Exploring Coral Reef in Fiji

Archive for the ‘Vacation Destination’ Category

Exploring Coral Reef in Fiji

Monday, October 9th, 2006

The first time I ever saw a coral reef in person was on a trip to Fiji. It was actually just an extended layover; I was traveling from Auckland to Los Angeles and I was able to add a layover in Fiji for $20. I figured that I probably wouldn’t have another chance to go to Fiji for $20, so I took it. I started sweating the minute I got off the plane; after spending six months in rainy, temperate New Zealand I wasn’t prepared for eighty degree weather and ninety percent humidity.

After my first night in Nadi I caught a bus and then a boat to one of the outlying islands, where I was to spend four days doing essentially nothing. I brought a couple of books and my pack-able hammock, but when I made it to the island I found that the hammocks were already set up for me. The island was small, but gorgeous. It only housed two resorts, which were essentially right next to each other, and it took three or four hours to walk all the way around the island. Fresh water was somewhat scarce, and rain water collectors made up for the majority of it. The whole island ran on a large generator, so the lights went off at 10pm and didn’t turn on again until morning.

I had heard about Fiji’s great diving, but since I was there for such a short period of time and didn’t have a dive license, I opted to snorkel instead. On my second day on the island I hired a snorkel and a set of fins and set off to explore the coral reef right in front of our resort.

When I plunged into the warm water I felt like I was in a different world. My doctor used to have this big elaborate fish tank filled with fish of all different colors, large and small. Gliding over the coral reef made me feel like I was in a life-sized mock-up of the same tank. Big fish patrolled the shelf of the coral reef while little neon-colored ones flitted in and out of the coral heads. Sea cucumbers loafed about the bottom, while parrot fish nibbled and ground at the coral. I snorkeled all day, checking out the coral reef all around the island. By the end of the day I had a terribly sunburned back and salty hair, but I knew that I was going back in the water the next morning.

Posted in Adventure Travel, Advice, Beach, Budget Travel, Cheap Travel, Holiday, Information, Island, Resorts, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Summer Trip, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Review | No Comments »

Visit Hong Kong of Wonderful Contrasting Elements

Friday, September 29th, 2006

During a trip to Asia with my husband, we saw quite a bit of Japan and China. We also took a few days to visit Hong Kong. This city is one of the most fascinating places to spend time in and I would recommend it to anyone. The first thing to hit you is the energy of the place. It’s a noisy, chaotic throng of people and has wonderful contrasting elements. The Chinese tradition rubs along with the Western influences. Sometimes a run down apartment block is immediately behind a modern glass fronted skyscraper.

We flew in from Tokyo and got into Kowloon, which is just across the water from the central part of the city. When you visit Hong Kong, you need to walk the narrow streets and give yourself time to acclimatize. Several buildings were covered in scaffolding. This is noteworthy because they use bamboo scaffolding in this part of the world. It looks somewhat fragile but it seems to do the job. We found a small, cheap hotel to stay in run by a man with the unlikely name of Charlie Chan. Next morning, we woke fresh and eager to explore but first we needed breakfast. If you visit Hong Kong, anything is possible and we found a welcoming Irish bar that served a full English fry up.

We then took in some of the sights and smells, the very English looking buses, the food stalls full of seafood and vegetables we didn’t know the name of, and the advertising hoardings and giant video screens. We had to go to the Foreign Affairs Office to apply for our visas to allow us into China for the next stage of our trip. Thankfully, this was done speedily and efficiently. The next stop was to visit friends who live at the top of a gated complex up in the hills. They used to visit Hong Kong and then decided to stay. The view from their balcony is amazing. That evening, we all went bar hopping, enjoyed some live music, and met some other residents. To visit Hong Kong is to have a cosmopolitan experience, as lots of British, American, and Australian people live and work there.

Next day, we went into the New Territories and the Monastery of Ten Thousand Buddhas. This is one of the places when you visit Hong Kong where you can take a breather from the city and enjoy some tranquility. The Monastery is high up in the hills near the town of Sha Tin, and you have to climb up four hundred steps to get to it. Life-size Buddha statues line the way. It’s worth the climb, when you see the giant pagoda at the top and the temple. The interior of the temple is truly breathtaking with small statues of Buddhas lining the walls numbering not 10,000 but actually 13,000.

After this, we went back to Kowloon and looked round a very exclusive shop selling items made from mammoth ivory. No one should visit Hong Kong without spending time on the Waterfront, so we went down after dark and marveled at the skyscrapers. These buildings contain some of the most expensive office spaces in the world. Our last night in our visit to Hong Kong was spent looking at the twinkling lights from the boats in the harbor, reflected in the water. Next morning, we flew to Beijing but that’s another story!

Posted in Advice, Asia, Budget Travel, Cheap Travel, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Island, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Summer Trip, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Review, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Things to Take Note When Booking Holiday Flights

Thursday, September 28th, 2006

When it comes to holiday travel, one of your biggest obstacles may be finding holiday flights that do not cost you and arm and a leg. Holiday flights are often expensive simply because they can be. Airlines know that this time of year is popular with travelers, and that they will pay higher prices so they can get home for the holidays.

If you know you are going to fly across the country to get home for a holiday, look into holiday flights as early as you can. It is recommended that you book in spring or summer if at all possible. If you don’t book your holiday flights early, you may find that there are none available.

You can save money on holiday flights by agreeing to split your flight into stopovers or layovers. When you agree to this, you should know that it will take you longer to get home and back, but you will have a better chance of securing holiday flights at a cheaper price. Look online, talk to a travel agent, and call the airlines directly. Tell them your destination, date of arrival and departure, and how many seats you need. Ask them to find the best deal they can for your holiday flights.

Don’t forget to search through every online travel site for the best deal. Take some time to find the best deal by not buying the first fare you see. Holiday flights are hard to get at a good price, but it is possible. Always remember to read the fine print. Many discount sites offer great deals, but if something happens and you can’t go, these particular holiday flights will be non refundable.

You can also save on holiday flights by keeping your flight dates open. If you are willing to take off a day early or later than you planned, it may be possible to find cheaper holiday flights. Flexibility is always the key to saving money when it comes to airfare.

Remember that holiday flights are often over booked, so confirm your flight with the airline twenty-four hours in advance, and arrive early for your flight, and check-in immediately. If someone needs to be bumped from an overbooked flight, they will look to see who has yet to arrive and check-in. You don’t want this to be you.

The airport will be busy and stressful around holiday flights, so bring your patience with you when you arrive. Give yourself enough time to get through the airport, get through security, and arrive at your gate as early as possible. If you have children, you may be asked to board the plane first.

Search around, remain flexible, and you will take the financial sting and stress out of holiday flights. The important thing is that you get home, even if it takes you a little longer and you have to take a detour.

Posted in Advice, Air Travel, Budget Travel, Cheap Travel, Holiday, Information, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Packages | No Comments »

Weekend Trips for Family

Wednesday, September 27th, 2006

The work week can be incredibly hectic and chaotic for most people. There are weeks that go by that my family and I simply pass each other in the halls and fight for the bathroom. When the weekends arrive, we stare at each other as if we were strangers. We live for weekend trips. My parents own a beach house two hours from my home. That allows for us to take some well deserved weekend trips every so often. My husband and I strive to take at least one weekend a month for a family getaway and every other month we’ll add a weekend trip for just the two of us.

Weekend trips can do wonders for a marriage and for family life. It is a chance to connect with your loved ones while away from home and the everyday stresses that go along with being at home. I don’t think it matters where your weekend trips take you, as long as you are all together. Whether it happens to be an outing to the mountains or the beach, it is quality time that you are spending together. Several times a year, if the finances allow, my husband and I look into some more remote weekend trips. Perhaps we’ll look at a weekend cruise or whirlwind trip to another city. Last year, we decided to leave on a Thursday night and spend the 3 day weekend in Hollywood. Why? Simply because it sounded like fun and was spontaneous.

Could we afford it? Yes, but only because it was one of those last minute weekend trips that airlines and hotels offer excellent discounts on. We certainly aren’t a family that is made of money but more often than not we find weekend trips that we can afford simply because they are great bargains. That doesn’t mean that everyone should wait until the last moment to plan a weekend escape. However, sometimes weekend trips can turn out to be a real bargain if you do decide until the last moment to travel.

Some of the best weekend trips and getaways can be to someplace in your own city. Pick a fancy bed and breakfast you’ve always admired and spend one or two nights there. Camp out at a local campground if you love the outdoors. You don’t have to travel very far from home to enjoy being with your friends or family. There are times when you want to be out of your house but just don’t want to travel very far. With the gas prices nowadays, local weekend trips make the most sense. Every once in a while, you just may discover something that you’ve never noticed before. It’s even better if you discover that with your loved ones.

Posted in Advice, Budget Travel, Cheap Travel, Children, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Short Vacation, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Review, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Finding the Best Discounted Travel Deal

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006

I love to travel, learning about different land, different people and culture. How about you? I will guess that your answer is yes. So many individuals these days are wanting to travel all over the globe. Most of them probably haven’t even seen their own country yet. It’s funny how that works. Regardless, you definitely want to make sure you travel in the most economical fashion. No, I’m not talking about by bicycle. No one expects you to pedal that two-wheeler all the way to London, England.

I’m referring to discounted travel. Have you heard of it? Of course you have. In this magnificent age of knowledge and technology, I would think it’s rather difficult to stay in the dark. After all, we punch away on our laptops everyday. With that wonderful high-speed connection to net-land, we can go and learn anything we choose.

Want to know what I love about discounted travel? That would be the discounts. I know what you’re thinking; that was a no-brainer. However, it still seems that so many people have trouble finding the best deals around. Just the other day I listened to my wife’s co-worker gripe about his expensive trip to Disney World. What is the deal here? Did the guy even do his research on discounted travel first? My guess is no. Now I realize that he has a wife and two children, and that a week long trip to the magical kingdom can stick you with one gargantuan, and not so magical bill.

However, if you just hop on the World-Wide-Web, you can get a number of options going with discounted travel sites. That is the key here. You see, with cyberspace comes an entire slew of contemporary options. There are literally hundreds or even thousands of websites out there vying for your attention. Yeah, that’s right. They all want your business. You know what this means. They better have the absolute best discounted travel options and deals available; because you’re going to go with the lowest rates. Heck, that’s what we all do. All you have to do is pop open your Google.com search engine and start browsing. Punch in the keywords “discounted travel,” or you can even punch in your preferred destination. Soon you will be sorting through deals and specials galore. That choice discounted travel plan is out there if you do your research first. Make that summer vacation, a relaxing one by not breaking the bank.

Posted in Advice, Budget Travel, Cheap Travel, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Summer Trip, Tours, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Packages | No Comments »

Advantages of Advertised Vacation Deals

Tuesday, September 19th, 2006

When I get the weekend newspaper, the very first section I dive for is the travel section. Research has proven to me that there can be some amazing vacation deals to be found. They may be cleverly hidden or well publicized, but they do exist. I have discovered the best times of the year for finding great vacation deals and the absolute most expensive times of the year to travel. As much as I would love to have the carefree lifestyle that would allow me to drop everything and take advantage of those last minute vacation deals, I don’t. I have a friend who only travels at the last minute. She’s saved thousands of dollars by using that strategy. Granted, she and her husband may not always get plane tickets in the same section of the airplane, but, when you’ve been married as long as they have, perhaps sitting separately is a welcome break.

Research vacations on the internet and tons of sites jump out at you. Everyone wants you to check out their vacation deals. Travel sites are my personal favorite, as they compete for your business. I’ve booked a few flights and hotels through various sites but am still a big fan of using a travel agent. Call me old-fashioned, but I suppose if something gets messed up, I have someone else to blame. Many hotels offer discounted rates on their direct sites or all-inclusive vacation deals if you book directly. I encourage people to take advantage of those. As long as you get an exact itinerary and exact rates, you aren’t left guessing and possibly being misled. Always make sure you look into what those amazing vacation deals are offering. You may end up spending more on taxes and meals than what you were budgeting for.

For those people who enjoy doing their own research and planning their own trips, there are so many vacation deals to be found, but proceed with caution. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against travel websites, I’m actually a huge fan of them. I frequently check months ahead of time just to have a general idea of how much my vacation just may end up costing. My travel agent is a huge help to me. She knows what types of vacation deals I seek and goes out of her way to make sure I get exactly what I want. When using an agent, there are no surprises. If I consistently used the internet to book all of my travels, I may find a few things that I had not planned for. A spontaneous person will have no problem with that occurrence.

I however, am the type of person who likes to know exactly what I’m getting for my money. Those advertised vacation deals are easy to fall for and a pleasure to take advantage of, so long as I get exactly what I’m hoping for. Next winter, my husband and I are planning a wonderful Caribbean getaway. I’ve already done plenty of research on all-inclusive vacation deals that are all over the internet. There are some very appealing packages. I’m torn between using my travel agent once again, or allowing myself to be lured into a romantic and adventure filled vacation deal. Who knows, maybe the spontaneous vacation deal purchase could be the best decision of my life.

Posted in Advice, Budget Travel, Cheap Travel, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Packages | No Comments »

Advantage of Mountain Cabins for Rent

Monday, September 18th, 2006

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a second home away from home? You know, one that differed from the mundane, hectic lifestyle you’re used to. A place where you could simply leave the stress and chaos behind you. Well, this is the reality for many. In fact you too can take advantage of mountain cabins for rent. Invest in a nice getaway with Mother Nature for a few weeks or months. It’s great to get that taste of the primal world before it was contaminated by man. Breathe in the fresh air and soak up the silence when you stay in mountain cabins for rent.

Did you know there are mountain cabins for rent in the Smokey’s? How ideal would it be to drop everything and load up the family for a trip down into the Carolina Mountains? I can honestly tell you from experience that they’re amazing. As you cruise up those curvaceous county roads, you’ll not only notice a decrease in chaos, but you’ll also notice an increase in clean air. There’s plain and simply nothing like fresh mountain air.

You will notice what I’m raving about the first time you soak it up and take it in. It’s much healthier for the lungs and body. Fortunately this is one of the places we have left to retreat, away from the smog. I am jealous of my brother who actually had an old-school cabin built on his own land. Of course he had a slight advantage since his mother-in-law owns thousands of acres. When the land comes for free, the building costs no longer seem so bad. Now days he enjoys his personal home away from home whenever he likes. Be it winter or summer, the hand crafted cabin is a blast.

However, for those of us who cannot afford building our very own cabin, there are mountain cabins for rent. Therefore we might as well take advantage of all they have to offer. It’s fairly simple to get online and see what it is I’m taking about. You can choose from a variety of mountain cabins for rent, all differing in price range. If you do find one you like, I recommend booking it as soon as possible. This will ensure that you do get the country dwelling of your dreams. Jump into cyberspace and check it out. Sometimes it’s fun and exciting to just get away from it all.

Posted in Adventure Travel, Advice, Cabin, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Summer Trip, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Rental, Vacation Review, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Vacation Village at Bonaventure Review

Thursday, September 14th, 2006

At first glance at the promotional photographs of Vacation Village at Bonaventure, the high-end apartment/condominium complex comes to mind, as does maybe the skyscraping dormitory of a popular four-year university. But at further inspection and with supplemental information, one learns that there is so much more to Vacation Village at Bonaventure.

Location is prime for Vacation Village at Bonaventure, which is situated in the South Florida Bonaventure Spa, Tennis, and Gold community twenty-five miles from Fort Lauderdale and the ocean, for boating, fishing, water-skiing, wind surfing, and scuba diving. Closer are medical facilities and entertainment sites, within two miles; and even closer are shopping centers/malls, a grocery store, and other shops within a mile of the community.

Immediately in the vicinity on the premises of Vacation Village at Bonaventure are numerous facilities and amenities, from handicap accessibility, outdoor pool, beautiful man-made lake, a golf course, tennis courts, and car rental services to indoor conference rooms and facilities, laundry facilities, a hairdresser salon and a spa, racquetball courts, and a restaurant.

The costs to stay at Vacation Village at Bonaventure range from $390 a week for a one-bedroom studio to $1,800 a week for a two-bedroom/two-bath suite. The reviews are reflective of the relative prices and vacation fun, comfort, and relaxation levels such prices afford earning Vacation Village at Bonaventure an overall rating of four out of five stars. For example, one super-satisfied visitor, giving Vacation Village at Bonaventure five stars, praises the service as nothing but excellent; the room they stayed in, overlooking the spacious pool and waterfall as magnificent; the poolside as undercrowded and a great place to relax, read, and enjoy complimentary coffee; and suggesting the best sporting facilities as the tennis and racquetball, with the ideal travel arrangements made either for the definite plus of car renting or using the free shuttle, which, the reviewer reports, will run you anywhere around Weston for free.

Another satisfied client at Vacation Village at Bonaventure gave it four stars and describes how their stay in the smaller room was perfect for the two of them, and explaining that had they brought their three kids would have been upgraded to the rooms. This reviewer’s emphasis was on the rooms, which she/he found were clean and fully stocked; and his/her discussion further reveals a warning to others that Vacation Village at Bonaventure is NOT a typical hotel with maid service/room service, etc., but is rather a do-it-yourself vacation site that may or may not have the room service for extra charges. Like others who give pleasing reports, this reviewer closes with the recommendation to others for making long-term visits and needing a good long-term stay facility.

Posted in Advice, Budget Travel, Cheap Travel, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Rental, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Summer Trip, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Homes, Vacation Rental, Vacation Review, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Looking for Mountain Cabins for Rent

Wednesday, September 13th, 2006

Some of the best vacations I’ve ever had have been by way of staying in mountain cabins for rent.Â When vacation time finally rolls around after an especially stressful year, there’s really no better way to relax than by staying in mountain cabins for rent. When you’re in a remote cabin in a beautiful, wooded environment, you can’t help but just take it easy and relax. In fact, you’re almost forced to relax, so if you’re like me and have a hard time taking it easy you might want to look into some mountain cabins for rent.

Mountain cabins for rent aren’t as much money as you would expect, either. You can get a good-sized cabin in a beautiful area for around the same price you’d pay for a nice hotel in a big city. There are some great deals on mountain cabins for rent in Yosemite, for instance. Yosemite is definitely what I would call the most beautiful region on Earth, and I’ve been to a lot of other really scenic areas around the country and world. There two best ways to really see a place like Yosemite is either backpacking or renting a mountain cabin; backpacking may be even more scenic, but the cabin is by far more luxurious!

Of course, the larger and much nicer mountain cabins for rent are more expensive. If you go with a group of friends, however, you can split up the costs to the point where its actually cheaper than staying in hotel. Spending a few days in a mountain cabin with a group of friends can be a lot of fun to boot. Fishing, hiking, swimming, hunting, bird watching, lake sports, jumping off cliffs into a freezing cold river, getting chased by mountain lions, whatever you’re into you can find it in the woods.

Renting out a smaller more intimate mountain cabin can be a great idea for a romantic getaway as well. Mountain cabins for rent basically ensure that you’ll have plenty of quality time to spend with that special someone. A trip to a hotel in a big city is great too, but its very easy to get caught up in all the sights and sounds of the town and to forget about the real reason you’re getting away; to be with each other.

For a nice change of pace in you next vacation, consider looking into some mountain cabins for rent. You’ll likely be surprised on what kind of great deals you can get, and you’re sure to have an excellent, enjoyable, and truly relaxing time.

Posted in Adventure Travel, Advice, Budget Travel, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Nature Preserve, Rental, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Summer Trip, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Rental, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

The Best California Bed Breakfast

Tuesday, September 5th, 2006

The many wonderful things about a good California bed breakfast are homemade biscuits at breakfast, which are, yes, served in the room; the fresh bedding; the special guest dinners; the perks and amenities. But what I find most impressive in not only the California bed breakfast experience but the bed and breakfast experience in general is the theme room/hotel. Maybe you have a penchant for nature. Maybe you are a history buff. Or maybe you have a fetish for a particular travel destination or have a thing for art. Whatever the desire or need, you can indulge in a weekend fantasy at a themed California bed breakfast.

CALIFORNIA BED BREAKFAST THEME HOTELS/INNS

For example, the following are just some of the possible fantasy weekend packages offered:

At the Churchill Manor Bed and Breakfast in Napa Valley, you can experience the plantation in the Gone with the Wind rooms in the old southern Colonial home.

The Gone with the Wind theme is also delightful at Plantation Bed and Breakfast in Lemon Grove, and

At The Union Hotel and Victorian Mansion, in Los Almos, you might enjoy the Victorian age in the manse or indulge in the fantasy of the 1950s, the gypsy life, Roman antiquity, Egyptian royalty, French history, or Pirate swashbuckling.

At Leucadia Inn in Encinitas, besides having subtly placed microwave and other modern amenities, you can have the dream of your choice come true in a Tropical setting, in the Hollywood Nostalgia room, on an African Safari, or by way of the decor that takes you to Nantucket, Calypso (style), or New Orleans.

The Splash Spa in Los Angeles has the infamous cave, the Monte Carlo, and the Jungle Room, as well as rooms ala the Mediterranean, Barcelona, and Japan. But note that this California bed breakfast is not really a b&b but an hourly place to stay for a quickie or short rest (and, of course, spa treatment).

And the wilder, more natural, and appropriately, more western urges can be satisfied at such places as The Featherbed Railroad Company, where you and yours can get loose with Mint Julep (rooms), engage in the romance of Casablanca, go alternative in the Easy Rider or La Loose, relive (so to speak) the mystery of The Orient Express, or go right back to the heart of The Wild, Wild West.

California bed breakfast experiences, then, take you where you want to go or need to be, whether it is to re-experience your teen years in a Rockin 50′s Suite, with the bed that is fashioned out of a 1959 Cadillac; to play nouveau riche in a five-star Garden Theme room, in The English Rose, the Apricot Blossom Suite, or the Forget Me Not room; or exact the life of a writer in a cottage or a tortured one with James Dean angst in the Rebel Room.

With the California bed breakfast, you can appreciate the amenities, can be coddled by old world cuisine and courtesy and charm of the caretakers, and can find appeal in anything from the attractive views, the ambience, or the general atmosphere. But further, with the themed California bed breakfast, you come away with a memory of having gone back in time, gone forward in time, and having gone into the lives and spirit of another be it Elvis or Scarlet Hara, an astronaut or a Neanderthal or a thug.

Posted in Advice, Bed and Breakfast, Budget Travel, California, Cheap Travel, Children, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Summer Trip, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Homes, Vacation Packages, Vacation Rental, Vacation Review, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Archive for the ‘Vacation Destination’ Category