Aug/100
Enjoy Yucatan Days And The Yucatan Nightlife
The second edition, out of four total editions.
In our last commentary we talked about the coastal yucatan area south of Playa del Carmen and in the area of Tulum. In this column we can focus on Playa plus the recreational activities around this flourishing beachfront Caribbean town. What began as a quiet and small Mexican fishing community, has promptly evolved into one of the best travel destinations in the yucatan. Back in the early 90's we visited that sleepy little village and I can say first hand it is a far cry from what it is today. Popularity brings growth and change, but if you are desiring for a wonderful get-away and tons of fun, Playa is the spot.
Playa nowadays represents a Caribbean destination that has it all. From world class shopping on the renowned 5th Avenue to a number of adventure parks, first class Playa del Carmen hotels and all-inclusive resorts to night clubs and dining options to fulfil even the most critical palettes. Whether by daylight or nighttime, you should notice no lack of stuff to do in this beautiful city!
Playa is a lot more than just kilometers away from the modest Tulum hotels and eco-chic cabana resorts you will find further down the coast, but it still remains a beautiful, active and culturally rich location to visit. By daytime, the area gives you some of the best people viewing that exists in Mexico, whether or not on the broad caribbean beaches or on the 5th Avenue walking mall you can see a extensive range of company from all over the world. There is so much to do and see in this conveniently placed modest city, being a quick boat ride to Cozumel for a terrific day trip for snorkeling or scuba or heading up the coastline 30 minutes to the city of cancun for even more options.
Playa during the day means beach runs, snorkel and SCUBA tours, daylight jungle safaris, adventure theme parks, golf and great shopping. In the night time it brings out the untamed side in most who embark out beneath the illumination of the moon. Along with the first class restaurant choices there are at least 12 dance-clubs that are attractive to the late night dancing and party crowds. Still accepted as a fun family vacation choice, Playa del Carmen is quickly establishing itself as a rival for Cancun with the dance party amusement options. A couple of locations you may get the urge to visit for the dance-life include; CoCo Bongo for outstanding stage shows with gifted music cover bands, The Blue Parrot for the fire shows on Friday and Saturday nights, OM Playa for a beer in comfort and La Santanera for a hip music club.
Whether by daylight or nightlife, with family, a duo or single traveler, Playa del Carmen really offers something for everybody that is looking for a little or a lot of the caribbean in their vacation. In our next article we will go inland and discover the wonders of the mexican world and culture of Merida and the adjacent areas. There is zero shortage of fun and positive energy when it comes to vacations on the Yucatan!
Ron Williams is a long time travel author living year round in Tulum, Mexico specializing in travel info about yucatan peninsula hotels along with staying in the Yucatan Peninsula. Feel free to write to Ron directly if you would like local suggestions or information for experiencing an incredible adventure in Yucatan.
Jun/100
Top Chefs Equal Excellent Dining
Gold Coast is a magnet for professionals of any sort and chefs are no exception. The burgeoning culture has drawn some of the best chefs to the area. There is an abundance of fine dining options in the popular beach strip including Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Coolangatta but in recent times, the Gold Coast has seen an emergence of great restaurants in more regional areas such as Robina, Mermaid, Southport and Bundall. The Gold Coast features some of the best restaurants in varying cuisine types in Australia and boasts some of the best Chinese, Thai Japanese and Italian cuisine alongside some of the best seafood restaurants Australia has to offer.
Seafood Restaurants: If you want to enjoy a beautiful view of boats from a terrace and a simple international menu the Aqua is the restaurant for you. In Sanctuary Cove is possibly Gold Coasts best seafood restaurant, Georges Paragon. If you enjoy people watching and dinner by candlelight then the choice for you is Tedder Avenue.
Italian Restaurants: At Surfers Paradise, Al Fresco Restaurant has an extensive menu with daily specials. Brunello's, at Tamborine Mountain uses mostly local produce, seasonal fruits and vegetables, It is a family business catering to the traditional cuisine since the 1950's. On Broadbeach, you can try Volare, they have an authentic classic Italian restaurant.
Japanese Restaurants: Mikado Japanese Restaurant, Surfers Paradise , is where to dine and experience the art of Japanese Barbecue where seafood, prime beef, and chicken is cooked right in front of you. O-Sushis, in Coolangatta, has its own sushi train, professional Japanese chefs and welcoming service. Marasaki Teppanyaki Restaurant in Southport is the best for a teppanyaki experience.
Chinese Restaurants: Mandarin court is the oldest Chinese restaurant on the Gold Coast. Broad beach is home to Oriental Temptations, which places emphasis on freshness and authenticity. Then in the heart of Broadbeach's Dining Precinct and China Pier is Brisbane's Chinatown which provides excellent quality and authentic Chinese food.
There are numerous broadbeach hotels for you to choose from it can take you days just to research and compare prices. However, there is one way that will only take a manner of minutes. Check out www.goldcoastinformation.com.au, to find all you need on broadbeach accommodation.
Jun/100
Some Facts About El Quetzal
Who are they? Quetzals are considered one of the world's most beautiful birds and the Guatemalan currency is named after them. They are also beautiful and exotic birds known for their bright colors and long tails.
Color: The male is unmistakable. Its feathers are from a vibrant green with its distinctive long tail feathers. There is also their scarlet belly and the white lower tail surface. Female on the other hand has darker green fathers and a red belly,
Food: Quetzals are specialized fruit-eaters, but can also be called omnivorous becuase they also like to mix their diet with insects and small frogs.
Growth: Males can be a meter long and can weigh up to half pound because of their tales. The body itself measures only 38 to 40.5 cm, the tail on the other hand can be 61 cm.
Age: Quetzal can't live in captivity, they get depressed and die. That's why no one has been able to study how long they can live.
Habits: Quetzals spend their days sitting on the forest canopy eating. Generally they live groups of 4 or 6 individuals or in couples.
Kids: Females can only have two eggs at once, these eggs are blue and measure around 3 centimeters. The male and female quetzals take turns incubating the eggs. The time it takes the young to come out of the shell is 17 to 18 days. Young quetzals can fly at about three weeks of age, but males do not begin to grow their long tail plumes for three years.
Mating: During mating season, male quetzals grow the twin tail feathers that characterize them and can grow up to one meter long. Females do not have long tails, but they do share the brilliant green and red coloring of their mates. The reproductive time is between March and June.
Importance: There are six different kinds of Quetzals and they are all endangered. These beautiful exotic birds because of all the illegal hunting and the destruction of their habitat are in the list of to be extinct animals unless things change.
Quick Fact: A Guatemalan legend says that when the Spaniards came there was a horrible fight between them and the Quiches (ancient town of Mayan natives), once it was over many quetzals landed on dead Mayan's bodies, where they got stained in their blood and that's where they got their red chests from.
Where can they be found? They need to live in a tropical forest. They can be found from Chiapas, Mexico to Panama.
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, lives in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She's traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. Having first hand experience of all the places with her family, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
Apr/100
Safari Chapin – Much More Than An Animal Park In Guatemala
If you are looking for a day filled with adventure Auto-Safari Chapin is the solution it.
What you can do here:
Be in the middle of an exotic collection of animals in this car safari
Eat around like a king
Flop around in a huge pool
Take a gorgeous ride in a boat
You can take a leisure, rather, pleasure walk in their zoo!
You don't need a car to go in this safari. You can rent one from them and it won't cost more than the same price of the entrance fee of a car. You can drive close to the animals. When I say close, it's because they will be right out your window!
The park has different entrance fees: $8 for only the safari ride and $12for the safari ride, the pool, the boat ride, the zoo and a great lunch with a drink and dessert. The kids get discounts. I took the $12 package because the food is great and much more expensive when you buy them separately and I don't regret it.
Between the safari exhibits, you get to relax in a rest stop where the kids can play around and you can stretch your legs.
After that, you can head to either the pool or to an ultra-relaxing boat ride. I recommend the boat ride because it is really beautiful and calm.
To be honest, when I first paid the entrance fee, I didn't expect too much of it. But after all, I must admit it was pretty good.
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, lives in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She's traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. Having first hand experience of all the places with her family, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
Apr/100
Matapalo Beach On The Osa Peninsula – The Secret Hideaway Of Costa Rica
We had the great opportunity to visit my friends who live in Puerto Jimenez, a cute town on the Osa Peninsula. It's full of expats and I fell in love with it to the point that we were considering moving there for a while. Puerto Jimenez itself is a fairly big town with a population reaching well into the thousand, maybe even 2.
During the trip, our friends took us another one hour south to visit a teeny coastline village. Just the drive over there will give you an experience of a life time. The road was so bad, that were told that during the rainy season the residents (which is about 90% foreigners) have to either stock up for 3 months, or fly into Puerto Jimenez due to floods and total washouts.
Thankfully my friends drive a big bad 4x4 so we were able to tackle some of the rough terrain. That was because at some points cows blocked the roads we also saw sleepy iguanas chewed leaves from the surrounding trees.
When we finally arrived we saw that there is not actual town per say, it's just a bunch of hidden houses and eco lodges all along the rocky coastline with virgin rain forest as the back drop. There is also little foot paths allow you to experience the place way better than driving a car.
We headed to explore since my friend's son and my son in the water all day and my husband helping out by hanging out in the water with them. We snuck onto a few properties under construction with unbelievable views.
The funny part is that we got lost on one of the hiking trails that is supposed to hug the coast, but instead was so rocky that we almost fell to our deaths. However, the beach where we ended up hanging out was deserted, with plenty of shade and perfect for a homemade BBQ.
All the eco lodges offer plenty of tours to the surrounding jungle and take you on tours to Corcovado National Park, quoted by National Geographic as the most biologically intense place on Earth!
Marina K. Villatoro, lives in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She has traveled all over these areas with her family and now she loves to organize vacations to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
Apr/100
One Of The Greatest Places To Visit In The Gold Coast
About 20 kilometers inland from Bruce Highway is Tamborine Mountain. The route takes you through beautiful farming and gourmet food areas. You will then begin to climb up the steep mountain where you will discover heritage towns and National Parks.
While traveling from Oxenford, along the Tamborine-Oxenford road, you will pass the Thomas Estate winery which also has a small museum and restaurant. A little further passed the winery you will come across the Nut Shed. This is a fully function Macadamia nut farm where you can purchase a variety of Macadamia and other nut based products.
After an extremely steep climb you will arrive at the Mount Tamborine area. this area sits on a 600 metre high plateau on the northern spur of McPherson Range. Here you can see Queenslands first National Park, Witches Falls (1908), although only a small amount of the original forest remains and is broken into nine small parks.
In between each park section you will find heritage communities of Mount Tamborine, North Tamborine and Eagle Heights. Established in the late 19th century, these areas are now made up of arts and craft shops, Bed and Breakfasts. wineries and tea houses. The area is very touristy and often attract bus tours.
Southwest of North Tamborine and Cedar Creek Falls is Witches Falls National Park, possibly the best spot on the mountain. In the town of North Tamborine is a visitors centre which as a variety of brochures on areas to visit and information on the ecology areas. You will also find brochures on the many wineries scattered throughout the mountain, which can make for a very fun day of wine tasting.
There is also the fabulous Tamborine Mountain Distillery, a boutique distiller which manufactures its own schnapps, liqueur and other spirits from organically grown fruit. Nearby is St. Bernards Hotel, a great place for meals, drink and relaxing. It is a rustic mountain pub with a large deck with a panoramic view of the gorge.
There are various surfers paradise accommodation for you choose from for your upcoming vacation. To find gold coast hotels that are suitable for your stay log onto www.goldcoastinformation.com.au.
Mar/100
There Are 10 Reasons To Have Your Birthday Party On A Boat Cruise
Time cannot go fast enough when we are young. We calculate how old we are as precisely as possible and walk around saying things like "I'm eight and a half!" Past a certain age however we wish that time would be kind enough to slow down and our birthdays seem to come faster and faster. Along with the holidays, the day of our birth is just another day to notice that a year has flown by.
We can still throw big birthday celebrations when we're older, but they're usually reserved for the big birthdays like 30, 40, and 50 respectively. The blowouts are reserved for when we've passed another decade milestone in the aging process. Our friends and family look at these birthdays as the greatest excuse to do something big.
Group vacations are usually done under some kind of pretense. Destination weddings or bachelorette spa weekends make people feel better about taking time off with the people they most enjoy. Why not extend that to your birthday? Make it an occasion to try something new and to have fun. There are 10 reasons to have your birthday party on a boat cruise.
The first reason is price. In this economy, spending just a little to have an all inclusive experience is the ultimate luxury. Minus alcohol and some extras, all your entertainment needs are covered. You don't have to spend time overly planning your itinerary.
Reason 2 is that you can indulge in some of the best cuisine in the world. Spending one night in a top restaurant can set you and your friends back a pretty penny, but indulging for free every night? Bliss.
Third, boat cruises are all about your choice. You can travel to more than one destination on a boat cruise depending on where it will be at port so that you can explore many different environments. It is up to you!
The forth reason is all about the activities you can do. Going on a boat cruise means not having to do everything together. You and your friends can separate during the day and run off to all corners of the ship to try your hand at the dozens of activities available to you.
Reason 5 is the option of relaxation. Some of you may be go-go-go people who love a challenge and want to indulge in as many activities as possible. Some of you may want to spend your days relaxing under the sun or getting a facial and massage.
Reason 6 is that you only have to pack one bag. Traveling to so many different places and being able to do so many things feels like you would have to pack an army of luggage, but that is simply not the case.
Seventh, boat cruises are made for fun and adventure. You and your friends can spend your birthday stretching yourselves and partaking in new experiences.
The eighth reason is that you can find love on a boat cruise. Silly? Not really. When you think about a ship full of people who are relaxed and having fun, the chances of finding someone go up exponentially.
Reason 9 is that you don't have to travel far. Cruise packages take the hassle of too much transportation out of the equation. If you life far from a port of departure, many cruise packages now include airfare.
Reason 10 is that there is no reason not to go. The experience of a cruise is one of being pampered and our birthdays should be a day where we celebrate ourselves. Taking a boat cruise with your friends can turn your birthday into one of the best vacations you'll ever have.
Do the Toronto Harbours inspire a sense of adventurism and fun for you? Then Toronto Cruises will provide an exciting experience for you! Whether you are a tourist, vacationer, or resident, you'll find plenty of excitement in Halloween cruises.
Mar/100
Three Keys To Making The Most Of Your Gold Coast Holiday
If you are searching for a great way to spend your holiday, you may want to consider looking into the Gold Coast region of Australia. Whether you are traveling from within Australia or from somewhere else on the globe, you will find nothing but wonder when you arrive in the Gold Coast. There are three main factors that you should follow whenever traveling. Knowing each of these will allow for a more wonderful holiday experience.
Proper Time Management- The Gold Coast makes up a captivating region, beautiful and constructed with numerous activities for you to savor. Having the best imaginable holiday experience means balancing your inactive days by the beach with days filled up with activities. It's a challenging counterbalance, but the one and only that will contribute to the most salutary and fantastic experience to your holiday. Make sure that the day you arrive and the one right before you set out for home, are slothful beach days. Attempting to accomplish too many activities is a large mistake when visiting this region. Flip-flopping activity days with beach days and will bring about the best of both worlds.
Project In Advance- try to lay out the essential prospects of your travel considerably in advance. Utilize the web to reach the information you desire and to make bookings. The farther you set up matters in advance, the greater chance you will get everything you are looking for, and this will establish the most roaring holiday.
Knowing Right From Wrong In The Region- When ever you are traveling to an unfamiliar location it is important that you make your self aware of all the rules, traffic laws, and even beach rules of the area. It is also a wise idea to learn about the different terminology of things as well as the language that is spoken. By learning all this before you leave on your trip you will make for a much smoother holiday experience.
If you have already chosen the Gold Coast for your next holiday vacation destination, you will not be disappointed. It is the perfect location for a beach holiday filled with fun and adventure. No matter what you fancy you will find it on the coast of Australia .
There are so many broadbeach hotels for you to choose from it can take you days just to research and price compare. However, there is one way that will only take a manner of minutes. Log onto www.goldcoastinformation.com.au, to find all you need on broadbeach accommodation.
Feb/100
Corporate Boat Cruises Mix Business And Pleasure
Corporate boat cruises are gaining popularity as an alternative for corporations who hold large meetings away from headquarters. These cruises are comparable in price with renting meeting space at hotels and in many cases offer more in the way of amenities. This article will look at some of those options.
Corporate boat cruises are plentiful and very easy to find. Use any search engine and there are dozens of them at your fingertips. Don't forget to type your city and state at the end of the search text. This will narrow the search a bit to include only those in your immediate area.
A luxury yacht offers the same corporate facilities that a hotel offers and more. Included in the corporate packages is everything you will need to conduct business meetings, interviews, or parties. This includes modern satellite, GPs, and hi-def monitors. Telecommunications are also up-to-date and ready to connect you to the world.
Many corporations are booking cruises for a wide variety of reasons. Employee recognition is one very popular function that corporate boat cruises play in business today. Special client presentations are another. I have recently heard of a retirement party for a beloved CEO on a cruise ship. These are just a few of the reasons corporations utilize the services small cruise lines offer.
Research your list of possible candidates carefully to get the right size ship for your needs. Many of these companies have more than one ship in their fleet. Some cruise companies offer older, more nostalgic yachts while others feature luxury cruisers up to two hundred feet long. Either way you decide to go, you will surely have an experience your employees or clients will not soon forget.
The cost of a small cruise ship compared to hotel facilities is close. The cruise ship is a few hundred dollars more but many of the extras that you would pay a hotel are included in the cruise package making it the better value. Just like hotels, pricing ranges from cruise company to cruise company. On average, $1.000 to $4.000 is about standard depending on the length of the cruise and the entertainment or dining package included.
Every corporate cruise company has a dedicated sales force that is ready to work with you in planning your company's cruise. They are extremely knowledgeable with most corporation's meeting and presentation needs and have the packages that fit almost any occasion. Most modern cruise ships are loaded with exactly the kind of equipment and technology needed for corporate business. Much of the time, the only things a company needs to supply are the bodies.
Finally, make sure you are prepared when you make your call. You will need to know how many employees and their families will be attending the event. The Events Manager will lead you through the process and help you decide on a package that best fits your particular company's needs. This includes what type of food, beverages are served, and what kind of equipment will be needed to conduct whatever business you are planning. The most important thing to remember is that even though your trip might be business related, corporate boat cruises are going to combine your business with pleasure, so plan on having a great time.
If visiting the Toronto Harbour inspires your adventurous and fun loving side, then Toronto cruises are perfect for you! Tourists and vacationers can find plenty of excitement aboard Halloween cruises.
Jan/100
Costa Rica Vacation Deals by Grayline Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a vacation destination that will please everyone. You can find Costa Rica vacation deals that are specifically focused on your favorite aspect of this tropical paradise, or choose a general vacation plan and discover your favorite part of Costa Rica once you arrive. Whether you enjoy sightseeing or diving, shopping or fine dining, there is a vacation deal for you.
When you think of Costa Rica one of the first things that come to mind are the long sandy beaches. Soak up the sun on one of the local beaches for hours and leave your cares at home. There are hundreds of different beaches to choose from and they all give you the sand, sun, and surf that you expect on a tropical vacation.
If you are looking for a more active vacation you will find Costa Rica vacation deals that cater specifically to travelers who are looking for adventure. Explore the local volcanoes and forests, or experience the thrill of kayaking through white water rapids. The truly adventurous can ride a zip line far above the trees.
Families can also enjoy the wonders of Costa Rica. If you take advantage of some of the wonderful family oriented Costa Rica vacation deals you will not be disappointed. Enjoy nature excursions and discover the incredibly biodiversity of this tiny region.
Costa Rica has a proud cultural heritage. Visitors will find historic landmarks and appreciate the colonial architecture of the cities. Shuttle services are available to deliver guests to various popular locations, and there are many organized tours available as well.
Costa Rica vacation deals are a wonderful cost-effective way to visit this tropical paradise. Since there are so many packages offered, you can find one that suits your own personal interests. The diversity of the natural and man-made attractions in Costa Rica will make you want to visit over and over again so that you can experience it all.
if you want more information about Costa Rica Vacation Deals, feel free to visit their website by clicking on the following link: Gray Line Costa Rica