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Article: Barbados Tourist Attractions

Admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:19:09 +0000

Barbados Tourist Attractions

Barbados is an island in the Lesser Antilles chain. It lies in the Western Atlantic Ocean, to the East of the Caribbean Sea. It was a British colony for almost 250 years (from 1627 when the first British settlers arrived), and during much of this time, the island’s economy was based around the production of sugarcane.

Barbados gained independence in 1966), and is today a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, and CARICOM. Since independence, Barbados has progressed considerably, and the economy has diversified into light manufacturing and especially tourism – today Barbados is the third highest ranked country on the human development index in the Americas (after the United States and Canada).

Most people who visit Barbados do of course visit to enjoy the beaches, sea, and wonderful weather – the island has developed a reputation in these areas. However, there is also quite a lot to see on the islands, and some of the tourist attractions to look out for include:

* Andromeda Gardens – This is a horticultural park, today owned by the Barbados National Trust, but which began as the private collection of reknowned Bajan horticulturalist, Iris Bannochie.

* Barbados Concorde Experience – Barbados was one of only four regular destinations visited by the Concorde airliner (the others being London, New York City and Paris), and this fact is commemorated by this exhibition. The exhibition includes a retired Concorde airliner, and lots of information about the history and development of the supersonic airliner.

* Harrison’s Cave – This is a cave system that was formed when water naturally eroded the limestone rock. It contains many unusual stalactites and stalagmites,and is one of Barbados’ most popular tourist attractions.

Author: S. Tanna.
Discover Barbados Tourist Attractions at http://www.travelguide2barbados.com/a1_attractions.php

Article: Some Must Sees of Fiji

Admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:33:30 +0000

photo credit: yuko_ppp2501

Some Must Sees of Fiji

There are few places in the world as beautifully untouched as Fiji’s 330 islands, which make it an outstanding location for a luxury holiday. In Fiji, there is plenty to see, an amazing culture to absorb and some simply unforgettable sights. Here is a selection of Fiji’s Must Sees:

Navala Village

Although many of the settlements you see will seem traditional by western standards, Navala village really is something else – all the houses are built from local materials. The houses (“bures”) are single room buildings with thatch roofs and bamboo woven walls. Kitchens and toilets are separate buildings. There are around 120 bures in the village, and apparently a new one is built every time a couple get married – due to the simplicity of the buildings, construction takes around a month. You can take a guided tour of the village, and it is definitely a Fiji holiday experience you will not forget in a hurry.

Go Island Hopping

With a total of 330 islands, it’s no surprise that exploring presents tourists with unique and memorable experiences. The majority of these islands are not developed for tourists, so an adventure is almost guaranteed. Guest houses are sporadic, so you may well be looking at the hospitality of locals for lodging and board – make sure you pay at least F$50 per day to your hosts to cover expenses, and present a ‘seveusevu’ on arrival. If the prospect of uncertainty in your lodgings and the idea of an adventure fills you with excitement rather than dread, than a island hopping adventure should be a key part of your Fiji holiday.

Visit the Bouma National Park

The Bouma National Park comprises some 15,000 hectares of rainforests with volcanic peaks, breathtaking mountain ridges and sheer cliff faces. The waterfalls in particular are breathtaking, and the park has some unusual wildlife which is rare on other local islands thanks to the prevalence elsewhere of the predatory mongoose. The park is home to a vast number of reptiles and birds – definitely worth the effort of getting to on your luxury holiday in Fiji.

Scuba Diving

With so many islands and absolutely perfect conditions, it’s no wonder that Fiji is renowned for its excellent diving. Offering a huge variety of bright and colourful soft corals, impressive marine life, warm waters and good visibility, it’s a solid choice both for beginners and experienced divers. The pick of the reefs to explore would be Astrolabe Reef and Beqa Lagoon – any diver worth their salt should pay these a visit at some time in their life, and they are also an excellent place for beginners to be introduced to the world of diving on a holiday in Fiji.

Traverse Navua River

Navua River is tucked up in the highlands of Viti Levu, and despite the regular raft rides along it, feels like it’s barely been touched by human influence. The trip takes you past astonishingly beautiful terrain, past black volcanic walls and emerald rainforest and countless waterfalls. The waters can be choppy, but the beauty of this wonderful river means that you will hardly notice.

I’m only scratching the surface here, and the sheer number of barely explored islands means that there are thousands of unique adventures waiting to happen – there’s never been a better time to book a luxury holiday in Fiji!

Author: Kieron Sellens is the marketing manager of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AiTO). With AITO’s luxury Fiji holidays, you can tailor-make the dream holiday.

Cape Verde Holidays

Admin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:32:51 +0000

photo credit: davetrainer

Cape Verde Holidays for Island Vacation

If you are in surfing or windsurfing and looking for somewhere different for your next vacation why not consider taking a trip to the Cape Verde Islands. In fact, Cape Verde holidays have become extremely popular with all those involved in the above mentioned water sports because of the trade winds that blow in on to the Islands shores.

It is these trade winds, which provide perfect conditions for all forms of surfing and of all the Islands in this group Sal is one which has gained the best reputation of all within the surfing community. But as well as this island offering great surfing facilities it also has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches that anywhere in the world can offer today.

As for getting to the Cape Verde Islands there is an airport situated on Sal Island and which is located close to the Santa Maria. This is the main tourist part of the island and so after only arriving a short time ago you could soon be settling in to your accommodation and enjoying a great vacation.

But if you are someone who would like to see a little, more of what the Cape Verde Islands have to offer then all you need to do is make your way down to the port on Sal and catch a ferry. These run regular journeys to all its neighboring islands and within minutes you can be exploring and viewing some of the most spectacular and beautiful scenery that these volcanic islands have to offer. However as well as some of the most beautiful scenery in the world today there are other things that you will want to try. Certainly, the food is something that you are unlikely to taste anywhere else as it is made up of both African and Portuguese elements.

Remember for a long time although the islands are located off of the West Coast of Africa for many years they were a Portuguese colony. It is because of this as you wander around the islands you will see clear evidence showing how Portugal influenced the way in which the islands look. But as well as influences on the designs of their buildings the Portuguese also have a played a major role in the culture of the people of these islands. For example, the people of the Cape Verde Islands have their own form of music known as Morna, but when listened to you can hear the influences coming through of the Portuguese as it sounds very similar to their music known as Fado.

So if you are someone who is looking for a vacation that not only offers you a great climate, some superb activities as well as food, then the Cape Verde Islands may be your next choice. Certainly, as you will soon discover Cape Verde holidays are becoming more and more popular each year and especially those who enjoy surfing. So why not go online and see what great offers for a Cape Verde holiday you can find today.

Author Marcus Wilkins is a freelance travel writer and has written many articles which review holiday villas in many areas of the world. He has recently been on a few Cape Verde holidays and as written about his experiences above.

photo credit: YXO

Visit Sal Island, Cape Verde Islands

Admin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:26:07 +0000

Is Sal Worth a Visit in Cape Verde?

Sal Island is very close to the West African coast of Senegal and is the most developed of all the Cape Verde (or Cabo Verde) islands. It is about 30km long and the widest width is 12km. The island of Sal is the flattest island of the Cape Verde archipelago and takes it’s name from the now inactive salt mines.

Home to the first international airport in Cape Verde, the scenery when landing on the island of Sal does not create a love at first sight impression. The landscape is somewhat moon like, arid and grey. But do not be mistaken as Sal is an up and coming tourist destination by excellence. The amazing white sands and many colours of the sea form a delightful backdrop for the beach orientated activities which are the main reasons for visiting the island and it is this combined that creates a wonderful contrast.

Being the most developed island where tourism is concerned, Sal has one of the best beaches in the world. The town of Santa Maria boasts 8km of golden sands with warm sea temperatures all year round. As a result of this, a significant portion of visitors already come here for water sports, offering perfect conditions for surfing, sailing, fishing, snorkelling, windsurfing and kite surfing. . Scuba Diving is also becoming a big attraction in Cape Verde because of the oceans fabulous and varied sea life. In Santa Maria, there are ample instructors and equipment for all water sports. There is also mini golf, basketball and tennis courts, volleyball and football pitches as well as excellent swimming pools.

There are several new luxury hotels planned, together with many villas, apartments, shops, spas and restaurants, so for the next few years one might expect some disruption from building works. The big plus is, however, that all the new and projected buildings are low rise. Due to the development of the tourism industry, there are new venues and facilities opening up regularly.

Whilst visiting Sal, it is worth while taking a trip around the island. In particular you should see the salt lake at Pedra de Lume and the port of Palmeira is a wonderful little place, with lobster farms and salt purifying stations providing and insight into daily life on the island. To see the ‘real’ Sal, pay a visit to Espargos with its picturesque main square. It takes its name from its main crop, asparagus. Other places to visit include Buracona (‘large hole’), a natural tidal pool. There are excellent cruises available following the pretty Sal coastline, or catamaran day trips to other Cape Verde Islands.

In a nutshell, Cape Verde is very much, ‘on the up’ and is preparing to be discovered by international tourists and increasing numbers are flocking to the island of Sal to see what the fuss is about.

Author Rebbeca Anne, a Cape Verde enthusiast and property owner in Santa Maria, Sal – http://www.cape-verde-holiday.com

Please add your comments about your experience with Cape Verde and especially with the island at Cape Verde: Sal Island, just CLICK HERE

Hot Winter Holidays in Lanzarote

Admin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:10:05 +0000

photo credit: yaph

Whilst most other European sunspots have long since put away the sun loungers for another season there’s still one group of islands basking in temperatures of 20C plus.

Although in fairness they’re not really European at all – as the Spanish owned Canary Islands sit just 70 miles off the coast of West Africa on the same line of latitude as parts of Mexico and Florida.

Thanks to their relative proximity to the UK and reasonable four hour flight times the Canaries have become well established as a popular winter sun destination. And the eastern most link in the chain, Lanzarote, offers visitors much more than just sunshine and bucket and spade beach holidays alone. As this tiny volcanic island boasts incredible natural beauty, high quality accommodation and some of the most unique tourist attractions to be found anywhere in the world.

Unlike many other Spanish sunspots Lanzarote remains relatively unspoiled. Despite the fact that island has been operating as a hugely popular holiday destination for British and Irish tourists (attracting over one million visitors from both counties last year alone) for over thirty years.

The three main resorts are well contained, high rise buildings are banned and advertising hoardings are outlawed. Creating a pleasing overall aesthetic harmony that enhances the island’s considerable natural charms.

Much of the credit for this must go to an island born artist and architect called Cesar Manrqiue. Who fought tirelessly against the excesses of over development during the 1970´s – just as package tourism was really starting to take off in Spain.

Manrique was lucky enough to have friends in high places – such as Pepe Ramirez – who sat on the island’s governing council at that time and who was sympathetic to Manrique´s views. Together the pair sought to ensure that Lanzarote wasn’t buried beneath a sea of five star hotels. Whilst also working to create a unique set of tourist attractions that fused art with nature.

The greatest manifestation of this philosophy today can be found at the Jameos del Agua, in the north of the island. Where Manrique transformed a collapsed lava tube into a breathtaking underground grotto – beautifully planted and with a pool containing blind albino crabs as its centrepiece.

So impressed was visiting Hollywood actress Rita Heyworth that she declared the Jameos the 8th wonder of the world. And as news of Manrique´s creations spread so the number if VIP visitors increased – attracted by the novelty of this new destination and the architectural plaudits garnered by Manriques work.

Amongst these visitors was Omar Sharif – fresh from the making of Doctor Zhivago and with money to burn. Sharif commissioned Manrique to create what must still be the most unusual property in Lanzarote – which he had built into the side of a volcano, featuring elaborate secret gardens and pools.

Legend has it that Sharif lost the house in a high stakes game of bridge not long after taking possession. But today his old home – now called LagOmar – is still open to the public – as it now plays host to one of the most upmarket restaurants in Lanzarote.

Thanks to the work of Manrique, Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1993 – and large swathes of the island are now officially designated national parks. Such as the incredible Timanafaya Volcano Park – which was the epicentre of the eruptions that engulfed the island back in the 1730´s for over six years. And which today are the most popular tourist attraction on the island.

See also about other Spanish speaking islands for vacation HERE.

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photo credit: chicadelatele

Cape Verde Islands: Sal Island

Admin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:54:06 +0000

Sal Island Cape Verde – A Brief Guide

The Cape Verde Islands is a name that has been conjured up recently and has been connected with property investment due to the recent activity by property developers on the islands.

Sal (Portuguese for salt) was first discovered in 1460 is part of the northern group of islands called Barlavento. It was initially named Plana or Llana meaning “flat”, which is due to the island being mostly flat. Sal is also the closest Island to West Africa and lies at the east of the Cape Verde archipelago.

The island is not huge, it is around 30km long and 12km wide and has a total area of just 216km. Even still, it has become the gateway for the rest of the archipelago due to its airport that was built in 1939.

Up until the middle of this century, Sal’s main export was Salt. The locals of Boa Vista originally used the island for grazing their animals until they came across the Salt there and decided to export it.

Activities and Sports

As a tourist destination although new and fairly untested, Sal has many things going for it including gorgeous sunshine of which there are 350 days per year. The beaches of Sal and other parts of Cape Verde rival any beaches in world and coupled with the fact that the seas are warm, it is also a great place for water sports enthusiasts.

There are a ton of events and carnivals that take place on Sal every year and are well worth seeing. These include the festival of S. Jose in Palmeira on the 19th March and the municipal celebrations which commemorate the Sal’s communities. The celebrations take place at the Santa Maria Festival of Music and are held on the beach. If you are visiting Sal in March, be sure to check out this festival as it is a wonderful occasion.

Being an island and having such wonderful weather all year round, its no wonder that Sal is a haven for water sports enthusiasts. Santa Maria is the main port of call for the sporty types, and has everything there including a number of instructors who can teach you how windsurf or dive.

If you are looking for something a little more sedate why not try a nice walk or hire a jeep and see the whole of the island?

Sal Property Investment

Sal is also becoming very popular with property investors looking to get a foot on the ladder of the next up and coming property hotspot. With more and more interest from developers and investors alike, Sal and the Cape Verde Islands are sure to become a great place to invest in the next few years.

With 350 days of sunshine each year, it’s a perfect place to invest, especially if you plan on renting the property out as a holiday home. With so much beautiful weather all year round, you are not limited unlike other holiday destinations.

Sal and the Cape Verde Islands in general have been regarded as one of the poorest countries in the world in recent years and this all looks set to change in the next few years due to the property boom that is now starting to increase.

So although Salt may have been Sal’s greatest export over the years, its tourism and property investors that could become their greatest import and could kick start the islands economic growth.

Robert Griggs writes for Homes Abroad Cape Verde who specialize in new developments and resale property for sale on Sal Island and other islands in Cape Verde.

Please add your comments about your experience with Cape Verde and especially with the island at Cape Verde: Sal Island, just CLICK HERE

What to Do on Your Holidays in Christmas Island – Article

Admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:04:58 +0000

What to Do on Your Holidays in Christmas Island

Christmas Island is a great place to visit when taking a holiday vacation. It is known as the Island of the Crab or Kiribati because there a lot of crabs patiently crawling on the seashore. Christmas Island is barely known as a holiday destination, but this is likely to change after the TV series Survivor shot a whole season here. With its sandy white beaches and its turquoise waters, Christmas Island is a jewel in the Pacific.

Video about the yearly mass migration of the red crabs to the sea where they will breed and spawn.

You should visit Christmas Island National Park first before touring around the island. From here you will get to know the island’s rich culture and natural resources. You will also get to enjoy and admire a variety of the island’s flora and fauna. You will also see a variety of endangered species that are treated well in the national park. The park is simply nature at its best. It is a miniature representation of the whole of Christmas Island.

Christmas Island is also a popular place for water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. Beneath these activities, however, lies the beauty of sea creature found in Christmas Island. There are evil-looking moray eels gaping from corral crevices, parrot fish and somewhere beyond the reef lurk an alarmingly healthy population of hammerheads and tiger sharks. There are many reefs here that are homes to a myriad of sea creatures. You will get to see dolphins and a variety of tropical fishes which are really colourful.

There are whale sharks to see in the depths of the island shore in their natural habitat. When you are done with the marine life, then you may experience bird watching. The island is home to a wide species of birds, any bird lover will surely appreciate Christmas Island. There are lots of colourful birds here, ranging from very small to larger birds like the eagle.

Another thing that makes Christmas Island a popular place to stay is the Red Crab festival, which is an event a lot of visitors await for. Christmas Island would not be the same without the yearly mass migration of the red crabs to the sea where they will breed and spawn. The best month to experience this is after the beginning of the wet season. This is truly a sight to behold as this island is invaded by these tiny red creatures. People will witness how the white sandy beach on the island becomes swarming with red crawling sea creatures.

The Flying Fish Cove is another attraction on the Island. You can reach this cove via yacht. Once there, there are a lot of things to keep you busy and a number of places to explore. Here, you might be lucky enough to see a giant manta ray. For starters, there are recreational activities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoing, and other water sports. If you are not into these activities, you can just romanticize the place by strolling along the cove by foot.

Author: Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing online travel websites for booking holiday homes. To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Holiday Villas.

Direct Holiday Bookings also has a great selection of Holiday Cottages and self catering holiday apartments that can be rented as holiday homes all over the world.

See more articles about Christmas Island CLICK HERE.

Condo Vacation Rentals, Ins or Vacation Homes on Sanibel Island

Admin — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:42:03 +0000

As you know Sanibel Island is popular for vacation of a few days, for week long holidays, and for monthly stays especially during winter months. I find the following advice from Sylvia Guarino useful when you have decided to stay at the location midland of Sanibel Island, not of Captiva Island. you can chose between condo vacation rentals, Ins or vacation homes.

Accommodations on Sanibel Island

Ok, now you know where on the Island you think you want to be, but there is a catch!

If you want to stay at one of the island inns, and you want to be on Sanibel, not Captiva, you will have to restrict yourself to the mid island location. There are no inns on the quiet, west end of the island. As suggested in my earlier post, the west end of the island is the non-commercialized area of the island. The closest inns on the west end are actually on Captiva. Captiva is Sanibel’s neighboring island, and quite lovely. But you will do yourself a service by comparing prices for inn lodging on both islands as you plan your trip.

Inns are great for short stays, generally not allowed in the condo rentals. Most condo vacation rentals mandate a rental of a week or more. Inns offer the luxury of having daily maid service and some offer a place to have a bite to eat. Only a few condo complexes have dining facilities. The majority are self catering, which means you do your own cooking and cleaning while you are on holiday. You should find your condo unit clean when you arrive, and if you leave it in good condition, you will not be charged in the majority of complexes for cleaning on your departure.

Also do your home work on condo complexes. If you absolutely must have a Gulf view accommodation, be sure the unit you have chosen offers same. There are many, many complexes directly on the Gulf, but some units do not offer the view.

If a Gulf view is not an absolute, you will find that there are complexes near the beach that offer more space and better pricing.

And, in regards to pricing, if you are vacationing for 4 weeks or more, you may find your best value in renting a private rental home.

Vacation homes on Sanibel are mandated by the town to be 28 day rentals. That makes for less competition than weekly rental condos, especially in off season. Explore your options if you are planning a month’s stay on Sanibel as you well may find the best pricing on private homes for rent.

Please visit my blog for more information on Sanibel: http://sanibel-rentalsnet.blogspot.com
Author Sylvia Guarino.

Read more about Sanibel Island Vacation, click here.

The Balearic Islands – Find a Spanish Mediterranean Island

Admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:15:21 +0000

Holidays on the Balearic Islands – Cluster of Great Spanish Islands

A Spanish archipelago situated in the west Mediterranean Sea, Balearic Islands is a grouping of four key islands along with many other tiny islets. These Spanish islands are filled with sunny weather all year long and are an amazing holiday destination, in Spain.

Following are some of the things to do or see in the major islands of Balearic Islands:

Mallorca (Majorca)

Mallorca or Majorca is the largest and the key island out of all the Spanish islands, forming Balearic Islands. With its capital city as Palma and inhabitation living a metropolitan style, this island is a great stopover for tourist or visitors holidaying in Balearic Islands. Mallorca or Majorca is known for its lively beaches, sunny weather, gothic architecture, harbors, villages and blue Mediterranean coastline. This ‘one of the’ Spanish islands also has lots of adventure and water activities, rich delicacy of food and markets for buying great souvenirs.

Some of the major tourist attractions, to visit Mallorca or Majorca for, include City of Palma de Mallorca, Cathedral of Palma, Bellver castle, Sierra de Tramuntana and Train from Palma to Soller. Many of the tourist or visitors visit this island for its beautiful beaches and superb resorts, for a great holiday in Balearic Islands.

Menorca

Menorca is the second largest and key island out of the archipelago of Spanish islands forming Balearic Islands. This island is usually visited by tourist or visitors hoping for some great water adventure when holidaying in Balearic Islands. Menorca is surrounded with marvelous beaches, lots of history, cultural heritage and flavorsome cuisine for a great holiday in Balearic Islands.

Some of the popular tourist attractions to cherish when visiting Menorca for a great holiday in these Spanish islands include Mahon, Los Delfines Aquapark, Monte Toro, Es Freginal Park and Xoriguer Distillery. The land of Menorca also has striking history and culture rich museums, such as Museu de Menorca, Museu Municipal de Ciutadella and Museu de la Natura de Menorca.

Ibiza

Ibiza is largely famous as a party city of Balearic Islands; also it is the third largest as well as key island among the grouping of islands marking Balearic Islands. Known for its lively and wild beaches and great nightlife, Ibiza has lot more to offer such as delicious cuisine, UNESCO acknowledged archeologically rich town, pine forests, picturesque Mediterranean views, caves, museums and lots of adventure like hiking, climbing, scuba diving, surfing, golf and go-karting.

Few remarkable tourist destinations to enjoy when thinking of Ibiza on your holiday in Balearic Islands include Museum of Archaeology, Scenic Tour Train, Ibiza Old Town, Galeria Van der Voort, C’an Marça Caves and Hippy Market – Punta Arabi. Of course when on a holiday in Ibiza the best thing is to enjoy and unwind in the outstanding and superb beaches such as Playa Talamanca, Playa des Cana, Santa Eulalia, Figueretas, Cala Lena and Cala Llonga

Formentera

Formentera is the fourth major islands among the four islands forming Balearic Islands. This ‘one of the’ Spanish islands is famous for its calm, tranquil and natural beauty as well as environment rich tourist destinations or attractions. From vivid nightlife, scrumptious cuisines, landscapes, hills, salient shores, stunning villas, wineries, breweries, parks, zoos to incredible museums, tourist and visitors can find a lot to add to their holiday in Balearic Islands.

Best time to visit or holiday in Balearic Islands

These major islands of Balearic Islands offer great summer holiday with moderate Mediterranean climate and average temperature of 25 degree Celsius. The best months to visit Balearic Islands are considered to be June, July and August.

Author: Luki Johnson.

If you found this information useful you can find out more at http://www.directholidays.me.uk You will be able to watch holiday videos as well as find out more about holiday destinations and browse Direct Holidays .

Seychelles in Videos – Be Inspired for a Seychelles Vacation

Admin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:40:32 +0000

Seychelles in Videos

Be inspired for your Seychelles vacation by seeing these videos from TravelChannelVOD. They show you different aspects and qualities of The Seychelles Islands. From my own experience I think they give you a quite OK impression of these very attractive islands for any kind of relaxing holiday. To me an island vacation in the Seychelles archipelago is one of the trips I always want to repeat. Simply beautiful settings and such a nice atmophere.