Costa Rica Should be YOUR Number One Choice for Vacationing!

Have you seen all the recent advertisements on the Internet and newspapers about Costa Rica being one of the best travel destinations? Well, the reason why is because Costa Rica is a beautiful country with a rich history and plenty of things to see and do.

Costa Rica is a country located in Central America between the countries of Panama and Nicaragua. It has a population of approximately five million people who are distributed over 500,000 square miles of beautiful Costa Rica real estate. Christopher Columbus initially discovered the country in the early 1500’s, and it was under Spanish rule until 1821 when it became an independent nation.

The capital of Costa Rica is San Jose, and it is also the largest city in the country. The first thing to be aware of when traveling to the Costa Rica is that it is not comprised of “states” like the USA, but rather it is comprised of provinces. In total seven provinces exist within this country, and they are all unique in their own way – Limon, San Jose, Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas, and Guanacaste.

Since this is such a popular destination, many travel agents still have many products related to Costa Rica information. They will be able to provide brochures on the best travel destinations to visit in Costa Rica. It would also be a good idea to listen to the advice of any relatives or friends who have traveled to there, and recommend places to visit during your trip, as there are so many things to see.

However, there are certain areas within the Costa Rica land which are a ‘must see.’ For example, the warm and relaxing hot springs of Tabacon is both beautiful and thrilling as it is near the Arenal Volcano. Another great destination of Costa Rica property is the national park known as the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It is home to numerous areas of undisturbed natural Costa Rica. This natural park is located in Guanacaste, and is one of the most diverse areas of Costa Rica.

A third destination to add to your list of places to see inside Costa Rica would be the National Park of Manuel Antonio. This park is teeming with wildlife, and is well known for its population of rare monkeys. However, beyond the national park’s boundaries is one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches that visitors flock to on a daily basis. This national park alone is definitely worth a trip to Costa Rica!

by David Lovendahl

Source: Free Articles

City Travel With Kids

When friends and family call me crazy for traveling with my toddler and preschooler to cities like Chicago, New York, and Toronto, I just laugh.

My kids have munched on picnic treats while watching the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Millennium Park, clambered up the monkey bars in the shadow of the arch in Washington Square Park and peered through the glass floor on the observation deck of the CN tower. Though it wasn’t always easy navigating the city streets with two little ones in tow, it was well worth the trouble.

I had a fantastic time and I could tell from the way they talked about the trips for months afterward that my kids had a great time too.The city is full of fun and educational activities for children. From skyscrapers to top-notch museums, kids can see and experience things that are simply unavailable in small towns.

Though city travel with small children can be challenging, with careful planning and attention to detail everyone can have a good time. Here are a few tips to help the trip go smoothly:

Take a stroller. Even if it’s been a while since your child has used a stroller, you’ll be glad you brought it. City trips tend to involve a good deal of walking from spot to spot and a little one can tire out easily. With a stroller he can ride in comfort and you won’t worry about losing him in a crowd. I’ve found that the inexpensive umbrella strollers work much better than the large, heavy-duty strollers complete with food trays and cup holders. Umbrella strollers fold up smaller and are lighter, making them more convenient for toting up and down flights of stairs or carrying onto the subway.

Make frequent stops at playgrounds. The best part of visiting a city can be simply strolling around, popping into unusual shops, watching the people and enjoying the city energy. Remember that while your toddler or preschooler might be very patient, he’s got his limits. I’ve found that stopping to play for a few minutes at playgrounds that we happen upon is a great way for the little ones to work some of their energy off. They also love the novelty of playing on different equipment than the same old stuff found at the parks back home.Bring a travel pack of wipes. Even if you’re not a germ nazi, you’ll be glad you did. Those city playgrounds, banisters and benches can be extremely dirty, but after cleaning the little one’s hands up with a wipe you’ll feel more comfortable about letting her dig into a tasty hot dog from a street vendor.Choose your eateries carefully. If you’re eating at a nice sit-down restaurant, make sure it’s noisy enough to absorb your child’s prattle. I learned that one the hard way when, tired out from our long drive, we decided to eat at our Chicago hotel’s in-house restaurant, the kind of place with a hushed atmosphere and waiters in white gloves hovering about. Naturally my two-year-old decided to belt out the “itsy-bitsy-spider” over and over again. We wound up having the meal sent up to our room. The next night we chose a popular, lively Italian restaurant where the little guy was no louder than anyone else in the place.

Plan activities for kids. Big cities offer all sorts of interesting and educational activities for children of all ages. Do a little research online and in guidebooks ahead of time to find a few age appropriate sights for your child. Has it been over twenty years since you took part in any of these activities yourself? You just might find yourself enjoying seeing the tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at the natural history museum and watching the polar bears glide through the water at the zoo.

Plan activities for adults. Destinations like art museums can still be on the agenda, but keep in mind your child’s limitations and be ready to cut the outing short if need be. Try to engage him at the art museum. Ask questions like: “What do you see in that picture? Do you see a boat? What picture do you like best in this room?” Visit any children’s exhibits the museum might have and ask at the information desk which exhibits are the biggest hits for kids.Take the bus or subway. Mass transit is an adventure for a small town kid. After the trip is over, he’ll talk about it as much as the dinosaur bones. Try to avoid traveling at rush hour, though, when the sardine can atmosphere might be overwhelming for a little one.

Destination: Hawaii

Hawaii is the ultimate honeymoon vacation destination! A wedding is an expensive affair, so booking your Hawaii vacation during the off season can help you save hundreds on your Hawaii honeymoon. Hawaii is a perfect destination for your honeymoon vacation because it is known to be main destination for lovers. For that truly romantic honeymoon vacation or destination wedding, in Hawaii , romance is the very essence of life.

7 Great Reasons to Holiday in St Lucia, Caribbean by Tim Burton

St Lucia has a lot to offer for your holidays. The natural beauty of the island is spectacular. From sun sea and sand to nature trails, from glorious food to sea fishing...

1. Nature trails St. Lucia offers a number of nature trails from strenuous to the more relaxed. Climb to the top of the fort at Pigeon Island and admire the tropical sunset. Walk through the Diamond Botanical Gardens and spring at Soufriere until you reach the spectacular sulphurous waterfall.

2. St Lucia Jazz Festival The St Lucia Jazz Festival is a leading event in the St Lucian calendar. The Jazz Festival takes place in May, in spectacular venues such as the historic Pigeon Island, which connects to the mainland via a causeway and surrounded by the Caribbean sea. Performers are sometimes world renowned and is therefore a show not to be missed.

3. St Lucia Food and Rum Festival Want to know about the diverse and brilliant cuisine that is part of the Caribbean experience and the excellence of Caribbean rum? Then this Festival is the one for you. A recent addition to the St Lucian calendar, the Food and Rum Festival covers four days and takes place at the end of October-beginning of November. The Festival features great regional and internationally renowned chefs and mixologists, Caribbean rums and Caribbean food.

The Food and Rum Festival is a gastronomic event which attracts some of the best chefs, rum connoisseurs, food critiques and gourmands from not only the Caribbean, but from around the world and rival some of the best culinary festivals in the world
The Festival features menus from popular chefs, lectures on rum, chef demonstrations, rum tastings of scores of rums from across the region, and concerts held on Saturday and Sunday night.

4. Deep Sea Fishing St. Lucia offers opportunities for some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world. It is a popular recreational activity here, with the sparkling Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It is home to several species of big game fish, such as marlin. If you want mahi-mahi or dourado, you can find those too. You can charter any form of sea-going vessel. There are a number of charter companies on the island that offer whole and half-day fishing excursions on 30 foot boats with modern fishing equipment.

The legendary white marlin dwells off the coast of Saint Lucia. But depending on the time of year, you can catch a variety of fish, including mackerel, barracuda, kingfish and sailfish.

5. Watersports There are plenty of watersports for visitors to St Lucia. You can go go windsurfing, sailing, para-sailing, water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling or sailing. St Lucia has some of the best underwater dive sites in the Caribbean.

Windsurfers will be challenged by the waves at Cas en Bas and Vieux Fort, the most popular spots for advanced and intermediate windsurfers, while beginners will find the calmer waters of the west coast more suitable.

Popular snorkeling areas include Anse Chastanet. Snorkel in the bay at Jalousie and watch bright shoals of fish dart by.

Water-skiing can be enjoyed by the beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers alike. Visitors can try parasailing, which allows riders to view spectacular sights as they soar above Rodney Bay.

6. Cricket Cricket is a very popular sport on the island of St. Lucia, due to its English heritage. The cricket season is from March to August, however friendly matches are arranged throughout the year around the island.

7. Tropical Islands Rainforest St Lucia has the most wonderful rainforest deep in its mountainous interior. Almost 1,800 feet above sea level, lies 19,000 acres of rainforest and the 29 miles of trails that run through it.

The rainforest is a fantastic habitat for rare birds and plants, where rare parrots can be seen and orchids scent the air.

One of the greatest symbols of the rainforest is St Lucia's National bird, the Amazona Versicolor or the Jacquot. Once an endangered species, with protection its numbers have risen. Bird watching is a recommendation since in the mountainous rainforests there are approximately 30 species of birds. You might even spot the rare and beautiful parrot, Jacquot.

About The Author:
Tim Burton writes travel articles for the popular Florida Villas website and Orlando Villas website at http://www.milkriver.co.uk © Copyright 2008 by Tim Burton

Honeymoons And Luxury Holidays In Mauritius by Daniel Millions

I think the famous Mark Twain described the island of Mauritius well when he described it as "heaven on earth".

If you are looking for somewhere different to spend time with your new partner then a honeymoons Mauritius holiday seems to be the perfect solution. This island located in the Indian Ocean just above the Tropic of Capricorn is becoming extremely popular with newlyweds from around the world.

Here they can spend time together getting to know one another and enjoying all that the island has to offer. In fact they may find themselves becoming completely overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells that this island paradise has to offer.

Certainly this is one of the most romantic destinations that a young couple can go to and spend time enjoying each other's company. There is plenty of accommodation on the island to select from and where you stay will depend upon your budget.

When it comes to which is the best time of year to visit this tropical paradise because the weather is reasonable throughout the year you could visit at about just anytime you want. However, between July and September is favored by most tourists as the temperatures and humidity levels are much lower. Whereas through January to April you can expect much more rain than normal.

Certainly if you intend to participate in some diving and snorkeling during your stay then between December and March is perfect. This is the time of year when the waters around the island are at the clearest and you will be better able to view the myriads of sea life that surround it.

A luxury holiday in Mauritius really provides you with all the opportunities to relax and unwind. There are several different ones to choose from on the island and all will help you to forget about the stresses and strains that work and everyday life places upon you.

One such hotel that offers such a vacation is The Royal Palm located on the northwest side of the island in lush tropical surroundings. It is also located close to Grand Baie and is certainly somewhere celebrities, along with royalty and heads of state will elect to stay if they want to get away from it all.

Another location that is proving extremely popular with couples who are looking for a romantic breakaway is Trou Aux Biches. This hotel is found right by one of the islands best beaches and offers you privacy as the accommodation is chalet style properties. These are all situated in tropical gardens but within a matter of minutes you can be strolling along the beach enjoying the views as the sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

However if you are coming to the island to play a few rounds of golf then the hotel you should be looking to book is Paradis Golf Resort. Along with its own 18 hole golf course close by is the Dinarobin Spa Resort and as for food you will be spoilt for choice as it has 7 different restaurants to select from. Certainly you will find yourself spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting the right luxury holiday for you on the Island of Mauritius.



About the Author
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Darling Harbour: Top Accommodation Tips by Richard Greaves

Darling Harbour is one of Sydney's prime locations, owing to its convention and exhibition centre, entertainment areas, museums, restaurants and bars, scenic harbour, and its proximity to the bustling heart of Sydney. It's no surprise then that the area offers a broad range of accommodation options to choose from. You've got the grand hotels of the world's major chains, boutique hotels of delicious individuality, and serviced apartments. Here's a look at the best of them. Among the grand hotels of the international chains, you'll find the Carlton Crest Hotel. This 251-room deluxe hostelry stands in the heart of the entertainment district with splendid views Darling Harbour. Business travelers will appreciate the conference facilities at the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour. It features seven function rooms equipped with the most modern AV and staging facilities. You can choose from City View rooms overlooking the Sydney's CBD skyline or Darling Harbour Precinct View. There are also Crowne Plaza Club Rooms with either Darling Harbour or Cityscape views. The Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour is one of the biggest hotels in the whole country with its 630 rooms including 45 suites. Expect the usual quality range of restaurants, meeting and function rooms, and fitness facilities. Situated away from the harbour, the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour is convenient for Chinatown, and the Sydney Entertainment Centre is right across the road. It offers 304 Guest Rooms, 14 Suites, 304 Non-Smoking Rooms, 143 Double-Bedded Rooms, and 182 Single-Bedded Rooms Smaller hotels include the Hotel Ibis Darling Harbour a three-star hotel near the Cockle Bay restaurants, Convention and Exhibition Centre, monorail and tram. The hotel offers 256 rooms. Food and beverage facilities include the iBistro restaurant and the iBar. The whole property overlooks Darling Harbour and the magnificent Sydney skyline beyond. The major hotel chains offer outstanding facilities and service but many prefer the individuality and personalised service that boutique hotels provide. Among the best of the Darling Harbour boutique hotels is the Southern Cross on Harbour. The Southern Cross offers studios and one-bedroom suites with self-catering facilities and entertainment options such as CD players. Another delightful boutique hotel is Clarion Suites Southern Cross Darling Harbour. It offers 52 studio and 1 bedroom suites. Each suite offers self-catering facilities and sophisticated communication facilities such as voicemail and modem access. If you prefer the independence and privacy of service apartments, you'll find what you're looking for in Darling Harbour. There's the Quest On Dixon Darling Harbour Metro Apartments On Darling Harbour, a 4-star property featuring 37 luxurious studio apartments.. Among the luxury facilities offered are valet dry cleaning, breakfast packs, and high speed internet connection. Another gem is the Metro Apartments On Darling Harbour which is composed of two adjacent buildings offering a total of 42 fully-serviced one-bedroom apartments. The first property on Sussex Street offers 33 loft-style units with tall windows, most with harbour views. All units are fully serviced and offer full facilities. So make Darling Harbour your base for exploring Sydney. You'll find all you need there including the best Darling Harbour hotels and serviced apartments.

About the Author
Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Darling Harbour hotels as Quest On Dixon Darling Harbour

Online hotel reservation: The road to happiness is not that far by Raisa Raima

The hurdles of life tend to leave a negative impact on our lives and in an effort to break the shackles and rejuvenate ourselves, we need to spend quality time for relaxing with our near and dear ones.
Some of us tend to make pleasant trips to unknown destinations while the paucity of time and resources put some of us down thinking for an alternative solution. In the present day world, everything is possible. You can get a loan in 5 minutes, get a life partner online and can gift yourself a vacation without burning a hole in your pocket. Nowadays, more and more tour operators and tourism-related companies are striving to increase the number of their customers. In this attempt, they offer budget-friendly plans to win the hearts of their existing as well as prospective customers.
If you are planning to visit a destination then you need to make advance reservations. In the desire to do so, you can take the help of several online portals that offer online hotel reservation facilities. These portals offer cheap hotel reservation beside complementary plans and schemes.
The customers of these portals can easily avail cheap hotel bookings by just logging into the respective website and search for their preferred destinations. As soon as they do that, they are redirected to the safe payment gateways for making payments. Once the payment has been made, a confirmatory message confirms the online hotel reservation with a unique number.
One thing is for sure, a spirited and well spent holiday can make a lot of difference to your living habits besides bringing you closer to your near and dear ones. This will help you to further strengthen the existing bonds within no time.
The cheap hotel booking provided by the genuine websites is reliable and you will not be left stranded on an unknown place if you plan and make an advance reservation. However, if you are a prospective customer looking for hassle-free holidays then you must give due attention to certain things. You must check the genuineness of the website and read customers' feedbacks. The advice and recommendation of existing customers, relatives, friends and colleagues can also come handy in this regard.
Stay away from those endless queues and get things done in an effective and reliable manner by making a smart choice of online hotel reservation.

About the Author
The author is a specialist in retail writing. Her writing skills reflect the outcome of years of exposure to the retail industry. Working with retail giants as a consultant has enriched her knowledge base and her passion for writing got fire. She can be read regularly on RetailsDirect.com. For details please visit: www.retailsdirect.com Cheap Mobile Phones