Who doesn’t dream of someday taking an expensive, fancy vacation? The problem is, money still doesn’t grow on trees and last time I checked, neither do luxury vacations. The great news is that it might be possible to take that dream vacation on your current budget, however tight it may be. Here are a few simple tips that will help in planning an affordable, once in-a-lifetime vacation.
Decide which aspects of your “luxury vacation” are the most important (and which things don’t really matter). For example, for you, the most important thing may be doing expensive activities like visiting theme parks, going on guided tours, skiing, or snowmobiling. To compensate for the big ticket events and activities, cut back on something you won’t mind doing without, like perhaps, fine dining or a five-star hotel.
Ask yourself if you are even going to be in your hotel during the day? If you’ll be lying on the beach, not your bed, then why pay for the nicest hotel? Or maybe luxury is of lesser importance when it comes to grub. Just by reducing your food budget by avoiding expensive restaurants can really save you a load of cash. Consider using that small fridge in the hotel (you’ve always wondered why they had it) by visiting the local…dare I say it…grocery store. If you must eat out, then look for less expensive dining options.
Where To Stay
When making reservations, check discount travel websites like Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire, and Orbitz. You can sort hotel options by price listing, which is very helpful in comparing options. These websites also offer discount packages when you buy the flight and hotel from the same site.
If you want to really save money on lodging, note that luxury destinations often have locals who are willing to rent out their houses or condos for a much cheaper price. These will be away from other tourists, have a fabulous location, and you may even have access to a kitchen and more space. Also consider a mom and pop-type Bed n’ Breakfast hotel.
Travel
We’ve all heard of these discount websites, so use them!! Just as a helpful hint, if you buy discount airline tickets during high traffic seasons, you could get bumped to a less-than-desirable flight instead of the direct flight you originally purchased. In this case, the price wouldn’t change, but you may lose valuable vacation time! It may be worth the risk, or the hassle, but remember; even the discount prices are more expensive during peak tourist seasons. Instead, consider traveling during the “off” season.
Transportation
There are a few tricks to renting a car which may fall in your favor. For example, before renting, call your credit card’s customer service hotline (on the back of your card) and ask if the card’s features include car rental “loss and damage” coverage or other insurances. If so, then you may be able to waive the car rental’s insurance, saving around $10-15 dollars per day, which can definitely add up if you are staying several days or even weeks.
Some vacations may allow for an alternative mode of transportation. If you are planning a trip to Europe, Africa, Argentina, for example, try taking a train. In Europe, the “Eurail” offers 1st Class tickets for weekly use starting at around $33 a day. This may be cheaper than driving all over Europe in a rental car, paying for gas as you go.
Other Helps
If you are planning visits to theme parks or museums– check the particular website of the place you are going. They often offer great discounts, printable coupons, or package deals.
If a fancy cruise has always been one of your dreams, consider this: did you know that if you sign up for a cruise as early as possible, it is likely you are going to get bumped to upper class lodging? This is because most people taking a cruise want the cheaper packages, and the lower class rooms fill up quickly.
About the Author
Writer and author for RV Travel Central.
One of the ports visited on our recent Royal Caribbean cruise was Grand Cayman. This was an eagerly awaited port since I’ve been there before but wanted to take my girlfriend scuba diving there. We were worried that we might miss this port since the Caymans were hit pretty hard by the hurricanes and indeed, they had closed the islands off to tourist travel for part of the summer/fall. Fortunately for us, Grand Cayman had reopened just about two weeks prior to our cruise at the end of November.
Getting to Grand Cayman is by tender since it had a shallow harbour. This can be a potential problem in itself because we were told that if the wind and waves are too rough, the captain would cancel the port and spend the rest of the day at sea. Apparently in the past, one of the tender boat workers had fallen and got crushed to death between the boat and the dock during one of the rougher wave days. This resulted in the cruiseships being much more careful in deciding whether to allow tendering or not given the conditions. Again, fortunately for us, the weather was picture perfect during the day we were in Grand Cayman last week.
The downtown area pretty well recovered from the effects of the hurricanes and the shopping was business as usual. There were four ships at port during the day we were at port. Grand Cayman is above average in terms of cleaniness and the attitude of the locals for a Caribbean island. It is also one of the pricier island though. Bargains can still be found though, especially in the liquor where there are examples of certain liquors being even less expensive in Grand Cayman than even Cozumel. For example, Malibu rum was $10 US in Grand Cayman, $13 in Cozumel and about $19 back in the Miami home port. Everything else like restaurants and activities were generally more expensive than other islands.
According to other passengers who ventured to other parts of the island, the damage from the hurricanes was more visible with fallen trees and some buildings still not repaired yet. A few of the organized tours by the cruiseship were also not available. We decided in advance to do some scuba diving off the shore and Eden Rocks Scuba Center was a 5 minute walk from the port. There are two decent shore dives right in front of their dive shop and we spend the morning diving the site called Devil’s Grotto. Instead of paying $85 US for a typical Cayman boat dive trip, I ended up paying just $8 US for a rental for a tank.
I didn’t go to other parts of the island during this trip but have been to the turtle farm, Hell village and Stingray City before. They are all worthwhile sites to visit. I wanted to take my girlfriend scuba diving at Stingray City in the afternoon but for some reason, only the snorkelling sections of Stingray City were available that day. So after returning to the cruiseship for lunch, we went back ashore to do some shopping. We would like to come back to Grand Cayman again for a longer stay in the future.
In summary, most of Grand Cayman appears to be back in business again after the hurricanes. It is one of the nicer but pricier ports to visit in the Caribbean.
About the Author: Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.
Source: www.isnare.com
If not the finest, Tiger Woods is certainly the most precocious of all the golf athletes. Ever since he was hitting golf balls at six months old, Tiger Woods has carved a career marked by unheard-of superlatives and records.
Touted one of the greatest sportspersons of all time, Tiger Woods has won 13 major professional championship titles, next only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18 – with much room for growth.
No other active player has won more PGA Tour events than Woods. On July 23, 2000, he had swept all four professional major championshipsthe Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship. Of the five golfers to win all fourthe others being Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, and Gary Playerhe was the youngest.
Tiger Woods is still World No. 1, the youngest one when he was first named so in 1997. Truly, one measure of Tiger Woods’ success is how he injected youth into an old boys’ sport.
At age 20, Tiger Woods was already a professional, playing at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. Only a few months later, at age 21, he staged a career coup as the youngest Masters champion ever.
Even as an amateur golfer studying at Stanford University, Tiger Woods bagged 6 USGA national championships and an NCAA plum. Before Woods, never has it been heard for someone to win the U.S. Amateur Championships at age 15, much less win it for three times in a row.
Golf Digest was already running a piece on him at age 5. At 3, he learned to shoot 48 for 9 holes. At 2, he had a chance to swing away with Bob Hope.
It’s only right that Woods is the current PGA Tour career money list leader. Forbes says there is no athlete ever besides Woods who banked $100 million in a year.
.Ron Sarabi plays golf for charity, along with his wife Leila, at the Health Net Charity Golf Tournament. Ron Sarabi is a leader and member of the California Gambling Control Commission. Ron Sarabi plays golf, takes part in philanthropy and is a businessman. He is the General Manager for Hawaiian Gardens Casino in California.
Copyright 2005 Oliver Phillips. May be freely reproduced “as-is” for private and commercial use.
Buying a home in France can be a complex process. From finding your dream home to relocating to France there are many hurdles to overcome before you can relax and enjoy the lifestyle and beautiful environment that France is renowned for. In Part 1 of this series, Oliver Phillips of PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) walks you through the process of finding and making an offer on your dream home in France.
Finding your new French property is the first hurdle. Assuming you have an idea what you want, in which location and how much you can afford, the easiest route to searching for properties is often via the Internet using a reputable French property website. The advantages are obvious; a good website will not only offer a large database of properties currently for sale, they will offer multiple photos of the property’s exterior, interior and grounds together with comprehensive narrative about the property itself. Also it will often have a search facility through which you can view properties that match your specific criteria, and often offer additional benefits such as email notification of new properties, newsletters and other information to help you in your search. Of course the big advantage is that you can build a shortlist of potential properties without having to visit France, saving you money from the start. Whether you use the Internet or not, when considering a property, make sure you get photos and information before you view the property. You can cut down on wasted trips and expense this way.
When buying a property in France, unlike in the UK, it is often normal for the Buyer to pay all the fees. These comprise the estate agent fee and the notary fee (who perform the conveyance). Fees can be around 15% of the purchase cost of the property, which on a 150,000 purchase represents an additional 22,500 in fees. If you can deal direct with the owner, and not buy through an estate agent, you could save around 6% or 9000 on the same 150,000 property. This is an increasingly popular option and is possible since sellers are not tied in to a single agent. Again you are likely to find properties advertised for sale by owner on a French property website such as PFS France.
If you are looking for good value for money, consider looking for property in areas that you haven’t previously visited and are not familiar with. Certain areas command premiums only because they are widely known and popular. You can often get an equivalent property in another region for much less.
You should also consider getting to know the area before you buy. Talk to people who have already purchased their home, holiday in the area, or even rent for a period and meet the neighbours before you finalise your decision. As with any property purchase, your neighbours will be a part of your life once you’ve bought your new home.
Try to negotiate. Contact a local valuer to get an impartial opinion. This will cost money, but will provide you with a neutral view of the properties value, and possibly a stronger bargaining position so may pay for itself many times over.
Most importantly, consider taking independent legal advice, through another notary or a UK based specialist. The vendor instructs the notary who acts in the sale of the property. They are acting in the conveyance of the title only and not for either side. You would be well advised to appoint a specialist to act specifically in your interest, and finally, just as in the UK get the property inspected by a qualified buildings surveyor. Unexpected bills could take the shine off your dream home very quickly.
About the Author
Oliver Phillips works for PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) a business that helps French property owners advertise and sell, and potential buyers find, some of the finest and best cared for traditional French properties available.
Compare hotels and make your reservations with hotel discounts that fit your budget. We offer accommodation from luxury to economy, cheap to exclusive, airport to downtown, casino to family friendly. Make your reservations for the accommodation of your choice online.
The internet is a great place to search and find a cheap hotel – if you know where to look. On this website you won’t just find a bunch of links, you’ll also find advice and information on what to look for in order to get cheap flights, car hire, hotels and all your travel needs. Not just where to find a cheap hotel, cheap holidays, flights, hotels, car hire, airport parking, etc. but how to make sure you get the best travel deal.
You’ll find all of the information you need to find a cheap hotel and to make sure you get the cheap flights, holidays, car hire, hotels, airport parking, etc. that you’re looking for.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when looking for a cheap hotel:
1. Look for out of the way hotels that don’t have a huge advertising budget.
2. If possible, make your stay over during mid-week. Almost all hotels offer discount pricing when staying Sunday -Thursday.
3. When checking in ask if there are any coupons or specials that you can take advantage of.
With a little planning and knowledge you can save money and stay at a nice cheap hotel.
About the author:
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.my-hotel-4me.com/
Do you require DVD excellence; yet miss your old video recorder’s capability to save your beloved drama telly programmes? If so, you are capable to acquire the best of both worlds with a Digital Versatile Disc (more commonly known as a DVD) recorder, due to its neat recording functions together with its DVD quality audio & vision.
There are today numerous sorts of Digital Versatile Disc recorders available in stores, each with distinctive qualifications and features. This means that whatever your desires are, there will be a particular brand of Digital Versatile Disc recorders available that will suit you.
DVD Recorders have never been so cheap. In fact, prices are dropping so swiftly that ditching that old Video Cassette Recorder (more frequently refereed to as a VCR) & swapping over to Digital Versatile Disc or HDD recording makes clearer sense. Despite this, it is a consumer marketplace determined by technology and innovation and thus means DVD features are evolving week by week. Catch Digital Direct’s savings on Pioneer DVD recorders!
If you are puzzled by the distinction between DVD-R, DVD-RAM and DVD+RW, we also supply you with a fundamental breakdown of the configurations on offer – which makes are following them and what the newest improvements are.
Pioneer manufactures a series of DVD recorders, a number of which have HDD capability; permitting you to tape several hours of telly before transferring them on to Digital Versatile Disc when desired. Pioneer also makes a collection of brilliant Digital Versatile Disc players & DVD home cinema systems including HDMI compatible makes.
Pioneer is a universally recognised TV and hi-fi business that caters for the home, car, multimedia & DJ equipment markets. Pioneer was created as Fukuin Shokai Denki in Tokyo in nineteen thirty eight. The company in the beginning began life making speakers then later altered its name to Pioneer in 1961. Since then it has initiated a selection of firsts onto the electronics market, including the world’s first Global Positioning System (GPS) car navigation gadget in nineteen-ninety & the first ever Digital Versatile Disc recorder in nineteen ninety-nine.
Featuring the highest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley, Denali National Park & Preserve is nature’s masterpiece. The Alaska Range includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali’s more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep and moose.
The park was established as Mount McKinley National Park on Feb. 26, 1917. The original park was designated a wilderness area and incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. Today, the park hosts more than 300,000 visitors that take advantage of unparalleled wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking opportunities.
Denali Trivia
1. More than 650 species of flowering plants grace the lower elevation slopes and valleys of Denali. The blooming season is brief, as snow can come in any month and winter usually arrives in force by October.
2. A number of relatively short trails are available to visitors of all abilities in the park frontcountry. The park’s vast backcountry does not have maintained trails, but is generally open to hiking, although overnight camping requires a permit.
3. A typical year sees more than 1,100 climbers attempt to reach the summit of Mount McKinley, with about half reaching the 20,320-foot summit. The peak was first climbed in 1913.
4. The park is open year-round, although most visitors arrive between May and September.
5. Throughout the winter, campsites are open and the park road is left unplowed, making it ideal for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding.
Denali Attractions
1. Get on the bus, Gus! Private vehicles can generally drive the first 15 miles of the 90-mile park road throughout the summer without restriction. Beyond Mile 15, most visitors will use one of the park’s bus transportation systems.
2. Sled dogs were a traditional method of travel in Alaska throughout the winter and are still used by the park to assist with winter projects in the park’s wilderness interior. In summer, the historic kennels are open to visitors and sled dogs make demonstration runs up to three times a day. The kennels are at Mile 3 of the park road and are served by a free entrance area shuttle bus.
3. The south side of Denali is a 2-million acre expanse of wild country lying south of the crest of the Alaska Range. The South District Ranger Station in Talkeetna, about 150 miles south of the park headquarters, is the jumping off place for activities that include wilderness camping, mountaineering and river running.
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals – makers of outdoor writing journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more.
Climbing Mount Shasta
Topped by snow and glaciers, Mount Shasta rises up above everything else when you approach it from the north.
As soon as I saw it, I wanted to be up there. We were coming south from Oregon, after driving across the country from Michigan. A detour to northern California before heading home seemed like a good idea to both of us.
“I wonder if we could climb it?” I asked. John just nodded his head quietly, agreeing not to the climb, but to the fact that he was wondering the same thing. I checked the map. Mount Shasta is 14,162 feet above sea level. I liked the idea of climbing that high.
“Have you ever climbed a mountain,” John asked me. I thought about it for a while. “Not really. A lot of hills though.”
Mount Shasta City
“Oh yes,” the old woman at the visitor’s center told us, “people climb Mount Shasta all the time.” John pointed out the glaciers on the map she had given us. “Oh, well, did you bring crampons and ice axes?” John looked at me, and I could only say, “I’ve heard of these things.”
We did have some gear: backpacks, sleeping bags, and a tent. John had good hiking boots, but mine were more like high-top shoes. Neither of us had ever used crampons or an ice axe, so we went the few blocks across town to see what the guy at the climbing store had to say.
“Have you done any climbing before?” he asked us.
“A little,” I answered, remembering the buildings we used to climb on as teenagers, and the rocks we had recently scrambled up in Oregon. I figured we were ready for Mount Shasta.
“Well, you can’t put crampons on those boots,” he said to John, “and you sure can’t put them on those,” he told me, shaking his head at my shoes. Crampons apparently need rigid boots – our mountaineering lesson of the day. We could rent them, but only if we rented real mountaineering boots also. “And you’ll need ice axes, of course.” I felt a pain in my wallet.
Backpacking On Mount Shasta (Too Poor For Climbing)
A speeding ticket in North Dakota had strained the budget, and Mount Shasta was another detour from the route and the budget. We could, we decided, hike up the mountain and do a little backpacking. Still, I had to ask, “Do people climb Shasta without gear?” The store owner realized that the sale was lost.
“It’s been done,” he answered impatiently.
“It’s been done,” I reminded John as we drove up the road to Mount Shasta. He didn’t answer, which was a good sign. I watched the Pine trees go by, and absentmindedly poked a finger through a hole in my shoe.
“Old Ski Bowl Trailhead,” John said. I looked over at the sign. “7,900 feet.” We were at the trailhead, along with forty other cars, and it was early enough to hit the trail.
Mount Shasta Poop Bags
We looked at the registration forms, and had a decision to make. There was a $10 fee to hike or climb above “Horse Camp,” at 8,400 feet. John pointed to a pile of paper bags, each with a handful of cat litter in it, and a plastic bag to put it in. These were for carrying our excrement off the mountain, a requirement above 10,000 feet. That clinched it. We put $10 each in the envelope and dropped it in the slot. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to poop in a bag in the mountains. I took two for myself, in case of good luck.
An easy trail took us to the hut and spring at Horse Camp. We filled our water bottles. The dayhikers looked up at the mountain through cameras, while the climbers cooked noodles and discussed weather reports. They looked at my shoes and smiled at each other when I mentioned we might climb Mount Shasta.
After Horse Camp the trail gets steeper and rockier. The trees end at about 8,500 feet, leaving only grasses, flowers, and other tundra plants. Then the trail gets lost in the rocks just before the steep climb up to Helen Lake.
Wind And Rain At Helen Lake
There is no lake. Helen lake is a more-or-less level area of snow and ice. At the edge, overlooking Horse Camp far below, there are dusty clearings in the rocks where the climbers camp. We found an empty spot and we set up camp. The wind was howling. We were at 10,440 feet.
About the time the rain started, I realized it might have been a bad idea to talk John into bringing only a tarp, instead of the tent. The edges pulled loose in the wind again and again, until we pinned down one side with heavy rocks, and wrapped the other side around us. Dust blew in, despite the tight wrap and rain. I was enjoying the adventure more than John, who was very quiet. So I talked until he fell asleep.
Climbing Mount Shasta
“Apparently they start very early,” John grumbled. It was dark, but there were lights and noise from the tents around us. I stood up, and I saw lights on the mountain a thousand up. It was 5:30 a.m. Hmm… climbers start early. With that new insight, we packed our daypacks, hid our big backpacks in the rocks, and stepped onto the ice.
Helen Lake was a mile of ups and downs, through sun-dished ice. Then we reached the loose rock at the base of a steep slope, in Avalanche Gully. We started climbing Mount Shasta. an hour later, we quit.
“I can’t do it,” John gasped. “Can’t get enough air.” We were at about 11,000 feet, and we knew there was less oxygen, but this was the first time John had actually been this high on foot. I once drove higher in Colorado, but apparently driving wasn’t a strenuous enough for me to notice the thinner air. I noticed it here. We both did. We sat down and rested for a minute.
“Are you sure,” I asked. He was – I wasn’t. It was light now, and John didn’t see any problem hiking down the four hours to the car alone. I would go on to the summit, and then come back down by evening. I had to continue. Mount Shasta was my first mountain, and I hadn’t even used the poop bag yet.
Altitude Sickness
The “Red Bank” is a line of broken cliffs above Avalanche Gully. I scrambled, climbed, slipped on ice, and eventually found a way up and over. Then there were long steep slopes covered in loose rocks, with a few bamboo sticks marking the way. My route converged with that of the other climbers, who had come up the snow-slope route with crampons and ice axes.
After much climbing, I finally made it to the summit, which is called Misery hill, because it isn’t actually the summit. It just seems like it should be. There was still a mile of snow to cross, and then more rocky terrain. One snow field had three-foot-high peaks covering it, like a huge merange pie.
I rested a moment, and realized I’d been hearing a new sound. Bang! Bang! Bang! It was the inside of my head, which had never been so loud before. Hmm…interesting. I got used to the noise and pain after an hour or so.
I got used to the smell of sulphur too. Mount Shasta, it turns out, is a volcano. When John Muir climbed it more than a hundred years earlier, he had to huddle next to the hot sulphur gas vents to survive a night near the peak. He was alternately freezing and burning.
At The Top Of Mount Shasta
“So this is the top?” I mumbled lamely to the guy who had just told me the John Muir story. Clouds, and smoke from forest fires, obscured the view in every direction, but it felt good to be so high, and down to the east, I saw my first glacier, a few hundred feet below.
“You can write your name in the register there,” the guy told me, pointing to something in the rocks. Guestbooks on top of mountains? Another lesson for the day. I signed in, wrote some comment, and started down the mountain.
Sun cups, or whatever they call those depresions in the snow, fill with water in the warm afternoon sun – another discovery. I’d climb out of one ten-foot-wide bowl and slide into the pond at the bottom of the next. This was the pattern until I thankfully reached the ankle-twisting mile of rocks piled up below Helen Lake. Climbing down, I realized, is more difficult than climbing up, or at least more dangerous.
I found the trail, my headache disappeared, I reached the road, where John was waiting. By evening we were driving towards Michigan, Mount Shasta hidden in the clouds and smoke behind us. Oh, and yes, I did get to use the poop bag. Somewhere around 11,500 feet, I think, which I remembered when I was looking through my pack. “Pull over at the nearest garbage can,” I told John.
About the author:
Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate ultralight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com
Not many hotels in the Caribbean can offer peace-of-mind like the Breezes Resorts! The luxury all inclusive Caribbean SuperClubs have gone above and beyond your expectations, by offering you guarantees that your next holiday memories will be pleasant and worry-free.
Each Breezes Resort, plus their sister properties, come with three stinguished guarantees. A Satisfaction Guarantee that just means what it says. If you’re not happy with your vacation, all you have to do is contact the General Manager at your resort before your second night and if he/she can’t make it better, they’ll provide you with a credit voucher for the entire value of the unused portion of your hotel stay, good for up to one year at any Breezes SuperClubs Resort.
Their second Guarantee is amazing, because it protects your vacation for lack of Sunshine. Just think about it, for each and every day the sun doesn’t shine during your stay at your Breezes Resort, they will issue you a credit voucher equal to that day’s Super-Inclusive Room value!
In order to get your voucher, a Water Sports Director will make each day’s official Sunshine determination, and they claim on those rare occasions when the sunshine guarantee is declared, you can obtain your voucher at the front desk. Again this is good for one year towards another resort vacation or any Breezes or sister resorts in the Caribbean.
This is the best protection of them all in Guarantees! The No Hurricane Guarantee: should a hurricane happen to strike the resort, guests at the select hotel will receive a reimbursement for the total value of the disrupted nights.
It doesn’t stop there, you will also receive a voucher for a future stay for the same number of nights that were disrupted at any of the resorts in Jamaica, Bahamas, Curacao, or any other SuperClubs resort. Keep in mind this voucher must be used on the same month that was disrupted the following year.
So whether you decide to stay at the Breezes Montego Bay’s Super-Inclusive resort in Jamaica, or the active Breezes Curacao Resort Spa & Casino, one thing will be assured. As you’re dining in tropical terrace settings, experiencing a wide variety of watersports, relaxing at their luxurious spa, or playing the odds at the glittering on-site Casino, the guarantees that all the Breezes resorts offer will allow you to leave all your worries behind.
About the Author
About the author: William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), and Certified Travel Counsellor(CTC) -
William is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” available at www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of www.sketchandtravel.com and www.bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest Joshua Berman,(http://www.stonegrooves.net/contact.htmlco) author of Moon Handbooks Belize (http://www.moon.com/catalog/belize.html.
Joshua is an expert on traveling in Belize, and recently chose this tiny Central American country for his own honeymoon; he has also lived in and written extensively about Nicaragua and Honduras.
Welcome to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com Joshua and thanks for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
NORM:
Please tell our readers something about yourself and your expertise pertaining to Belize.
Joshua:
I have been living, working, teaching, and traveling in Central America since the U.S. Peace Corps sent me to Nicaragua in 1998. I have been returning to the region ever since to write guidebooks, lead service trips, and visit friends and adopted families. Last year, I was asked by Avalon Travel Publishing to take over Chicki Mallan’s Moon Handbooks Belize, which, when it first appeared 15 years ago, was the first and most acclaimed guidebook to the country. I gladly accepted and proceeded to research and write the sixth edition, which was released in early 2005.
NORM:
Where is Belize?
Joshua:
Belize is tucked into the northeast corner of Central America, bordering Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to the north, Guatemala’s Petén wilderness to the west, and the Caribbean Ocean to the east. Culturally however, Belize and its hundreds of cayes (islands, pronounced keys ) is more Caribbean than Latin. English is spoken everywhere (along with seven other languages). The diversity is astounding, especially considering there are only 260,000 people in the entire country.
NORM:
Would you consider Belize a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?
Joshua:
They can rent their very own waterfall for the day at Hidden Valley Inn.
Couples can get Mood Mud Massages at Maruba Resort Jungle Spa.
They can rappel into a vertical cave shaft together, at the bottom of which they’ll find a flower strewn bed next to a subterranean spring at Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch. The list goes on and on.
Belize’s size (smaller than Massachusetts), easy access (only a two-hour flight from Miami or Houston), and astonishing selection of small, intimate resorts and lodges seal the deal. In order to solidify my endorsement of Belize as a romantic destination, I even took my own bride here on our honeymoon (ah, the work never stops)
NORM:
When is the best time to visit Belize from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?
Joshua:
Some resorts distinguish holiday season from the normal high season, with even higher prices and lower availability around Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter be sure to make reservations during these periods. High season (re: more tourists and hiked prices) is generally mid-December through April; this is also the dry season during most years, although December, January, and even February can play to host to cool fronts that either blow right through or sit around for days.
Your best bet-be prepared, both with clothing and attitude! A week of stormy weather may ruin a vacation planned solely around snorkelling, but it could also provide the perfect setting for exploring the rainforests or enjoying a hot tub and fireplace in the Mountain Pine Ridge.
June, July, and August technically fall in the rainy season, and travelers during this time are rewarded with significantly discounted prices at most accommodations rain during these months may mean just a quick shower each afternoon, or it may go on for days. August is the big month for European backpackers and travelers, while December and February are dominated by North Americans. Some tourism businesses shut down completely during the months of September and October, the peak of hurricane season.
NORM:
Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia?
Joshua:
Conventional traveler wisdom calls Belize the cheapest Caribbean vacation spot and one of the most expensive Central American. There are plenty of mid-range and upscale accommodations throughout the country, running from US$25 to hundreds of dollars per night. Exact hotel rates are an elusive thing in Belize; seasonal fluctuations are compounded by various taxes and service charges, sometimes by as much as 25 percent additional. Always make sure the rate you are quoted is actually the same amount you will be asked to pay. And, of course, great deals are abundant in the low season (May through November), when room rates plummet across the board.
For food, budget travelers can get by on less than US$20 per day, but you’re on vacation, right? Entrées run from US$5 to US$25, depending on where you are; at the trendiest restaurants in San Pedro, a fancy dinner can cost up to US$75 per person. A few resorts include meal prices in their nightly rates, which can be a good deal.
Don’t forget to budget an extra US$40-80 per person per day for activities like scuba diving, sailing trips, and guided tours of Belize’s rainforests, ruins, and fascinating cave systems. Experienced, independent travelers can get around for less, but transport can be a hassle.
US$10 per person per night is the bottom line for budget lodging, and it’ll get you anything from a cramped, stuffy concrete box in most towns to a generous wooden cabin at the Trek Stop (in Cayo) and other backpacker hotspots.
NORM:
If you had to choose 5 unequalled venues in Belize for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?
Joshua:
First of all, remember that selecting a place to stay has a lot to do with where you want to be and what activities you would like to do during your stay: beach or rainforest? Diving or hiking? Reef or ruins? Do you want to get pampered with massages or get sweaty and muddy with your loved one on a jungle trek? Get an idea of what kind of trip you and your honey are looking for, then dive in and book it. Following are only a few of Belize’s upscale romantic accommodations that stick out in my mind for quality and intimacy. For more on Belize’s ample budget options, flip through a copy of my book, Moon Handbooks Belize.
Starting on swanky Ambergris Caye, just inshore from Belize’s famous barrier reef and three miles north of San Pedro village, you will find Capricorn Resort, offering intimate beachfront seclusion in one of three bright and tasteful cabanas. Capricorn’s restaurant is one of the best (considered the best by many) on the island.
Situated on 7,200 acres of private property in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Hidden Valley Inn is a quiet paradise for hikers and birders who will have a blast exploring the resort’s 90-plus miles of walking trails and old logging roads and then cozying up in front of their cottage’s fireplace, listening to the birdsong outside (especially nice during the cool, misty, rainy season). The property encompasses lush broadleaf forest and pine tree habitat. The two diverse ecosystems are divided by a geological fault line, which marks the edge of a towering 1,000-foot escarpment. Numerous watercourses spring from the mountain and then cascade down the steep slopes, often into deep, inviting pools; Hidden Valley’s trail system runs through it all.
On Placencia Peninsula, Kitty’s Place is one of the best and most unpretentious resorts on this long strip of beach resorts call it “low-key luxury,” and check your shoes at the front desk. Be sure to schedule a day trip or overnight on Kitty’s private isle, French Louis Caye, 12 miles offshore with great snorkelling and upscale accommodations.
Two of Belize’s most romantic, beautiful, and expensive options are Francis Ford Coppola’s gorgeous pair of resorts: Turtle Inn and Blancaneaux Lodge, located on the Placencia Peninsula and Mountain Pine Ridge, respectively, and offering a number of collective packages. Both places feature breathtaking architecture and artwork from all over the world, and top-notch service and facilities.
Located about an hour north of Belize City, Maruba Resort Jungle Spa pampers the body and soul, as evidenced by its acclaimed spa treatments and unique focal points spread around the grounds: A tiny, glass-decorated chapel; a palapa-covered stone chess table; two pools that seem to spring from the jungle complete with waterfalls. The rooms are spread out for privacy and are addressed by name Moon, Fertility, and Bondage, to name a few. All boast an eclectic neo-primitive motif carved masks, mosaic tile floors, standing candles, cement fountains, tiled tubs, screened shuttered windows and fresh flowers on the massive feather beds and in the bathrooms.
NORM:
What should people know about celebrating a wedding in Belize from the point of view of requirements, experience of the various hotels, etc.
Joshua:
Belize is gaining quite the reputation as the perfect place to tie the knot. A growing number of resorts cater to weddings of all sizes, some quite creatively (such as ceremonies underwater or atop Maya pyramids). If eloping, you must be in Belize three business days before submitting your marriage application to the Registrar General’s Office (tel. 501/227-7377, not open on weekends or local holidays). You get the paperwork back the following business day for your ceremony. If you have been divorced or widowed, bring a photocopy of the death certificate or divorce decree. The Government of Belize charges US$100 for the license and you’ll need a birth certificate or passport.
NORM:
How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Belize?
Joshua:
Honeymoons and getaways are easy and do not need much advance time when booking, except around the holidays and at the more popular resorts. If you are planning a wedding during the high season that will require numerous rooms for guests, book a year in advance if possible. Otherwise, a few months are usually sufficient.
NORM:
What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in Belize?
Joshua:
Several wedding specialists can facilitate paperwork, ministers, flowers, book hotels, celebrations, etc. including Katie Valk for anywhere in the country, Iraida Gonzales on San Pedro, and Lee Nyhus in Placencia.
NORM:
Is there anything else you wish to tell our readers that we have not covered?
Joshua:
Yes, keep an eye on my WEBSITE for new links and developments regarding romance in Belize and beyond; I have the most popular Belize forums and news posted on my links page. Also, MY PUBLISHER’S SITE will soon feature sample itineraries and other excerpts from my book, to make planning your Belize trip even easier. Lastly, remember the words of Kurt Vonnegut’s prophet, Bokon: Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.
Happy trails, everyone, Joshua
About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of: www.sketchandtravel.com & www.bookpleasures.com. The former is a travel site and the latter is a book reviewing site.
Norm and his artist wife, Lily, meld words with art and focus their travel articles on romantic and wedding destinations.
They are always open to invitations pertaining to properties and destinations located in New England, New York, Florida and California.
Source: www.isnare.com
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