Month: March 2023

Costa Rica Travel to Guanacaste

Guanacaste is a province located on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, on the border with Nicaragua. Unlike other Costa Rica travel destinations which are characterized by sometimes intense humidity, destinations in Guanacaste are valued for their dry heat. The dry season extends from November to April, making this an ideal Costa Rica vacation spot for travelers looking to escape cold northern hemisphere winters. A new international airport in the city of Liberia has eased access to this region. Top destinations in Guanacaste include the beaches at Coco and Tamarindo and the Nicoya Peninsula, where travelers will find sun-drenched beaches and abundant nature.

In contrast to the rain forest environment found in much of Costa Rica, Guanacaste hosts a tropical dry forest that endures drought conditions in the dry season and hosts flora and fauna specially adapted to these conditions. Among the unique species found here are howler monkeys and black iguanas. Travelers can find eco-lodges with an emphasis on conservation and tours that will provide information about the forest denizens as well as adventure excursions.

As mentioned, the Liberia airport has opened up access to Guanacaste. Previously, travelers had to travel 5 hours from San Jose by road over rutted and unpaved roads. Now, several cities in the U.S. and Canada have direct flights to Liberia, and from there the beach destinations are easily reachable.

The weather and the beautiful beaches are certainly the main draws that make Guanacaste a top Costa Rica travel destination. The most popular beaches are those at Tamarindo and Coco, while there are also countless smaller beaches in the surrounding area. In particular, the region hosts some of world class surfing spots, such as that at Playa Negra, which can accommodate all skill levels. At Tamarindo, in addition to beaches, travelers can also explore the lagoons and surrounding rain forests and the sunrises and sunsets are the stuff that postcard pictures are made of. Tamarindo is also a mecca for sport fishing, and in particular, fishing for marlin, sailfish, and tuna.

Guanacaste also has some excellent national parks where travelers can embark of tours and excursions. North of Tamarindo is Marino Laus Baulas National Park, an important nesting site for the giant leatherback sea turtle. Visitors can arrange for night tours to attempt to see nesting turtles. At Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, visitors will be able to trek around the volcano and observe wildlife. Top golf resorts in the area include the Four Seasons Costa Rica on the Papagayo Peninsula, Reserva Conchal, and Hacienda Pinilla.…

Growth of Tourism in India and Future of India Tourism Industry

Tourism in India is expanding every year. According to the estimates of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the projected figures for the foreign tourist visiting India during the year 2010 will increase to 10 millions. India is one of the most prospective markets for tourism in the world. There are so many India travel packages offered by India Tourism for foreigners all over addition many private operators also offer many package deals. Tourists can travel to the places of historical and religious importance, explore cultural heritage, natural beauty and enjoy many outdoor sports activities like skiing in snow or mountaineering etc., in natural settings. The local state departments of tourism in India and many private organizations also offer several India travel packages package to places worth visiting.

India is a charming place for its various destinations with numerous captivating natural scenes and culture. Latest trends of tourism in India show India as fast emerging and highly ranked tourist place of South East Asia.

There has been a tremendous growth in tourism in India because of the policies of the government and support from all levels. There are recently many events that have taken place or coming up in the futures, which are a big catalyst for prompting tourism in India. The international sports events like 20/20 IPL Cricket matches, upcoming Commonwealth Games are also helping the tourism industry in India and it will prosper to great heights and standards in the near future.

The remarkable growth in Indian Tourism market, which has identically benefited many support industries like aviation, transport, medical tourism, hotel and sports. The year 2008 had witnessed an enormous increase in the eco tourism in India In addition the government has come up with a new idea of India tourism named as “Rural Tourism”, which is very successful in promoting tourism by offering exclusive India travel packages for rural tourism.

India had hosted Asian Games long back that had brought many developments in India and, upgraded the quality of tourism in India and attracted many tourists to India from all over the world. Common Wealth Games 2010, being organized in Delhi, capital of India, will give a pioneer opportunity to tourism in India. The industry can gain a lot of business by coming up with various travel packages for attraction and benefit of tourists. In 2010, it a estimated that over 3.5 million tourist will be visiting India to witness the Common wealth Games scheduled in Oct 2010 at Delhi. It is the very important event and Indian tourism industry has to plan, organize and cater to the needs of such a big rush of foreign tourists that will depend on the fights, transport, hotel bookings and for their travel itineraries, visas and other facilities. Many agencies are preparing to handle this tourist rush so that visitors and players feel it homely, comfortably and safe.

There are indications that the growth of tourism in India will be very steep in the next couple of years. The Indian share of tourist will augment about 1.5 % in 2010. India tourism industry is going to earn maximum business from tourist visiting Agra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan where maximum numbers of tourists are expected.…

The Colombian Amazon: The Good the Bad and the Ugly

More and more people are becoming interested in visiting the largest rainforest on the planet. I am of course referring to the Amazon. Measuring approximately 5 500 000 square kilometres it boasts the highest biodiversity in the world. One of the entry points into this vast expanse is through the Colombian city of Leticia. Leticia has become one of the primary destinations for international tourists visiting the country. However despite more and more people visiting the region the type of experience tourists encounter is very inconsistent with many leaving very dissatisfied. There are ways to ensure you have an enjoyable visit to this natural wonder. By knowing what is worthwhile, what to avoid and in general what to expect you will live this unique adventure to its fullest.

The Good

So as not to scare everyone off from the get go let’s begin with what is good.

The biodiversity: The amazon has an incredible amount of birds (1300), mammals (430), reptiles (380) amphibians (430), fish (3000), insects (??? >1 000 000) and plants (40 000). Despite the fact that the many of these are experts at staying hidden you are guaranteed to see something.

The natural beauty: Independently the rivers and the forest are both beautiful. Together, at times they make for a stunning landscape. This combination of water and vegetation also lends itself to some of the most amazing sunsets you will ever see. Also, although from above it may appear as a homogeneous mass of green, the forest is varied with each particular forest type revealing its own particular beauty.

The isolation: This may not appeal to everyone but to some the sense of being a million miles away from the rest of the world is appealing. Once you manage to get away from populated and trafficked areas of the forest the feeling of peace and serenity is amazing. It is almost magical sitting under a sky filled with stars with only the symphony of night sounds to be heard. It may be difficult to experience this as few tour operators take visitors that deep into the forest but if you truly want to experience the real Amazon it is a must.

The Bad

The negatives as in most or probably all areas have nothing to do with the physical location but rather how it is managed and the people that live and work there. Here in the Amazon it is no different.

Poor infrastructure: Despite tourism making up most of the local economy there is very little money that has been invested into infrastructure. Rampant corruption has meant that the large sums of money that are available for public projects disappear. This shows in the pot holed streets the basic airport, the very visitor unfriendly port and virtual lack of quality tourist information.

The same poor options offered everywhere: For some strange reason almost everyone will try and sell you the same few experiences. For the most part these experiences are not worthwhile. The standard tours offered to most visitors include Monkey Island, the native community of Macedonia, the National Park Amacayacu and Lake Tarapoto, Lake Tarapoto being the only spot I can truly recommend.

At monkey you are guaranteed you will see monkeys however the problem is that the one species you will see is not native to the Island and only survive there because people feed them. Originally it was an American who brought both the monkeys and the natives to the island and as it was then it still is not an ecologically friendly site to visit. The community of Macedonia suffers from a lack of authenticity. The natives many times try to sell the idea that they still dress in grass skirts and wander around half naked all the time while the reality is that many have huge sound systems in their homes and some even have Direct TV. The National Park is likely one of the greatest disappointments. Tourism within the Park is handled by a private company and they only offer a 500 meter wooden pathway with the only interesting sight being a large ceiba tree. It is relatively expensive and only shows a very superficial look at the true natural beauty hidden within the park. In general it is a little difficult to find sights that authentically show the Amazon as most operators prefer to sell what has always been sold and many great alternatives are ignored.

The Ugly

There is definitely an ugly side and hopefully most won’t see or at least not notices it. I am referring to the total indifference towards conservation and the environment in general. For whatever reason the culture in and around Leticia is very exploitative. By this I mean any resource that can …

The View From Oslo

Norway may be considered an extravagant city to visit, but as a destination it’s well worth the money. The cost of the trip seems justified once you dip into the city’s stunning landscape. Norway is a perfect mixture of interesting cities and sprawling wilderness. The capital, Oslo, is the obvious starting point from which to explore this beautiful country.

Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capital cities and is an impressive place to stroll to take in some fantastic rural landscape, mountains, fjords and city life.

One of the city’s monumental spots are The Royal Palace’s stunning grounds, which are happily open to the public, with special guided tours running at regular intervals. Another key attraction is the City Hall, the Rädhus. Hidden inside this massive building are some beautiful carved-wood depictions of Norse myths and an enormous hall decorated with a mural by several important Norwegian artists. For a fascinating glimpse at Norwegian history, visit the Vikingskipshuset which displays three ninth-century Viking ships, which were unearthed from ritual burial mounds in southern Norway, each embalmed in clay. The Folk Museum is also of interest to history enthusiasts featuring indoor exhibits of medieval clothes, china and silverware as well as open-air display of accurately recreated buildings from various periods of Norwegian history.

The incredible Munch Museum is worth viewing, even if you’re not an avid art fan. It witholds the very famous Munch painting, The Scream, and is located on the outskirts of town. The Norwegian artist’s key works of the 1890s are on to be found here as well as earlier paintings, lithographs and woodcuts. The museum also houses one of two copies of The Scream. Despite being stolen in 2004, the painting was returned in suspect circumstances in 2006.

Staying in the capital doesn’t mean you have to forgo getting close to nature. The islands of the inner Oslofjord are perfect to visit in the summertime. The nearest island, Hovedoya, is a captivating place to visit. The ruins of a twelfth-century Cistercian monastery on the island sit astride the island, which is covered in farmland and deciduous woods. The most southerly island Langoyene is also worth a visit due to its pretty beaches.

Organising your trip

A key stage in planning your holiday is organising travel insurance. Make sure you get the best deal by comparing providers online. Getting to Oslo is relatively straightforward on most of the online cheap flight offers. Norway’s long coastline is served by a number of ferry companies, most notably DFDS Seaways and Color Line. Oslo airport has excellent links to local transport, with direct buses or trains to the city centre.…

Kidco Peapod Plus Travel Bed Review

The Kidco Peapod Plus Travel Bed is a fantastic solution for all families who have young children, yet still like to get out and about. This portable baby and toddler travel bed has been designed with both kids and parents in mind. There is no longer any requirement to lug around the old pack and play type portable cribs and all of the extra bedding needed to set them up. The Peapod Plus Travel Bed solves the problem of having to take half of your house with you every time you go out.

As a mom, I know the hassles of packing everything for babies when you have to leave the house. You have to remember everything for a start. There’s the pram, the toys, the food and of course the portable cot. What is so great about the Peapod Plus travel bed is that it is one easy to carry package that all the bedding is already folded up inside.

Then the next stressful thing is when your baby or toddler just will not sleep when they are out. This often occurs whether you are at a well known friend’s home, or you could be on the other side of the world in a hotel. Lack of sleep is a mood destroyer for everyone involved.

The Peapod Plus allows you to set it up quickly and easily at home. Your child can play in it, and you can let them sleep in it as often as required to help them get used to their special bed. Many traveling parents rave about the Peapod bed being such an important aspect in keeping their child’s sleep patterns maintained whilst they have been on extensive holidays.

The other great thing is how often have you got to a hotel, and they either don’t have a cot available or have forgotten to put it in your room. Just unpack your Peapod bed and you know your child will be safe and comfortable in a bed that they know.

You don’t just have to use the Peapod in your travels either. Lots of parents set it up and let their baby or toddler play in whilst they are preparing meals. Kids love having their own little tent that they can call their own.

The fact that it can be used indoors and outdoors is another great plus. All of the Peapod beds have UV protection. If you are going to the beach or for a picnic, and want to make sure they sleep or play in a safe and contained area, then the Peapod Plus is perfect.

The Peapod Plus is a great travel bed. This portable bed is a bit bigger than the standard Kidco Peapod portable travel bed. What this means is that you can continue using it until your child reaches the age of 6, depending on how big they grow of course. Now that is value for money in any book.

If you are considering a family holiday, or you just like to go out as a family every now and then, a Peapod Plus travel bed is a really handy portable bed for the younger members of your family. It takes the stress out of having to think about where your child can sleep or play safely. Parents are raving about how great the Peapod Plus is, and many state in their reviews that once they got their Peapod, the portable crib never came out again.…

Finding Cheaper Holidays

There are number of families in the world which really wants to go for some holidays and have fun by some exciting journeys but they could not do it so because of the expenditures required for traveling purposes. Some of them could not go because they are unable to find that much time for travel along with the heavy expenditures required for it as well. There are number of ways in which one can find best and cheap holidays for your self. Look for some ads in newspapers and go online for finding some cheap holidays for you.

There are price listings available as well on the internet so it would be really easier for one to choose the best holiday in limited budget. There are some special discounts available for limited time so that you can even have better holidays if you will be able to find these discount offers online.

Internet is a great source of information and one will be able to easily find prices and offers of holidays for almost all the famous destinations world wide. So broader you search be looking for the discount sites which offer all the facilities and perfect holidays with limited budget. All you have to check online is about the special discount offer of holidays and the location and prices according to your requirements. Look for some hotels which provide all the facilities with good budgets. Do look for some online car rental providers which would be very good for cheaper holidays.…