Archive for the 'Travel' Category



St. Maarten Scuba Diving

March 4th, 2008
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St. Maarten Scuba Diving

Summary: St. Maarten Scuba Diving offers boundless underwater activities you won’t cover in a day.

If there’s a perfect beach for a scuba adventure that would almost certainly be on the Caribbean. Why not? Here you can find natural marine formations so elegantly formed and colorful like the reefs and even man made elements like sunken ships and ancient warships that litter the underwater earth of the Caribbean Sea. A few other places can afford a marine view as luxurious as the Caribbean.

St. Maarten is a tropical island sitting approximately 240 kilometers or 150 miles from the shores of Puerto Rico and is on the Northeast side of the Caribbean. Though not as recognized as its neighboring islands of Bahamas, Jamaica, Aruba and the Virgin Islands in scuba diving, no doubt St. Maarten is as equally if not more stunning.

St. Maarten Scuba Diving Sites to Uncover

St. Maarten Scuba Diving offers boundless underwater sites. And it offers every kind, from ancient shipwrecks to natural formations to living structures; St. Maarten undersea habitat houses everything. Here are those underwater sites you just have to uncover.

H.M.S. Proselyte at depths of 46ft
If there’s going to be the best underwater wreck contest, the Proselyte is a sure winner. If by her lifetime she was a harbinger of doom, her grave shows none of that. Instead, this 200 year old British Frigate had blended so well with nature that only the cannons stand proud as a reminder of those days past. Eerie place? Absolutely none of that. H.M.S. is bustling with life, colorful life.

Fishbowl at depths of 60ft
Though relatively small, it is bursting to the rim with fishes. Mainly a number of barracuda will greet you, and a handful of parrotfish. Be sure to take an extra careful look at those fishes. Have you ever heard of cleaner fishes?

The Maze at depths of 50ft
Imagine how a garden maze would feature in an undersea environment. If you guess corals, then you got it right. The Maze is actually a scattering of haphazardly formed corals that it would take some maneuvering to waggle through them. Don’t hold over though, here you will catch a glimpse of elusive sea turtles and scores of jauntily colored tropical fish.

The Pinnacle at depths of 70 ft
Sometimes a sense of adventure will really strike you. Why not take it to a test further. Head further out into the ‘One Step Beyond’. An apt name; One Step Beyond is a double pinnacle jutting out alone among the reefs that surround the area. Here you will be rewarded with large schools of fish, some quite large. Sharks anyone?

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St. Maarten Travel Tips

February 24th, 2008
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St. Maarten Travel Tips

One of the Leeward Islands located in the West Indies, St. Maarten is an island less than forty-square miles in size and is divided in half shared by two governments. St. Martin is the northern side of the region and answers to France, while St. Maarten is part of the Netherlands Antilles on the southern side. Both regions are autonomous and have had a peaceful coexistence over the past three-hundred fifty years. Like most West Indies islands, its sunny nature, lush natural beauty, and amazing beaches attracts visitors year-round.

Visitors traveling to this ‘hidden gem of the Spanish main’ should be aware of some essential information about the place to help prepare and plan a great trip. Here are some St. Maarten Travel tips to keep you on top of things on your visit:

St. Maarten travel tips #1 -Climate
The temperature of St. Maarten remains constant year-round averaging about 80F and water temperature averages 78F. Trade winds give a little cooling on the coasts. Occasional rain showers in the late summer and early fall are be expected, with an average yearly rainfall of forty-five inches.

St. Maarten travel tips #2 - Currency
Dutch St. Maarten’s official currency is the Netherlands Antilles Florin or Guilder (NAF). However, US dollars are widely accepted as well. Almost all of the prices in the island are listed in dollars and the local currency.

St. Maarten travel tips #3 - Banking Hours
Dutch St. Maarten banks are open from 8:30am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday, although some banks also open on Saturdays.

St. Maarten travel tips #4 - Customs
The island of St. Maarten is fully and completely duty free.

St. Maarten travel tips #5 - Entry Requirements
For US citizens entering St. Maarten for three months or less need a current passport or an original birth certificate together with a picture ID. For Canadian citizens entering for fourteen days or less must have a valid passport or birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. If staying more not fourteen days but less than thirty days, a certificate of admission for temporary stay is issued upon arrival. Also required are return tickets, documents for next destination, and sufficient funds. For UK citizens or British protected persons entering for three months or less is required a valid passport, return tickets, sufficient funds, and documents for next destination. Citizens from other countries should verify with a travel agent for the proper documents needed to enter St. Maarten. Vaccinations are not required unless travelers are arriving from places experiencing an epidemic.

St. Maarten travel tips #6 - Departure Tax
The departure tax is $20.00

St. Maarten travel tips #7 -Language
The official language of St. Maarten is Dutch; however, almost everybody speaks English. Spanish and Papiamento are also other common languages spoken in the island.

St. Maarten travel tips #8 - Time Zone
The island of St. Maarten follows Atlantic Standard Time all year-round. For the duration of fall and winter, noon on the East Coast of the US is 1pm on the island. During US daylight savings time, the hour on the Eastern Seaboard is the same as it is on the island.

St. Maarten travel tips #9 - Shopping
Shopping in the island is completely duty-free. Stores are open from Monday through Saturday from 9am till 6pm, other shops on the island open till 10pm or later.

St. Maarten travel tips #10 - Tipping
The majority of restaurants and hotels add ten to fifteen percent to the bill as a service charge. Tourists may tip more for special service and it is traditional to tip taxi drivers ten to fifteen percent. Porters at the airport usually receive one dollar per bag.

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Acapulco Beach

January 19th, 2008
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Acapulco Beach

Acapulco is a very lively city and one of the best places for vacation. It’s often called ‘the city that never sleeps’ as there are just endless exciting things to do whether it be night or day.  The theme in this thrilling city seems to be ‘party all night’ and ‘play on the beach all day’.  Acapulco is a place that gives travelers various choices when it comes to beaches. The whole bay of the city is lined with beaches where restaurants put out umbrellas, tables and chairs in the sand so visitors can enjoy food and drink right at the waters edge.

Playa Diamante and Playa Revolcadero are wello known Acapulco beaches located in the south part of the town, near the airport which is an area of major development.  Some great resorts are located here and four of Acapulco’s golf courses as well.  Various water sports activities, ultra light airplanes, waverunners, and horseback riding are offered here.  This long stretch of beach is open to high waves and is a great surf area for surfers as well as collecting shells and beachcombing. Just be careful though if you want to swim in this beach and you’re not an expert swimmer.

Playa Puerto Marques is an Acapulco beach which is a favorite among locals.  This fairly large bay has an entire beach that is lined with tin roofed restaurants that serve fresh seafood, tropical drinks, and cold beer with prices usually below than those of Acapulco proper.  This beach is busy every day and is overly crowded on weekends, as its calm waters are great for swimming and water sports when there is room.

Playa Icacos is located towards the southern end of the bay, which is lined with highorise hotels and condominiums.  This calm Acapulco beach offers all of the local watersports directly from the shore, and this are is also the abode of the giant CiCi water park, very close to many discos.

Playa Condesa is an Acapulco beach nestled in the heart of ‘Zona Dorado’ or ‘The Golden Zone’, and is one of the most renowned city beaches with a lot of beachfront restaurants and activities.  Much of the ‘pre’ nightlife action originates in this beach which is very close to many of the better restaurants and shopping centers that gives an option for other activities when one gets bored of the beach scene.  Bungee jumping always draws a lot of crowd in this area, as onlookers watch brave jumpers get dipped in the giant swimming pool one hundred sixty five feet in the air.

Playa Caleta and Playa Caletilla are two small Acapulco beach situated away from tourist traffic.  These small beaches are combinations of great atmosphere, calm, waters, and beachfront restaurants that serve some of the most incredible reasonably priced seafood.  Most of these restaurants are shaded by giant trees adding a different feel of the beach.  In the center of these two beaches is the Mundo Marino aquarium and fun center.  These great family beaches get very crowded during weekends.



Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten

January 7th, 2008
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Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten

Enclosed by the Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond, perched on a palm-speckled cape, lies a most private and unique hideaway, Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten. And like St. Maarten, a stunning island that embraces its dual French and Dutch descent, Oyster Bay in fact offers the best of both worlds. Its unspoiled Caribbean beauty is like s step back in time in agreement to contemporary amenities that pamper each traveler’s desires.

Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten is located on one of the most breathtaking landscapes nestled amidst the coves and curves of the untouched, mile-long Dawn Beach. Nearly all of the one-hundred seventy-eight units consists of two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and studio type units, all having private balconies that sits directly above the ocean or beach and the rest overlooking the tranquil marina and tropical gardens.

A few steps away from the rooms is the splendid oceanfront infinity pool whose softly curved edges drop vividly above the sea. The unobstructed view of St. Barths Island is what each guest sees while in the resort’s whirlpool. The aroma of sumptuous oceanfront meals at the resort’s gourmet restaurants will make stomachs grumble. Luscious menus with spectacular sight and sound offered by the resort’s own King Beau Beau is the island’s most talented and cherished performer making everything else designed for every guest’s senses.

Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten features complete amenities which include lounge chairs and beach towels by the infinity pool and whirlpool, free beach chairs and umbrellas on Dawn Beach, free snorkeling gear to explore the nearby reef, daily meals and poolside service from their on-site restaurant, on-site fitness center, on-site jewelry store, on-site laundry facilities, on-site gift shop, grocery store, Beau Beau’s at Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten, free nightly entertainment, excursions for casinos, shopping, and other exciting adventures, reservations assistance for excursions.

The accommodation at Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten include marina, ocean, and beach frontages, in-room safes, balconies, CD players, VCRs in one-and two-bedroom units, dining rooms and living rooms in one-and two-bedroom units, remote control television, kitchen appliances, ceiling fans, telephones with data port facilities, microwaves, hair dryers, iron and ironing boards, full-length mirrors, bidets in master bedrooms, handicapped-equipped units.

This resort offers adventure through fun-on-site activities and where there are no limits to what every guests can see and do elsewhere on the island. The resort is just minutes away from the hottest nightlife and shopping set up in Philipsburg, the renowned Orient Beach and Grand Case, and the foodie capital of the Caribbean. With the assistance of the friendly activity desk staff, guests can plan any number of amazing excursions, or just simply find your own special place to sink in serenity.

Whatever a traveler seeks, taking a closer look at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Maarten will let them discover the beauty of the island enclosed in this paradise getaway where they would want to be.

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Acapulco Restaurants

January 4th, 2008
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Acapulco Restaurants

Summary: Going to Acapulco restaurants is not about burgers and fries, its about tacos and nachos. And the famous white cheese dip and chili con karne

Tired of those quarterpounders and fries? Even steaks get mighty boring sometimes. That’s why when you vacation at Acapulco you neither look for burgers and fries, nor learn English. You go to the Acapulco restaurants because you want to try those tacos and nachos. And the Acapulco restaurant’s famous white cheese dip, and the chili con karne. Because drinking Budweiser in Kentucky isn’t the same as drinking a Cerveza in the Acapulco restaurants.

So make it a point. Don’t go to Acapulco to eat burgers and steaks. Try these Acapulco restaurants. After all, the reason you’re here in Acapulco is to experience the Mexican feel, not the American spirit. Try these Acapulco restaurants. Let them serenade you. Guaranteed you’ll love every minute of it.

Fairmont Pierre Marques
Po Box 474 Acapulco Guerrero
Mexico 39300
Tel: 52 (744) 435o2600

This Acapulco restaurant offer guests the best Mexican culinary prepared by the restaurant’s team of distinguished chefs. With The Fairmont Pierre Marques’ wide range of specialties, they turn the pleasure of eating into an exotic adventure, featuring flavors that are only individual in Mexico.

Cocula
Costera M Aleman # 10
Acapulco
Tel: 74 84o50o79
Cocula is one of the more traditional Mexican cuisine. A favorite Acapulco restaurant of the locals, make this one of your Mexican experience and see if it delivers.

Coyuca 22
Coyuca # 22 Acapulco
Tel: 74 82o34o68
Coyuca 22 sits atop a hill in old Acapulco Town. Dining here provides a fantastic experience with terraces overlooking the Acapulco bay. Coyuca serve fantastic seafood and prime cuts in a Mexican way.

La Perla

El Mirador Acapulco
Tel: 800o021o7557

People go to La Perla for two reasons: authentic Mexican food and the La Quebrada divers. Dining under the stars gives a magnificent feeling. Having the view is equally stunning. But showcasing the fantastic view of the renowned cliff divers makes visiting La Perla worth every cent you pay. La Perla in El Mirador is truly one of a kind experience.

Hard Rock Caf



Niagara Falls Camping

December 20th, 2007
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Niagara Falls Camping

Niagara Falls does not only offer tourists the wondrous sight of its waterfalls, but a variety of different options to spend your vacation as well. Most tourists who visit Niagara Falls with their families look for a more adventurous and fun vacation to experience quality time with the family. Although most families would opt to see and experience Niagara Falls in luxurious hotels and packages, some families still choose to do Niagara Falls camping.

Niagara Falls camping is a different way to spend your vacation in Niagara Falls, doing away with the usual stuff that most tourists would do. Niagara Falls camping resorts provide what every camping seeker looks for, with amenities to best suite their needs, crafting a great camping vacation in Niagara Falls.

Campark Resorts in Niagara Falls is a favorite Niagara Falls camping destination for families from all over the globe with their clean and well-maintained spacious facilities which offers many activities that appeal to everyone. Their camping cabins feature an old-fashioned alternative for an inexpensive family holiday. Guests can choose over the regular cabins that include one double bed and a bunk bed, or their larger deluxe cabins. The fun and exciting of camping out and the security and comfort of sleeping is what these rustic cabins provide. The camp facilities include tent sites, full hookups, shuttle service, daily tours, hot showers and bathtubs, Laundromat, flush toilets and dump station, daily tours, shuttle service, camp store, firewood, group facilities, and pavilion.

The Niagara Falls KOA campgrounds are well-know for its unique style of camping with the comforts and convenience of home but built into every location. This Niagara falls camping ground includes facilities such as hot showers, clean rest rooms, laundry facilities, convenience store, two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, spas and sauna, games building, shuffleboard, covered pavilion, large children’s playground, mini golf and basketball, big outdoor TV screen, and Raccoon Snack Bar. They also have planned themed weekends for the whole family to participate in and offer children’s crafts and activities throughout summer.

Jellystone Park Niagara Falls provides each guest with a quality camping experience in their clean and entertaining environment. The camp offers fun for the whole family with an array of facilities that accommodates most camping taste. The camp’s staff gives the public a memorable stay filled with comfort, fun, and entertainment. Camp facilities include clean modern washroom, shower and laundry facilities, restaurant, mini-mart, souvenir shop, large heated pool, kiddie pool, game room and recreational hall, 18-hole mini putt, daily supervised recreational programs, movie theatre, direct shuttle bus to the fall, wagon rides, pedal cart rental;, horse shoe pits, boccie court, shuffle board, volley ball court, full basketball court, large playground, campfires, and Niagara Falls and Great Gorge adventure package.

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Niagara Falls Canadian Horseshoe Falls

December 14th, 2007
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Niagara Falls Canadian Horseshoe Falls

Have you ever seen the majesty of the world’s true natural wonders? Maybe by now your forehead crinkles from thinking? Hmm, I bet you have seen the Niagara Falls, haven’t you? When you hear Niagara Falls, it is the Horseshoe Falls’ image that will come to mind. Niagara Falls Canadian Horseshoe Falls is one of the picturesque places and famous in the world. For those who haven’t seen it up-close and personal, you probably have noticed it on movies or pictures.

The Niagara Falls is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River in eastern North America on the border between the United States and Canada. However, the Niagara Falls Canadian Horseshoe Falls is a waterfall on the Niagara River, which is located on the Canadian side of the border with the United States. It is located between terrapin Point on the Goat Island in New York State and Table Rock House in Ontario.

The Niagara Falls Canadian Horseshoe Falls is derived from its curving horseshoe-shaped crest that is 671 meters in width. At the center of the Horseshoe Falls, the water is about 3 meters deep. It passes over the crest at a speed of about 32 km/h. The falls is 53 meters high, has an average crest of elevation of 152 meters and faces northwards. The depth of the falls is actually higher than the falls itself, which is approximately 56 meters. Although, the Niagara Falls Canada Horseshoe Falls is slightly shorter than the American Falls of about a few meters, but it is the biggest.

The Niagara Falls Canadian Horseshoe Falls is considered to be the most impressive of the three falls that make up Niagara Falls. Approximately, about 90 % of the water of the Niagara River flows over Horseshoe Falls while the other ten percent flows over the American Falls. The falls continually produces a large amount of mist that renders viewing them difficult. The amount of natural mist has been reduced since the early 20th century due to the diversion of most of the water from the Niagara River for hydroelectricity. It is noticeable at a direct angle from the Canadian side and at a steep angle on the U.S. side on Goat Island. If you want to see how magnificent the Niagara Falls Canada Horseshoe Falls, the Maid of the Mist boat offers tourist the chance to see it which approach the base of the falls.

Niagara Falls is no doubt renowned for its natural beauty and is both valuable source of hydroelectric power and a challenging project for environmental preservation. It is naturally blessed considering the benefits the people from Niagara get from it. Its beauty remained spectacular even from the little alterations, but still it is a popular site for more than a century and is shared between the twin cities of New York and Ontario. But when you think of Niagara Falls, it is the Niagara Falls Canadian Horseshoe Falls picture that will flash on your mind..

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