Travel Experts Blog

Your Weekend Destination Could Be Jamaica!

info — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:04:21 +0000

While economic times are tough life can be just as tough. Sometimes it is necessary to escape all of the hassles of the world and take some time out for yourself. Whether that time is by yourself, with your partner, or with your family it is an important aspect of life. But the problem comes when all of the good deals for travel cost an arm and a leg for seven nights. The trick is to find a good deal on a vacation for a weekend. Two or three nights is the ideal length of time for the budget and work schedule.

With that fact in mind, the next question would become where to take these two or three nights so that you can really get your moneys worth. One good option could be the Hotel RIU Montego Bay, located in one of Jamaicas hottest vacationing spot the RIU is a great option for any single, couple, or family to enjoy life on the beaches for a weekend. The RIU has something for everyone in the family! The kids can enjoy a action-packed day full of swimming, both in the ocean and in the pool, dancing, singing, and playing games all supervised by trained staff while their older brothers and sisters enjoy the chill teen area complete with an inline skate park, a non-alcholic bar, and hammocks on the beach. But while the kids are off enjoying their day, mom and dad can be enjoying a lovely day at the spa, sitting on the beach, or even playing beach volleyball with some newly met friends! The RIU can be as relaxed and chilled as a person wants with its hammocks, spa, and pools, but it can also be the catalyst to a action packed weekend with nights full of drinks, dancing, and new aquantences! Two or three nights at the RIU could be just what you need! Check out TropicalTravel.net to book your budget weekend today!

Security Tips!

info — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:16:42 +0000

Trying to get here?

Everyone who travels by air goes through airport security checkpoints. These checkpoints are operated by Transportation Security Officers from the Transportation Security Administration.

The checkpoints are there to make sure that terrorists can’t bring anything aboard the plane that would enable them to take it over or destroy it. These are called “prohibited items” and cannot be brought to a checkpoint, into the secure area of an airport, or aboard an aircraft.

Not only do all passengers go through checkpoints, their checked baggage is also screened. This may happen out of passengers’ view depending on the physical configuration at each airport.

It’s a good idea to prepare before you arrive at the airport so that you move more quickly and efficiently through the security process. Here are some suggestions to help make the process as smooth as possible.

There’s no particular style or type of clothing that you should wear from a security point of view. You are permitted to wear head coverings and religious garments during the screening process.You may be directed to additional screening if your clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.

In addition, certain clothing and accessories can set off an alarm on the metal detector and slow you down. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry or other accessories that contain metal when traveling through the security checkpoints.

We encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint (children are not required to show identification). The absence of proper identification will result in additional screening.

There are four ways to obtain a boarding pass:

* Go to your airline’s ticket counter at the airport
* Use curbside check-in
* Use your airline’s self-service ticket kiosk in the airport lobby
* Print the boarding pass from your airline’s website

If you aren’t traveling and need to go through the security checkpoint to accompany someone such as a child or other traveler with medical conditions who is traveling, check with the airline for required documentation.

These tips are brought to you by tropicaltravel.net! Click here to book!

Cancun - The Most Famous Destination

info — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:55:44 +0000

As documented in the earliest colonial sources the island of Cancún was originally known to its Maya inhabitants as Nizuc meaning either “promontory” or “point of grass”. In the years after the Conquest, much of the population died off or left as a result of disease, warfare, piracy, and famines, leaving only small settlements on Isla Mujeres and Cozumel Island.

The name Cancún, Cancum or Cankun first appears on maps from the 18th century. The meaning of Cancun is unknown, and it is also unknown whether the name is of Maya origin. If it is of Maya origin, possible translations include “Place/Seat/Throne of the Snake” or “Enchanted Snake”. Snake iconography was prevalent at the pre-columbian site of Nizuc.

The Hotel Zone of Cancún is shaped like a 7 with bridges on each end connecting to the mainland. Hotels on the vertical or long side of the 7 tend to have rougher beaches and beach erosion can be a problem. Resorts on the horizontal or short end of the seven tend to have more gentle surf because the waves here are blocked by the island of Isla Mujeres which lies just off shore. The Hotel Zone offers a broad range of accommodations, ranging from relatively inexpensive motel-style facilities in the older section closest to the mainland, to high-priced luxury hotels in the later sections, great malls, theme parks and swimming with dolphins activity.

On the opposite side of the island from the Caribbean Sea is the Nichupté Lagoon, which is used for boating excursions and jet-ski jungle tours.

Cancún is also the gateway to the Riviera Maya, another tourist pull in the area, where people go attracted by the numerous archaeological sites, as Cobá and Tulum, the many cenotes, charming towns as Playa del Carmen and theme parks such as Xcaret Eco Park, Xel-Ha and Xplor.

Cancun, Quintana Roo, January 12, 2010 - Cancun tourists are in awe and the locals couldn’t be happier, Cancun has finally gotten its beaches back. As the USD $71 million dollar ($957 million pesos), project continues, the results can not only be seen, but are already being enjoyed by all.

The project commenced on September 4th, 2009 delivering more than two thousand tons of pipeline material to destination and more than 1.3 billion gallons (6.1 million cubic meters) of sand to replenish all of Cancun’s Hotel Zone seashore.

Book your trip now! Click here to contact us: tropicaltravel.net!

Acapulco - The Mexican Destination!

info — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:37:05 +0000

There are two stories about how Acapulco bay was discovered by Europeans. The first states that two years after the Conquest, Hernán Cortés sent explorers west to find gold. The explorers had subdued this area after 1523, and Captain Saavedra Cerón was authorized by Cortés to found a settlement here. The other states that the bay was discovered on 13 December 1526 by a small ship named the El Tepache Santiago captained by Santiago Guevara. The first encomendero was established in 1525 at Cacahuatepec, which is part of the modern Acapulco municipality. In 1531, a number of Spaniards, most notably Juan Rodriguez de Villafuerte, left the Oaxaca coast and founded the village of Villafuerte where the city of Acapulco now stands. Villafuerte was unable to subdue the local native peoples, and this eventually resulted in the Yopa Rebellion in the region of Cuautepec. Hernán Cortés was obligated to send Vasco Porcayo to negotiate with the indigenous people giving concessions. The province of Acapulco became the encomendero of Rodriguez de Villafuerte who received taxes in the form of cocoa, cotton and corn.

But many things have changed from then until now and today Acapulco is one of Mexico’s oldest coastal tourist destinations, reaching prominence in the 1950s as the place where Hollywood stars and millionaires vacationed on the beach in an exotic locale. The “original” Acapulco, where hotels owned by personalities such as Johnny Weismuller and John Wayne are located, is on the northern end of the bay. This is where the boardwalk and main square are and today the area is filled with modern, Mexican style hotels, with discothèques and restaurants in walking distance. Acapulco’s reputation is that of a high-energy party town, where one can have dinner at midnight, dance until dawn then relax in the daytime on the beach crowded with sexy bodies in bikinis. The nightlife has made this place famous for decades. From November to April, luxury liners stop here daily and include ships such as the Queen Elizabeth II, the MS Rotterdam, Crystal Harmony as well as all the Princess liner ships. Despite its international fame, most of Acapulco’s visitors are from central Mexico, especially the affluent from Mexico City. For the Christmas season of 2009, Acapulco received 470,000 visitors, most of whom are Mexican nationals adding 785 million pesos to the economy. Eighty percent arrive by land and eighteen percent by air.

This year Acapulco is a favorite tourist destination when talking about Mexico travel destinations! Book your trip today by visiting us at tropicaltravel.net! Dont miss out on your Mexican vacation!

Oahu

info — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:29:39 +0000

Oahu, known as “The Gathering Place”, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the State of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast. Including small close-in offshore islands such as Ford Island and the islands in Kaneohe Bay and off the eastern (windward) coast. The old Kingdom of Oahu was once ruled by the most ancient Alii in all of the Hawaiian Islands. The first great king of Oahu was Mailikukahi, the law maker, who was followed by many generation of monarchs. Kualii was the first of the warlike kings and so were his sons. In 1773, the throne fell upon Kahahana, the son of Elani of Ewa. In 1783 Kahekili II, King of Maui, conquered Oahu and deposed the reigning family and then made his son Kalanikupule king of Oahu. Kamehameha the Great would conquer in the mountain Kalanikupule’s force in the Battle of Nuuanu. Kamehameha founded the Kingdom of Hawaii with the conquest of Oahu in 1795. Hawaii would not be unified until the islands of Kauai and Niihau surrendered under King Kaumualii in 1810. Kamehameha III moved his capital from Lāhainā, on Maui to Honolulu, Oahu in 1845. Iolani Palace, built later by other members of the royal family, is still standing, and is the only royal palace on American soil.

Oahu was apparently the first of the Hawaiian Islands sighted by the crew of HMS Resolution on 18 January 1778 during Captain James Cook’s third Pacific expedition. Escorted by HMS Discovery, the expedition was surprised to find high islands this far north in the central Pacific. Oahu was not actually visited by Europeans until 28 February 1779 when Captain Charles Clerke aboard HMS Resolution stepped ashore at Waimea Bay. Clerke had taken command of the ship after Capt. Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay (island of Hawaii) on February 14, and was leaving the islands for the North Pacific.

Oahu has many famous beaches and tends to be the cheapest island in terms of tourist visitors. It would be a mistake to miss out on the beautiful islands of Hawaii! Hawaii is the perfect destination for most Americans because there is no passport required and it is still a tropical beach destination with all of the American amenities! Book your trip today at tropicaltravel.net!

The Bahamas

info — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:07:17 +0000

The Bahamas is an English-speaking country consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets (rocks). It is located at the north-east of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba. Originally inhabited by Arawakan Taino people, The Bahamas were the site of Columbus’ first landfall in the New World in 1492. Although the Spanish never colonised The Bahamas, they shipped the native Lucayans (as the Bahamian Taino settlers referred to themselves) to slavery in Hispaniola. The islands were mostly deserted from 1513 to 1650, when British colonists from Bermuda settled on the island of Eleuthera.

The Bahamas became a Crown Colony in 1718 when the British clamped down on piracy. Following the American War of Independence, thousands of pro-British loyalists and enslaved Africans moved to The Bahamas and set up a plantation economy. The slave trade was abolished in the British Empire in 1807 and many Africans liberated from slave ships by the Royal Navy were settled in The Bahamas during the 19th century. Slavery itself was abolished in 1834 and the descendants of enslaved and liberated Africans form the bulk of The Bahamas’s population today.

More than 60% of the Bahama’s GDP is tourism! With that kind of statistic even people who afraid to travel can be confident that they will be getting their money’s worth with a trip to the Bahamas. These islands have a deep, rich history that is a must see for every person. If you want to book your trip today, click here or contact us at tropicaltravel.net! Look forward to hearing from you!

Three Exotic Beach Destinations

info — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:32:29 +0000

Looking for a vacation destination? Check out these three islands!
Bahamas – The Bahamas is certainly a landmark when it comes to choosing the perfect tropical holiday. Tourists will find over 700 islands in the Bahamas, enclosed by multicolored species of fish and crystal clear waters. The place is perfect for those interested in spending one of the most romantic and amazing tropical vacation. Enjoy the vivacious vegetation, feel the powerful sun and venture yourself into the craziest activities. From the most entertaining water sports to the best relaxing resorts.

Bora Bora – Bora Bora is definitely heaven on earth when it comes to spending a tropical holiday. From smooth sunny weather to the most gorgeous bungalows, from luxurious resorts to abundant greenery, Bora Bora is certainly the perfect place escape the agglomeration of the city, and just have a good time. Swim with the sharks along the lagoon, enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving and prepare to witness one of the best experiences in the entire world. Feel the breezy wind, enjoy the bright sun and just relax within an atmosphere of tranquility and contemplation.

Hawaii – No destination can be as thrilling and exciting as Hawaii. Endowed with gorgeous white beaches and warm sunny weather, the island is definitely the perfect spot to enjoy a summer trip. Mixing endless coastlines with some of the most incredible volcanoes on earth, the island will create the perfect ambiance, suitable for all kinds of tourists. Enjoy the best accommodation facilities, explore the numerous pubs and cafés and decide to spend the most innovative holidays within the Hawaiian Islands.

Book your vacation today! Contact us by clicking Here!

Flying Tips!

info — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:34:15 +0000

Thinking about taking a trip sometime soon? Here are five good tips that everyone needs to know about getting from the ticket counters to your destination!

1) Allow Extra Time for Special Circumstances During busy periods, or when traveling with young children, infants, elderly or disabled passengers, you build in even more time.

2) Do Not Leave Your Car Unattended in Front of the Terminal!
Airport parking rules are being strictly enforced and your car may be quickly ticketed and towed.

3) Keep Your Photo Identification Handy
If you do not have a photo ID, make sure you have two pieces of identification, one of which must be issued by a government authority. Minors are not required to have identification. Failure to have proper identification may result in additional security scrutiny. Some airlines may prohibit you from boarding without proper ID. For international flights, airlines are required to collect your full name and ask you for a contact name and phone number.

4) Know What You Are Carrying
Watch your bags while you are at the airport and don’t accept packages from strangers. Be prepared to answer questions about who packed your bags and whether you might have left them unattended at any time. Think carefully and answer honestly–history has shown that criminals and terrorists use unwitting passengers to carry bombs or other dangerous items on board aircraft, either by tricking passengers into carrying packages or by simply slipping items into unwatched bags. If you have any doubts, say so.

5) Humor is Not an Option
Do not joke about having a bomb or firearm in your possession. Security personnel are trained to react when they hear these words. Penalties can be severe, and can include the possibility of time in prison and/or fines.

Book your next trip with us! tropicaltravel.net!

Paradisus Palma Real Resort

info — Wed, 05 May 2010 06:26:57 +0000

Are you looking for a new vacation or wedding destination? Well, now you have found it! Paradisus Palma Real Resort is the superior luxury resort in Playas de Bávaro, combining a prestigious Caribbean setting with world-class facilities, including Royal Service. The Royal Service includes the ultimate in spa treatments, a magnificent fitness program, a relaxed ambience, and flexible meeting spaces with state-of-the-art equipment. There are many luxurious rooms that are surrounded by lush and vibrant tropical gardens, sparkling fountains and an enormous white-sand beach lapped by crystal-clear waters.

Take your senses on a culinary tour through five remarkable restaurants serving delicious cuisine from all around the world and unlimited international Premium brand drinks. You will enjoy access to the world-class Cocotal Golf Course and Country Club. A lively entertainment program will ensure days are filled with exciting activities, while the night comes to life at the Casino with live shows. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Treat yourself and enjoy the real Paradise and the most highly personalized service while we take care of every memorable detail. Book now at tropicaltravel.net!!

Dream Cruise with Carnival’s Dream

info — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:21:32 +0000

Carnival Dream lives up to its name from the moment you step aboard. The lobby features a soaring atrium that’s sure to dazzle even the most seasoned cruise aficionado. Elegant dining rooms, trendy night spots, and flashy casinos share deck space with quiet adult-only lounges and day spas. And true to the Carnival name, kids have their own spaces and activities. The first of three ships of this class, Carnival Dream is everything you expect in a luxury cruise ship, and more.

In 2008, Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards declared Carnival the leader in onboard children’s programs, and that holds true for their latest ship as well. From the littlest cruiser to seasoned veterans, Carnival Dream provides entertainment and relaxation for everyone.

Carnival’s newest and largest ship has accommodations to suit every wish as well. You’ll find room for more than 3,500 guests with staterooms ranging in price from oh-so-affordable interior cabins to the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa staterooms complete with private spa entrance and priority reservations. No matter which suite fits your budget, you’ll enjoy the stellar service and attention to detail you expect from Carnival Cruises.

Christened in September 2009, Carnival Dream began her career with three cruises through the Mediterranean, then across the Atlantic to New York. She currently tours the Caribbean, where she escorts you to such phenomenal ports as Cozumel, Nassau, St. Thomas and others. Don’t miss your opportunity to travel aboard this exceptional vessel. Book now by talking to us at tropicaltravel.com!