All Aboard for the Best About Cruising!

I just came back from Italy as I spent a month there celebrating my honeymoon and all I can say is that this was one of the greatest experiences that I’ve ever had. First I have never been off for a month so it was great to be able to take that time to really enjoy myself with my new wife, but I never expected to be blown away like I was by the beauty and flavour of Italy. It was Magnifico, LOL.

We decided to spread our trip in 4 weeks, spending each week in a different part Italy. Instead of booking hotels my wife decided to Italy villa rental in each of the 4 locations. I don’t usually agree with all of my wife’s decisions, but boy was she on the money on this one.

We started our trip in the northern part of Italy in we got a villa on Lake Como that was breath taking. We were at the end of the lake with beautiful mountains all around, it was peaceful and the food was out of this world. The wine of choice in this area was a 2003 Masi, which the owner of a local restaurant had a few cases of, so we helped him get rid of a few LOL.
Our next stop was a Tuscany villa. There really are no words to describe the beauty of Tuscany. I can tell you that after travelling through this area my favourite color has become green, every time that I close my eyes and I picture the beautiful green hills and fields of Tuscany I immediately associate it with the peace and calm that I felt when I was there. The villa in this place was outrageous, it was a little more money that I would of liked to pay, but man it was worth it, with the pool and Jacuzzi, the grand entrance, the grand salon, the details in the architecture were unbelievable, I felt like a movie star in my personal palace. The food in Tuscany is unlike anywhere else in the world, I am not sure if they use different spices or if it’s just the love and passion that goes into preparing, but I left every meal feeling like “That cannot be topped”. The wine of choice was a 1997 Ruffino and a 2001 Amarone.

From here we moved on to Rome, we got an apartment in the centre of town that we rented from the same company as the rest of the villas, I am so glad we did too because we had access to all of the things that we wanted to see and do. Rome is a city that is absolutely rich with culture and history, if you are an art buff this is the absolute Mecca. Amazing churches, the Vatican took 2 days from us and we only saw a small part of it, lots of museums, great restaurants and nightlife as well. We had a great time.

Our last stop was a town called Positano which is located in the Amalfi coast. This place was unbelievable, I will try to describe but I am sure I will not do it justice. Picture a beautiful Amalfi coast villas for rent, sitting on the top of a mountain with houses running all the way down the mountain, at the base of the mountain is one of the most beautiful bays of the Mediterranean and from there a marina filled with yachts. I could not believe it, it is like by luck we saved the best for last. The villa was outstanding and comfortable; the pool looked onto the sea. I don’t have enough adjectives to describe how beautiful it was. The town was very rich with culture and we met great people from all over the world. The food as you would expect was great and this was the first place that I was able to try a 2004 Sassicaia, for wine lovers out there that have never tasted this wine, believe me that it is an experience onto itself. Rich and full body is an understatement.

I hope that more than a few of you get to enjoy Italy the way we did and please try to go the villa route rather than staying in hotels, I guarantee that you will not regret it as you will get the full experience of true Italian comfort.

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3 Things You Should Watch out For When Travelling - airfare -

How to travel well on a budget.

Traveling entails a lot of unexpected expenses and if not careful you could very easily spend more than you can afford. Most travelers get grumpy when they don’t have enough cash.Proper planning is the key to budget travelling and could lead to memorable vacation.

First you should get accurate information about the place you are about to visit.A visit to your travel agent may be able to give you the information you need for your destination and the best travel as well.You have to make sure that you will get the best deals from airfare to accommodations and with patience and determination you will find it.Browse around for special internet offers and promotions.

Your biggest cost will be the hotels, travel and entertainment

Flying to your destination.

The first step would be to find inexpensive flight, if your dates are flexible then you will be able to save the most.If possible, you should try to avoid holidays and go during the off peak season. The same flight can cost five time more depending on
the date selected. Off peak, when people are less likely to go on vacation the demand are low and most travel companies, hotels, airlines give great discounts to their customers. Also a very good thing about going on vacation during off season is that you will not have problems with crowd and will be able to really enjoy your vacation.

Booking your hotel.

The second step, the important factor, is you hotel location.
If you are far from everything it will cost you everytime you are trying to get somewhere. You will also waste your time waiting for a cab or a bus instead of having fun.
After finding the best location, then you can start looking on line for your cheap hotel.After surfing around your should be on your way for a great time at the least possible cost.

These handy tips will help you in acquiring the best budget travel deal.

hotels

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Its that time of the year when you celebrate your birthday, 55th one this year. Your wife, just a few years behind, asks you what you’d like as a present. Hmmm let’s see … you’ve got a cupboard full of gifts you haven’t really used so what else could there be? We’ve got an option you’d love to try. How about taking a cruise? Where? Well- anywhere you want to go … there are so many cruise lines world over!

How about a Mediterranean cruise – along the Nile or an exotic one in Asia - Thailand or Hawaii? Costa Rica? Or a cold adventurous one through the Arctic? The choices are a plenty and each one different from the others.

Apart from the places you visit enroute, the cruise company has its own party planned on the liner. The luxurious interiors of a ship are complemented by the activities such as pools, casinos, fine dining, dancing and many more. You can decide on the cruise that fits your mood and your age too! Yes, cruise lines offer specialized itineraries for different groups. If you feel adventurous, you can opt for the cruise offering offshore hiking and other adventure activities. If you want a relaxing holiday, go for one with more sightseeing programmes. You might even be tempted as many others, to pick more than one cruise – it would be so memorable.

One of the best parts of a cruise is that you get to see so many destinations in one trip. Besides, the ship docks for a few days in one port for supplies. This helps passengers who get to sightsee in peace. It is a boon for the travelers who like to enjoy the local attractions.

In case you can’t plan too much in advance or have decided to take a cruise at the last minute, you needn’t despair. Most cruise lines offer a variety of departure schedules so that you can adjust according to your comfort. Certain cruises last quite a while.

When you are in the over 50s age group, you would more often than not want a relaxed peaceful trip. Maximum excitement could be the festivities on board or the marine life you get to see. People have reportedly seen dolphins swimming beside the liners at see a number of times. You could probably report a similar experience too while you sit by the pool side on the deck and enjoy the brilliant sun, the sparkling sea, azure sky, starry nights and the cool sea breeze!

Travel agents will gladly take care of your booking and provide all the required information on your chosen cruise. If you like, you could access website on the Internet. Browse around for a good deal being offered specially to patrons in their fifties! You’ll get some special rates and discounts. Price listings can be obtained and special information can be requested through online brochures. These websites also give departure schedules and ports enroute.

A cruise travel is a wonderful investment. The returns are memories that stay with you a lifetime! Go traveling in style.

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Scuba diving is now one of the most popular holiday activities in the world, with around twenty million qualified divers worldwide.

More on Scuba diving here

As diving has grown it has also become clear that its success is due to something else apart from being simply a sporting challenge. For a clear definition, scuba diving is using a self-contained breathing set to stay underwater for periods of time greater than human breath-holding ability allows. The diver carries all equipment necessary for diving and is not reliant upon equipment elsewhere.

Scuba diving is a popular watersport; so popular that over one million people become certified scuba divers worldwide every year, and like all other pastimes it is constantly changing and evolving. Scuba diving is one of the many favorite activities in the Fiji Islands and we offer diving instruction for beginners and intermediates alike. Jean-Michel Cousteau is the founder and owner of the five star resort on the south coast of the Fijian island of Vanua Levu. Scuba diving is still the main attraction drawing visitors to the island.

Scuba diving is considered to be a very safe and fun recreational sport as long as you follow all the safety guidelines. The reason that a scuba diving computer is so great for example is because it can be used to supply you with a lot of the information needed to keep you safe at all times. It can keep your data updated on things such as dive times and decompression times and depths.

Scuba Diving is one wonderful relaxing out of the world experience. How many hours have you seen the best camera footage in Discovery and national geographic and wondered what would it be like to be there physically? However it is certainly not just a swim in the water; scuba requires certification and uses technical equipment. Scuba, which is actually an acronym for “self-contained breathing apparatus”, allows divers to dive deeper and stays, submerged longer.

Chosing the rigt equipment is very important. Scuba diving fins for example, should seal well around the foot or ankle (when using full fins) but not crush your foot.

Scuba diving is clearly one of the most exciting hobbies to take. This activity takes you to depths, literally and figuratively. Scuba diving is great fun, but if you are in an exotic location like Belize, then it becomes an adventure! Check out scuba diving locations for the full scoop on this amazing places like this. Scuba diving is an equipment extensive sport, and the same site is a great resource in that regard as well. Whether its life support gear, a decompression computer, dry suit or an underwater video system you will find lots of valuable tips and information on available products as well as manufacturers.

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Women Trekkers

At the risk of sounding redundant, the best gifts for women struck with wanderlust are passport leather holders, Swiss Army knives, Zippo lighters and money belts. Like travelers’ cheques, these things come in handy in the most compromising situations, especially for women who love the romance of traveling alone to distant places to foster their spirits, or to have some slices of life’s adventures.

Unlike men, lady globe trotters need to take extra safety measure. Fortunately, there are ways to make their trips safer - researching about the country’s traditions, habits, and taboos, contacting friends who might have families and distant cousins living along their travel route, getting better accommodations, and seeking expert travel advice might save them a lot of future problems.

If you are also suffering from wanderlust or pining to have the experience of a lifetime by traveling solo, be ready for some travel snags. As a lady traveler, you’re prey to pickpockets, gigolos, and other maniacs on the loose. These tips will help you get out of sticky times or draining circumstances:

* If you’re propositioned by a Hulk-like specimen, ready your lighter. Light that cigarette without giving him a hint that your lighter’s flame can be very dangerous to his facial hair!. Fuss over him and beat a quick exit while he’s busy trying to save the last of his eyebrows.

* If your ID and traveling documents are stolen, run to the nearest tourist police office. Either you come on tough, or break in tears. The former works well after you’ve passed around that pack of cigarettes and offered them your lighter. But be sure the guys smoke, or you will get yourself in deeper shit.

* Should the village, be ready to part with your personalized Zippo and cigarette lighter case as thank-you gifts. But many will not take these “gifts.” They will happily bring you to the police station.

* At the bus terminal, practice your Zippo lighter tricks to stop that garrulous seatmate from telling you about his exploits. He will get the message.

* If a stranger keeps on following you, scare him off with a sudden flare from your lighter, and before he can recover from the surprise attack, run like you never have before!

* If pangs of loneliness catches up with you, go on a tourist trip near the area. Your Zippo lighter antics will start conversations and you will find it easier to befriend solo travelers.

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Off the coast of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard glisten in the sun and continue to reign as the perfect summerplace since the 1800s. It is also here that flushed men’s wallets are drained and credit cards are swiped to the max to be able savor the islands charms. But no matter the expense, Martha’s Vineyard remains the perfect summerplace in the heartland.

The Fab Six Vineyard Towns

Martha’s Vineyard is a large island of 6 town - Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah. The island is a tourist’s haven of quaint towns, miles of the Nantucket Sound, balmy summer afternoons, cool evening breezes, and great nightlife and shopping. There is glorious food and bottomless drinks all worth the calories and the cash in leather wallets.

Once you reach the shoreline of Vineyard Haven, bobbing wooden colorful boats and the two tall ships of the famous Black Dog Company will salute you to America’s favorite summerplace. Where to go? Once you gun your car off the ferry, you will have endless choices. There are lots ofplaces that can feed your passions - shopping, sun bathing, feasting on seafood, movies, nature tripping, touring historical places, and celebrity house gawking.

Seasoned summer folks prefer to pitch tent in designated areas instead of checking into tony hotels. They dine in off-the-beaten tracks where hearty meals and drinks are served - all fit for royals with fat wallets and checkbooks.

Oaks Bluffs - Here, you will find the famous gingerbread homes, pulsating nightlife, and a bustling Circuit Avenue where the business strip is situated. Take home one of those canvas men’s wallets and passport wallet, quilted blankets, home decor, Indian printed cloths, and much more.

Edgartown - A charming New England Village with old homes and a white church with tall spires. The plush enclaves in Edgartown offer expensive dining. But there’s a cheaper place that boasts of tempting colonial flavors - tankards of draft root beer, the wheat ale topped with blueberries, and addictive fries in the Kelly House Hotel’s pub.

Vineyard Haven has tasty seafood and the Net Result offers cheaper prices. Feast on lobster, crab cakes, and sushi and gratify your sweet tooth at Mad Martha’s ice cream parlor. For movies, catch the recent blockbusters in New Haven and Edgartown, if sun, sea, and sand start to bore you.

Want a laidback summer? Chilmark, West Tisbury, and Aquinnah are the places to stay. You will not see the usual row of houses, but a tapestry of lush green woodlands, dirt roads, and the famed colorful rock faces in Gay Head (Aquinnah).

Bike, hike, swim, gorge on food, gulp all the drink, and soak in all the fun and leisure. At the end of summer, only your wallet may or may not be emptied, but what the heck? You had a long hot but entertaining summer.

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Every child dreams of going to Disneyland someday. And the child in you wishes to set foot on the famous home of Mickey Mouse and his friends in Hong Kong or in Tokyo. With the relatively lower air fares today, a number of people can actually realize this dream. Just take note of these few travel tips before you embark on the plane that leads you to Hong Kong Disneyland.

1. Spare at least one day for Disneyland alone. Hong Kong is one of the best cities for shopping, but don’t let this occupy all your days in the country. Remember that you are there primarily to enjoy the rides and all sights in Disneyland. To some, one day may not be enough. But on the average, one day is a conservative amount of time for you experience the thrills of its rides and attractions.

2. Don’t be a “kill-joy.” Surely, a Disneyland trip comes with the fact that you need to be in exhilarating rides. Because of this, you should not go there if you are half-hearted about getting into that rollercoaster ride. Just make sure you have all your valuables secured, so you don’t end up losing them. A magic wallet or a travel wallet is a great way of keeping your much-needed cash in place while you enjoy the wonders of such a magical place. Leave your business card cases in your hotel as such will not be used in the park where Mickey and his friends tread.

3. Don’t forget the map. Disneyland will provide you with a map. Make use of it and make sure you know how to read it. Go to the places or sites that best interest you. Better yet, plan your trip ahead so you will have a clear direction as to which attraction to check out first. Familiarize yourself with the nitty-gritty of going into those sites as well to save time and energy. Nothing is more disappointing than going back and forth a certain direction because you were not able to properly read the map.

4. Enjoy. Whether you are just window shopping in Hong Kong or having the time of your life in Disneyland, you should not forget to enjoy. Even if you fall short of your budget, enjoy still. After all, the trip is all about enjoyment and not of fretting.

Once you have all these gentle reminders on your mind, the magic that Disney and his characters bring will surely shower you in your stay at Hong Kong Disneyland.

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Family cruise vacations are a wonderful way to engage the whole family in a trip that’s relatively all-inclusive and offers a range of activities that appeal to family members young and old. However, before you depart on your big family cruise vacation, you need to consider a few crucial safety tips.

To learn how to really enjoy yourself and have a fun and safe time on your next family cruise, keep reading for the top family cruise safety tips from the experts.

1. Check your ship’s report card

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a department called the Vessel Sanitation Program. That program inspects ships on a regular basis for cleanliness, food preparation, hygiene, water control, rodents and disease prevention. Upon inspection, each ship is given a report card that is then made available on the CDC web site.

Before you book your next cruise, look up your specific ship’s report card to check their grade.

2. Put safety first

Before you book with a cruise line, even a “family” cruise or a “kid” cruise, always make sure you know the cruise line’s policy on child safety. If they don’t have one or if it isn’t readily available to you, then they are not the cruise line for you.

Ask about their daycare employees, the activity counselors and the children’s guides - are they qualified to work with children? Do they have first aid certification? Have they been thoroughly screened? What background checks has the cruise line done? How does the cruise line keep track of every child when parents aren’t present?

3. Be diligent, especially on shore

Admittedly, a cruise can feel very safe. It’s an enclosed environment, but that doesn’t mean parents can fully let down their guard. Kids can still fall, slip, get hurt, wander into unsupervised or dangerous areas and generally do what kids do.

Despite the childcare, the amenities available to you and the enclosed space, never forget that you’re a parent. If you’re going on shore with your children, keep a close eye on them and try sticking to cruise ship organized activities.

4. Have your papers in order

Before you leave, make sure that everyone has a passport. If any of the children have a different last name from yourself or your friend, or if they’re traveling without one parent, be sure to get copies of their birth certificates or custody agreements or a letter that states you’re allowed to bring them outside the country.

Also, make sure everyone is properly insured for travel, including cruise destinations which have specific legal implications because of international waters and the various ports of call. Keep all this paperwork in a safe place.

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Who is not busy? It would be nearly impossible to get a “no” for this inquiry. You will always hear somebody whining about how demanding his work is and how hard it is for him to juggle professional and personal life. Basically, every working professional spends almost 75% of his time at the office.

Because of this, people are finding it hard to take a leave and get that vacation. You’re probably one of these people. You probably have planned for a beach outing with your friends or your family, but were unable to make that plan into a reality because of your hectic schedule. On the other end of the spectrum, your family or your friends may have already expressed their dismay over the constant rebooking and postponement of these plans. They are becoming increasingly impatient because summer is almost over.

The great news is it is not yet too late to take that late summer vacation. You can still get reasonable hotel and plane rates. What’s more, because most people have already been through their much-anticipated summer holiday, airline providers will give out promotional fares to selected destinations.

As soon as you have your hotel and tickets taken care of, your next major concern is your itinerary. Obviously, this will depend on your chosen destination. But summer is usually spent at the beach where you can brag about your newly-toned body and skimpy swimwear. Others, however, go with extreme sports such as white water rafting, rappelling, and mountain climbing.

All these summer activities certainly don’t require you to bring your laptop attache or just your attache case. These will certainly be out of place in this kind of outing. Plus, your friends and family will not let you attend to your emails and work stuff anyway, so why bother taking them with you in what is supposed to be a “work-free” treat to yourself. You can bring your pocket business card holders, though, as in any outing, there is a possibility of meeting them along.

Another equally important thing to note when taking that vacation is the “mandate to enjoy.” Enjoy every second of it as it is not everyday that you will have this chance. Seize the day, as others put it, for the next opportunity may still be far behind.

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As a follow up to my Paris accommodation article that gave three simple steps to the perfect night in Paris, here are three simple steps to enjoying the perfect day in the capital of Love.

First stop and probably the most exciting is ‘La Maison du Chocolat’, doted around in various locations around Paris. This boutique was established in 1977 by master chocolatier Robert Linxe. He now has departments in New York, London and Tokyo, but Paris remains to be the mothership for his chocolate wonderland. The so called ‘mothership’ is accessible via the ‘Charles de Gaulles Etoile’ meto stop. More than just a chocolate shop, ‘La Maison du Chocolat’ offers the widest range of chocolate in all shapes and sizes; flavours vary from classic caramel to Mirabelle plum liquor. Linxe recommends that the best way to enjoy his beautiful creations is to cut the chocolate in half and let every piece melt slowly in your mouth, which means stopping yourself from shamelessly eating it all in one go; a very hard task I must say!

The next stop for the perfect day is the Saxe-Breteuil market, situated by the Eiffel Tower, Segur metro. This market which lies in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, on a typical picturesque boulevard, is open every Saturday and Thursday morning and is deemed to be the best and most certainly most beautiful market in Paris. The market traders come from all over France, showing off their specialized produce; flowers, fish, meat, dairy products and crafts. The market has a unique buzz about it and is full of locals and banter between the stall owners and shoppers. It is the only place in Paris where you can find the freshest produce from almost every major region in the country. The market is bigger on Saturdays so make sure to keep this day free.

The third and final step to completing your perfect day in Paris is the cinema! You’re probably thinking that going to the cinema in Paris is a waste of valuable ‘culture time’! However, I am not suggesting that you go to any multi-screen cinema in the local shopping centre; ‘La Pagode’ is one of the best kept cultural secrets of Paris. Built at the beginning of the century by the owner of the French department store ‘Bon March’ for his wife, with the original purpose of being a ball room, this original Japanese building was converted into a cinema in the thirties when the couple suddenly divorced. The building has seen a variety of problems and changes but when the cinema was threatened to be turned into a restaurant in the nineties, the Ministry of Culture decided to list the building to ensure that it always stays a cinema. Nowadays the cinema is a real cult gem in the world of film. It only shows ‘classy films’ such as foreign, cult and independently released motions. It is also common for the cinema to hold venue to retrospectives for big-time directors such as Woody Allen and Alfred Hitchcock. The building is set in a residential area of Paris surrounded by Paris accommodation, Paris apartment, set away from the hustle and bustle of the city and all the Paris hotels, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens that are open for your delight. The interior and exterior architecture will keep you occupies as you relax on the comfy recliners, waiting for the film to start.

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