A treasure trove of tourist attractions could be found at Cape Town, which in addition to the value-for-money propositions by its tourism establishments, makes the city among the top choices for holiday makers, especially for those with a tight travel budget.
Rates of tourist accommodations in Cape Town vary widely, and a visitor can choose from the very affordable B&B (bed and breakfast) and lodges to luxurious five-star tourist hotels and designer villas. But regardless of the type of hotel or lodge one is staying in, a visitor has within arm's length the many enticing tourist spots of Cape Town.
As a seaport city, Cape Town offers many beaches, some of which are the best in the world. The trendier ones could be found at the Clifton beaches at the Atlantic Seaboard, while those suited for family outings are located at the False Bay coastline.
Another natural feature in Cape Town which is popular among tourists is Table Mountain located at the City Bowl's back end. Tourists can reach the peak of the mountain, which is a national park, either by hiking or by taking a breathtaking trip via the Table Mountain Cableway. Likewise worthwhile to visit is Cape Point, a fabled landmark that stands out on the map as the headland at the tip of the Cape Peninsula. Exploring this peninsula by car is possible through the Chapman's Peak Drive which calls for driving along the narrow road linking Noordhoek with Hout Bay and imbibing the scenery of the nearby mountains and the Atlantic. Likewise a joyride is driving up Signal Hill where visitors can marvel at the imposing shadows of the Table Mountain over the City Bowl.
Cultural attractions also come aplenty at Cape Town. One favorite destination is the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront or V&A to the locals. Constructed atop a part of the Port of Cape Town, it houses hundreds of shops and is considered as one of the city's most popular shopping centers. With two ocean aquariums, V&A has also become popular because here visitors can watch the city's port in operation with the ships entering and leaving the harbour. The V&A also houses the Nelson Mandela Gateway from which ferries sail to Robben Island and back.
From the V&A, ferries can also take tourists to Hout Bay, Simon's Town and to the Seal and Duker Islands where colonies of Cape fur seals abound for observation in their natural habitat. Whale watching is another possibility as Southern Wright whales and Humpback whales frequent the Cape Town coast during these leviathans' breeding season from August to November. At anytime of the year, killer whales and Bryde's whales can be observed around Cape Town's waters. Hermanus, a town near Cape Town, celebrates a Whale Festival. Dolphins can also be found year-round the city's coastal waters as some are endemic in those areas like the heavisides dolphins and the dusky dolphins.
Tours could likewise be arranged to the coloured townships of Khayelitsha and Cape Flats where there are B&B establishments for tourists to stay overnight and experience first-hand the African way of life.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Elegant Fort Lauderdale Hotels
Fort Lauderdale is one of the leading vacation destinations in the US. Known as the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale has a lot of exciting treats for its visitors and guests.
Fort Lauderdale is a well-loved vacation destination in Florida. It is also regarded as the "Venice of America" mostly because of its intricate and expansive canal systems. It is conveniently located along Broward County, having an estimated population of about 183,606.
Fort Lauderdale boasts of 120 night clubs and 4,100 restaurants. It is also noted as a major yachting center, featuring 100 boatyards and marinas as well as 42,000 resident yachts. Thus, Fort Lauderdale got its name from the series of forts built during the time of the 2nd Seminole War. The construction of 3 forts in New River, Tarpon Bend (currently known as Sailboat Bend) and the Bahia Mar Marina paved for the birth of Fort Lauderdale, derived from the 1st port's detachment commander, Major William Lauderdale.
Sheraton Yankee Clipper Hotel
This oceanfront hotel located at 1140 Seabreeze Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 is a well loved family vacation destination. Its location is not only on the beach, it is also near downtown shopping centers and cultural areas such as the Galleria Mall, Las Olas Boulevard, Las Olas Riverfront and Beach Place.
With a total of 500 suites and guest rooms, almost each room is guaranteed with fascinating views of either the Intracoastal Waterway or Atlantic Ocean. They also have an onsite restaurant, Clipper Steakhouse that features certified Angus Steaks. Their Wreck Bar provides live entertainment during weekends and porthole views of their main pool.
Activities you can try near the hotel are golfing, sightseeing, deep sea fishing, sailing scuba diving and various other enjoyable water sports. Aside from this, you can easily visit the region's museums, dining establishments and shopping districts. For suggestions and tours, you can coordinate with the hotel's friendly staff that offers 24hr guest services as well as transportation rental facilities and bus charters.
Since Fort Lauderdale is regarded as a "sportsman's paradise," scuba divers, snorkelers and even game enthusiasts are welcome. In fact, Jai Alai and Thoroughbred racing is in close proximity to this hotel. Furthermore, the hotel has 2 pool, a fitness center, heated outdoor pools, an ice machine, Cabanas, vending machines and tennis courts. They also have air conditioned facilities, valet services, snorkeling lessons, wake up services, safe deposit boxes, high speed Internet and a business center. Although dogs are allowed in this hotel, city ordinances are strict when it comes to bringing pets to public beaches in the region.
Ocean Manor Hotel
This hotel is located at 4040 Galt Ocean Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. Its location puts you in close proximity to area activities like horse racing, fishing, boating, parasailing and diving as well as snorkeling, jet skiing, dancing and gambling.
Dubbed as "Heaven on Eleven," this hotel features a multi-million dollar VIP Penthouse that guarantees spectacular views along with floor-to-ceiling hurricane resistant windows. Views would be of the private beach and amazing city skyline. Every penthouse is decorated with contemporary decors, sophisticated Spa-inspired baths, expansive patios and state-of-the-art full kitchens.
The hotel is definitely the perfect location for social events, weddings and even business functions. With a total of 50 fascinating years in the industry, this hotel is a proven legacy drawing celebrities like Johnny Carson, Erik Clapton and Robert Conrad among others into its elegant web. Other amenities of the hotel include a heated pool, airport-hotel transfers, room services, wireless Internet access and a piano lounge.
The Atlantic Resort & Spa
This hotel is conveniently located at 601 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304-4110. Its location in the midst of the Gold Coast of Florida make it a majorly sought after hotel for tourists.
This luxurious premiere is devoted to sophistication and world class service and does not allow pets inside. It is near 23 miles of sun-splashed pristine golden beaches, galleries, boutiques, museums and restaurants as well as night spots and casinos. After a full day of sightseeing, shopping and swimming, you are guaranteed with a full length of stress-free accommodations.
Atlantic Resort & Spa is a smoke-free hotel that features European-styled Spas, private balconies and spacious guest rooms. They also have a Business Center, concierge services, valet parking, fitness facility, heated outdoor pools, Spa facilities and ice machines. You can also add ATM machines, wake-up services, tour services, handicap facilities and boat trips along with secretarial services, boat rentals and a sun deck among others.
These hotels, along with numerous beaches, theme parks and historical sites make Fort Lauderdale the ideal vacation destination for the entire family. Every single day in the region guarantees exciting and memorable experiences.
Fort Lauderdale is a well-loved vacation destination in Florida. It is also regarded as the "Venice of America" mostly because of its intricate and expansive canal systems. It is conveniently located along Broward County, having an estimated population of about 183,606.
Fort Lauderdale boasts of 120 night clubs and 4,100 restaurants. It is also noted as a major yachting center, featuring 100 boatyards and marinas as well as 42,000 resident yachts. Thus, Fort Lauderdale got its name from the series of forts built during the time of the 2nd Seminole War. The construction of 3 forts in New River, Tarpon Bend (currently known as Sailboat Bend) and the Bahia Mar Marina paved for the birth of Fort Lauderdale, derived from the 1st port's detachment commander, Major William Lauderdale.
Sheraton Yankee Clipper Hotel
This oceanfront hotel located at 1140 Seabreeze Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 is a well loved family vacation destination. Its location is not only on the beach, it is also near downtown shopping centers and cultural areas such as the Galleria Mall, Las Olas Boulevard, Las Olas Riverfront and Beach Place.
With a total of 500 suites and guest rooms, almost each room is guaranteed with fascinating views of either the Intracoastal Waterway or Atlantic Ocean. They also have an onsite restaurant, Clipper Steakhouse that features certified Angus Steaks. Their Wreck Bar provides live entertainment during weekends and porthole views of their main pool.
Activities you can try near the hotel are golfing, sightseeing, deep sea fishing, sailing scuba diving and various other enjoyable water sports. Aside from this, you can easily visit the region's museums, dining establishments and shopping districts. For suggestions and tours, you can coordinate with the hotel's friendly staff that offers 24hr guest services as well as transportation rental facilities and bus charters.
Since Fort Lauderdale is regarded as a "sportsman's paradise," scuba divers, snorkelers and even game enthusiasts are welcome. In fact, Jai Alai and Thoroughbred racing is in close proximity to this hotel. Furthermore, the hotel has 2 pool, a fitness center, heated outdoor pools, an ice machine, Cabanas, vending machines and tennis courts. They also have air conditioned facilities, valet services, snorkeling lessons, wake up services, safe deposit boxes, high speed Internet and a business center. Although dogs are allowed in this hotel, city ordinances are strict when it comes to bringing pets to public beaches in the region.
Ocean Manor Hotel
This hotel is located at 4040 Galt Ocean Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. Its location puts you in close proximity to area activities like horse racing, fishing, boating, parasailing and diving as well as snorkeling, jet skiing, dancing and gambling.
Dubbed as "Heaven on Eleven," this hotel features a multi-million dollar VIP Penthouse that guarantees spectacular views along with floor-to-ceiling hurricane resistant windows. Views would be of the private beach and amazing city skyline. Every penthouse is decorated with contemporary decors, sophisticated Spa-inspired baths, expansive patios and state-of-the-art full kitchens.
The hotel is definitely the perfect location for social events, weddings and even business functions. With a total of 50 fascinating years in the industry, this hotel is a proven legacy drawing celebrities like Johnny Carson, Erik Clapton and Robert Conrad among others into its elegant web. Other amenities of the hotel include a heated pool, airport-hotel transfers, room services, wireless Internet access and a piano lounge.
The Atlantic Resort & Spa
This hotel is conveniently located at 601 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304-4110. Its location in the midst of the Gold Coast of Florida make it a majorly sought after hotel for tourists.
This luxurious premiere is devoted to sophistication and world class service and does not allow pets inside. It is near 23 miles of sun-splashed pristine golden beaches, galleries, boutiques, museums and restaurants as well as night spots and casinos. After a full day of sightseeing, shopping and swimming, you are guaranteed with a full length of stress-free accommodations.
Atlantic Resort & Spa is a smoke-free hotel that features European-styled Spas, private balconies and spacious guest rooms. They also have a Business Center, concierge services, valet parking, fitness facility, heated outdoor pools, Spa facilities and ice machines. You can also add ATM machines, wake-up services, tour services, handicap facilities and boat trips along with secretarial services, boat rentals and a sun deck among others.
These hotels, along with numerous beaches, theme parks and historical sites make Fort Lauderdale the ideal vacation destination for the entire family. Every single day in the region guarantees exciting and memorable experiences.
Newfoundland Travels-Labrador
On Wednesday, August 27, 2003 we have a beautiful day for traveling in Labrador. We are traveling on the Trans Labrador Highway. Our first stop was L'Anse Amour, the site of a grave 7,500 years old. This was found by a group of students who thought that the rock pattern was quite unusual. Under the rock they found an enshrouded child of about twelve, face-down, painted in red with a flat rock on the lower back. Artifacts associated with the burial include a walrus tusk, a number of stone and bone projectile points, a bird bone whistle, paint grinding tools, an antler pendant, a toggling harpoon and a decorated ivory eagle.
Down the road is the Amour Lighthouse, the tallest one in Newfoundland Province. Even its presence has not stopped ships from the treacherous shores. In 1922, the HMS Raleigh, a 12,000 Ton cruiser, avoiding an iceberg, ran aground. Its wreckage is strewn on the shore. During WWII two ships collided in the dense fog in the straits, because there was a warning of a U-boat in the area. Ironically two other ships were lost in the straits that day too, but in a different area. The Strait of Belle Isle is not only an iceberg alley, but also a shipwreck alley.
Up the road at Red Bay archeologists are still uncovering the first industrial whaling factory in the world. Founded in the 1540s by the Basque fishermen, from the area between France and Spain, the whale oil was used to light up Europe. During its peak, over 2,500 whalers in Labrador, produced approximately 20,000 barrels of oil annually. Using chalupas, a boat not a sandwich, they harpooned the right whales and brought them ashore for processing. In the harbor on Saddle Island archeological digs are still in process. Many artifacts are on display in the local museum, including pieces of the wreckage of The San Juan, a whaling ship, found near the modern wreckage of the Bernier, caught in the same type of storms associated with the Labrador Coast. Many sites exist on the mainland, but have not been explored, because they are on private property. The Basque industry died around 1600, due to their involvement with the Spanish Armada.
At Red Bay, the paved road ends. A new gravel road leads to Cartwright, opening the coastal towns for tourism and commercial development. After traveling 40 or so km on the road, we parked for the night at one of the numerous gravel pits used for the construction of the roadbed.
Today we spent six hours driving the gravel road from Red Bay to Cartwright, a distance of 312 kilometers or 187 miles. The road is approximately ten yards wide and is very will groomed. The speed limit is 70 kph or 42 mph. All along the road are sweeping vistas of pine forest and mountains, something akin to driving the Northern Passage through the Adirondacks. Approximately 80 kilometers from Cartwright is the junction for the planned road to Goose Bay of an additional 250 kilometers.
Most of the towns along the route are bypassed by the new road. There are few services on the highway itself. In Lodge Bay, gas and sundry items are available at Mona's One Stop; no diesel. Diesel is available at Mary's Harbour at C & J's Automotive. St. Mary's is the embarkation point for Battle Harbour Island and National Historic District. Known as the "unofficial" capital of Labrador, Battle Harbour was a major base for salt cod fishing in Labrador during the 19th Century. The area looks pretty much like it did in 1909. The fishery continued until the 1990s and then was donated to the people. Until the advent of the highway this year the island was pretty inaccessible, except by boat. Today interpreters in traditional dress guide the tourist through a typical fishing village of the 19th and 20th centuries. Accommodations are available for overnight stays.
50 k. from Mary's Harbour is Port Hope Simpson on the beautiful Alexis River. Restaurants, sleeping accommodations, fuel and a hospital are available there. This is the last vestige of civilization for the next 187 k. There are very few places to turn off the highway to rest. Most people just park at the side of the road. Most of the traffic encountered were construction vehicles along a 50 k. stretch.
The roads in Cartwight are in complete contrast to the highway: rutted and corrugated. We parked with other trailers at the ticket office parking lot, located near the dock.
Spent a quiet day in Cartwright. We boarded the Sir Robert (not James) Bond Ferry at 4:30 for a 7:00 sailing. The ship was full to capacity, everyone returning home from vacation or making the best of a three day weekend before returning to school or work. The ship is far from luxurious. During the night many people, who did not have a broom closet size room, slept on the deck. The strangest thing about the ship is the food service. The cafeteria was open only until 6:30, ½ hour before sailing. Only snacks and the bar were open during the sailing itself. Wanted to see the Wunderstrand, a mile long white sand beach landmark for the Vikings, a two day journey from L'Anse aux Meadows. By the time we arrived at the coast and Porcupine Point, the sun had already set. After a fun night on board the ferry, we docked at Goose Bay-Happy Valley, NF. We woke up to a typical Labrador day: overcast, wet, and cool.
Our first stop was the Visitor's center, which was closed: only opened Mon-Fri. I guess the people forget that an influx of people comes off a boat every Saturday between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, who might like some information about the town. We had heard that RVs were allowed to park in the town hall parking lot. But we did not know where that was and our map did not show it. We decided to go to a Tim Horton's, think Dunkin' Donuts in the States, and get needed nourishment, a cup of Java, and some necessary directions. Having gotten both and some good advice from the locals who had been on the ship with us, we were headed out the door, when we heard exclaimed, "CHICAGO?" I was wearing my Chicago Heights Roadway Jacket. We turned around and met a couple from Chicago. He worked for Serco, weather forecasters at the air base. After spending some time in conversation, he asked us if we wanted a tour of the facilities. The Greek chorus roared out a resounding, "YES".
Goose Bay Airport was once one of the most significant military airbases in North America. The US built a mega-runway, long enough to land any aircraft and once employed 16,000 personnel as a SAC base until 1991. In the 1980s one of the space shuttles used the runway for a landing strip. We were escorted to the weather forecasting tower and given a cook's tour of the facilities. The facility is divided into three sections,: observation, military briefing, and forecasting. They are responsible for the weather observation and reporting of a 240 K diameter area, the size of New England minus Maine. We were unable to go up into the adjacent air tower. The RAF, British Royal Air Force, was planning to start low flying maneuvers in a few minutes. We had missed the take off of a US AWACS plane a couple hours ago. We went out on the deck and watched as Tornado fighter planes took off from the runway, afterburners on and a thunderous roar in their wake; a pretty exciting spectacle. Between take offs a RCMP jet landed and taxied in front of us. Other smaller commercial planes also shared the runway. In other words, Goose Bay is a vibrant living entity. Also using the facilities are the German Air Force (Luftwafte), and the Canada 5 Wing.
On base is a Canex, like a PX in the States. Anyone can shop here. What makes this place unique is the wide selection of food available for Labrador. Specialty items are flown in from Germany and Great Britain, giving the servicemen and women a feeling of home. The German club has a restaurant open to the local citizens, but is closed to them until after tourist season in mid September.
A sunny day in Labrador. We saw some hiking trails in a brochure for Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club. The trails are well groomed and go through different types of forest ecosystems. One aspen tree has the scars of where a bear tried climbing it. At the top of one of the hills, called Lookout Rock, we were able to have a scenic view of Lake Melville and the environs. Along the trail we saw fresh piles of black bear scat. We knew it was black bear, because of the preponderance of blueberries and crackerberries in it. There were enough of them to make jam. NOT!!!
We continued the drive to North West River and Sheshitiu further along Lake Melville about twenty-five miles down lake. The towns are separated by a river and a chasm of cultural differences. Sheshitiu is Innui and is a resettlement community of the hunter/gatherers from Northern Canada. They hold the land in common and have little concept of private possessions and permanency of residences. It is a town you travel through, but do not want to stay. Your possessions are assumed to be communal property and so are treated as thus. On the other side of the river live the Innuit and Metis. Surprisingly there is no restaurant in town, just a grocery store. What the town does have to offer are beautiful beaches and trails. There are also two important museums there: the Labrador Museum and the Labrador Interpretation Center.
The Labrador Museum is divided into four sections: hunters/gatherers lifestyle, Hudson Bay Trading Company, Grenfell's Medical Mission Work among the population, and the Hubbard Expedition of the Interior of 1903. We spent about one hour there looking at the exhibits.
The Labrador Interpretation Center was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. A modern building with artifacts thousands of years old from the different peoples settling Labrador. On display is a 100 year old sealskin kayak, which still looked pretty serviceable. The mannequins' models were real people from Labrador. The Center also has a large auditorium which shows two movies about the different sections of Labrador.
On the way home we dropped by the Aurora Hotel and picked up the satellite phone for our journey to Churchill Falls tomorrow. This is a free service, secured by a credit card, on a twenty-four hour basis, whereby you can contact the RCMP in case of an emergency.
Before leaving Goose Bay on our trek to Churchill Falls and beyond, we had heard about the art work at the Labrador Medical Center about one hundred yards from us. The people were right. The art work is beautiful. Diana Dabinett, an artist from St. John's did a series of painted silk hangings depicting different aspects of Labrador: birds, sea life, animals, and scenery. These are hanging in the cafeteria along with large oil painting of different scenes of Labrador: coastal, waterfalls, tree lined mountains. Along the corridors are folk sculptures done by the Innu and Innuit peoples. All of the signs in the hospital are written in three languages: English, Innu, and Innuit.
With satellite telephone in hand, off we went for the 180 mile adventure along the gravel road of Rte 500. The speed limit is 70 kph (42 mph). The road is well maintained but still rough. We saw two graders working on different parts of the road.. The views are of black spruce forests with aspens, birches, and other fir trees interspersed. The ground cover is primarily Caribou Moss; really a lichen. Near the East Metchin River is the ORMA Caribou Hunting Zone. Off to the side of the road you can see the remains of caribou, which have been killed for sport: hooves, bones, etc.
We reached Churchill Falls after six hours of driving. We averaged about thirty-five miles per hour. This included frequent rest stops. We did not want to race through the area, because of the presence of potholes, etc.
We went on a tour of the Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Underground Plant. This plant is the largest underground plant in the world, seventh largest electrical producer in the world, using eleven turbines to produce enough 60% of the electricity for Quebec Province and all of Labrador. We took an elevator over nine hundred feet into the bedrock, where the rock is over 3,000,000,000 (three billion) year old, some of the oldest rock in the world. I cannot fathom that number. The trip to Labrador is worth just taking this tour of the plant, an unknown wonder of the world. The reservoir of water used for the production is the size of the province of New Brunswick. It takes three days for the water to flow from it to reach the underground turbines.
The town itself is one of the few company towns still in existence. All of the housing and other facilities are owned and operated by the CFLCL, except the only gas station, and the hotel restaurant complex. The library for a town of only 650 people is quite extensive and is opened more than any library in Newfoundland Province, including St. John's. The town is a great place to work, but not retire. The winters are quite challenging: -40° F and up to fifteen feet of snow annually. Most people plan to stay only five years, but remain because they become enamoured with the North Country living. Most people purchase pickup trucks, snowmobiles (one per family member), canoes, motorboats, and other adult recreational toys. To get away from meeting the same people while working, shopping, praying, etc., they build a cabin out of town. Everything is subsidized by the company, including food (same prices as St. John's), housing, and freight transportation costs.
The tour guide mentioned about getting a sheet on the road conditions to Labrador City, which completely slipped our minds. We did remember to pick up the next satellite telephone, for which we are truly grateful. The road to Labrador City was an adventure. Some places you could go fifty mph, but then, almost immediately you hit a series of washboard road, which reduced your speed to less than fifteen mph. There are graders out to improve the road, but there is nothing to improve since most of the top layer has been already scraped off
We were very fortunate during our 160 mile trip. We only lost the cap to our sewer pipe connection and broke one wine glass. Everything was covered with a fine layer of dust. We wanted an adventure and our wish was fulfilled. We could still speak to each other fairly civilly--with a bit of effort.
We went touring Wabush and Labrador City, both towns were built in the late 60s and early 70s because of the iron deposits. First came the railroad from Sept-Iles, PQ. Later the road was built from Baie Comeau.
All of the mine tours ended the Friday before Labor Day. Once again we were a few days too late. We did see a couple of blasts. The Wabash mine set one off at 12:15. It was small. The ICC mine, however, set off a large one about an hour later.
Down the road is the Amour Lighthouse, the tallest one in Newfoundland Province. Even its presence has not stopped ships from the treacherous shores. In 1922, the HMS Raleigh, a 12,000 Ton cruiser, avoiding an iceberg, ran aground. Its wreckage is strewn on the shore. During WWII two ships collided in the dense fog in the straits, because there was a warning of a U-boat in the area. Ironically two other ships were lost in the straits that day too, but in a different area. The Strait of Belle Isle is not only an iceberg alley, but also a shipwreck alley.
Up the road at Red Bay archeologists are still uncovering the first industrial whaling factory in the world. Founded in the 1540s by the Basque fishermen, from the area between France and Spain, the whale oil was used to light up Europe. During its peak, over 2,500 whalers in Labrador, produced approximately 20,000 barrels of oil annually. Using chalupas, a boat not a sandwich, they harpooned the right whales and brought them ashore for processing. In the harbor on Saddle Island archeological digs are still in process. Many artifacts are on display in the local museum, including pieces of the wreckage of The San Juan, a whaling ship, found near the modern wreckage of the Bernier, caught in the same type of storms associated with the Labrador Coast. Many sites exist on the mainland, but have not been explored, because they are on private property. The Basque industry died around 1600, due to their involvement with the Spanish Armada.
At Red Bay, the paved road ends. A new gravel road leads to Cartwright, opening the coastal towns for tourism and commercial development. After traveling 40 or so km on the road, we parked for the night at one of the numerous gravel pits used for the construction of the roadbed.
Today we spent six hours driving the gravel road from Red Bay to Cartwright, a distance of 312 kilometers or 187 miles. The road is approximately ten yards wide and is very will groomed. The speed limit is 70 kph or 42 mph. All along the road are sweeping vistas of pine forest and mountains, something akin to driving the Northern Passage through the Adirondacks. Approximately 80 kilometers from Cartwright is the junction for the planned road to Goose Bay of an additional 250 kilometers.
Most of the towns along the route are bypassed by the new road. There are few services on the highway itself. In Lodge Bay, gas and sundry items are available at Mona's One Stop; no diesel. Diesel is available at Mary's Harbour at C & J's Automotive. St. Mary's is the embarkation point for Battle Harbour Island and National Historic District. Known as the "unofficial" capital of Labrador, Battle Harbour was a major base for salt cod fishing in Labrador during the 19th Century. The area looks pretty much like it did in 1909. The fishery continued until the 1990s and then was donated to the people. Until the advent of the highway this year the island was pretty inaccessible, except by boat. Today interpreters in traditional dress guide the tourist through a typical fishing village of the 19th and 20th centuries. Accommodations are available for overnight stays.
50 k. from Mary's Harbour is Port Hope Simpson on the beautiful Alexis River. Restaurants, sleeping accommodations, fuel and a hospital are available there. This is the last vestige of civilization for the next 187 k. There are very few places to turn off the highway to rest. Most people just park at the side of the road. Most of the traffic encountered were construction vehicles along a 50 k. stretch.
The roads in Cartwight are in complete contrast to the highway: rutted and corrugated. We parked with other trailers at the ticket office parking lot, located near the dock.
Spent a quiet day in Cartwright. We boarded the Sir Robert (not James) Bond Ferry at 4:30 for a 7:00 sailing. The ship was full to capacity, everyone returning home from vacation or making the best of a three day weekend before returning to school or work. The ship is far from luxurious. During the night many people, who did not have a broom closet size room, slept on the deck. The strangest thing about the ship is the food service. The cafeteria was open only until 6:30, ½ hour before sailing. Only snacks and the bar were open during the sailing itself. Wanted to see the Wunderstrand, a mile long white sand beach landmark for the Vikings, a two day journey from L'Anse aux Meadows. By the time we arrived at the coast and Porcupine Point, the sun had already set. After a fun night on board the ferry, we docked at Goose Bay-Happy Valley, NF. We woke up to a typical Labrador day: overcast, wet, and cool.
Our first stop was the Visitor's center, which was closed: only opened Mon-Fri. I guess the people forget that an influx of people comes off a boat every Saturday between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, who might like some information about the town. We had heard that RVs were allowed to park in the town hall parking lot. But we did not know where that was and our map did not show it. We decided to go to a Tim Horton's, think Dunkin' Donuts in the States, and get needed nourishment, a cup of Java, and some necessary directions. Having gotten both and some good advice from the locals who had been on the ship with us, we were headed out the door, when we heard exclaimed, "CHICAGO?" I was wearing my Chicago Heights Roadway Jacket. We turned around and met a couple from Chicago. He worked for Serco, weather forecasters at the air base. After spending some time in conversation, he asked us if we wanted a tour of the facilities. The Greek chorus roared out a resounding, "YES".
Goose Bay Airport was once one of the most significant military airbases in North America. The US built a mega-runway, long enough to land any aircraft and once employed 16,000 personnel as a SAC base until 1991. In the 1980s one of the space shuttles used the runway for a landing strip. We were escorted to the weather forecasting tower and given a cook's tour of the facilities. The facility is divided into three sections,: observation, military briefing, and forecasting. They are responsible for the weather observation and reporting of a 240 K diameter area, the size of New England minus Maine. We were unable to go up into the adjacent air tower. The RAF, British Royal Air Force, was planning to start low flying maneuvers in a few minutes. We had missed the take off of a US AWACS plane a couple hours ago. We went out on the deck and watched as Tornado fighter planes took off from the runway, afterburners on and a thunderous roar in their wake; a pretty exciting spectacle. Between take offs a RCMP jet landed and taxied in front of us. Other smaller commercial planes also shared the runway. In other words, Goose Bay is a vibrant living entity. Also using the facilities are the German Air Force (Luftwafte), and the Canada 5 Wing.
On base is a Canex, like a PX in the States. Anyone can shop here. What makes this place unique is the wide selection of food available for Labrador. Specialty items are flown in from Germany and Great Britain, giving the servicemen and women a feeling of home. The German club has a restaurant open to the local citizens, but is closed to them until after tourist season in mid September.
A sunny day in Labrador. We saw some hiking trails in a brochure for Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club. The trails are well groomed and go through different types of forest ecosystems. One aspen tree has the scars of where a bear tried climbing it. At the top of one of the hills, called Lookout Rock, we were able to have a scenic view of Lake Melville and the environs. Along the trail we saw fresh piles of black bear scat. We knew it was black bear, because of the preponderance of blueberries and crackerberries in it. There were enough of them to make jam. NOT!!!
We continued the drive to North West River and Sheshitiu further along Lake Melville about twenty-five miles down lake. The towns are separated by a river and a chasm of cultural differences. Sheshitiu is Innui and is a resettlement community of the hunter/gatherers from Northern Canada. They hold the land in common and have little concept of private possessions and permanency of residences. It is a town you travel through, but do not want to stay. Your possessions are assumed to be communal property and so are treated as thus. On the other side of the river live the Innuit and Metis. Surprisingly there is no restaurant in town, just a grocery store. What the town does have to offer are beautiful beaches and trails. There are also two important museums there: the Labrador Museum and the Labrador Interpretation Center.
The Labrador Museum is divided into four sections: hunters/gatherers lifestyle, Hudson Bay Trading Company, Grenfell's Medical Mission Work among the population, and the Hubbard Expedition of the Interior of 1903. We spent about one hour there looking at the exhibits.
The Labrador Interpretation Center was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. A modern building with artifacts thousands of years old from the different peoples settling Labrador. On display is a 100 year old sealskin kayak, which still looked pretty serviceable. The mannequins' models were real people from Labrador. The Center also has a large auditorium which shows two movies about the different sections of Labrador.
On the way home we dropped by the Aurora Hotel and picked up the satellite phone for our journey to Churchill Falls tomorrow. This is a free service, secured by a credit card, on a twenty-four hour basis, whereby you can contact the RCMP in case of an emergency.
Before leaving Goose Bay on our trek to Churchill Falls and beyond, we had heard about the art work at the Labrador Medical Center about one hundred yards from us. The people were right. The art work is beautiful. Diana Dabinett, an artist from St. John's did a series of painted silk hangings depicting different aspects of Labrador: birds, sea life, animals, and scenery. These are hanging in the cafeteria along with large oil painting of different scenes of Labrador: coastal, waterfalls, tree lined mountains. Along the corridors are folk sculptures done by the Innu and Innuit peoples. All of the signs in the hospital are written in three languages: English, Innu, and Innuit.
With satellite telephone in hand, off we went for the 180 mile adventure along the gravel road of Rte 500. The speed limit is 70 kph (42 mph). The road is well maintained but still rough. We saw two graders working on different parts of the road.. The views are of black spruce forests with aspens, birches, and other fir trees interspersed. The ground cover is primarily Caribou Moss; really a lichen. Near the East Metchin River is the ORMA Caribou Hunting Zone. Off to the side of the road you can see the remains of caribou, which have been killed for sport: hooves, bones, etc.
We reached Churchill Falls after six hours of driving. We averaged about thirty-five miles per hour. This included frequent rest stops. We did not want to race through the area, because of the presence of potholes, etc.
We went on a tour of the Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Underground Plant. This plant is the largest underground plant in the world, seventh largest electrical producer in the world, using eleven turbines to produce enough 60% of the electricity for Quebec Province and all of Labrador. We took an elevator over nine hundred feet into the bedrock, where the rock is over 3,000,000,000 (three billion) year old, some of the oldest rock in the world. I cannot fathom that number. The trip to Labrador is worth just taking this tour of the plant, an unknown wonder of the world. The reservoir of water used for the production is the size of the province of New Brunswick. It takes three days for the water to flow from it to reach the underground turbines.
The town itself is one of the few company towns still in existence. All of the housing and other facilities are owned and operated by the CFLCL, except the only gas station, and the hotel restaurant complex. The library for a town of only 650 people is quite extensive and is opened more than any library in Newfoundland Province, including St. John's. The town is a great place to work, but not retire. The winters are quite challenging: -40° F and up to fifteen feet of snow annually. Most people plan to stay only five years, but remain because they become enamoured with the North Country living. Most people purchase pickup trucks, snowmobiles (one per family member), canoes, motorboats, and other adult recreational toys. To get away from meeting the same people while working, shopping, praying, etc., they build a cabin out of town. Everything is subsidized by the company, including food (same prices as St. John's), housing, and freight transportation costs.
The tour guide mentioned about getting a sheet on the road conditions to Labrador City, which completely slipped our minds. We did remember to pick up the next satellite telephone, for which we are truly grateful. The road to Labrador City was an adventure. Some places you could go fifty mph, but then, almost immediately you hit a series of washboard road, which reduced your speed to less than fifteen mph. There are graders out to improve the road, but there is nothing to improve since most of the top layer has been already scraped off
We were very fortunate during our 160 mile trip. We only lost the cap to our sewer pipe connection and broke one wine glass. Everything was covered with a fine layer of dust. We wanted an adventure and our wish was fulfilled. We could still speak to each other fairly civilly--with a bit of effort.
We went touring Wabush and Labrador City, both towns were built in the late 60s and early 70s because of the iron deposits. First came the railroad from Sept-Iles, PQ. Later the road was built from Baie Comeau.
All of the mine tours ended the Friday before Labor Day. Once again we were a few days too late. We did see a couple of blasts. The Wabash mine set one off at 12:15. It was small. The ICC mine, however, set off a large one about an hour later.
India Hotels Booking Services
India is a greatest tourist attraction in the world due to Historical Monuments and Cities, Multi-cultural Tradition, beautiful art & architecture, variety of Hotels, absolutely stunning mountains, forts and palaces, heritage cultural life style, exotic beaches and many more. India is a vast country and one that hosts a variety of cultures and landscapes. The country can be divided into the North, South, East and West and each one of these regions nurture cultures that are unique to them. A great attraction and dream destination India explains about its architectural beauty, magnificent monument and forts, multi-cultural tradition which has been converted in new western life style giving a new meaning of diversified cultural theme of rising India. This is why tourist would prefer to India Tours. Tour to India is one of the famous tour options all the world.
India hotels have their own charm, which adds to the excitement of a stay here. Whatever the reason for your India visit -- for a vacation or for business -- you will always find the hotel and accommodation that matches your needs. TravelChacha offers tourists a wide range of hotel and accommodation facilities. Travelchacha has a lot of deluxe hotels, business hotels, luxury hotels, eco-friendly hotels and economy hotels to suit the traveling needs of all kinds of people. All of you think why we choose TravelChacha for Hotel Booking and Hotel Reservation? Now I give you the reason to choose TravelChacha - It's having largest networks of Hotels in India and abroad which helps you to providing all information about Hotels tour and travels in simplified way. It pay attention to all classes from executives to budget travelers, it has all varieties of hotels affordable to all. Booking Hotels with Travelchacha means you are tension free and be relaxed, just say only your budget and itineraries.
While you are on tours to India there is numerous accommodations option around the country where tourist can find hotels as per their choice. Some of Cheap hotels in India offer luxurious accommodation. There are also many budget hotels in India for small and low budget tourist.
Online Hotel Booking services in India via travelchacha.com fulfills all the needs of customers who use our travel portals to plan and execute their travel itinerary for business and leisure journey in India and provide them India Hotels as per their budget and choice tp journey across India.
All of this you can check at - http://www.travelchacha.com/hotels.asp
India hotels have their own charm, which adds to the excitement of a stay here. Whatever the reason for your India visit -- for a vacation or for business -- you will always find the hotel and accommodation that matches your needs. TravelChacha offers tourists a wide range of hotel and accommodation facilities. Travelchacha has a lot of deluxe hotels, business hotels, luxury hotels, eco-friendly hotels and economy hotels to suit the traveling needs of all kinds of people. All of you think why we choose TravelChacha for Hotel Booking and Hotel Reservation? Now I give you the reason to choose TravelChacha - It's having largest networks of Hotels in India and abroad which helps you to providing all information about Hotels tour and travels in simplified way. It pay attention to all classes from executives to budget travelers, it has all varieties of hotels affordable to all. Booking Hotels with Travelchacha means you are tension free and be relaxed, just say only your budget and itineraries.
While you are on tours to India there is numerous accommodations option around the country where tourist can find hotels as per their choice. Some of Cheap hotels in India offer luxurious accommodation. There are also many budget hotels in India for small and low budget tourist.
Online Hotel Booking services in India via travelchacha.com fulfills all the needs of customers who use our travel portals to plan and execute their travel itinerary for business and leisure journey in India and provide them India Hotels as per their budget and choice tp journey across India.
All of this you can check at - http://www.travelchacha.com/hotels.asp
Travel Tips to European Countries: Luxembourg
About the country
One of the Europe's smallest sovereign states is The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The north part of the country is blessed with greenery and hills. The Ardennes provides great scenic view. The country is small and all the tourist attractions are within reachable limits. It snows during the winters in Luxembourg, but isn't as cold as its neighboring countries and the summer is warm which comes in May and lasts till September. Incase of emergency dial 112 or 113.
Culture
Generally handshake is used to greet people. Although majority of the locals speak English, Letzeburgesch is the national language of Luxembourg. French and German is also spoken by many Luxembourgers. When appearing as a guest at someone's house, it is a good practice to bring along gift or flowers. People are expected to dress in smart casuals, but it would be best to turn up in formals when attending social functions, or clubs. It's not advised to smoke in public places.
Shopping
Crystals and porcelains of Villeroy and Boch are very famous and the earthenware pottery from Nospelt is a shopper's must have item from Luxembourg. VAT of 15% is applied to all items purchased other than that from campground, hotel, and restaurant, which charge 3%. Tipping is exempted.
Site Seeing
The capital, Luxembourg is a place to be. Stay for a day or tea to explore the city. Village of Viaden has a cliff top castle which is a famous landmark.
Taxis can be hired to move around the city. They charge 10% extra from 10 pm to 6 am and if hired on Sunday, an extra 25% extra will be charged if hired for the whole day. Accommodations
Luxembourg has many luxurious hotels, most of which are located in Lux City. Other options are guesthouses which are beautifully decorated with flower and plants.
Travel
The national airline which operates here is Luxair. There are flights from London to Luxembourg every hour. The Luxembourg airport is at a distance of 5km from the city and it takes about 20 minutes to reach there. There are provisions such as duty free shops, bank, tourism information and car hire for the passengers. Eurostar provides a fast railway service from London, Paris, Belgium, France or Brussels to Luxembourg. Bookings can be made via telephone and Ł5 fee is charged for telephonic booking. Check out for offers which are provided on some of the routes. To travel within the country, Inter-Rail pass can be bought which gives the offer of unlimited train travel for 29 countries of Europe.
When driving on road, it is recommended to take the train or ferry service when passing the channel between Dover and Calais. Check out for vacancy before hand especially during the rush hours. While driving, drivers should stay on the right side and there are strict rules for drinking while driving and seat belt.
Duty Free Items
1. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco 2. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of sparkling wine or 2liter of liqueur wine and 2liter of non-sparkling wine 3. 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette 4. 500g of coffee and 200g of coffee extract 5. 100g of tea and 40g of tea extract 6. Tobacco and Alcohol can be carried by visitors over 17 years of age only. http://knocker.ws/travel/
One of the Europe's smallest sovereign states is The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The north part of the country is blessed with greenery and hills. The Ardennes provides great scenic view. The country is small and all the tourist attractions are within reachable limits. It snows during the winters in Luxembourg, but isn't as cold as its neighboring countries and the summer is warm which comes in May and lasts till September. Incase of emergency dial 112 or 113.
Culture
Generally handshake is used to greet people. Although majority of the locals speak English, Letzeburgesch is the national language of Luxembourg. French and German is also spoken by many Luxembourgers. When appearing as a guest at someone's house, it is a good practice to bring along gift or flowers. People are expected to dress in smart casuals, but it would be best to turn up in formals when attending social functions, or clubs. It's not advised to smoke in public places.
Shopping
Crystals and porcelains of Villeroy and Boch are very famous and the earthenware pottery from Nospelt is a shopper's must have item from Luxembourg. VAT of 15% is applied to all items purchased other than that from campground, hotel, and restaurant, which charge 3%. Tipping is exempted.
Site Seeing
The capital, Luxembourg is a place to be. Stay for a day or tea to explore the city. Village of Viaden has a cliff top castle which is a famous landmark.
Taxis can be hired to move around the city. They charge 10% extra from 10 pm to 6 am and if hired on Sunday, an extra 25% extra will be charged if hired for the whole day. Accommodations
Luxembourg has many luxurious hotels, most of which are located in Lux City. Other options are guesthouses which are beautifully decorated with flower and plants.
Travel
The national airline which operates here is Luxair. There are flights from London to Luxembourg every hour. The Luxembourg airport is at a distance of 5km from the city and it takes about 20 minutes to reach there. There are provisions such as duty free shops, bank, tourism information and car hire for the passengers. Eurostar provides a fast railway service from London, Paris, Belgium, France or Brussels to Luxembourg. Bookings can be made via telephone and Ł5 fee is charged for telephonic booking. Check out for offers which are provided on some of the routes. To travel within the country, Inter-Rail pass can be bought which gives the offer of unlimited train travel for 29 countries of Europe.
When driving on road, it is recommended to take the train or ferry service when passing the channel between Dover and Calais. Check out for vacancy before hand especially during the rush hours. While driving, drivers should stay on the right side and there are strict rules for drinking while driving and seat belt.
Duty Free Items
1. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco 2. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of sparkling wine or 2liter of liqueur wine and 2liter of non-sparkling wine 3. 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette 4. 500g of coffee and 200g of coffee extract 5. 100g of tea and 40g of tea extract 6. Tobacco and Alcohol can be carried by visitors over 17 years of age only. http://knocker.ws/travel/
Travel And Tourism Information
This industry can only grow if governments realize its real economic and social value and create the necessary infrastructure to able to accommodate this development. Worldwide, Travel & Tourism is expected to grow at a level of 4.0 % per year over the next ten years, creating an opportunity for every country in the world to be part of this process and to share the benefits.
Tourism is vital for many cities due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services, such as airlines, cruise ships and taxis, hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels and resorts, and entertainment venues, such as amusement parks, casinos, shopping malls, the various music venues and the theater.
Despite the uncertainties in the global economy as a result of the economic crisis, travel demand are suffering strong slowdown beginning to hurt the travel industry. Worldwide travel falling at the peak of summer months and gas pricing spiking up domestically.Tourism vacationing once a popular global leisure activity has become a challenge with everyone tighten budgets.
The hard economic times has travel down and tourism industry looking for ways to get would be traveler to start making travel arrangement to pump up there sagging sales performance.
There are many good deals available because it would be better for air fare and hotel to discount prices to fill seats and beds than to leave them vacant.
As one of the industries which generates the most employment, Travel & Tourism needs the complete understanding and support of governments and international organizations in order to realize its full potential, for the benefit of all.
If you have not started to make your plan you are already late. You can save your trip from any snag with a little planning and finding the package that will fit your budget and give you the most pleasure for the time that you will be spending in the location.
Answering a few question about where you are going...what you wantto do? What do you like to do? Where to go to get the most out of your travel leisure time? Make your pre-planned travel itineraries.
Now with the internet providing all the data wanted you can locate destination. Visit one of the U.S. states or visit them all. You'll see that the U.S. offers some of the most diverse destinations in the world. These state and territorial tourism web sites provide ideas for your vacations, meetings, and more that will provide the entertainment that will leave you and your families with many fond memories.
Retailers are making gift certificate available to consumers to help give families the incentive to take there vacation, by offering discount gas card to travel certificates, air fares to hotel room. Visit the site to see what are available to help you make your plans a pleasant surprise..http://theminiurl.com/fj69
Tourism is vital for many cities due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services, such as airlines, cruise ships and taxis, hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels and resorts, and entertainment venues, such as amusement parks, casinos, shopping malls, the various music venues and the theater.
Despite the uncertainties in the global economy as a result of the economic crisis, travel demand are suffering strong slowdown beginning to hurt the travel industry. Worldwide travel falling at the peak of summer months and gas pricing spiking up domestically.Tourism vacationing once a popular global leisure activity has become a challenge with everyone tighten budgets.
The hard economic times has travel down and tourism industry looking for ways to get would be traveler to start making travel arrangement to pump up there sagging sales performance.
There are many good deals available because it would be better for air fare and hotel to discount prices to fill seats and beds than to leave them vacant.
As one of the industries which generates the most employment, Travel & Tourism needs the complete understanding and support of governments and international organizations in order to realize its full potential, for the benefit of all.
If you have not started to make your plan you are already late. You can save your trip from any snag with a little planning and finding the package that will fit your budget and give you the most pleasure for the time that you will be spending in the location.
Answering a few question about where you are going...what you wantto do? What do you like to do? Where to go to get the most out of your travel leisure time? Make your pre-planned travel itineraries.
Now with the internet providing all the data wanted you can locate destination. Visit one of the U.S. states or visit them all. You'll see that the U.S. offers some of the most diverse destinations in the world. These state and territorial tourism web sites provide ideas for your vacations, meetings, and more that will provide the entertainment that will leave you and your families with many fond memories.
Retailers are making gift certificate available to consumers to help give families the incentive to take there vacation, by offering discount gas card to travel certificates, air fares to hotel room. Visit the site to see what are available to help you make your plans a pleasant surprise..http://theminiurl.com/fj69
Excellent Travel Deals in Today's Economy
Hear what experts say about what a great time this is to benefit from the many travel bargains out there. Like taking advantage of a beaten real estate market, if you have discretionary cash to spend on an exotic vacation, travel opportunities are everywhere. Vendors are hurting and want your business. If you have wanted to take that dream vacation now is the best time.
The travel industry has been hurting for a while and prices are being slashed to attract travelers. Places like Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean are offering heavily discounted travel packages and many new resorts have come on line. New resorts have sprung up in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Occupancy rates have been low with a large supply of hotel rooms.
If these resorts can cover their cost of having a guest stay in an otherwise empty room, the resort will profit from the money you spend at the bar, the restaurants, the spa and other activities. Last-minute travel deals are a win-win situation. The resort fills an empty room and makes money, and you the traveler get a great deal.
Peter B. Diaz, President and CEO of VoyageMonkey.com Online Travel says "Not only are we seeing deep discounted last-minute travel deals but longer term reservations booked well in advanced are seeing magnificent savings. The cruise industry is offering some of the best value vacation bargains we have seen in a long time. In recent years you have had many mega-cruise ships built. The law of supply and demand coupled with the recent economy has forced the cruise lines to compete heavily on price. It's very easy in today's market to cruise for under $100 per day per person."
Look at places like Maui Hawaii that rely heavily on tourism, occupancy rates have been low and their local economy has felt the pinch. Not only are the Maui resorts offering great deals, but the local businesses are competing for your dollars with benefits such as two for one drinks, early bird dinner specials and dining coupons. Starwood Resorts has regular specials on some of their Kaanapali Maui properties which include The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, The Sheraton Resort at Black Rock and the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas. These are all four star resorts of the beach offering luxury accommodations and plenty of amenities.
Cabo San Lucas Mexico is also seeing some deep discounted travel specials. Suffering from bad press about Mexico drug gang crimes and the swine flu, Cabo is desperately trying to fill vacancies. Remember that Cabo is very isolated from mainland Mexico and what goes on there. Peak season luxury beach resort hotel rooms are easily available from between $100 to $200 per night. There are regular daily flights to Cabo from many major US cities. There have also been some heavily discounted travel deals to Cancun Mexico & the Mayan Riviera as well as many other Mexican resort destinations. Bad media press about Mexico is often good news for the fearless traveler.
You may not see a better time to take a luxury vacation and go someplace special. If you can afford it, make the commitment and take time off to travel like a king. You may not see an opportunity like this in a long time. It's time to search your favorite travel website or call your travel agent.
The travel industry has been hurting for a while and prices are being slashed to attract travelers. Places like Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean are offering heavily discounted travel packages and many new resorts have come on line. New resorts have sprung up in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Occupancy rates have been low with a large supply of hotel rooms.
If these resorts can cover their cost of having a guest stay in an otherwise empty room, the resort will profit from the money you spend at the bar, the restaurants, the spa and other activities. Last-minute travel deals are a win-win situation. The resort fills an empty room and makes money, and you the traveler get a great deal.
Peter B. Diaz, President and CEO of VoyageMonkey.com Online Travel says "Not only are we seeing deep discounted last-minute travel deals but longer term reservations booked well in advanced are seeing magnificent savings. The cruise industry is offering some of the best value vacation bargains we have seen in a long time. In recent years you have had many mega-cruise ships built. The law of supply and demand coupled with the recent economy has forced the cruise lines to compete heavily on price. It's very easy in today's market to cruise for under $100 per day per person."
Look at places like Maui Hawaii that rely heavily on tourism, occupancy rates have been low and their local economy has felt the pinch. Not only are the Maui resorts offering great deals, but the local businesses are competing for your dollars with benefits such as two for one drinks, early bird dinner specials and dining coupons. Starwood Resorts has regular specials on some of their Kaanapali Maui properties which include The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, The Sheraton Resort at Black Rock and the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas. These are all four star resorts of the beach offering luxury accommodations and plenty of amenities.
Cabo San Lucas Mexico is also seeing some deep discounted travel specials. Suffering from bad press about Mexico drug gang crimes and the swine flu, Cabo is desperately trying to fill vacancies. Remember that Cabo is very isolated from mainland Mexico and what goes on there. Peak season luxury beach resort hotel rooms are easily available from between $100 to $200 per night. There are regular daily flights to Cabo from many major US cities. There have also been some heavily discounted travel deals to Cancun Mexico & the Mayan Riviera as well as many other Mexican resort destinations. Bad media press about Mexico is often good news for the fearless traveler.
You may not see a better time to take a luxury vacation and go someplace special. If you can afford it, make the commitment and take time off to travel like a king. You may not see an opportunity like this in a long time. It's time to search your favorite travel website or call your travel agent.
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