Posts Tagged ‘Vacationing’

Are you planning to go camping this summer to save money on vacationing?

I was watching CNN which did a report on people in Wisconsin.. but by the way they made it sound, its like a national thing.. =O Are you going camping this summer because you can’t afford a regular vacation due to the recession?

Vacationing in the Caribbean

The name Caribbean is almost synonymous with Sea, Sun and Sand. Magnificent beaches abound ranging from dazzling white sand, to pink sand to rich golden brown sand through to beautiful black sand beaches. These beaches seem to call you to dive into the sparkling blue water and then relax on the beach soaking in the sun and admiring the beauty of the scene. For those who want more activity at the beach than reclining on a lounge chair sipping a cold drink, Caribbean vacations offer a range of beach activities. On almost every island you can find jet skis, ocean kayaks, parasailing, surfing, wind surfing, kite boarding, water skis and banana boat rides at the major beaches.

The opportunity to go surfing is a key element in deciding on a vacation locale for a growing number of people and Barbados is the surfing paradise of the Caribbean. The island’s location far out in the Atlantic Ocean allows waves to travel thousands of kilometers across the sea before finally unleashing their power over Barbados’ coral reefs. Barbados receives waves to surf from all directions thus providing for unlimited surfing conditions all over. The number one surfing location in Barbados is the internationally recognised Soup Bowl in Bathsheba. All over the island however there are beaches suited to surfing, from Brandons Beach near Bridgetown to Accra Beach. South Point Beach has a fairly powerful and clean wave while the shorebreak at Inchcape on Silver Sands Beach seems to break 365 days a year. For those who do not know how to surf but want to learn while on vacation, Barbados has many surfing shops to provide instruction.

The Dominican Republic is known as the kiteboarding capital of the world and for the past four years the Kiteboarding World Cup has been held in the Dominican Republic town of Cabarete. Along this region of the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, nature has created the perfect blend of wind, water and waves to generate incomparable kiteboarding and windsurfing conditions. In June of every year, Windsurfers also flock to Cabarete for the annual World Cup Windsurfing Competition.

As fun-filled as Caribbean beaches are, today there is much more to a Caribbean vacation than activities at the beach and these activities are both beyond and behind the beach. As you move beyond the beach there is a range of activities including Deep-sea Fishing, Dolphin/Whale Watching and Diving.

Fishing is a recreational pastime on every Caribbean island and throughout the Caribbean certain pelagic game fish can be found with some of the more sought after species being sailfish, marlin, tuna and wahoo. As these species are migratory fish they are more abundant at certain times of the year on each island but there are other species that can usually be found year round at different islands. The game fishing off the waters of Tobago is a sport angler´s dream with some of the world´s most exciting game fish, including blue marlin, white marlin, swordfish, wahoo, tuna, barracuda, dolphin (mahi-mahi) and shark. Jamaica’s northern waters are also well-known for deep-sea and sport fishing. Anglers can hook a large number of fish, including mahi mahi, wahoo, blue and white marlin, sailfish, tarpon, barracuda, and bonito.

Visitors can now go whale and dolphin watching in a number of Caribbean countries including: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines. In fact, there are an amazing thirty species of whales and dolphins in the Caribbean. The most frequently spotted species include humpback and sperm whales, and bottlenose, spotted and spinner dolphins. Whale watching vessels are usually medium to small-sized vessels carrying less than 75 people, which offer an excellent opportunity to get a great view of the whales. While each of these islands offers whale watcing, the activity has developed in Dominica to the point where Dominica has become known as the “Whale Watching Capital of the Caribbean.” The island boasts a 90% success rate in spotting whales or dolphins during a whale watching excursion. The island offers excellent year round whale watching opportunities including spectacular sperm whale mother-calf pairs, whose spouts can sometimes even be seen from shore.

Those sparkling blue waters that provide so much enjoyment topside also provide a world of adventure below its surface. The Caribbean is one of the top regions for scuba diving and snorkeling with breathtaking marine life. The Cayman Islands are one of the premier areas in the world for diving with crystal clear turquoise waters that run deep with wondrous walls, shallow coral reefs, new and old wrecks and some of the most dynamic marine life. Tobago is another island that offers a myriad of diving opportunities for both the new and experienced diver plus the holiday snorkeler. Home of the elusive manta rays and the Caribbean’s largest brain coral, Tobago is a year round scuba diving destination.

Behind the beach on each Caribbean island there is also a range of vacation activities that can include hiking, bird watching, river tubing, visiting natural attractions, history tours and enjoying a vibrant nightlife.

The natural landscape with abundant rain forests makes hiking a popular vacation activity in the Caribbean and Trinidad has a range of hiking opportunities with hikes varying in difficulty from 1 to 8. There are tour guides for those who want guided tours and almost every weekend hiking groups visit various natural attractions. The 32-kilometer trail from Blanchisseuse to Matelot on Trinidad’s north coast is considered a jewel. Along the hike one alternates from unspoiled rainforest to untouched beaches. The trail rambles over a succession of small ridges, crossing several small streams and passing through abandoned estate lands with cocoa, coffee, tonka bean, nutmeg and papaya (pawpaw).

Dominica, lying in the Eastern Caribbean between Martinique and Guadeloupe, calls itself the Nature Island and rightfully so. Its landscape is covered with lush untouched natural rain forest. Within those forests are tall cascading waterfalls, hidden fern grottoes, mountain lakes, boiling lakes, hot springs and mysterious regions of volcanic activity. All these natural wonders within a 29 mile by 16 mile island that has almost 300 miles of footpaths, so that in almost every part of the country, trails weave their way into gorges and across valleys, climbing up to 4,000 foot mountains, creating a hiker´s paradise. In Dominica, there are trails for every level of hiker, varying from easy 30-minute walks to more moderate 45 minute to 2-hour hikes to strenuous 6-hour treks. All of these in a land that seems to bear fruit everywhere, so that all over you see oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, bananas, papayas, guavas, star fruit, breadfruit, passion fruit.

The natural landscape of the Caribbean also allows bird watching to be another popular year round vacation activity. Trinidad and Tobago has some of the most diverse bird species to be found in one location with over 460 species in a combined land area of 1,868 square miles. Asa Wright Nature Center, is Trinidad and Tobago´s premier birding location and it has been widely recognized as one of the most successful eco-tourism stories in the world. Asa Wright, with a listing of 159 bird species, is a 270-acre conservatory, located on a former cocoa-coffee-citrus plantation partly reclaimed by secondary forest and largely surrounded by impressive rainforest. The center has several cottages that are available for rent and one can choose to spend a night, a weekend or even longer. There are numerous trails throughout the property and very knowledgeable guides. Two of the highlights are the short walk to the manakin leks to see these beautiful little birds dance to attract a mate and to see and hear the Bearded Bellbird. Another special attraction of the Asa Wright Nature Centre, is a breeding colony of the nocturnal Oilbird, or Guacharo (Steatornis caripensis). Located in Dunston Cave, this is the only known easily accessible colony of this species. These visits must however generally be booked in advance as the number of visits and visitors is limited.

Wet, wild and wonderful are the words that describe yet another popular outdoor Caribbean vacation activity; River Tubing. On Grenada’s Balthazar River, Dominica´s Layou River, Jamaica´s White River or Great River you can spin and swirl in large modified tubes as the river currents take you on a thrilling ride down river. Along the way you can enjoy the scenery of natural untouched rain forest and at the end of your ride you can swim in the river´s natural pools.

Nature has blessed the Caribbean in innumerable ways and provided it with a host of natural attractions. On the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands is a national park known as The Baths. Here giant granite boulders are scattered about a beach lapped by the blue Caribbean Sea. Standing almost 50 feet tall, these massive boulders form a series of grottoes in which to play and explore. Within this seaside labyrinth are many placid pools that create a truly romantic locale.

St. Lucia boasts of one of the most unique Caribbean natural attractions with what is probably the world´s only drive-in volcano. Located at La Soufriere you can drive your car to the semi-active volcano and then take a guided tour. The five acre wide hissing crater is a red, blue and green tinged landscape, which has 24 steaming vents that hint at deposits of iron, copper oxide, magnesium and others minerals bubbling to the surface. The entire area gives a fascinating picture of what the earth must have looked like 400,000 years ago when the dome of molten lava collapsed.

The bioluminescent bay found at Puerto Mosquito (Mosquito Bay) located on the southern shore of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico has to be rated as one of the things you must see before you die. A trip into the bay on a balmy night is a magical experience because when the calm waters around the bay are disturbed, the microscopic organisms in the bay emit a blue-green light and so swimming or kayaking in the bay is like floating among the stars. The 2008 Guinness Book of World Records has officially declared this magical bioluminescent bay the brightest recorded in the world.

The Caribbean was considered desirable property in the 17th and 18th century, which led to numerous battles between France, England, Spain and Holland and many islands changing ownership several times. The need to protect these islands resulted in numerous fortifications, while the change of ownership led to varying architectural styles. Many of these historic sites are well preserved and provide interesting glimpses of the past. Two of these sites are Brimstone Hill in St Kitts and the Garrison Historic District in Barbados.

The Brimstone Hill Fortress has been converted to a National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of historical, cultural and architectural significance. The fortress is considered one of the best preserved historical fortifications in the Americas. It has been described as “a monument to the ingenuity of the British military engineers who designed it and to the skill, strength and endurance of the African slaves who built and maintained it”. Tours of Brimstone Hill are conducted daily, and highlights include the hospital, ammunition stores, artillery officer’s quarters, the Prince of Wales Bastion, and the Citadel of Fort George. In addition to learning about the historical significance of the fort, a visit affords one the opportunity to enjoy attractive panoramic vistas of forested mountains, cultivated fields, the historical township of Sandy Point, and the neighboring islands of Nevis, Montserrat, Saba, St. Martin and St. Barts.

The Garrison Historic Area in Barbados surrounds the Garrison Savannah, which is the center of much of the sporting and recreational activity in Barbados. The Savannah however is a historic location for much more than sport. The historical significance of the Garrison Savannah goes back to 1650 when Charles Fort was erected in the area and then in 1705, St. Ann´s Fort was added. This area developed into a military complex and being the site of a military complex, numerous buildings were constructed from the 1660´s to the 1800´s. These buildings today give the Garrison area much of its historical and architectural interest. On any walk around the Garrison area you cannot miss seeing the numerous cannons that are located in the area. These form part of the Barbados National Cannon Collection, which constitutes the largest cluster of 17th Century English cannons in the world. One of the prominent buildings in this area is the Main Guard building facing the racetrack. This elegant Georgian building from 1802 with its handsome clock tower and wide verandah is now an information centre and houses exhibits about the West Indian Regiment. As you continue around the Savannah there are numerous 17th- to 19th-century military buildings constructed from brick brought as ballast on ships from England and also several memorials. Another significant building in this area is the Barbados Museum, which is housed in a compound that was formerly a military prison, and centered around a large airy courtyard with trees and flowering shrubs.

When night falls your activities do not end as the Caribbean has an array of bars, clubs and world class restaurants. For true local flavor however, the weekly street parties are unmatched. On the island of St Lucia the fishing village of Gros Islet transforms itself every Friday night into a colorful carnival scene, featuring soca and reggae music and a “jump up” (dancing in the streets). The Fish Fry on Friday´s in Grenada´s village of Gouyave provides you the opportunity to sample an array of freshly caught local seafood to the backdrop of calypso rhythms. Not to be outdone the Sunday School in Tobago´s Buccoo Village held every Sunday night allows you to dance to the music of the steelband while looking out on the fishing boats gently rocking in the bay.

With so much to do on a Caribbean Vacation, your only difficulty is to choose an island.

Vacationing to a Better Lifestyle

After a long week at work you need to get away from the everyday stresses of life. When you get home the kids are running around, the laundry needs to be done, and you need time to prepare for next week’s board meeting. You wonder, when will it all stop and when will you have a minute just to sit down and relax, maybe read a book or a magazine. The answer could be right in front of your eyes. Take a vacation! Get the family together for some much needed quality bonding time, finally get away from the office, and have some fun! Vacations even help improve life expectancy, relieve stress, and maybe even revamp a relationship told by various studies (Life Clever, 2008). Choose a place that is nice and quite, not to big that there are tons of tourists, but not to small where there is nothing to do. How about Aruba, that’s my first pick, just like the other one million visitors that Aruba attracts over a span of a year, which over ninety percent are American.

With the sun shining and the trees lightly swaying in the wind, you look around and wonder what you will be doing for your week vacation in paradise. Aruba, known as one happy island, has become increasingly more popular as the years progress. “The sand is softer, the water is warmer, and overall hospitality just rocks” exclaimed one of Aruba’s returning American vacationers (Government of Aruba, 2008). This small island measures nineteen miles long and is about the size of Washington D.C., but has tons to offer for the entire family. With various water sports, five star restaurants, and shopping to die for, Aruba is the place to be. When I was last visiting Aruba, my family and I rented a car for the day and went from one side of the island to the other. As I looked around I saw the distinct difference from the “vacationers” side of the island to the side were the actual Arubans live. There is such a difference it is unbelievable. The vacationers side looks luxurious and beautiful, with its fancy hotels and extravagant beaches, but the other side looks dull and some parts even looked like the shacks you would see in Mexico. It is interesting to learn that although Aruba looks like the ultimate vacation spot, it puts most of its money into its hotels and resorts rather than is civilians. Fortunately for Aruba, most vacationers only see the luxurious side of the island, and that is why they keep wanting to go back for more.

Knowing a little about where you are going to be traveling and how it can potentially better you lifestyle is always a good idea. Some interesting facts about the wonderful island of Aruba is that it was originally founded by the Caquetios Indians, but is now a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Divided into eight different regions, the proud Arubans speak the native tongue, Papiamento which is a mixed language of  Spanish, Dutch, Portages, African, and Native American. The population is around one hundred thousand from sources of (The US Government, 2007). Aruba built up its population by people migrating to Aruba for its gold rush in the nineteenth century, its oil boom in the twentieth century, and most recently, its significant increase with tourism. With an average temperature of eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit, come ready with your sun tan lotion because Aruba is only twelve miles south of the equator and has very strong sun rays between eleven am and three pm. Staying in Aruba will not only allow you to relax and get a nice tan, but expand your diversity and better your understanding of other cultures. I believe that this is especially important to Americans. More and more families don’t just want a vacation that you lay on the beach, they want and educational trip for their children as well.

Another aspect that is important to potential travelers is the cost of airfare to Aruba. The cost of airfare varies from the time of year departing and the destination you will be leaving from, for example I decided to choose a vacation in June departing from New York City on Jet Blue airlines; this airfare will come to about two hundred and fifty dollars a person, which isn’t bad considering a round trip to California at this time can cost nearly four hundred dollars. This affordable vacation won’t leave you penniless and will reduce the stresses and worrying you will have to do because of the increasing gas prices or the problems the economy is having in America.

The next thing you might want to know about before planning your ideal vacation is what you can do once you get there. For the family you can take a look at a little of Aruba’s history. Rent a car for the day and travel a couple miles up the road to Aruba’s one and only lighthouse. There you can relax and watch the sun set while enjoying a great dinner at its new restaurant. Also, you can take a semi- submarine tour to see a sunken ship surrounded by coral and tropical fish. You can also visit Aruba’s natural bridge, located more on the local’s side of the island, that consists of an old rock formation that has been worn away by the waves and has become a bridge made of rocks and sea shells. If you are more into the fun in the sun activities, you can go snorkeling, banana boating, parasailing, tubing, or rent a jet ski, along with many other water activities. If you’re vacationing as a couple or feel like leaving the kids at a kid’s club at your resort and need some time alone, many men enjoy the beautiful golf courses located through out the island while the women are off shopping either in town to get dainty souvenirs or through more of the “back streets” were some of the finest jewelry can be found. Also, adults can enjoy the casinos, clubs, and “booze cruises” that Aruba has to offer. Having something fun to do while being on vacation is very important to American travelers. As you can see from the graph below taken from a 2007 article in the Denver post, Americans have the least amount of paid holiday and personal vacations. This increases stress levels and leaves anxiety to build up over time. Because of this, when Americans do receive the chance to take a vacation they want to get away from every day stresses and be able to relax and just have fun.

Being comfortable on vacation is always a pleasant thing. Aruba has been known as one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. With close to no crime you can always feel safe while you and your children are running around playing on the sandy beaches. Known for always having a smile on their faces, Arubans are very hospitable and that is why Aruba is known as “One Happy Island.” This is also one of the many reasons that Americans decide to go to Aruba for vacation. When at home many get sick of always having to deal with crabby hospitality. In Aruba you seem happy, you are relaxed because you are on vacation, and you can just enjoy your time. This is why Aruba is my number one choice of vacation. While there, there is such a warm feeling around. You always have the aspect of people being nice and friendly to you. Since I always stay towards the tourist part of the island I know that I will be in good hands.

Americans in today’s society are traveling to the Caribbean islands more than any other countries population. In 2003 over two hundred and seventy million Americans summer vacations were taken, and the numbers seem to be continuing to increase despite the down fall in our economy. Many have chosen to travel to Aruba. Being a quiet getaway, many see this as the perfect place to go for a nice relaxing and some what affordable vacation. Unfortunately many Americans believe that steering away from vacationing out of the states will help them in the long run, whether financially or otherwise, but it is a proven fact that vacationing can increase your life expectancy up to twenty percent as State University of New York showed (Life Better, 2007). This is because of the reduced stressed levels that help lower your nerves and let you age more slowly. I think that every American should take at least one vacation a year. Every one deserves a little time off, even if you cant go all the way to Aruba take a day trip to the beach or a nice hike in the mountains. Every little bit will help!

Aruba is the place to go for that dream vacation you have been wishing for for years. With the perfect beaches and a breeze in the air why wouldn’t you want to go there? Low rates, superb shopping, and excellent hospitality is what keeps travelers always coming back for more. It will lower your stress level and you may even live a couple extra years. I’ve been to Aruba over a handful of times, and every time is more enjoyable than the last. From hanging out on the beach with my family to hitting the shops and incredible night life with my friends I can’t wait to plan my next vacation to Aruba, and you should strongly consider it as well. Take a break and plan your summer vacation, who knows you may find that it is something you want to do every year!

References

US Government (2007). Background Note Aruba. January 27, 2008.       http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/22491.htm

Government of Aruba (2008). Aruba. January 27, 2008. http://aruba.com/

Lakeside Design (2006). Bob Bini. January 27, 2008. http://arubatourism.com/

Central Intelligence Agency (2008). The World Fact Book. January 27, 2008.       https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/aa.html

New York Times Company (2008). Renaissance Resort and Casino. January 27, 2008. http://hotels.about.com/od/aruba/Aruba.htm

Life Better (2007). 7Great Benefits of Taking a Vacation, and how to do it. March 3, 2008. http://www.lifeclever.com/7-great-benefits-of-taking-a-vacation-and-    how-to-do-it/

Zach Fox (2007). Americans Vacationing Less. April 14, 2008.        http://www.denverpost.com/portal/ci_6440399?source=rss&_loopback=1