Feb 02

Author : Anna StenningIf you were able to holiday anywhere in the world, purely for relaxation where would you choose? Personally I have always dreamed of lounging in a hammock, on a soft white sandy beach, with crystal clear waters merely inches from my dangling toes, sunning myself under a pure blue sky which melts away into the horizon and kisses the sea below Time to wake up!

The Caribbean has become an increasingly popular destination for weddings, couples can make all the necessary arrangements for their special day via the internet, their wedding then doubles as their honeymoon providing the perfect luxury holiday of a lifetime which will be remembered forever An added benefit of holding your wedding ceremony at a hotel in Caribbean is the advantage of not having to book two venues, often this saves money in the long run, with the addition that many hotels will actually upgrade bookings or provide some sort of wedding package

Barbados is just one of these destinations; many Barbados hotels provide the luxury accommodation for just such an occasion, as well as wedding planning services, not to mention the idyllic beach location
It is wise to look around at all the offers available, the internet will give you a good idea of comparisons, some Barbados hotels will offer both wedding packages and honeymoon packages which can be combined depending on availability, and whether you are using the facilities at the hotel you stay at

Some wedding packages will include wedding flowers and button holes, delicately decorated wedding arches on the beach for the ceremony, overlooking turquoise Caribbean waters Personalised services may include your own wedding coordinator to oversee the smooth running of your wedding and every minute detail

Another aspect to look at is whether the charges are inclusive of wedding and legal fees, VAT and service charges Inquire as to whether there are hidden charges so they won’t come as an unwanted surprise

There often are pleasant surprises provided too, upgrades as spoken about previously, complimentary champagne, complimentary breakfast and dining, flower petals in the bedroom, you may even be lucky enough to be given a discount voucher for a future holiday

Barbados Hotels really do provide the setting for the dream wedding, although it would be a good idea to also find about reception facilities, most hotels will have reception facilities but what happens if they are previously booked? If you are planning to take a wedding party with you and would like to celebrate in style there may be opportunity to hire a marquee for the beach adjacent to the hotel where you are staying, music and cuisine can be sourced locally or provided by the hotel

Additional services which needing to be pre-booked will be photographers or someone to video your special day, after all your wedding is not only about the day but the memories it creates Pre orders for wedding cakes will have to be placed, sometimes a wedding coordinator can do this for you, but the fee will be separate to the wedding package

Possibly the best thing about booking a Barbados hotel for your wedding is the fact that the weather is going to be fine all year round, you are almost guaranteed sunshine on your special day and for your following honeymoon There is also so much to do whilst holidaying in Barbados, water sports, sightseeing, historical and cultural places to visit or simply just relaxing and unwinding to the sound of the waves lapping the shore Anna Stenning looks at the advantages of having a luxury Caribbean wedding at a Barbados hotel, and how booking wedding packages can improve planning.

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Feb 02

Author : Roger MunnsWhile a recession takes hold worldwide, it seems people are not holed up inside their homes In fact, despite the recession in Europe and elsewhere, people are spending money on foreign holidays People may be forgoing other luxuries, but vacations are not one of them for the most part

Travelers from Britain, Germany and Scandinavia are indulging in their desires to get away from grey, mood-sapping, dreary winters Increasingly they are heading for Tenerife in the Canary Islands

Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands and has the biggest population of this island group Tenerife has an area of 2 057 square kilometers It sits 200 miles off the west coast of Northwest Africa

A Spanish archipelago, the Canary Islands is a popular family winter destination Tenerife offers a relaxing beach getaway, the perfect remedy to the winter doldrums of central and northern Europe

Tenerife has lush forests, beautiful and exotic flora and fauna as well as mountains The island also has deserts, volcanoes and gorgeous coastlines

Tenerife is a year-round destination The high season for the island is December to February Airfares are attractive in November through the first half of December

During high season, you can find travel deals to the island, but you have to shop around You can try the last-minute option if you have the freedom to just pick up and go With the exception of Easter time, travelers traditionally find lower airfares from March to May as well

With the current economic situation travel agencies, resorts, hotels and airlines will be jostling for every tourist dollar available These enterprises will be looking to hold onto their market shares There are deals to be had if you’re patient and comparison-shop

While northern Europeans look for warm destinations, their American and Canadian counterparts are doing the same A popular winter destination for travelers from both countries is Florida This state offers their fellow Americans and visiting Canadians beautiful coastlines and beaches They also offer them familiar North American food and accommodations

With resorts, hotels and airlines trying to make their way through the recession in North America, price-cutting is occurring Travelers who are budget conscious will find attractive packages here too, if they shop around

Along with Florida, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica traditionally have good pricing for travelers For Canadians, Cuba promises an inexpensive tropical respite during the winter months

Why are Europeans and North Americans not foregoing fun in the sun during these recessionary times? The reason may be the emotional, mental and physical boost that the sun and warm climates give us They soothe us, invigorate us and put those at ease smiles on our faces

It’s a fact that there are benefits to getting the proper amount of sunshine Combine that with fresh ocean breezes and warm waters and you have a recipe for restoration of the body, mind and spirit That’s why warm weather vacations are so popular That’s also why it takes more than tough economic times to stop people from traveling

Research shows that getting a daily dose of sunshine may lessen cancer risks Sunshine in the appropriate doses may also help the immune system fight infections Some researchers believe that daily does of sunshine and a vitamin D supplement are beneficial

Mentally and emotionally, feeling better in the sun contributes to feeling better physically Some of those aches and pains just seem to go away

The skin produces vitamin D when we spend time outside in the sun However, it’s estimated a billion people worldwide are deficient in the vitamin The sun and supplements can help but the key is not overdoing sun exposure Small daily does are sufficient

Travelers from northern climates worldwide will continue to take those foreign holidays Many will not let a recession put a crimp in their vacation plans

For many, a holiday is essential; many other things are not During these recessionary times, they’ll cut a host of other things, except holidays in warm sunny places Holiday information for the island of Tenerife is available with online Tenerife travel guide yourtenerife.net and accommodation details includes hotels in Tenerife

The holidays guide also has a climate chart, map, Tenerife weather forecast and the Tenerife weather

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Feb 02

Author : Roger MunnsYes, there is water, water everywhere However, they are not always suitable drops to drink In fact, in some tourist areas you may not want to wash your hair, clothes or dishes in the water either The dilemma for many tourist regions is how to keep fresh, clean water flowing to serve their citizens and visitors

The Spanish island of Ibiza is confronting these challenges Ibiza is located in the Mediterranean Sea and is the third largest of the Balearic Islands autonomous community of Spain

Ibiza is spending approximately 13 5 million Euros or more than 17 3 million U S dollars to get fresh water Spain’s Ministry of the Environment is spending this to upgrade the islands water infrastructure

On the island, three plants produce fresh water for residents and tourists These plants are in Ibiza Town, Santa Eulalia and San Antonio

Only certain parts of the island have access to this desalinated water Some areas of Ibiza still get their water from wells The problem is that water from these wells has high concentrations of calcium and salt This is not the best for washing hair, dishes or clothing

The hard water is also not good for dishwashers and washing machines The mineral deposits from the water build up in pipes and tanks It’s the same when hard water build up mineral deposits in kettles and coffee machines, which require de-scaling This is the problem locals and visitors face in certain parts of Ibiza

The upgrade by The Ministry of the Environment will provide connections to the three desalination plants on the island Towns and villages on the island will be able to enjoy fresh water This will make the island even more attractive to visitors who wish to explore this holiday destination

Ibiza is not the only area facing water challenges Las Vegas has a continuing battle on their hands with H2O Las Vegas has been experiencing droughts in recent years

A trend that may continue for the near future, it has officials concerned In 2007, some news reports in the city said that proposed water projects are falling short of what the area will require

There is also significant population growth in Las Vegas This is putting a strain on the water supply in itself Then couple that with the influx of tourists daily, and their water needs Water levels at neighboring Lake Mead in Nevada have dropped In recent years, they are half of what they were seven years ago

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has spent millions for new pumps to bring water in from the lake This expenditure doubled the capacity of the second water intake drawing drinking water from Lake Mead

The Water Authority is also working to pipe in groundwater from White Pine County The first water will not flow into Las Vegas until 2012

Las Vegas fears a larger crisis Officials fear continuing droughts and lack of pipelines bringing in water from sources other than Lake Mead will cause water shortages They believe the gap in water use and water supply will affect half a million people by 2012

Worldwide the problem of fresh water is a serious one Mexico has a problem with clean drinking water Much of their water supply is contaminated by pollution

Some areas of this popular tourist destination do not have running water Some areas of Mexico have no sewage service Travelers often receive warnings not to drink the water in Mexico, to drink bottled water from quality sources instead

This past March, Cyprus faced their battle with continuing drought This led them to purchase water from Greece The country ordered emergency water rationing and imports from Greece

This was to get a grip on a growing shortage caused by a fourth year of drought Cyprus saw their reservoir reserves drop significantly In March, the island’s reservoirs were 10 3 percent full Desalination plants could not cope with the growing demand

It seems fresh water is the new oil It’s in great demand and in short supply It is vital to regions that rely on the tourist dollar for economic survival

It costs money for governments to install the infrastructure for fresh water To serve citizens and visitors properly, this investment will be necessary Holiday details for Ibiza are available with youribiza.net

Ibiza’s airport and cheap Ibiza flight deals are online along with a host of other Ibiza holiday information.

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