Where to Stay in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has become a popular destination for all types of vacationers. The main reason is because the Dominican Republic has resorts to accommodate everyone, from families on vacation to honeymooners.

The south coast of the island, from Punta Cana all the way to Santo Domingo, has an abundance of resorts each with something unique to offer. One of the biggest all inclusives in this area is the Casa de Campo in La Romana. This resort is located on over 7,000 acres and has many ways for you to spend your vacation time. From horseback riding and golf to tennis or water sports, this resort has it all. If you get restless, take a walk over to the Marina and do some shopping or have a cool drink and relax in one of the restaurants.

Dominican Republic resorts are very popular for family vacations because of the loads of amenities they offer to keep the whole family entertained and happy. If you have ever wanted a family concierge at your disposal, you must try the Paradisus Palma real in Playa de Bavaro located in Punta Cana. The family concierge will keep the kids happy and safe with activities just for them. They will take such good care of your kids that you will be able to relax by the pool or beach. There is so much for the kids to do; they probably will not even miss you.

If you have teenagers, the Club Med in Punta Cana is a very popular resort in the Dominican Republic for this age group. This resort has special activities for kids of all ages from 2-17 but the teen program is exceptional. At the Ramp, a lounge just for them, teens can spend their days skateboarding, playing tag football or just hanging out.

On the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, near Puerto Plata, there are not as many mega resorts but there is still a big variety to select from. What makes this area attractive are all the things you can do. One big attraction is the Ocean World Marine and Water Park. This park has a sea lion encounter, a shark interaction pool and a huge dolphin lagoon. This area is also very popular with windsurfers and is known as one of the best windsurfing destinations in the world.

To decide where to stay in the Dominican Republic, first determine what type of vacation you are going to take, what part of the island you want to visit, and then chose the resort that suits your needs. You will find there is no shortage of things to do and places to stay at in the Dominican Republic

Fun Maui Activities on a Budget

By : Jeremy Thompson
When planning a family vacation to Maui, expenses can really start to add up. However if you know what you're looking for and plan wisely you can find inexpensive Maui activities that can prove to be just as much fun as the pricey ones.

There are a variety of fun, inexpensive Maui activities to suit the interests of any Maui vacationer. Among these activities are some of the most popular in Maui, including snorkeling, whale watching, and hiking. Although these activities can be costly in some locations, if you know where to look you're bound to find the perfect spots that won't cost half of your vacation budget.

One of the most popular activities to do on your Maui vacation is snorkeling. There are an endless number of beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and colorful coral that is perfect for viewing Maui's underwater life. Many dive shops rent out snorkeling gear at a reasonable cost, as little as $10 a week. And if you go with your own equipment it won't cost you a thing.

Another extremely popular inexpensive Maui activity is whale watching. The warm waters of Hawaii are perfect for huge humpback whales to raise their calves. You can view these magnificent creatures starting as low as $15 for a 2 hour tour.

If your preference is to stay on land and see some of the beautiful scenery that Maui has to offer than two inexpensive Maui activities for you might be hiking or going on a scenic drive. You can see mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, and gorgeous Maui plant life on a hike through places like Haleakala Crater National Park. Hike the over 27 miles of trails absolutely free. Your only cost will be for the film in your camera that you'll definitely want to bring. And for only the cost of gas you can experience much of Hawaii on a scenic drive. Winding roads such as the Road to Hana give you another perspective of Maui's landscape and culture.

Finally, one more inexpensive Maui activity you'll want to fit into your schedule is a day on the beach. With some of the best white sand beaches in the world your Maui vacation wouldn't be complete without a day at the beach. Pack a picnic lunch and your sunscreen and relax in the warm rays of the Maui sun.

There are so many things to see and do when you plan a trip to Maui. Don't break the bank by trying to do it all. You can experience the beauty of Maui on pennies a day when you include some inexpensive Maui activities in your itinerary.

Hot Destination Caribbean

By : Francis Lua
When it comes to vacation destinations that are all about having fun in the sun, nothing beats the Caribbean. Situated just to the south and east of Mexico and north and west of Venezuela, South America where the waters are clear and the sun is hot, a Caribbean travel vacation has something for everyone whether you are one for water sports, hiking, swimming, diving, and just plain frolicking in its white sand beaches.

But traveling to a hot destination like the Caribbean can be quite expensive, and for this reason, many people balk at the idea of a Caribbean travel. Indeed, why spend so much on a single vacation when you could visit much cheaper vacation destinations? Never mind if these places do not even come close to what a Caribbean travel entails.

What if we told you that there is a much better way to spend a vacation? What if we told you that you can go on a Caribbean travel vacation without having to spend a lot of your hard earned money?

A Caribbean travel for less. Now, there is a thought.

Below are four chic hotels where you can keep the island flavor high and the prices at a bare minimum while on a Caribbean travel vacation.

Flash and Glamour Anguilla

The most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, Anguilla is an island known for the flash and glamour of many of it resorts. For this reason, the island is a popular Caribbean travel destination for many visitors who want to bask in the compelling charm, romance, and excitement that the islands are known for.

Rendezvous Bay Hotel and Villas may not have all that flash and glamour, but it lacks in that department, the hotel makes up for their own location and fantastic rates starts at hundred dollars while villa costs few hundred dollars. This Caribbean travel resort hotel offers rooms, all sitting directly on fifty palm laden acres of fronting a one and half mile long sugary sand beach. The resort has been recently renovated, offering white tile floors and simple rattan furnishings, and is divided among a dozen low rise buildings.

Another worthy hotel group is Ku, its name meaning sacred place in the Arawak Indian language. With room rates starting at two hundred ninety five dollar, these twenty seven suite hotels overlooks Shoal Bay East and are South Beach Chic, with minimalist white decoration, air conditioning, and full kitchens.

Honeymoon Favorite Antigua

Located just south of another popular Caribbean travel destination of Barbuda. Antigua markets itself as a luxury Caribbean travel escape. Its many hotels and resorts located around the coastline are all favorites when it comes to honeymooning while on a Caribbean travel.

While you do not have to be on your honeymoon to enjoy Antigua island charm, the Cocobay Resort location on a hillside facing the Caribbean Sea makes for a very romantic atmosphere. The idyllic hotel is made of forty seven Creole style cottages in soft pastel hues with rates that are very affordable at two hundred forty dollar.

Hybrid Beat Bahamas

If you want a decidedly patrician vibe during your Caribbean travel vacation, then the Landing, a seven room inn on Harbor Island is exactly for you. There are no televisions, no phones, or Internet connections things that distract you from the sheer beauty of the beach a few blocks away. And for only two hundred forty dollar, you can get one of the bay view rooms, which offer the best views of the harbor and comes with crisp white linens, terraces, and four poster beds.

Author Resource:- Francis Lua
Find out more information at
at my website which is at http://www.vacation-super.com

Caribbean Cruises With The Ships Of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

By : Rolf Zimmerli
Whenever you imagine the Caribbean the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines come into your mind also. There are so many aspects of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines that go without say that the true nature of the cruise is almost unfathomable in a mere imagination.

One of the ships that carry the name proudly is the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas. This magnificent seagoing city includes such amenities as ice-skating, a full-sized basketball court, and nine holes of miniature golf thrown in just for flavor. There are pleasurable activities to suit all ages, youth facilities certain to please all the youngsters on board, and themed bars and lounges certain to entertain all the adults.

With the capacity for large numbers of guests the Royal Caribbean offers more fun in the sun than any other cruise line. The fun begins before you set foot in the islands and lives in your heart forever.

The day spa and fitness center will treat you to the magic of massage and exercise in a way that will create the illusion you are vacationing in a dream. With the Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas cruise you will find there is a cinema with the latest hit movies, a rock-climbing wall, and pools with hot tubs on both decks.

Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas both offer themed bars where the idea of having fun is more than a social statement it is a way of life. Casino Royale offers gambling adventures for anyone with an eye for luck. And if you like to shop, you can shop until you drop in the pleasant shopping experience that rivals none in an open atrium.

There are always conference rooms available aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ships. And with all the activities and fun planned there should not be an idle moment. There can not possibly be an excuse for anyone alive to be bored or boring when the Caribbean cruise ships have taken you to lands far away. Enjoying the Caribbean by cruise ship is the only way to go.


The latest addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet leaves nothing to be desired as far as Caribbean Cruises go: The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas is the largest cruise ship worldwide and has overtaken the Queen Mary 2 in size and importance. It's first ever cruise departs from Miami Florida and call on these ports: Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica and Labadee, Haiti before returning to Miami. There are some spectacular pass times possible on the Freedom of the Seas: a very high rock-climbing wall and the Royal Promenade and ice-skating rink. This cruise ship also offers extensive WiFi capabilities and connectivity for cell phones.

With the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines at your service there are no regrets only fond memories. Even if you go alone there are so many new friends to be made. What better place for romance than the Caribbean? Fantastic sunsets, warm sunny days, and cool tropical nights are there to great you no matter when you decide to cruise.

Cruise Ships Boost 2008 Malta Holiday Ambitions

By : Roger Munns

Welcome figures have come from Malta's cruise industry, with a record year of cruise ship passenger arrivals in 2007.

What makes the figures particularly impressive for the holiday island is that this year's record comes after a record year in 2006, while the number of tourists arriving by air had started from a low 2006 base, making air arrivals an easier target to reach last year.

Just three years ago in 2004 Malta attracted 270,000 passengers from cruises, and took that over 300,000 for 2005. Last year the island did even better to produce a record year and this year will produce an estimated 425,000 arrivals.

A new feature for cruise passengers visiting Malta is an open top bus which will take them to places of interest on the island, including the historic capital Valletta and the Grand Harbour area, to showcase what Malta has to offer.

Commenting on the new facilities and impressive tourist numbers, a travel guide for Malta welcomes both, stating that cruise passengers might decide to visit Malta in the future as a solo holiday rather than as part of a multi destination trip if cruise passengers like what they see, and with increased cruise passenger numbers Malta has the opportunity to increase the number of holidays being taken annually on the Mediterranean island.

The combination of increased tourist numbers comes at a time when the number of passenegrs arriving by air has also seen quite an increase, and the two methods of arrival for Malta helped transform the hotel and holidays industry fortunes for 2007 with 2008 Malta holidays looking good for another increase.

The number of tourists choosing Malta rose by seven per cent in the first quarter of 2007 compared to 2006, and gives vindication to the Maltese hotels and holidays lobby who had urged the government to allow low cost airlines to fly to the holiday island.

The first three months of the year are traditionally the quietest for the Malta holidays industry, and is thought to reflect the year as a whole, with perhaps even a close to ten per cent increase in tourism overall for 2007 compared to 2006.

The surprise among the statistics is where the tourists have come from. Many people in the Malta holidays industry expected a big increase in visitors from the UK, but visitor numbers have remained static, as they have from Germany and France. The increase in visitors came from Russia, Sweden, Belgium and Italy. Good news comes not only from the increase in tourist numbers, but also from the amount tourists spend while on the island - some ten per cent higher than 2006, with cruise passengers spending more per person too while visiting Malta.

Another airline called Click Air has also joined the race for the flight to Malta market recently, putting pressure on the low cost airlines already operating to Malta to further reduce their prices to stay ahead of their competition, - all good news for consumers who have a choice of flying or taking a cruise which includes Malta as a port of call.

Regular travellers to Malta have never had it so good. Not only has their choice of airline and airports serving Malta widened considerably, but the perennial favourite of many business and holiday travellers, Air Malta, has fought back against the new low cost airlines with reduced fares and offers of their own and the number of cruise ships visiting Malta could follow a similar pattern in 2008.

Choose A Caribbean Charter Yacht - Three Varieties To Choose From

When choosing a Caribbean charter yacht, there are three categories of yachts. They are power yachts, sailing yachts and multihull sailing yachts, such as catamarans and trimarans. You can also have a special Caribbean charter to learn about the art of sailing a yacht. This will give you the knowledge and training you need to charter a yacht all on your own without the need of a captain and crew. When you book a Caribbean charter yacht, you can browse the yacht catalog to choose the yacht that best meets your needs.

You can choose a Caribbean yacht charter that specializes in bringing passengers to the best scuba diving locations. This type of yacht has all the space you need for storing your equipment as well as staterooms and a dining room. If you are new to scuba diving, you can take lessons from the skilled crew of the Carribean yacht charter and get the instruction that you need. There are times when you can just relax on the deck of the Caribbean charter yacht or enjoy trips onshore to experience the true Caribbean culture.

The company you choose to deal with for your Caribbean yacht charter will supply you with a sample itinerary for a week long vacation. However, you don't have to stick to this schedule and you can make different decisions where you want to travel on the Caribbean charter yacht. The Carribean islands you choose do have to be navigable and have appropriate anchorages and the captain will be able to give you advice about this aspect of the charter. You do charter the yacht yourself, so you won't have to share your Caribbean yacht charter with another group.

There are occasions when you can book a Caribbean charter yacht where you do not know the other passengers. An example of this could be a singles only charter or a ladies only charter. Of course, you will know this when you make the booking for a Carribean yacht charter, but it is helpful to know that you can enjoy a yacht charter without having a group of your own lined up. While you might think that a Caribbean yacht charter is very expensive, but when you compare it with the cost of a vacation at a tropical resort, there is very little difference between the prices.

Fly to the island of St. Thomas to meet the Caribbean charter yacht. From there you can sail to the island of St. John and have a leisurely lunch on board the yacht. Spend some time swimming, walk along the beach and drink in the Caribbean sunset. When you arrive back at the yacht, there will be a scrumptious meal waiting for you. If this sounds like an idyllic vacation, there is a Caribbean charter yacht waiting for you to make your booking.

The Best Caribbean Cruises

What is the ultimate choice of traveler's world wide? Obviously cruises. But the scary part if the finance. You are afraid that it might set the ball rolling and when you are back you have your bills with you.- $3.00 for a coke, a $5.00 tip, and a small fortune for a margarita! Do you want to enjoy your cruises without having to worry about these small things? Welcome to the Caribbean cruise/

Every cruise is different. But you learn that you have paid a fortune for peanuts. You pay for the meals and the travel only and that leaves you to shell out money on everything else.

It is natural that you can't include everything in a cruise package cost like the onshore cost. When you are on a cruise, you tend to be ported at several places. This is the best getaway you get. Different lands give you innumerable opportunities to shop and learn a lot about the culture. This is an opportunity to experience new cultures, shop, and sightsee. If an organized tour is arranged, travel will probably be provided, as well as meals. However, if you are simply set free to shop and look around, you will, of course, have to bear the bill.

When you are choosing a cruise, you should be sure certain things are included in the price of the voyage. Meals and drinks are first on the list. While alcoholic beverages are not usually incorporated, sodas may also cost extra. The additional expenses could be on the colas as is largely consumed by children or teenagers. Special entertainment sets you back, like the massages and the spas

It is always better to take a note of all the things that are being offered rather than having to curse the cruise. Talk to your tour operator and know before hand all the inclusions and the extras.

Mediterranean Cruises on Discount

Booking tickets has always been a hassle for quite a few people on this planet. Nothing seems to go right and you tend to end up paying a whole lot more than what you had asked for.

You wanted to take a normal budget vacation this year but dropped plans on hearing the price. But you have not lost anything as yet, welcome to Discount Mediterranean cruises. For example, can save you a lot of money while still being able to experience the timelessness of the region. The next question is, whether you will have to compromise on the attractions by paying less - well, my friend, you get a lot more to see, so don't be disappointed.

The first place to check out is the clearing house websites that specialize in giving out last minute tickets at a big bargain rate. Their whole concept is having a full house show on board. Now this is good news for you, you get what you want at less than the original cost! Those out of reach luxury liners are also doing this, so you get the best at less than a fraction of the cost.
Making the right choice is the greatest decision of all. It is not easy to decide as you have a plethora of options but you will not be able to customize them. But anyways you get a good deal. You can simply keep an eye on the website and wait for the perfect vacation to become available at a considerable saving over traditional booking.

These are just the few benefits available to you, and you don't have to lose your mind over things. Just log on and book your tickets right now or the ship might set sail...

Take a Budget Mediterranean Cruise for your Honeymoon

By : Jay Moncliff

Taking a Mediterranean cruise is the dream of many people, especially for their honeymoon. Fortunately, if this has always been a dream of yours it is easier than ever to attain simply because there are so many yachts and cruise ships that focus on a honeymoon Mediterranean cruise and making your first vacation as husband and wife the best it can possibly be.

If you are on a budget, don't worry either because you can take a Mediterranean cruise for a good price if you simply do a little bit of searching. Many travel websites focus on Mediterranean cruise vacations and frequently offer discounted packages. Of course, you won't get a discount Mediterranean cruise if you simply sit back and do nothing about it. What you need to do is search all of the Internet sites that focus on cruises, even discount cruises. Then, find out what time of year is the best time for a Mediterranean cruise as well as the least expensive time of year for a Mediterranean cruise. These considerations can save you a significant amount of money on your Mediterranean cruise if you plan to travel in the off-season.

Also, different day packages as well as Mediterranean cruise destinations might affect the price of your Mediterranean cruise. Keep this in mind and don't have your heart set on an exact list of destinations or days, but rather work with what is available and less expensive. If you are determined to take a Mediterranean cruise for your honeymoon you will be able to find something that will be pleasing to you as well as your budget. The best advice is to start searching and making plans for your Mediterranean cruise as early in advance as possible in order to get the best deals.

Bahamas Yacht Charters - Imagining Taking Your Own Boat To The Bahamas

By : Peter Crump

When you decide on Bahamas Yacht Charters you have over 500 miles of tropical waters to explore. The Bahamas is an archipelago that contains over 700 islands, so unless you have loads of cash you won't get to see them all in one charter vacation. Choose from crewed yacht charters or a bareboat charter, but whichever one you choose, you can decide where you want to go. Bahamas Yacht Charters can help you plan your vacation so that it fulfills your every need.

The difference in crewed yacht charters and bareboat charters is in the amenities that the yacht offers. You don't have to know how to sail the yacht if you want the cheaper bareboat, but you do have to supply your own food and supplies. In addition, you have to bring along your own lounge chairs and watersports equipment or choose to rent them from Bahamas Yacht Charters. With crewed yacht charters, you don't have to do any work aboard the yacht and everything is supplied for you. If you have lots of money to spend, you can choose one of the luxury yacht charters. Bahamas lends itself to dreaming of luxury, so for that once in a lifetime vacation, why not splurge?

As a rule, Bahamas Yacht Charters begin with a chart briefing at 9 A.M. Then you can sail at 10 and you have to have the yacht back by 10 at the end of the charter period. If you would prefer to have an afternoon sailing time, you have to request this when you book your yacht charters. The Bahamas is suitable for any time sailing and with the short distance from Florida to the Bahamas, it doesn't make any difference what time you leave. You do have to be careful of the weather if you book the yacht charter during hurricane season.

You can also begin and end the charter in the Bahamas. Fly into Abaco and take the yacht from there. For yacht charters, Bahamas tax rates are 4% of the total cost of the charter and you have to pay a daily insurance rate for the yacht. This depends on the size of yacht you charter. For example, the premium for yachts 41 feet and under is $33 per day and for those over 41 feet, the premium is $38 per day. The deductible with the yacht charter insurance is $400, which you must pay yourself if you cause any damage. Bahamas Yacht Charters supplies you with a full tank of fuel when you have a bareboat charter, but you must return the yacht with the tank full.

Sailing yachts from Bahamas Yacht Charters are much more expensive. A typical yacht charter will cost about $13,000, which does not include meals, docking, drinks and fees. During the summer, the yacht charters are based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and during the winter they are based in the Bahamas. If a group of people decide to get together and book a charter from Bahamas Yacht Charters, they can split the cost between them, which will significantly reduce the price per couple.

Caribbean Sailing Charters - Not Just For The Experienced Sailor

By : Peter Crump

Caribbean sailing charters are not all designed for those with sailing experience. If you want to charter the sailboat or yacht on your own, you will need to provide proof that you can handle the boat. You don't necessarily need to have a license, because many companies regard years of experience in sailing as better than having a certificate. You can book a sailing charter just for the relaxation of sailing. There are also Caribbean sailing charters that will teach you everything you need to know about sailing.

When you decide to take sailing lessons through one of the Caribbean sailboat charters, you will have an experience captain as your instructor. These lessons are designed for the whole family so that the next time you want to enjoy Caribbean sailing charters you can take the sailboat on your own. When you use this opportunity to learn about sailing, it will take you only one week to complete the basic course. If you wish to charter a sailboat in the Caribbean for sailing lessons you have to do on a single hulled sailboat. These lessons are not available here for catamarans.

When you book one of the Caribbean sailing charters you will want to know what is and what is not included with your booking. All of the bed linens, towels and kitchen equipment is standard fare on the bareboat sailboats. You will also have a VHF, boat phone, a cruising guide of the Caribbean and all the charts you need for sailing these waters. The basic navigation equipment, such as binoculars, safety equipment and first aid kit, is also included in Caribbean sailboat charters. You will get a full tank of fuel and water and you are expected to return the sailboat with the tanks refilled.

Some of the Caribbean sailing charters include snorkelling and diving gear with the charter. Others require you to rent this equipment if you need it. You should check out the different sailboat charter companies that offer charters to the Caribbean to see which one has all the equipment that you need for your vacation. If you choose a bareboat charter, you will have to supply your own food and if you want a captain, you also have to supply the captain's meals. On the luxury Caribbean sailboat charters, all the food and drink is included in the price as well as the cost of hiring the crew.

Caribbean sailing charters offer you the opportunity to see the Caribbean at your own pace. You set the itinerary and spend as long as you like in one place. Go ashore to shop at the markets and take in the unique culture of each of the Caribbean islands. Once you book one Caribbean sailing charter, you will be so enchanted that you will dream of the day when you can take another.

Traveling Central America - The Panama Canal

By : Bianca Tavares

The country of Panama holds a unique strategic geographic location, and it has tried its best throughout the ages to exploit this to the full. From the time of the Portobello fairs to the first transisthmian railroad to the present waterway, often considered to be the eighth wonder of the world.

A canal linking the Atlantic with the Pacific oceans had been a dream since the first Spanish colonizations. In fact it was Charles V of Spain who first envisaged a shortcut through the Panamanian jungle to ease the difficult crossing. So in 1524 he ordered a survey of the land. However what inspired the king initially was not so much the possibilities for trade, so much as how to bring back to Spain with least difficulty the hoards of treasure recently discovered in Peru. Unfortunately for him, earth-moving techniques were to need major improvement before his idea could be undertaken.

It was not until 1826 when the United States started investigating a treaty with South American countries to "protect the companies intending to open a communication system between both oceans", that the building of a canal attracted worldwide interest, with France, England and the United States looking for locations and means to avoid the long, difficult and dangerous voyage around Cape Horn. The first attempt at this was the construction of the Transisthmian Railroad in 1855, which eliminated about 8,000 miles from the journey.

The first attempt at a canal was in 1854 by a multinational expedition comprising the United States, France, England and New Granada. But the impenetrability of the jungle was to take its toll and the attempt failed with many resultant deaths. But not to be daunted in this most crucial endeavor, in 1878 the French obtained a concession from Colombia to build a waterway. Yet again, after seven years of fighting disease and other jungle problems, the attempt was to fail with yellow fever, malaria and various plagues holding sway. This project, with the idea of building a level canal, was ultimately abandoned at the turn of the century.

Eventually the creation of a canal was to become a military imperative for the United States who commenced (fruitless) negotiations with Colombia in 1902. Finally, Panama declared its independence from Colombia in 1903 and the project went ahead. The monumental construction took 10 years to complete at a cost of $387 million.

The Panama Canal is 50 miles in length running from northwest to southeast. About 8 hours is needed for a typical vessel to transit the canal, whilst being lifted gradually to a height of 85 feet through three sets of locks - the Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores.

Operating the gigantic locks consumes vast amounts of fresh water. For every ship passing along the waterway, around 52 million gallons of water flows into the locks then out to sea. This comes from the Gatun and Madden lakes. The lock gates, themselves engineering wonders, consist of pairs of towering leaves from 47 to 82 feet high, 65 feet wide and 7 feet thick. Their weight is from 400 to 700 tons, yet each can be opened or closed in 2 minutes, powered by electric motors.

To navigate the canal, a ship's captain must relinquish responsibility for his vessel to a Panama Canal Pilot. Currently over 250 pilots steer over 14,000 ships through the canal each year. The total time spent in the canal is around a full day. Navigating through the canal is not cheap for vessels, averaging several 10s of thousands of dollars, depending upon the size of vessel and its contents. However, whatever the toll, it is typically ten times what it would have cost to navigate around Cape Horn.

The Panama Canal Commission welcomes visitors at the Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side of the Isthmus seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm. Ships passing through the locks can be viewed from a pavilion where commentators provide an English and Spanish-language commentary, giving all the details of the canal including the amazing statistics. From yachts and small crafts through to container vessels, huge cruise liners and even small submarines, the Panama Canal is truly an international crossing point.

Low Cost Flight Pioneer Plans Extra Malta Routes

By : Roger Munns

he pioneering airline that first brought low cost airlines to Malta has done well enough to start new routes to the island.

Ryanair, the Irish based low cost airline, were the first airline to win the right to fly to Malta from the island's main markets for tourism of Ireland and the UK.

The first route launched has been running between London's Luton Airport since November, while the Dublin route had its inaugural flight in March. Both routes have attracted good seat occupancy levels, with tourist numbers in Malta rising.

The new route will run between Bremen in Germany to Malta and will be a welcome addition for Malta's attempt to attract more German tourists to the island.

Operating three times a week, it is hoped that the first flights will begin in September.

Before the new flights began last November, estimates suggested that the low cost airline could add an extra 80,000 tourists to the island in 2007, but this figure has been radically upgraded to double that.

Malta's slow pace of life might have contributed to the late introduction of low cost flights compared to her competitors, or it could have been politicians and the tourist authorities more interested in protecting the island's national airline with attitudes that the rest of Europe began to shrug off in the 80's, but whatever the reason, now that Malta has allowed the low cost airlines, they can't get enough of them.

The number of visitors to Malta is up nearly ten per cent this year, thanks mainly to the extra arrivals being delivered by the low cost airlines. And the extra holiday makers couldn't have come at a better time as the island has seen steadily decreasing tourists numbers in recent years - the ultimate factor in the decision to allow the flights in.

With tourism numbers up, tourism chiefs have seen the magic bullet that has driven the statistics, and embraced the concept of low air fares whole heartedly.

While Malta has previously received most of their visitors from the UK, the idea of diversification has become possible as low cost airlines operate from most European countries, and the island is already receiving flights from Germany and Spain.

The country has let it be known that they will welcome applications for flights from Scandanavia and other areas of Europe.

The u-turn is now complete, from a backward looking slow to respond tourist office, to one that sees a quick fix to Malta's previous declining popularity as a holiday destination.

Helping Malta's image in the UK, Germany and other countries have been reports placing Malta at the top of tourist safety tables.

An American journalist last year placed the small Mediterranean island of Malta as one of the five safest travel destinations in the world, and a new report from the US this year confirms Malta as one of the safest vacation spots in the world.

This year's report bears more official weight than the previous one by a travel writer, as it was compiled by the US State Department.

Commenting on Malta, the report praises the island for the non existence of organised crime, especially surprising perhaps given her proximity to mainland Italy - and closer still to Sicily.

A surprise for many who have driven in Malta is that the report considers the island's roads to be safe. But this is backed up by official EU figures showing Malta has the lowest road related fatalities of all the EU States.
Author Resource:- For holiday information about Malta, which includes holidays in Malta, the weather in Milan including a five day forecast and the weather in Milan visit YourMalta.com

Part 2: Deep Inside Colombia- Crossing The Andes with a Surfboard

By : Michael Connelly
PART 2.

Oh how Colombians love their music. The type of music coming from the smoothie vendor boom-boxes always seemed to set the distinctive tone of that town. They always played the music that was popular in that particular area. Whether it was "Salsa", "Costeño", or whatever type, it was always pure Colombian music.

As we were waiting for our smoothies, my eyes began to wander. I started to take in the sights and sounds of that little village in the mountains. I saw two soldiers who looked about seventeen years old standing across the street in front of a small cafe. They were holding machine guns, and giving me the eye. These were Colombian Government soldiers who were stationed in little towns like this to keep them out of the control of Leftist Guerillas who live in the jungles that surround them.

Some of those remote Colombian towns have an aura of unrest, and that one was definitely one of them. I dared not pull out any cameras at that moment. The last time I decided to videotape in a town like that, I was immediately approached by two soldiers and promptly escorted away. I thought I would never be seen again. Lucky for me, my wife's brother-in-law was with us at that time. He happened to be a Colonel in the Colombian Military, so he interceded on my behalf. He explained to them that I was just some "crazy Gringo" who was in Colombia to visit his wife's relatives, and to surf the waves that Colombia had to offer. They released me to the good Colonel, and I promptly put my cameras away. Apparently, Guerillas have been known to come into town and videotape the soldiers and the police. Then they hand the footage over to hired assassins who slip into town soon afterwards and kill them. I can understand the soldier's apprehension with cameras. After that incident, my M.O. on the trip was to stay low-key, and not draw attention to myself.

My wife and I were getting some evil stares from several local folks that were wandering around the streets. I wanted so badly to pull my cameras out and pass the time documenting everything we were experiencing, but I could not risk it. Soldiers are not the only ones I needed to worry about. Being kidnapped by Guerillas was always in the back of my mind. Although I was able to get a lot of great footage and photos along the way (when it was permissible), my memory was my camera most of the time.

It was going to be dark in a couple of hours. We did not want to be in that village after dark. I would much rather have been viewing that town from the safety of a bus seat just passing through, but sometimes you have to stop to change busses. In that case, the bus we were waiting for was running late, thus the unscheduled and excruciatingly long delay.

As I was thinking about how glad I was going to be to get back on one of those colorful busses, a crusty old man on a Burro walked past us and gave me the stink eye. I tried to ignore it as I turned my glance upward and away from him. I began to stare at the thick mountain foliage that
surrounded that little town. It was still a very wild and untamed country out there. Civilization barely had a foothold. I could see how maintaining control would be difficult for the Colombian Government.

Suddenly, I received a tap on my back and I jumped as if I had been electrocuted. It was the smoothie guy, letting me know our freshly blended fruit smoothies were ready. He handed them over to us, and we paid him with a few Colombian coins that equaled about ten cents in American money. The smoothies on that trip tasted better than anything you could ever buy in the United States. The milk they used was so fresh it seemed like it was squirted straight from the cow into the blender. They also blended in all kinds of exotic tropical fruits with names like "zapote", "tomate de árbol", and "maracuyá", all of which are incredibly delicious and can be found growing wild in the areas around the towns we visited. Those smoothies were like something a Slurpee aspires to be in it's wildest dreams.

As we were enjoying our smoothies, another local man walked up to us and made a sales pitch for a very interesting product; dried iguana eggs. He had several strings of them hanging around his neck like necklaces of giant white pearls that were about the size of quail eggs. His semi-white tee-shirt had a sweat stain from his neck down to his belly that had a brown border of dirt gathered on the edge of it. It was really hot out there, but he did not seem to mind. His face and hands told the story of a man who had worked hard his whole life in the South American sun. He was probably only about fifty years old, but his skin was wrinkled beyond it's years. This man claimed that the iguana eggs provided magical powers of fertility and sexual stamina to anyone who eats them. He then looked at me and winked. I could not help but wonder at that moment how many kids this iguana egg vendor had back at home. My wife and I chuckled at his bold claim, and politely declined his offer. As my wife turned away for a moment to find something in her backpack, I quickly handed the man several crumpled up bills on the sly. He then winked at me again, and handed me two strings of iguana eggs, which I promptly concealed in my day-pack. I figured I may be able to use these eggs on a romantic moonlit night in beautiful Tayrona, after a long, arduous journey.

Copyright 2006. Michael P. Connelly-

Deep Inside Colombia- Crossing The Andes with a Surfboard

By : Michael Connelly

I'll never forget the look on the face of that Colombian campesino man. My wife just explained to him in Spanish that what I am holding under my arm is indeed a surfboard, despite the fact that we were standing in a Colombian village that was located somewhere in the middle of the Andes Mountains, hundreds of miles away from any ocean. After hearing this news the man made a joke about us getting bad directions. He then flashed a smile that revealed a mouth full of rotten teeth. Soon after that he shook his head, tucked his hands into the front pockets of his hand-woven Inca style poncho, turned, and moved on down the only street in his town. When the man reached the center of town a gust of wind swept down the street and blew the black fedora hat off his head. As I was watching him chase after it through a cloud of dust, I thought to myself; "I gotta' get to the ocean."

I was beginning to feel like a fish out of water. Surfers cannot stay away from the ocean for too long, or they start to "dry out". As I was standing on that dirt street in that dusty little town, I realized that I had not seen the ocean in over a month. More importantly, I had not surfed in it. Halfway through a two month excursion across the country of Colombia, in South America, we were on our way to a small Caribbean beach resort on the northeastern edge of the country for a much needed break from the madness we had experienced so far on that trip. We had spent the holidays traveling from Bogotá to Medellín, and then back to Bogotá again to meet and visit with various different members of my wife's family. There had been some mishaps along the way involving pick-pockets and miscreants. Up to that point it was not fun, and we will leave it at that.

Traveling on a tight budget in a foreign country is the best way to experience the true culture of that country, but it can be quite taxing on your soul. We could not afford plane tickets to fly all over the country, so we had to take busses and taxis instead. Some of those bus rides took over two days to reach our destination. We traveled through some of the most remote areas of Colombia, changing busses and hailing taxis the whole way. Along the way we saw some of the most beautiful scenery on earth, and experienced some very interesting, intense, and strange things. Black magic and evil curses are practiced in many areas of Colombia, and I cannot say any more on that subject, for fear that you would think of me as crazy. There are things that cannot be explained in this world, and a lot of them happen in Colombia.

There were other things that happened to us that were even more terrifying than black magic. Let's just say it's never a good thing to have your bus stopped in the middle of the night by rough looking men with machine guns on a winding, dark, mountainous road. That is whole other story for another time.

Back to our main story; we were about four hours North of Bucaramanga, and waiting to board yet another one of those colorful busses. All I could think about at that moment was surfing and relaxing at this place called Tayrona. I was told you can sit in your own thatched-hut "choza" and watch the waves from your front porch. For those who are not familiar with the sport of surfing, that sounds about as good as it gets for a surfer.

It had not been easy carrying that surfboard all over Colombia. We landed in Bogotá in the middle of the country a month before, and I had been schlepping it around with our other luggage from one bus or taxi to the other ever since. It was like I was living my own little version of the movie
Fitzcaraldo, and my surfboard was the ship that was being carried for many miles across dry land. I was determined to make the effort pay off.

While we were waiting for our bus in that little mountain village we were inundated by the usual local people trying to sell us stuff. My wife, being a Colombian native did most of the talking for those negotiations. These little villages along the main roads of Colombia survive on money from people who are just passing through, or waiting for a bus. The local indigenous people sell everything from bags of purified water, to homemade "empanadas" (a meat and potato filled turnover made with corn-meal dough). My wife and I had been surviving on food and water provided by those people for most of our trip. Amazingly, neither of us had been sick yet. Albeit, most of this food had been delicious, you have to wonder about the cooking and cleaning practices in a town that has no running water. Something tells me that if the cook had a choice between using their last bucket of water to wash their hands before cooking, or having water to drink the next day, they'd forego the cleanliness. I tried not to think about stuff like that on that trip. I only thought about how much flavor those homemade items had with their homegrown ingredients.

People sure know how to cook in Colombia. Wow! The food in that country just seemed to have a lot more flavor than the food I was used to in the United States. We really experienced the authentic food of Colombia; "buñuelos, "pandebonos", "arepas", you name it and we tried it along
the way. We were on a budget, yet eating very good food. The people who made this food were as poor as one could be, but they could make food like no-one else on earth. The freshness, lack of pesticides, and the nutrient-rich soils also have a lot to do with why the food tastes so good in Colombia.

After we ate our share of "empanadas" that we purchased from a little old village woman carrying a hand-woven basket, we were ready for a freshly blended fruit smoothie. There were always several of these little smoothie stands in every town that we stopped at along the way, and we always made sure that we sampled at least one. No matter how small of a stand, the vender always had electricity to run their blender, ice box, and boom-box. I immediately ordered a couple of "tomate de árbol "smoothies at a nearby stand, and then we sat down on an old wooden bench provided by the smoothie vendor.

We were told by the driver of the last bus that our next bus should be along in "no time at all". It had been my experience up to that point that this bus driver may, or may not be right. Sometimes the bus came right away and the transfer went smoothly. Other times we ended up waiting long periods of time between transfers. Those ones did not go so smoothly.

The mountain roads and leftist guerilla laden areas that these busses travel through can cause long delays, to say the least. Hanging out in that small town in the middle of nowhere in the foothills of the Andes Mountains waiting for a bus was quite nerve-racking. The local people of those types of towns were always very suspicious of anyone that stayed behind after a bus came through. Most people just passed right through. They were especially suspicious of a Gringo with a surfboard and a Colombian wife. There was a war going on in that country. Everywhere we went everyone wanted to know whose side we were on. As we were sitting in that dusty, one-horse town in a remote area of Colombia, I knew we were in for a long, harrowing wait.

Choosing Sandals Resorts for Your Vacation Needs

By : James Hunt

Resorts are located all over the world for your enjoyment on your vacation. One of the most recognized is Sandals Resorts. Sandals ultra all-inclusive resorts offer couple only all-inclusive which is a collection of the twelve most romantic beachfront resorts on earth that have been exclusively designed for couples only that are in love. The beautiful Sandals resorts include Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas. Sandals also offers great package deals such as resorts for the entire family, weddings and the honeymoon as well as the Royal Plantation package which includes true sanctuary for anyone who seeks pampering and relaxation on their vacation.

You can search on the World Wide Web to find the best available going rate for a Sandals Resort getaway package. All of your reservations can be made right online or by calling 1-800-SANDALS. You can visit the FAQ section of the website to have all your questions answered like what is included, or what is not included? Is a passport required to travel to Sandals? Do you have special rates for groups?

Is there a dress code for Sandals? The dress code for the restaurants at night is casual, casually elegant, and elegant. Most of the dress codes depend on the type of restaurant you choose to eat at. There are many other questions listed on the page with the answers and for any other questions you may have, an operator will be ready to help you on the phone.

The Sandals resorts offer luxurious accommodation, all meals, scuba diving, nightly entertainment, anytime snacks, roundtrip airport transfers, gourmet dining and much more. Some resorts offer Golf, and waterskiing that is included in the resorts package. Phone calls, taxes, and spa services such as Swedish massage, hydrotherapy and facials are not included in the Sandals resorts package.