Sunday, November 25, 2007

A Cat Island Bahamas Vacation

by: Simon Harris

One of the outer islands of the Bahamas, Cat Island is a quiet vacation destination for those who are really looking to relax. Among its varied pleasures and activities, a little exploration will turn up a historical oddity or two that add to the individual character of the place. Beautiful beaches in natural settings welcome the nature lover and peace seeker alike.

The Hermitage is a bit of an historical oddity, fascinating and strange. The hike up to see this religious site will take visitors through small villages along beautiful trails, full of island flora and fauna. It is located at the top of Mt. Alvernia, which is 206 feet above the sea and the highest point in the Bahamas. The Hermitage itself is made from the limestone of the cliffs, with each piece painstakingly extracted, shaped and set by hand by the Canadian mule-skinner turned Anglican turned Roman Catholic priest known as Father Jerome. The Father built the structure to scale, designed it to fit his rather diminutive form. Beloved by the island people, the priest passed away in 1956 after reaching the ripe age of 80.

Other historical sites include an Arawak cave, found at Columbus point, and plantation ruins,
left over from the islands efforts at joining the worlds cotton growers. Deveaux mansion was once the residence of Andrew Deveaux of the US Navy, who participated in the 1873 battles to get Nassau back from Spain. Another well known ruins is the remains of the Ambrister plantation, near Port Howe.

For those interested in water sports, the Cat Island Dive Center is the place to contact. They operate out of the Greenwood Beach Resort and have a variety of diving and snorkeling packages available, and there are many fine areas to explore, offering a wealth of marine life and fascinating geological formations. They also have water sport equipment to rent.

Cat Island is the sixth largest island in the Bahamas, and boasts extraordinary beaches. There are literally miles and miles of virtually undisturbed beaches, where swimming and relaxing can be done in near complete privacy.

Fine meals can be had at several locations on Cat Island. Hawk's Nest Resort and Marina serves a variety of dishes, but among the best are the fresh, grilled fish and the roasted rack of lamb. Fernandez Bay Village is the place to go for creative and delicious native dishes, served either in the dining room or a patio table by the beach. Greenwood Beach Resort's Bahaman cuisine is complemented by their marvelous breads, which are baked every day.

Cat Island is an excellent choice for vacationers who are seeking a natural beach experience, and enjoy a peaceful and very laid-back atmosphere. The island can be explored at a leisurely pace, which is a much better way to enjoy the local flora and fauna, as well as to enjoy the local culture. Because it is so much smaller in population than many of the other islands, it's easier to get a real feel for the people and their way of life. Cat Island is an interesting place that will make a lasting impression on its guests.

About the Author
This article provided courtesy of http://www.bahamas-holiday-guide.com


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Sunday, November 18, 2007

A Beauty of the Caribbean Waters: Roatan Island

By: Matthias Zeitler

If you are constantly searching for new exciting locations for scuba diving, Roatan is one of the places you should not avoid. The island of Roatan Honduras, situated in the western Caribbean Sea, is very visited by scuba diving fans because it can offer them everything from great marine life to more practical things such as scuba lessons and certification. Roatan is very well known because of its coral, which is very diverse and can be seen from a short distance. Also in Roatan you can find lots of dive sites that are very close and accessible.

The tourism in Roatan is very well developed therefore if you plan to go there for scuba diving, you will have lots of options to choose from for diving resorts. For reasonable prices, you can benefit from the vacation you want if you go scuba diving in Roatan Honduras. You can benefit from everything such as dive and fishing resorts or spas and retreats; this only depends on your budget. You also have the chance to visit some of the most popular wrecks in the world if you get there for a dive trip. This paradise located in the Bay Islands of Honduras is often named the Caribbean's best-kept secret.

Scuba diving in Roatan Honduras is surely one of the most stunning experiences considering the fact that its waters offer an unforgettable diversity of sponges, corals and marine life. If you are a beginner and you have never practiced scuba diving before you don't know what exactly you need for this kind of trip. This is why you should inform yourself and choose a complete tourist package for your vacation for scuba diving in Roatan. You should also benefit from some scuba lessons in order to be ready for swimming around all those creatures that live underwater.

Deciding what destination to visit when it comes to scuba diving is always a difficult task because there are so many extraordinary options. This is also the case once you chose Roatan Honduras for scuba diving. This destination is simply beautiful; it can be considered the perfect place for such a sport. But you also have to choose between the Roatan North East Side Dive Sites, the North Side Dive Sites and the South Side Dive Sites. In what concerns the North Side you can find some popular dive sites such as Canyonlands, which is a series of canyons that allow you to take more than one interesting dive there because they are situated in such a way that they form a maze. However, you should take care; this site is meant only for intermediate and experienced scuba divers.

There are many other locations that are beautiful for scuba diving in Roatan. Take some time and read about them so that you can choose the best place to satisfy your need for adventure. Anyway, you will definitely not regret that you decided to go in vacation for scuba diving in Roatan Honduras.

Author Resource:-> scubish.com has more information about scuba diving in Roatan, thousands of other exiting locations and a large scuba diving forum.

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10 Tips for Planning Your Vacation

by: Kathy Paauw

I hope that by sharing my personal experiences, you will avoid learning similar lessons the hard way. And it goes to show that those little details in the planning of a vacation can make a huge difference in the outcome. You can make your next vacation relaxing and enjoyable by following these simple vacation planning tips.

1. Keep your vacation planning information in one place. Create a labeled file folder ("Hawaii Vacation") and use it to keep your airline, hotel, car rental information, as well as maps or AAA guide books, tourist information, contact information for people you know in that city, etc. You can find all this information at Holidays, Vacations and Traveling

2. Plan ahead for your wardrobe. Think about all of the activities you might do, and imagine what you'd want to wear for each activity. For example, on the beach you might want a swimsuit, cover-up, slip-on footwear or water shoes, a sun hat, sunglasses... maybe even a face mask, snorkel, and some flippers. Will the kids want shovels and buckets to build a sand castle? Do you need to supply your own beach towel, or will you be staying somewhere that supplies this for you? What about waterproof sunscreen? The more you can visualize yourself on the beach, the better prepared you will be.

3. Use a travel checklist. I've created a Packing List to get you started. Once you've tailored this to your needs, keep it in the travel file you've created. This will help you remember to pack both the basic necessities, as well as some of the more obscure things you might not remember but would want to take with you.

4. Let children pack their own travel bags, and make sure their bag is small enough that they can carry it themselves. Help them select things they can do on the road or in the air: Walkman and cassettes or CDs, books, handheld video games, portable crafts, card games. Talk about seating arrangements ahead of time to avoid conflict among siblings about who will sit where.

5. Pack a carry-on that is small enough to stay with you at all times. Include necessities that you must have, in the event that you get separated from your other luggage for a day. If you need to take medication on a regular basis, be sure this is with you, and not in your checked luggage. If you are combining a business and vacation trip and need something for a presentation the next day, take it in your carry-on rather than checking it.

6. Plan early to get the best selection and to get early booking discounts. If you're really adventuresome and are not particular about where you want to go, you can also book reservations last-minute. There is some risk involved in doing this, but you can also get some great deals this way. Find some great bargains at airline tickets.

7. If you're driving, you may wish to map out your trip ahead of time and make hotel reservations along the way if you are traveling during peak vacation time. Mapquest offers a helpful Website for mapping out your route and estimating travel time under normal driving conditions.

8. If you're traveling to another country, check out the Currency Converter for International Exchange Rates.

If you'd like to master a few useful phrases in a foreign language, visit the Foreign Language Assistance Website. It even contains some sound clips so you can pronounce words properly.

9. If your vacation plans include staying home rather than traveling, plan how you will spend your vacation to rejuvenate yourself. Perhaps there are some local attractions that you've been wanting to experience but have not had the time to experience. Are there people you want to connect with? Get clear about what you want to do and who you want to do it with, and then plan to make it happen. If your vacation includes having a friend or relative flying in to visit you, you can check the status of a flight to see if they will arrive on time.

10. This is the most important tip of all: pack the right attitude. Let go of the "what if" and enjoy the moment. Remind yourself what matters most, and focus on that. If this is a vacation to get away and relax, then focus on activities and thoughts that will be relaxing. If your goal is to reconnect with family and build memories together, that can be done regardless of circumstances (missing a flight, not getting tickets to an event you wanted to attend, etc.). If your goal is to sight-see and take in some special attractions or shows, then plan ahead and make the reservations necessary to ensure that you can do what you want to do when you get there.




Kathy Paauw, President of Paauwerfully Organized, specializes in helping busy executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs declutter their schedules, spaces and minds. She is a certified business/personal coach and professional organizer. Contact her at mailto:orgcoach@gte.net or visit her Website at http://www.orgcoach.net and learn how you can Find ANYTHING in 5 Seconds - Guaranteed!


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5 Tips To Spend The Most Luxurious Caribbean Vacation

by: Stephanie Hetu

Tip #1 : Buy a beach front Caribbean villa!
Buying Caribbean beach front property can range from a bargain to outrageous. This does not mean that the cheaper Caribbean beach front property is any less beautiful or luxurious than the more expensive ones, but rather means the location is different. For instance, Caribbean beach front property in the Bahamas is beautiful, over run with tourists, and incredibly expensive. However, Caribbean beach front property in the Dominican Republic is just as beautiful, has less tourists, and a considerably more affordable price tag.

Tip #2 : Rent a villa for your trip!
If you are not into real estate investment, why not rent a villa instead? Often, the price will not be a lot more expensive then an all inclusive package in a crowded hotel. And instead of having to eat buffet food for a week, you can cook your own meal, or even have someone do it for you!

Tip #3 : Rent a Caribbean island!
Did you know you can rent a whole island just for yourself? This can come with staff and everything you need to spend a luxurious vacation. It is also a very nice idea for a wedding!

Tip #4 : Charter a luxury Yacht!
If you are looking for something a little less extravagant then the huge private Yachts, and a lot more affordable then there are a variety of luxury yacht charters Caribbean providers that will also be able to meet your needs and your budget. The wonderful thing about he Caribbean is no matter what your budget, preferences, and schedule there is someone who will be able to provide exactly what you are looking for.

Tip #5 : Contact a Caribbean holiday specialist.
Certainly, you can get online and start searching and learn everything there is to do in the Caribbean, however it is certainly a lot easier to simply employ Caribbean holiday specialists to help you plan your vacation. Not only will this save you time, but it will also save you money because more often than not Caribbean holiday specialists are aware of different discounts and preferred rates. They have insight and knowledge and many years experience booking Caribbean vacations, where you will have to do some serious work and effort to plan the vacation yourself.

About the Author
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/User/My%20Documents/Internet/Worth%20Vacation/Internet/tipsbuzz/Sports%20&%20Recreation/vacation/%20 "> Luxury Caribbean Vacation offers information about luxury services available in the Caribbean : villa rental, Caribbean real estate, yacht and sailboat rental and private aircraft charter. If you want the services of a REAL, knowledgeable travel agent, this is the pace to go!

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