degrees of education, affluence and better infrastructure, like Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados and Aruba, were apart of European colonial territories longer. Some, like Martinque, still are. Haiti cut off really early, and because of internal fighting for power of resources, it's been hard to make significant progress over the last couple centuries. Most Hatians living abroad who I've met, in the U.S. and Canada though, are hard working and educated. I figure those who have the most are probably able to afford living elsewhere more than anyone else. Many of those with education and money in Haiti who leave to America, Canada or Europe, actually have a higher chance of being mulatto, because mulatto's on the island more commonly have that.
I often hear from Jamaicans,Trinidadian's and Bajan's that they hate Haitians they hate us why is this.? I do also notice a majority of English Speaking Caribbeans are Mixed Heritage while Haitians are not
Most people in the Caribbean are perfectly fine acknowledging and understanding their ancestry. They don't need to say the vague term ''black'' every where they go, like Americans. They're proud of being apart of the nationality and culture they're apart of and they understand the West African influences in their culture.
Demographically speaking, Haiti is one of the most African descended islands, but there still are many mulatto's on the island. Jamaica's had more recent immigration, but 91 percent of the island is reported as ''black'', only 4 percent less than Haiti. Without the immigration, it's similar. The Caribbean islands that have the highest concentration of European ancestry are the Spanish speaking islands. Cuba used to be predominantly of Spanish/European ancestry, until their affluent defected when the Communists took over. Puerto Rico still currently is majority of European descent, and not mixed. The reason for this is the Royal Decree of Graces, implemented by the Spanish Monarchy in 1815, effective through 1898. It gave white European Catholics free land to move there to ''whiten'' the island. Many of these descendants still live there. 1/4 of Puerto Rico left to the U.S. from the mid-40's through the mid-60's. More of those people proportionally were black and mulatto. Those with money and education didn't need to leave as much. The Dominican Republic is about three-quarters mulatto. There's similar amounts of European and African ancestry in that country. In Haiti, most of their white (French) population left in 1804, after France lost that war. Many actually went to the whiter Caribbean islands. They had an alliance with Spain that'd allow for them to move in apart of the Royal Decree. Some went back to France too. Eventually, the mulattos took over the power of that country, as they had the most wealth, in 1804, and still do.
Most black Jamaicans, Trinidadians and Bajan's are actually less likely to be ''mixed'' than African-American's. It's all about how you look at it. Because the majority of those islands are of full or near full African descent, being ''mulatto'' is more unique and sticks out from the black population. People there would socially refer to themselves as ''mulatto'' more commonly. With African-American's, most trace roots to the southern United States. During the time of slavery, there was a similar population of white's and black's living there. Many African-American women were raped, but there was also much voluntary sex between both, leaving a mulatto offspring. The difference is many American's look at that as just ''black.'' In much of Spanish speaking Latin America, that's just ''white.'' In the English, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean, that's ''mulatto.''
The reason why some Dominican's don't like Hatians is because they're on the same island of Hispaniola and their civil unrest directly effects them. Many people sneak into the Dominican Republic seeking work or more comfortable living. Many don't have education or skills and they don't like that. Haiti's the only undeveloped country on the western hemisphere. There may be other Caribbean countries that don't like them for that reason. I don't think many people specifically hate Hatians. I'm not sure why they would. Many Jamaicans, like us Americans, just think their better than every other group period, so don't take what they say too personally. Most Caribbean islands that have higher degrees of education, affluence and better infrastructure, like Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados and Aruba, were apart of European colonial territories longer. Some, like Martinque, still are. Haiti cut off really early, and because of internal fighting for power of resources, it's been hard to make significant progress over the last couple centuries. Most Hatians living abroad who I've met, in the U.S. and Canada though, are hard working and educated. I figure those who have the most are probably able to afford living elsewhere more than anyone else. Many of those with education and money in Haiti who leave to America, Canada or Europe, actually have a higher chance of being mulatto, because mulatto's on the island more commonly have that.