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Showing newest 28 of 48 posts from January 2008. Show older posts
Showing newest 28 of 48 posts from January 2008. Show older posts
YTB Canada Launch, Enrollment and Activation
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
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join ytb canada,
team canada,
ytb canada,
ytb canada launch date,
YTB canadian launch enrollment and activation.
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As you know, we are quickly approaching our launch date into Canada on February 8, 2008. This much anticipated event is exciting for YTB and all our friends who are anxiously awating the YTB-Opportunity to join our ranks. Our new and/or returning friends will be welcomed with open arms on our launch date! The deatils of sign-up and re-activation are mentioned in this post and may be downloaded in its entirity at the YTB Canada site. Rest assured that we have a top-notch International Team, including in-house and Canadian consul, working on the many details of conducting business in Canada and expanding our YTB Opportunity to anyone there that would be interested in join YTB Canada.
In celebration of our expansion into Canada, we will hold two kick off meetings to support the Company's international expansion initiatives.
"YTB International is thrilled to be welcomed into Canada", said YTB founder Lloyd "Coach" Tomer. "being able to conduct business in Canada provides a valuable Opportunity for YTB REP's and Referring Travel Agents (RTA's) We couldn't be happier to add Canada to the YTB International family, and we look forward to expanding our global business even farther."
Kick off meetings will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday, february 9, 2008 at 2:00PM to 4:00 PM at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre and in Toranto, Ontario, on Saturday, February 16,208 at 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Pearson Convention Center. YTB is accepting event reservations by email at kickoffcanada@ytb.com. Please take a moment to let us know that you are going to be at one or both events.
Download the YTB Canadian Launch, Enrollment and Activation letter at YTB Canada.
YTB Canadian Launch FAQ's
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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alternate YTB Canada kick off meetings,
canadian launch,
ytb canada,
ytb canada launch FAQ's,
ytbcanada.ws
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Due to the rigid reglatory climate in Canada, YTB is required to operate differently than it does in the United States. It is imperative that all YTB management, RTA's and REP's in the field know and understand the differences in order for YTB to adequately and legally conduct business in Canada. Accordingly, and in preparation for the up coming YTB launch into Canada on February 8, 2008, the following FAQ's were created for distrabution.
This document is key to understanding the majority of these differences and consequently, the limitations imposed on RTA's in Canada: The current travel requlations are notequipped to handle the sale of internet travel as it is sold pursuant to YTB's business model. Consequently, if RTA's are considered to be travel agents, they will be subject to licensure and regulations. In Canada, it is important to remember that RTA's are directing their friends and family to a website were a customer can go to purchase travel, rather than selling travel directly.
The majority of the differences have to do with the way travel is sold. The network marketing component of YTB is virtually unchanged. The following FAQ highlights the similarities and differences our REP's and RTA's will notice.
I will only mention a few here, to download the YTB Canadia launch FAQ's(pdf) you may do so from YTB Canada. We are the number one team in the US and Canada, Team Travelmore.
Canadian RTA's:
Terminology
Q. Will the term "RTA" have the same meaning in Canada as it does in the U.S.?
A. We will continue to use the same acronym "RTA"; however, in Canada the term RTA will stand for Referring Travel Affiliate. The words "agent", "agency", "employee", "travel", and "store" must not appear in any website, literature, presentations, marketing or training materials.
French Support
Q. Will YTB offer support in French?
A. Yes, YTB has French speaking support staff who are accessable by calling the main support line. You can be confident in knowing that all of our support staff will be well-versed in the differences between the US and Canadian business practices.
Websites
Q. Why does my YTB Canadian website look different than a US YTB website?
A. RTA sites MUST not contain the words "agent", "agency" "emplyee", "travel", or "store". Further, they must not include the Travel Store Name, URL, any forwarding URL, etc.
a. RTA's websites may only contain a RTA's individual name, his/her affiliate status, and a phone number (John Doe, Referring Travel Affiliate, Phone #).
b. It must be clear to consumers that they are purchasing travel from YTB and that the RTA is an affiliate who directed them to the travel site.
These are only a few of the Canadian Launch FAQ's and you should download the full document at YTB Canada.
Airlines hike fuel surcharges
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
, under
airline news,
travel news
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Multiple airlines, including US Airways Group Inc., have doubled their fuel surcharges on round-trip, domestic flights to $40 from $20 in the past week, according to airfare tracking site YTB Travelmore.
Notes sent through the weekend from FareCompare say American Airlines ,US Airways ,United Airlines ,Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. have matched the $20 increase in surcharges.
Continental Airlines Inc. was the first major domestic airline to hike its surcharge. It did so Jan. 24.
Airlines raise fuel surcharges to pass on higher costs to consumers.
US Airways operates its largest hub at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The Arizona-based carrier has 3,800 flights per day to more than 230 destinations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Caribbean and Latin America.
Blue Man Group & KA' by Cirque Du Soleil
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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KA' by Cirque Du Soleil,
las vegas shows
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Everyone knows that YTB Travelmore offers same great prices on flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages, but did you know that you can also order "tickets and attractions" to your favorite show, concert, professional sports or concert?
The next time you are in vegas, be sure to see the Blue Man Group or KA' by Cirque Du Soleil
Blue Man Group is a creative organization best known for its award-winning theatrical productions. The critically acclaimed show has been described as "visually stunning," "wildly inventive," and "hysterically funny."
Special Offer! Purchase a ticket for the Blue Man Group - Live at The Venetian - and receive a free ticket to Madame Tussaud's Interactive Wax Museum, where you can play along side the Blue Men on a PVC instrument!
Prices from $86.00
KA, the unprecedented new theatrical show from Cirque du Soleil at MGM Grand, applies the visual vocabulary of cinema to a dazzling live event that is more about storytelling then any previous Cirque du Soleil production.
Prices from $116.00
Do Cruise Cabins Have Bathtubs?
Whether you're looking for a handicap-friendly bathroom, you've got small kids to bathe, or you just love a good soak, you may be wondering if cabins and suites aboard cruise ships have bathtubs.
The answer is yes--some of them.
It can vary from ship to ship and line to line, but just about all suites will come with bathtubs, and on some lines tubs are the norm (i.e. Holland America).
So, how do you make sure you get a room with a tub? The best way is to work with a travel agent and book early. That way, you're able to select your specific cabin (travel agents can help you decipher the floor plan codes so you're sure to get a good room).
It can be trickier to choose your cabin if you're booking at the last minute, traveling as part of a group, or taking part of a cabin-share or cabin-guarantee program (this is when you agree to a certain price and don't find out your exact cabin until the last minute).
Are Transatlantic Cruises Boring?
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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Alaskan Cruises,
cruise tips,
cruising faq,
transatlantic cruises
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Quick, you've got to get from New York to London. What's the quickest way?
Ok, you're right. Flying. But if you hate to fly or you want to make a vacation of the trip, you might consider a transatlantic cruise.
Several lines offer them, and in a few days you can sail from one side of the ocean to the other. But, you may be asking yourself, is it boring? There are no shore excursions, and there's nothing to look at but water, right?
Whether or not you get restless on the voyage will depend on you, but today's cruise ships are anything but boring. Some of them are like mini Las Vegas towns on the water. You've got casinos, theaters, shows, lots and lots of food choices, fitness centers, classes, and don't forget just lounging by the pool in the sun (if the weather is good).
There is so much to do on board a cruise ship that some people skip the shore excursions when they take a trip anyway.
If you know you're get restless being on a ship for several days with no way off, then a transatlantic cruise might not be for you, but if you want a relaxing way to cross the ocean, then you have no reason to worry about being bored on the ship.
posted from cruises 101
Are Shore Excursions Handicap Accessible?
Cruises can be a great vacation, but are they still enjoyable if you have accessibility issues? And if you do find the perfect cruise for you, will you be able to partake in the shore excursions?
In the past, it was often hard to find a cruise ship that was truly easy to navigate for a person in a wheelchair, but fortunately things have changed in the last few years, thanks evolving disability acts. A travel agent can help you find a ship that's perfect for your needs, but generally you'll find newer ships are much more handicap accessible and you'll have fewer difficulties and restrictions on your on-board roaming.
However, shore excursions are run by third parties, and in foreign countries they may not be worrying about disability acts instated in your country. This means you need to be a little more careful in selecting tours to take when you disembark.
In many cases, cruise lines will have certain shore excursions marked as handicap accessible (often with a wheelchair icon) in their brochures or their online booking system. Also the trips will be rated by difficulty level (1, 2, or 3). These pamphlets with their brief descriptions can only tell you so much however, so if you have doubts or questions about anything, your best recourse is just to ask.
How will transfers be done from ship to shore (if the ship is not docking but tendering people ashore with boats, transfers can be more troublesome) and from shore to tour transport? Will the excursion itself require walking or navigating over uneven terrain? Are vans, buses, etc. equipped with ramps and handicap seating?
You will find that while many shore excursions aren't suitable for people with accessibility issues, there will likely be some interesting tours to take at each port of call.
posted by cruises 101
Are Cruise Ship Cabins Claustrophobic?
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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Alaskan Cruises,
cruising faq,
hawaiian cruises,
NCL's pride of America
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Do you find small spaces claustrophobic? Does the idea of being couped up make you feel a little crazy? If so, you may be wondering how small cabins are on cruise ships and if they will make you feel claustrophobic.
I'll give you my experience.
I recently got back from a week-long cruise around the Hawaiian Islands, and I stayed aboard NCL's Pride of America. I decided to save money and book an inside cabin, which means no windows or portholes to look out. You generally don't spend a lot of time in your cabin anyway, and I was more interested in dropping my extra money on fun shore excursions.
Anyway, the cabin was definitely smaller than a hotel room, but there were lots of mirrors and built-in storage, so I didn't think it felt claustrophobic. They made a good use of space. Now I probably wouldn't want to pack three people in there (there was an extra bed you could fold out from the wall if you had three), but I'm sure there are apartments in New York that aren't any bigger, heh. For one or two people it was fine, and if you missed seeing out a window, you could turn on the TV and check out the live camera feed from the bow of the ship.
Home Based Business Expo Website Launched
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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alternate YTB Canada kick off meetings,
home based business expo,
home based business opportunities,
home based travel agent opportunity,
join ytb,
work at home moms
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YTB Travelmore is a leading provider of Internet-based travel related and home based business services and operates several online travel booking websites.
YTB Travelmore is an affiliate marketer for YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., and YTB Travel Network, Inc. and currently has over 150,000 RTA travel booking sites.
YTB Travelmore is an affiliate marketer for YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., and YTB Travel Network, Inc. and currently has over 150,000 RTA travel booking sites.
The purpose behind the Home Based Business Expo website (http://www.hbbexpo.com/) is to offer an avenue for work at home moms or those that aspire to be to search for researched and approved home based business opportunities.
Once a work at mom starts a home based business, she is usually faced with the challenge of finding quality leads and finding an audience to market her home based business to.
The Home Based Business Expo website offers these work at home moms an avenue to promote their products or services by supplying them with the tools and advertising medium to “host a home based business expo” in their community.
A small home based business expo, suitable to promote 5-20 home based business opportunities can be held in a church, library, community center, banquet room, hotel conference room or even a large garage or pole barn.
The Home Based Business Expo website offers these services at no-charge to these work at home moms. Persons wishes to host a home based business expo to promote his/her home based business, should visit the website.
Persons interested in advertising her home based business expo should notify the webmaster at the Home Based Business Expo website at least 3 weeks prior to the schedules event.
“YTB” Your Travel Business - An online travel agency offering home business opportunities to get you fully licensed as an agent allowing you to build your very own professional online travel agency as well as receive all the travel perks that travel agents enjoy.
We have a solid team and systems in place.
YTB brings you the perfect opportunity to transform your life through combining the fun of travel with the speed of the Internet, multiplied by the power of referral marketing to provide YOU with the ultimate home-based business solution. YTB is taking the industry by storm!!
View the YTB marketing website at http://www.ytb-opportunity.com/
By Brent Vanderstelt
9837 Kathleen St.
Grant Michigan 49327
231-206-5333
Valentines Day Roses
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
on
Monday, January 28, 2008
, under
flower delivery,
specials on roses,
valentines day roses,
ytb flowers
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18 Long Stem Red Roses
Free vase worth $ 9.99! Roses have been the ultimate expression of love and the long-stemmed rose is a flower of matchless beauty. Make her heart race by gifting her these gorgeous 18 premium long stem red roses accented with greenery. A card message, floral preservatives & flower care information are also included. Flowers come elegantly wrapped in a decorative sleeve and are hand packed in an attractive gift box.
Our price: $67.99
Valentines Gift Ideas
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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ytb bridal registry,
ytb caribbean,
ytb cars,
ytb events and attractions,
ytb flowers,
ytb golf,
ytb honeymoon,
ytb outdoors
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Valentines Day is just weeks away and you may be searching for some great Valentines Gift Ideas.
Here are just some of the great Valentines day gift ideas from YTB Travelmore, your source for everything travel.
The first and most important is YTB Flowers, we offer hundreds of arrangements and can be ordered and sent anywhere in the US and Canada.
How about a romantic weekend getaway or last minute deal? We offer vacation packages, cruises, tours and much more. Be sure to sign up for our Deals and Steals newsletter.
While on your romantic geteway, consider a play, take in your favorite sporting event or concert with our "Event Tickets and Attractions" or a relaxing message.
Maybe your special person needs a car, then you need to visit our YTB Cars section.
Are you and your special person into golf? Consider a golf package from YTB Golf, and while there, why not reserve your tee time with us.
Are you the adventurious type? Maybe you might consider a volcanic tours, whitewater rafting, mountain trekking or a big game hunt or fishing trip from YTB Outdoors.
Maybe that special person in your life wants to get married, well we do not yet have YTB Diamonds, yet...but maybe you already have the ring and you need to book your honeymoon package, complete with a FREE bridal registry, well we do have that.
Be sure to order your wedding flowers from YTB Flowers.
You can see why YTB Travelmore is your source for everything travel, including the YTB Opportunity, which allows you the ability to start your own home based business, as a referring travel agent with YTB.
Happy Valentines Day from everyone at YTB.
Valentine's Day Getaway Ideas
Travel Expert Valarie D'Elia Has Many, From Reasonable To Super-Pricey
(CBS) It's not too late to book a fantastic romantic getaway for Valentine's Day, even though it's a mere three weeks away.
Travel journalist Valarie D'Elia, whose family has been in the travel business since 1902, has suggestions for trips that won't cost and arm and a leg, and some that will cost a whole lot more than that. Among them: an affordable skiing package, cheap getaways to Europe, a chocolate-themed package at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, an island splurge at gorgeous Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys, and a whopping $850,000 package at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park that includes transportation on a private jet and a 10-carat diamond from Tiffany and Co. As for specifics:
SKIING IN WINTER PARK, COLORADO
- $99 per person per night
- Includes two nights lodging an a two-day lift ticket
- Valid through next month
Rates are per person based on double occupancy in a hotel, in-town.
skiwinterpark.com
Airfare to Colorado is very affordable right now. There are plenty of deals out there. A roundtrip flight from New York to Denver runs as low as $150. Fares are similar from Florida and Chicago.
EUROPE
Steal someone's heart this Valentine's Day with a fling for two to Brussels, Amsterdam, Vienna, or any of 15 romantic international destinations on specially-priced departures from Gate 1 Travel.
- Packages range from six to nine days and may be extended up to a month.
- They start at $399 plus tax for a six-day getaway to Paris, with airfare from New York.
- Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and include roundtrip airfare, accommodations, and daily breakfast.
- Low-cost add-on air fares are available from cities nationwide.
- Packages can be customized with a wide selection of moderately-priced sightseeing excursions.
Gate 1 Travel offers other Valentine specials to London, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, Barcelona, Florence, Athens, Rio and Dublin, and many other destinations. Amsterdam starts at $599, and Brussels starts at $499.
gate1travl.com
CHOCOLATE IN NEW YORK
The "Sugar & Spice Romance Package" at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park includes a chocolate buffet. Sugar & Spice provides a lovers' escape, complete with a passport to indulgence.
The package includes:
- One night luxury accommodations in a city-view room
- Entry to "The Chocolate Bar" in the 14th floor award-winning Rise bar. It has an all-you-can-eat gourmet buffet showcasing the most unforgettable chocolate desserts. Indulge in this sinful selection while experiencing the most breathtaking views in Manhattan.
- Relaxing hour-long massages for two
The rate for weekends in February 2006 start at $699 per couple.
But you don't have to spend the night to indulge in the amazing chocolate. The chocolate buffet alone is $75 per person.
LITTLE PALM ISLAND
If you're looking for a fabulous splurge, the "Islander Package" may be just for you:
- Four nights on a private island in the Florida Keys.
- Upon arriving you will be shown to your private Bungalow Suite, where a bottle of chilled champagne awaits.
- Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
- A $150 spa credit at Spa Terre, for each person.
- Romantic turndown service can include dozens of red roses, champagne and rose petals in your bed and bath for extra charge.
- Packages rates are per couple and include tax and service charges.
- Available through May 31, 2006; the price for this package is $6,550.
THE ULTIMATE SPLURGE
The "Love On The Rocks" package at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park costs a whopping $850,000. It includes:
- Private jet roundtrip transportation in a Hawker 800 XP private jet for guests within the continental U.S.
- Three-night luxury accommodations in The Ritz-Carlton's Royal Suite overlooking Central Park
- A 10.14 round brilliant cut, "F"-color, internally flawless diamond
- The diamond includes a consultation with a Tiffany & Co. master designer, personalized renderings, and a select amount of accent stones to complement the diamond, thus creating a masterpiece that defines your personal style
- Meet directly with Tiffany & Co. chief gemologist
- Exclusive opportunity to join Tiffany & Co. master craftsman for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jewelry Manufacturing Workshop
- Your Tiffany & Co. custom-designed diamond piece will be hand delivered to your home.
- Delivery is available in the continental U.S. only.
- Personal 72-hour white-gloved Ritz-Carlton butler
- Luxurious, limited-edition Bentley Spur with chauffeur at the guest's disposal throughout the stay; includes roundtrip airport transfers
- Candlelit dinner for two served in The Royal Suite: specially prepared and personalized menu by the hotel's executive chef. Each course is accompanied by wines selected by the hotel's Wine Sommelier
- Bottle of Cristal Champagne and a generous Beluga caviar service
- Suite filled with romantic floral arrangements by celebrity florist Jane Packer
Breakfast for two in suite each morning - Two La Prairie Spa Diamond Perfection Treatments
- Two La Prairie Spa Diamond Perfection Eye Treatments
- Two 90-minute couples massages in suite
- Rose Petal turndown
- Embroidered his and her signature Ritz-Carlton Robes
- Package pricing starts at $850,000 and excludes taxes and gratuities. A non-refundable 14-day advanced payment is required.
Panama Revisited - Central America's Newest Fishing Lodge
Posted by Your Travel Buddy
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Sunday, January 27, 2008
, under
big game fishing,
panama city,
ytb outdoors
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Mention Hannibal Bank or Isla Coiba to any serious big-game fisherman and images of giant black marlin, tackle-busting yellowfin tuna and bulldog cubera snappers immediately fill his head.
Just 200 miles or so west of Panama City on Central America's Pacific coast lie some of the most famous fishing grounds in the world. Mention Hannibal Bank or Isla Coiba to any serious big-game fisherman and images of giant black marlin, tackle-busting yellowfin tuna and bulldog cubera snappers immediately fill his head.
Thanks to the area's diverse habitats, warm equatorial sea temperatures, rich upwellings, remoteness and lack of overfishing, the shores of Panama enjoy a longevity rarely seen in sportfishing. The Panama Big Game Fishing Club aim to add a new twist to this historic fishery.
The now-defunct Club Pacifico de Panama opened this region to traveling fishermen in the 1970s. A fair share of operations have since come and gone in this area, but few can compare with the Panama Big Game Fishing Club, the newest lodge. Just an hour by water taxi from the town of David, the lodge was built atop the highest elevation on Isla Boca Brava in 2001, offering a commanding view of the surrounding area. Four fully equipped guest cottages, gourmet meals and fantastic fishing make the lodge a must-visit.
The fishing options in this region are seemingly endless. Depending on current conditions and the species targeted, productive inshore fishing is less than 15 minutes from the lodge and blue-water action, less than an hour's steam from the dock.
The operation's manager Capt. Lee Campbell says that although the inshore fishing can be fantastic, most anglers come here to fish for the bounty of billfish and giant yellowfin tuna that prowl the waters surrounding the Isla Coiba area, including Isla Montousa, Isla Ladrones and Hannibal Bank a bit farther offshore. While grander blue and black marlin certainly reside in these waters, most range from 250 to 500 pounds, making them manageable on 50 pound tackle.
"In my experience the blues here run larger than the blacks," says lodge owner Capt. Bill Beck. "That's not to say that the black marlin are small. The biggest we've caught since opening was 750 pounds."
At the Panama Big Game Fishing Club, more black marlin show up in the spread than blues; the average ratio is four blacks to every blue.
Sailfish arrive in mighty number off Panama as well, with most fish in the 80 to 120-pound range. Add the possibility of landing a giant yellowfin tuna, dorado or wahoo and you have the potential for a world-class offshore smorgasbord. If the winds keep you inshore, you can chase roosterfish, amberjack and mean cubera snapper all day.
Strictly Business
Each morning , the mate and captain kept a sharp eye out for breaking schools of bait. We'd run through the schools with small plastic jigs, and when we'd hood a skipjack it was brought aboard and immediately transferred to one of four tuna tubes attached to the stern of the boat. As soon as we had four skipjacks in the tubes and another half-dozen in the fish box for strip baits, we were ready to fish.
After the boat was in position atop the bank, the mate extracted a 3-pound skipjack from the tuna tube, wrapped it in a wet towel and rigged it through the eye sockets with a Dacron bridle and an 18/0 circle hook in two blinks. Generally, two live skipjack are slow-trolled on flat lines, with two additional strip baits or lures trolled on the outriggers.
After setting the first bait in the water, it wasn't long before one skipjack began to swim nervously. The change in the live bait's behavior didn't go unnoticed by the mate, and he signaled the captain and my fishing partner. Ken Mayer, to get ready. Mayer grabbed the rod from the holder and put the reel in free-spool. Suddenly, the line raced from the reel, and Mayer did his best to prevent a bird's net with out scorching his thumb.
When the mate gave the call, Mayer put the reel in gear and let the line come tight, allowing the circle hood to find the corner of the fish's jaw. The fish ran hard and cleared the water--a sailfish not a marlin! Mayer let out a sigh that was either one of relief or disappointment; I couldn't tell. But he fought the estimated 100-pound sailfish gallantly and brought it to the boat in under 15 minutes for a photograph and release.
During our trip we didn't land a black marlin, but we did get a knock at the door that felt like one. A blind hit yanked off a few hundred yards of line but never came tight. A big black or a big yellowfin.
"We've caught yellowfin up to 300 pounds," Beck says. "We usually catch the big yellowfin on live bonito set out when we're trolling for black marlin. But we get yellowfin of all sizes. If we see a school, we'll troll through them with some lures or get in front of them and toss out live baits."
Yellowfin under 100 are often found feeding with schools of porpoise, while the larger fish usually swim in smaller schools that hang closer to the seamounts.
Although all the big-game species are available throughout the year, the primary billfish season runs December through May. January, February and March offer the most ideal conditions --little rainfall and calm seas. Sailfish tend to be more abundant in April and May, as do the larger tuna. The best wahoo bite is May through November, with the best action occurring during the peak of the rainy season in August and September. One thing is for sure--the fish will be there no matter when you plan your trip.
Getting There
The Panama Big Game Fishing Club currently runs three boats, a 31 Bertram, a 28 Albemarie Express and a 30 Phoenix. All vessels sport twin diesels and advanced electronics. The lodge also provides a full complement of the best tackle available, from 20- to 80-pound. The lodge itself offers four guest cottages; each is air-conditioned and can sleep four people comfortably.
To get to Isla Boca Brava, you must first fly to Panama City - several major carriers offer direct flights from Miami - then to David, on one of the daily flights that regional carriers offer. The folks at the Panama Big Game Fishing Club will help you with all your travel needs. They offer complete packages, including the domestic flight to David, water-taxi transfer to the lodge, accommodations, meals and fishing services. Contact Bill Beck at 866-281-1225, visit http://www.panama-sportfishing.com/ or email panamabiggame@aol.com
Big Cats are Back
The big cat's tracks were easy to follow as Pom slid noiselessly along on his skis. What had started as just another winter day of coyote hunting on skis for the Colorado rancher changed in a hurry when he cut the fresh tracks of a large cougar crossing the head of a valley high in the mountains northwest of Granby Colorado. Pom was one of the best coyote hunters I ever met and annually took fifty to a hundred coyotes all by spotting and stalking on cross country skis. Pom was only about five foot four and maybe a hundred and thirty pounds soaking wet but was as tough as any old time mountain man and a deadly shot. He won many a turkey shoot with the same restocked model 70 Winchester .220 Swift he used to thin the coyote population a bit each winter.
Pom would drive to a chosen spot and then take off on his skis cruising the ridgetops and slopes glassing for coyotes or fresh tracks. If he spotted coyotes he'd ski silently as close as he could get and then put it to them. If he located tracks in fresh snow he'd ski along them until he spotted the coyote or jumped him and then make the shot. When Pom jumped a coyote he'd drop prone with his skis or backpack for a rest and wait calmly. He knew from experience that a departing coyote's curiosity would get the best of him sooner or later and the canny canine would stop for a look back turning broadside in the process. A standing shot at three hundred yards is far better than a running shot at fifty and Pom was a master of patience. When he killed a coyote or two he'd skin them on the spot, roll the hide on a rope around his waist and keep on hunting.
The fresh cougar track skirted the upper end of several valleys and knowing a cougar had exceptional eyesight Pom used his binoculars and followed the track with his eyes when he could. After following the tracks for several miles Pom topped a ridge and glassed the track below him. The track disappeared behind a ledge of rock and didn't reappear on the far side so the skiing coyote hunter slid noiselessly closer to the cat's apparent lay up. He was fifty yards uphill and upwind when the cat bounded out of his lair and headed across the valley. Pom admitted to being a bit more excited than with a coyote but he waited and when the cat stopped at two hundred yards and looked back, the mountain marksman dropped him in his tracks.
This is the only case I know of where a predator hunter actually beat one of the big, elusive cats at his own game, stalking. Twice I've followed fresh cougar tracks through pristine snow for miles and both times the cats spotted me and played, "cat and mouse," with me until I wore out and gave up. The tracks in the snow showed where the cats lay on a ridgetop or rocky promontory watching me approach until I got with a few hundred yards. Then they simply meandered nonchalantly a quarter mile or so and pulled the same tactic. No panic, no rush and obviously in complete control of the situation.
I've raised several cougars and believe their phenomenal eyesight is equal to that of the pronghorn antelope and their mental acuity at interpreting what they see exceeds that of all their prey species. It's a good thing most cougars are shy and reclusive by nature or there would be a lot less human encroachment on their habitat.
Cougar, mountain lion, catamount, puma, panther, painter, call them what you want but the big cats are back and then some. The cougar population has exploded throughout most of their historical range much to the detriment of the western mule deer and blacktail populations and in some areas even the much larger elk are showing the impact of the burgeoning cat population.
When I moved to Pagosa Springs, Colorado in 1970 I spent many a winter day chasing bobcats with my Plott hounds and during the first ten years or so managed to locate a cougar track or two each winter and treed, photographed and released several medium sized toms. Today there are fifteen to twenty cougar taken from this same area EACH YEAR with four or five killed on the highway by cars. This is not an isolated occurrence! The same tremendous increase in the mountain lion population is being felt in most of the western states and serious human-cougar encounters are becoming more and more common as the population grows and more people are building homes in cougar habitat. There have been several people killed by cougar and numerous non-fatal attacks on people in the past few years and cougars killing livestock and pets is becoming commonplace in many areas. We've just seen the tip of the iceberg and things are going to get much worse before people realize that the big cats need to be managed like any other species and kept within reasonable limits.
When I moved to Pagosa Springs, Colorado in 1970 I spent many a winter day chasing bobcats with my Plott hounds and during the first ten years or so managed to locate a cougar track or two each winter and treed, photographed and released several medium sized toms. Today there are fifteen to twenty cougar taken from this same area EACH YEAR with four or five killed on the highway by cars. This is not an isolated occurrence! The same tremendous increase in the mountain lion population is being felt in most of the western states and serious human-cougar encounters are becoming more and more common as the population grows and more people are building homes in cougar habitat. There have been several people killed by cougar and numerous non-fatal attacks on people in the past few years and cougars killing livestock and pets is becoming commonplace in many areas. We've just seen the tip of the iceberg and things are going to get much worse before people realize that the big cats need to be managed like any other species and kept within reasonable limits.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife won't give an estimate of the cougar population within it's borders but a conservative estimate by several knowledgeable individuals puts the population at approximately three thousand. Hornocker's mountain lion/cougar study in Idaho showed the average cougar killed one mule deer per week or fifty deer per year. That means that Colorado's cat population is taking 150,000 mule deer from a total estimated population of 300,000 deer. Hunters presently harvest between 40,000-50,000 per year. In 1963 Colorado's deer harvest was 147,000 mule deer so the cougar has replaced the hunter as the number one predator on the Colorado mule deer population.
A more recent study on cougar in California, where hunting them has been banned entirely for twenty years, showed the west coast cats were killing a deer every 1.9 days and in many areas had virtually decimated the blacktail deer populations. The California bighorn sheep had to be declared an endangered species to give the state a legal right to control the overabundant cat population that brought a healthy bighorn herd to the brink of extinction within a relatively short period of time.
When you also have peak populations of hungry coyotes, black bear and bobcats munching mule deer on a regular basis the cause of the mule deer decline across the west should be pretty obvious. It darn sure isn't two-legged predators.
Dick Ray, owner of Lobo Outfitters in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and full time lion hunter, feels that pressure from other predators and scavengers is causing the big cats to kill on a more frequent basis today than they have in the past. Dick and I have shared a number of lion chases together and it used to be, when you found a fresh lion kill it was generally a partially eaten deer carcass covered by raked up pine duff, sticks and leaves. In most cases the satiated cat would stay in the vicinity of the kill until the carcass was consumed, before hunting again. Such isn't the case today.
With the proliferation of the protected scavenger birds such as ravens, crows and magpies, a fresh cougar kill is located by the keen eyed birds within a short time and their raucous racket soon attracts the attention of opportunistic coyotes that key on the boisterous birds to locate carrion or kills. (Every magpie may not have a lion or coyote following it, but you can bet every coyote or lion has a magpie.) The constant harassment by a few determined coyotes quickly drives the frustrated cat from it's fresh kill. Under the onslaught from coyotes and flocks of voracious scavenger birds, within forty eight hours or less the only thing left at the site of the cougar kill is a few scraps of hide and scattered bones, forcing the cat to kill again.
If you've ever dreamed of going on a cougar hunt, the time has never been better and you can rest assured that by removing a mature cougar from the population you'll be doing your part to help manage and restore the western deer populations.
Tracking and stalking a cougar as it courses the mountains and foothills on it's hunting forays is, without doubt, the toughest challenge a hunter can undertake. A mature cat can cover twenty miles in a twenty four hour period over and through the most inhospitable and roughest terrain imaginable. You don't have to be crazy to attempt such a hunt but it probably wouldn't be a detriment if you were! Don't attempt this venture alone, take your wife with you and even if you don't track down a cougar you'll show her how miserable and tough hunting can be and she'll probably pay for your next hunting trip.
Calling cougar with a predator call is definitely a workable method for taking a cougar. Calling will work in any section of the country and you don't need snow to be successful. Each year a number of callers working fox, coyotes and cats get surprised by the sudden appearance of a hungry cougar. The main drawback to calling cougar is their relatively thin population density and the penchant for traveling great distances through rugged and remote reaches of the country. Getting within hearing range of a cougar is the key to successfully calling them so an intimate knowledge of the country you are hunting and haunts and habits of the local cougar population is of the utmost importance. To my knowledge I have never called in a cougar even though I have tried on several occasions when hunting in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas where there was supposedly a high density of the big cats. A persevering hunter could combine tracking a cougar on fresh snow with calling when at least you'd know there was a cat somewhere ahead of you that might hear your calling.
The big difference in trying to call in a cougar with a predator call is, time. Typical of most cats a cougar hunts by stealth and is unlikely to come romping in to the sounds of your calling with a total lack of caution. This is probably a good thing 'cause having a hundred plus pounds of hungry and overenthusiastic cat come flying over a bush, landing on you, might be detrimental to your health. Even if the cat realized his mistake and didn't hurt you he'd probably cause you to hurt yourself.
I've talked with several callers that have called up cougar and they recommended calling for at least an hour from each calling stand. There's a fine line between choosing a calling location where visibility is adequate to allow spotting an approaching cat before he sneaks in on you, locates you and disappears without your knowledge of having been in a close encounter, and country that's broken enough for a cat to feel comfortable approaching a critter already in the clutches of another predator. A cougar's sense of smell may not rival that of a coyote or fox but get careless about the wind and you'll never see your quarry.
Another recommendation from successful callers is to use a predator call with a raspy voice or tone to imitate a larger prey animal in distress such as a deer or elk. A mouse squeak or cottontail squall won't reach as far in rugged canyon or brush country and is less likely to appeal to a predator the size of a mountain lion.
The most successful method of hunting cougar is using a pack of well trained cat hounds to trail and tree or bay the lion. For most hunters, this means hiring a professional guide that specializes in such hunts. A quality mountain lion hunt will run from $1500 to $3000 for a six day fully guided and outfitted hunt. I've had several of my friends bring their coonhounds and bobcat hounds from the Midwest to Colorado to chase lions and they've taken several cats and had some rather exciting and long winded elk chases with their dogs. Don't knock hunting behind hounds, especially for an animal with the attributes of a mature cougar unless you have tried it. One of the easiest hunts I've ever been on has been a cougar hunt and without a doubt one of the most exhausting and toughest hunting experiences I've encountered has also been on a cougar chase.
In the first case a rancher called and informed me a large tom mountain lion had killed a colt behind his barn the previous night and asked if I'd bring the dogs and try to catch the cat. By the time I got to the ranch it was nine o'clock in the morning and even with the six inches of fresh snow I figured we might have a long chase. The cat had eaten part of the colt and it's tracks led down into a rocky canyon behind the barn. The country behind the canyon was rugged, roadless pinyon and juniper covered canyon and rimrock country that continued for miles. I led my two best cat dogs to the tracks leading from the corral and Susie, my lead dog immediately let me know she could catch the colt killing cat so I cut her and Zero, my best fighting and tree dog, loose on the track. The rancher and I were still debating whether to saddle horses for the chase or head after the dogs on foot when the two hounds started barking treed. We could see them and the treed lion on the far side of the canyon less than three hundred yards from the barn.
The cat had eaten it's fill, dropped into the canyon and bedded under a ledge within two hundred yards of the barn. The dogs were almost on top of him when he jumped, ran a hundred yards up the hill and treed in a fifteen foot high cedar. Cougar hunting with hounds, a piece of cake!
The very next cat hunt lasted THREE DAYS, covered fifteen miles through crusted snow, slippery slopes, and rocky canyons that left my companion and I with blistered feet, raw shins, numerous rock and stick bites. The dogs were bloody footed, hoarse voiced and totally exhausted when they finally treed the medium sized tom on a ledge above the Colorado River. We'd tied the dogs back away from the ledge and my plumb tuckered and somewhat cantankerous companion was checking my .22 pistol, in preparation for the final shot, when the infernal feline bailed off the ledge and plunged thirty feet into the river. We watched in awe and disbelief as the indomitable feline swam to far side of the steep walled gorge worked his way up a seemingly unclimbable rock wall and walked out of sight on the far side. When my chagrined companion quit swearing at the cat and me he promptly swore off hunting with hounds in general and cat hunting with me in particular and so did I. My vow of abstinence lasted until I found a huge lion track pockmarking six inches of fresh, new snow.
Cougar are without doubt the epitome of the predator species, fascinating creatures, the embodiment of the spirit and aura of vast, rugged and uninhabited places. Magnificent animals that deserve our best efforts at wise management so that future generations may have the opportunity to follow their tracks in a fresh fallen snow, shiver in anticipation and apprehension trying to call one in, or listen to the exhilarating sounds of hounds baying treed among the rimrocks.
Story and photos by Judd Cooney
RED STAG Hunting (Cervus elaphus)
The quality of New Zealand Red Stags are known world wide, the original importations came from SCOTLAND and ENGLAND to provide hunting for the local sportsmen. They soon thrived in a virgin environment with no predators, the result was that they grew heads superior to those in their native homes and became magnificent trophies.
Since (the 1970's) Red Deer have became the base of the New Zealand deer farming industry, farmed for venison and antler.
With imported bloodlines New Zealand now has the widest gene pool of Red Deer anywhere in the world and each year, with selective breeding, trophies of superior standard are being taken. Trophies often display the best characteristics of both English Park deer and the Eastern European wild deer of Hungary, Yugoslavia and Germany.
The largest trophies are taken on game ranches, which are set up to provide the hunter with the best possible hunting experience.
Red Stag are closely related to the North American Elk and will interbreed with Elk. Ranging in size between 200 and 300 kilos Red Stag require a good, medium size rifle and premium projectiles for consistent success. A trophy stag is a splendid and majestic animal, it usually carries 12 or more points, with some exceptional trophies having up to 30 points.
Book your big game hunts with YTB Outdoors and YTB travelmore.
Top Five African Safari Destinations
Any vacations in Africa will not be complete without going on a safari to experience the wild animals and the peace and tranquillity of the bushveld.
But there are literally hundreds of national parks and wildlife areas in Africa that you can travel to.
And some are definitely better than others when it comes to providing the potential for a great safari holiday.
In my experience, and in the general consensus of the wildlife tour industry and other sources such as the first hand accounts of safari trips in the travel diaries at African Safari Journals, here are the top five safari vacations in Africa:
1. Tanzania - Serengeti
During the annual migration, when the wildebeest and zebra pack up and leave their grazing areas to find fresher ones, the Serengeti is an astonishing place to be.
It's a very good safari vacations in africa destination at other times of the year too but the migration has been ranked by many as one of the wonders of the natural world. Hard to beat in the safari stakes.
2. Kenya - Masai Mara National Park
If you want to see the big cats, this wildlife park is top of the pops. Lion, leopard and cheetah abound and they are relatively easy to spot because of the grassland vegetation which means you get unrestricted views for miles around.
Another big plus is the fact that going off-road is allowed as long as you are not making new trails of your own.
This is one of the few vacations in Africa parks that still allows this and it is a big advantage because the animals will rarely oblige you and stay next to the major roads.
The only downside here is that because of it's popularity there are a lot of people around so if you want to spend time in isolation with nature this is not the place to go.
3. South Africa - Kruger National Park
For sheer variety of species no other place in Africa can come close to the Kruger Park. And because it is so large (larger than Wales) it has a number of different ecosystems that you can pass through in your search for animals and birds.
It is one of the best managed parks in Africa and the accommodation and infrastructure is superb.
4. Botswana - Selinda Reserve
Seasoned safari travellers rate this reserve in north Botswana extremely highly and they return to it again and again, drawn by the very high concentration of wildlife, high standard of accommodation and service and exclusivity.
5. Zambia - South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa is a diamond in the rough, just waiting for enough exposure to bring it to its rightful place in the crown of vacations in African wildlife destinations. But for the moment it's relative isolation as one of Africa's best kept secrets is part of it's charm.It has a reputation as one of the best places in Africa to see the elusive leopard and it is the birthplace of the walking safari.
Bruce Whittaker is the founder and CEO of African Safari Journals which contains many safari travel journals and pictures from previous trips to aid in choosing possible African safari holidays and has been on numerous safaris throughout Africa.
Visit YTB Outdoors for more African safari articles
The Greatest Wildebeest Migration on African Safari
The annual wildebeest migration is so massive that over 1,000,000 wildebeest cover the maasai mara plains. The migration is huge that satellites in space capture it as a moving mass in real time. River crossing are exihilating with crocodiles killing hundreds while others die from stampede and drown
The Clown of the Plains: Meet gnu, the Wildebeest.The wildebeest is feted as the clown of the Savannah. Also known as a gnu, the animal has a structure resembling a young horse with a heavily built frontal shoulders and chest and a slender posterior. Its legs are so slender it's intriguing how it supports the proportionately larger body frame. The ‘clown’ title results from its unusual behavior considered to other bovids, for example a gnu herd will usually scatter in different directions when attacked by a lion.
The Migration
What gives the gnu its worldwide repute is not its body structure however, but the sheer numbers and spectre created by its migration. The animals migrate between the Serengeti and Mara Savannahs in Tanzania and Kenya respectively, in search of grass and water. It is estimated that over 1 million of these animals are on the move during the annual migration between June and October. The numbers are so high that miles upon miles of grassland is blanketed by a mass of moving gnu. They simply stretch from one horizon to the next; of the conveniently flat and treeless Maasai Mara Savannah. It is a sight to behold when on your wildlife safari. The wildebeest migration phenomenon is so huge that satellites miles away in space are able to capture the surge as a black moving mass on the plains of East Africa. Now, that’s huge: and it’s even more awesome watching it on the ground or with Mara balloon Safaris.
River Crossing
The most dramatic and memorable safari experience is when you observe the migrating wildebeest/gnus at the several Mara river crossings. Numbers upon numbers gather at such crossings unsure of their next move. The crossings are such notorious spots that the gnus have developed a self preservation instinct over time. Wildebeests will amass in their thousands at banks of river Mara which is rife with the dreaded Nile crocodile and raging currents. Put in the swift current, eminent stampedes and jaw snapping crocodiles in this picture and you get a guaranteed recipe for mass genocide at such river crossings. The Maasai Mara River is usually awash with bloated mass of wildebeest carcass that crocodiles feast on for days on end.
Over 250,000 of the wildebeest die from drowning, stampede, crocodiles and the predators every year. But even this annual carnage is not enough to reduce their numbers.The wildebeest deaths during migration are replenished by the over 400,000 births a year. The deaths during migration are now considered as a natural population check; natural selection at its best.
Do and Die
PointRiver crossings in the Mara are favourite vantage points to observe the Mara wildebeest migration on your Kenyan safari. The animals will gather hesitantly in huge numbers on the banks, unsure of when to take the plunge. The other wildebeests behind the frontline keep amassing into hundreds of thousands until the pressure on the front is too much to bear.They finally take the leap; and when they do, even the waiting crocodiles scatter to the flanks. The fear of being trampled by the millions of wildebeest is too real for even a crocodile to risk a head-on affront. Hundreds upon hundreds make death-daring- high leaps into the water, that the splash makes a swash like a million water falls.The Wildebeest Predators.
Wildebeest Migration is such that a smattering population of other bovids, join in the migration including Zebras and Gazelles. Lion prides also escort (as they eat some, of course) and welcome the migrating wildebeest on either side of the Mara River Crossings. The lions stark up their stomachs with gnu carcass to a point, the prey subdues the prides in the plains with little fear. As long as a lion has had his 35 odd kilos of meat a day, he poses no threat. “All that is needed is to sacrifice a cousin here, a distant aunt there and we are fine.” It’s surely a game of numbers. Leopards on other hand, don’t have to move far to hunt its prey. All they'll do is pounce on unsuspecting wildebeest as they pass by their (leopards) tree parches. The rest scatter as usual in different directions. “It’s just another sacrifice after all; we still got the numbers... no matter what. This is one of the most elusive picture-perfect moments when you are on your African Wildlife Safari.
Visiting the Mara.
It’s not only the carnivores that will escort migrating wildebeests but humans as well. The Maasai Mara attracts such interest that the ensuring demand during the months of June-October cannot be met. You will find it difficult to get a space in the lodges if you do not book in advance. Your accommodation in the Mara ranges from 4star to 5star deluxe lodges, tented camps and simple camping tents. The wildebeest Migration takes place everyday of the 4(July-October) month duration. You are as such guaranteed a sighting irrespective of which month of the 4 you visit.
Your bookings are handled by several very professional companies which also provide transportation and transfers from airports, self drive car hire and accommodation in the Mara. Make sure you see the migration the next time you make a Kenyan wildlife safari.
Tanzania while on an -East African Wildlife Safaris Tour luxury Lodge or budget Camping, Beach Holidays East Africa Mt Kilimanjaro Climbing-Nairobi hotel bookings and airport shuttle transfers Nairobi Arusha moshi.
Travel to Singapore
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The Republic of Singapore, 3 million inhabitants, a small nation (618 km2) which is however one of richest world. Some admire its cleanliness, and the zeal and the discipline of it population. Others underline that the peace and the prosperity of Singapore depend of a strong government which impose rigorous controls on the public life and on the private life, endeavour itself to make admit a certain number of rules as regards clothes or individual hygiene.
Brief History
The earliest known mention of Singapore was a 3rd century Chinese account which described Singapore as "Pu-luo-chung" ("island at the end of a peninsula"). Little is known about the island's history at that time but this matter-of-fact description belies Singapore's colourful past.
By the 14th century, Singapore had become part of the mighty Sri Vijayan empire and was known as Temasek ("Sea Town"). Located at the natural meeting point of sea routes at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore had long known visits from a wide variety of sea craft, from Chinese junks, Indian vessels, Arab dhows and Portuguese battleships to Buginese schooners.
During the 11th century, this small but strategically-placed island had earned a new name - "Singa Pura" ("Lion City"). According to legend, a visiting Sri Vijayan prince saw an animal he mistook for a lion and Singapore's modern day name was born.
The British provided the next notable chapter in the Singapore story. During the 18th century, they saw the need for a strategic "halfway house" to refit, feed and protect the fleet of their growing empire, as well as to forestall any advances by the Dutch in the region.
It was against this political backdrop that Sir Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading station. The policy of free trade attracted merchants from all over Asia and from as far afield as the US and the Middle East.
By 1824, just five years after the founding of modern Singapore, the population had grown from a mere 150 to 10,000.
In 1832, Singapore became the centre of government for the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the advent of telegraph and steamship increased Singapore's importance as a centre for the expanding trade between East and West.
Singapore had been the site of military action in the 14th century when it became embroiled in the struggle for the Malay Peninsula between Siam (now Thailand), and the Java-based Majapahit Empire.
Five centuries later, it was again the scene of significant fighting during World War II. Singapore was considered an impregnable fortress, but the Japanese overran the island in 1942. After the war, Singapore became a Crown Colony. The growth of nationalism led to self-government in 1959 and on 9 August 1965, Singapore became an independent republic.
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Brief History
The earliest known mention of Singapore was a 3rd century Chinese account which described Singapore as "Pu-luo-chung" ("island at the end of a peninsula"). Little is known about the island's history at that time but this matter-of-fact description belies Singapore's colourful past.
By the 14th century, Singapore had become part of the mighty Sri Vijayan empire and was known as Temasek ("Sea Town"). Located at the natural meeting point of sea routes at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore had long known visits from a wide variety of sea craft, from Chinese junks, Indian vessels, Arab dhows and Portuguese battleships to Buginese schooners.
During the 11th century, this small but strategically-placed island had earned a new name - "Singa Pura" ("Lion City"). According to legend, a visiting Sri Vijayan prince saw an animal he mistook for a lion and Singapore's modern day name was born.
The British provided the next notable chapter in the Singapore story. During the 18th century, they saw the need for a strategic "halfway house" to refit, feed and protect the fleet of their growing empire, as well as to forestall any advances by the Dutch in the region.
It was against this political backdrop that Sir Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading station. The policy of free trade attracted merchants from all over Asia and from as far afield as the US and the Middle East.
By 1824, just five years after the founding of modern Singapore, the population had grown from a mere 150 to 10,000.
In 1832, Singapore became the centre of government for the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the advent of telegraph and steamship increased Singapore's importance as a centre for the expanding trade between East and West.
Singapore had been the site of military action in the 14th century when it became embroiled in the struggle for the Malay Peninsula between Siam (now Thailand), and the Java-based Majapahit Empire.
Five centuries later, it was again the scene of significant fighting during World War II. Singapore was considered an impregnable fortress, but the Japanese overran the island in 1942. After the war, Singapore became a Crown Colony. The growth of nationalism led to self-government in 1959 and on 9 August 1965, Singapore became an independent republic.
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Travel to Madrid
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Situated at the heart of the Iberian peninsula, on an high plateau, far from the sea, Madrid gained respectability only in 1561, when Felipe II chooses to install his court there. Its history is enough poor compared to the one of the other big capitals of Europe. With a population of 5 millions of inhabitants, it is one of the big capitals of the nocturnal life in Europe.
About Madrid
The capital of Spain, located in the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the Castillian plain 646 meters above sea level, has a population of over three million. A cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the banking and industrial sectors. Most of its industry is located in the Southern fringe of the city, where important textile, food and metal working factories are clustered. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.
The grand metropolis of Madrid can trace its origins to the times of Arab Emir Mohamed I (852-886), who ordered the construction of a fortress on the left bank of the Manzanares river. Later it became the subject of a dispute between the Christians and Arabs until it was conquered by Alonso VI in the 11th century. At the end of the 17th century, a defensive wall was built for the protection of the new outlying areas, tracing the roads of Segovia, Toledo and Valencia. During the 18th century, under the reign of Carlos III, were designed the great arteries of the city, such as the Paseo del Prado and Paseo las Acacias...
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10 Things to Do in Aruba
If your cruise ship is heading to Aruba or you’re just planning a vacation to this southern Caribbean island, you’ll be looking for things to do in Aruba while you’re there.
Though small, the island has plenty to offer. Of course, there are beaches but there are a lot of fun historical destinations and there are plenty of scenic sites to take in as well. Here’s a great list to get you started:
10 Things to Do in Aruba
1. Ride a Horse Through the Gold Mine Ruins
In 1824, gold was first found in Aruba. Though it’s long gone, you can tour the old ruins via horseback. The Gold Mine Ranch has group and private tours available with prices starting at $55. Children and beginning horse riders are welcome.
2. See the Caves in Arikok National Park
Arikok National Park covers an impressive 20% of Aruba and features a cool series of caves. The Fontein Cave has brownish-red drawings left by Amerindians as well as graffiti etched by early European settlers. The 300-foot Baranca Sunu cave has a heart-shaped entrance, which has earned it the nickname the Tunnel of Love (it’s dark inside, so rent a flashlight to explore this one). The Quadirikiri Cave has two large chambers and a 100-foot tunnel that leads to a nesting area for bats. Roof openings in the main chambers allow sunlight in, so you won’t need flashlights for this one. Photos from the park at Trip Adviser.
3. Hit the Beach!
True, there are lots of things to do in Aruba, but it's hard to imagine visiting without taking some time to relax on at least one of the beautiful beaches. A favorite with cruise tourists is Palm Beach, which is famous for calm waters and is located in front of the major resorts. Try Baby Beach, located in Seroe Colorado at the SE end of the island, for a tranquil swimming cove. For terrific snorkeling, visit Arashi Beach, which is just south of the lighthouse near the NW tip of Aruba. More on Aurba beaches at Frommer’s .
4. Birdwatch at Bubali Bird Sanctuary
If you enjoy watching wildlife, you'll want to check out the winged inhabitants of the Bubali Bird Sanctuary. There are 80 migratory species including egrets, herons, gulls, skimmers, and cormorants. For information on more species and lots of great photos, visit Aruba Birds.
5. Shop Until You Drop at Caya GF Betico Croes
In Oranjestad, Caya GF Betico Croes is the chief shopping street. Here you can find duty-free boutiques selling items from around the world: jewelry, French perfume, German and Japanese cameras, English bone china, Swiss watches, and more. Watch out for aggressive vendors, which are especially noticeable on cruise-ship days.
6. Climb up Hooiberg for Great Views
This 541-foot tall peak at the center of the island can be reached via its 562 concrete steps. From the top, you can see twenty miles to Venezuela on clear days. More information on Hooiberg at Wikipedia.
7. Rent a Moped
For $30-$40, you can rent a moped and explore remote areas of the island. Note, Aruba traffic can be confusing for foreigners, so it’s probably not a good idea to use a moped as your sole means of transportation on the island.
8. Take a Submarine RideWe’ve talked about plenty of land-based adventures you can partake in when visiting Aruba, but have you ever thought about exploring the water? Red Sail Sports’ Atlantis Submarine offers tours of the island’s coral reefs, shipwrecks, and don't forget the tropical fish. It costs about $100 for an hour ride, and you get a dive certificate as proof that you’ve delved down to 150 feet in depth. (If you’re coming in on a cruise, chances are there’s a shore excursion that sets everything up for you.)
9. Play for the Big Money at the Casinos
If you’ll be staying overnight in Aruba, you may be looking for things to do after dark. If gambling is your cup of tea, you could visit the Crystal Casino, the Alhambra Casino, or the Seaport Casino. The Aruba casinos aren’t as over-the-top as what you’d find in Vegas, but the colorful lights and constant sound and motion will still evoke the carnival-like feel. The 8,000 square foot Alhambra has an interesting Moorish theme.
10. Get up Close and Personal at the Ostrich Farm
If you don’t have an ostrich farm at home but wish you did, now’s your chance to visit one. The Aruba Ostrich Farm lets you see and touch these giant birds. They even like to be hand-fed. Learn about their behavior and natural instincts as you watch them stroll around the rugged Aruba landscape that is a perfect environment for them.
That’s it for this list of 10 things to do in Aruba. If you’ve tried any of them, leave a comment and let us know how it went!
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Costs of Common extras on a Cruise
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You've probably heard by now that those "all inclusive" cruise price tags only include your basic meals, your cabin, and the cruise itself. That's actually a pretty good deal, as far as vacation packages go, but chances are you'll want to indulge in some of the extras.
So, if you're wondering how much that massage will cost you while you're on the ship, take a look over the list below.
Typical Costs of Cruise Extras
Food
Alternative Dining (meals in the special restaurants on the ship as opposed to eating at the buffets or in the dining hall) -- $10 to $30 per head.
Beverages and Spirits
Beer -- $3.50 to $6
Wine -- $15 to $300 per bottle
Mixed Drinks -- $3.95 to $6.75+
Soft Drinks -- $1.50 to $2.50 (or get an unlimited week-long soda card for $35-$40)
Services
Babysitting -- $8 to $10 an hour (for two kids)
Dry Cleaning -- $2.50 to $7.50 per item
Internet -- $0.50 to $1.50 per minute
Massage -- $99 to $128 (for 50 minutes)
Phone Calls -- $5.95 to $15.95 per minute (though you can often get cell reception on cruise ships nowadays)
Entertainment
Shore Excursions -- $30 to $400+
Casinos -- As much as you want to spend! (no cover charge to get in though)
There you have it. A list of many of the common extras that aren't included in the price of your cruise. So, even if your tickets have been paid for, you're going to want to bring along some spending money!
Source: Cruise Vacations For Dummies
Published from Cruises 101
Advantages for Booking back to Back Cruises
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For many people, a cruise by itself is a luxury to be enjoyed, but what if you could take back-to-back cruises and stay on vacation twice as long?
A back-to-back cruise is when you schedule two consecutive voyages on the same ship.
It may not be as pricey as you think, as many cruise lines offer discounts for your second cruise in a back-to-back scenario. Why? They love to get their cabins booked, and they also love to keep you coming back with discounts for frequent cruisers.
Scheduling a back-to-back cruise doesn't necessarily mean seeing all the same ports over again either. There are a lot of cruise lines that offer alternating itineraries. For example, in your first week, your ship might cruise the eastern Caribbean and in the second head over to the western islands.
Though alternating itineraries for back-to-back cruisers are probably most common the Caribbean, you can also find them in Alaska, on the Mexican Riviera, along the east coast and Canada, and even in Hawaii.
Ok, so we've got two perks so far: discounts for back-to-back cruises and the chance to see twice as many ports. Here's one more advantage to taking two cruises in a row:
You only have to fly down once!
If you booked two cruises a couple months apart, you'd have to pay the expense of flying or driving to the departure port twice. With back-to-back cruises, you get two vacations (or one extended vacation--however you want to look at it) for the price of one round-trip plane ticket.
Tips for booking back-to-back cruises
To keep things stress-free, it's a good idea to book your sailings a good six months in advance. This is a good way to ensure you can get the same cabin for both trips (who wants to pack and unpack again in the middle?). Of course, if you don't mind moving, you may be able to finagle a free cabin upgrade in as a perk of booking that second trip.
Also, consider talking to a travel agent, since they may be aware of specials that aren't advertised on websites.
For more information on this topic, check out this great article on the subject that was printed a couple years ago in Cruise Travel.
Published from Cruises 101
How Booking Back to Back Cruises Saves You Money
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It doesn't matter how much money we make; we still like to find a good deal.
If you enjoy cruising, and you've got a couple weeks you can take off, you can get a great deal from many cruise lines by booking back-to-back cruises.
This is when you sale twice in a row on the same ship. You probably wouldn't want to take the exact same trip twice, but a lot of times ships will cruise in one area and then head to a nearby locale for the next cruise. You don't necessarily have to sign up for week-long cruises either. For example, you could book a 2-day cruise to the Bahamas with Carnival and then follow-up with the line's 4-day cruise to Cozumel and Key West on the same ship.
Cruise lines love to have repeat customers and can offer up to 50% off on your second cruise. This way you save money even as you lengthen your vacation time and increase the number of ports you get to visit along the way.
Sometimes you can even use this strategy to cruise for two weeks and get the third week free.
Just ask your travel agent to help you find these deals.
Published from Cruises 101
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If you're heading off on a cruise for the whole family (or even just for two), chances are different people are going to want to do different things, at least some of the time. So, how do you keep track of everyone?
You have a couple of options: verbally setting times to meet up (or leaving sticky notes on cabin doors), calling each other on cell phones (most places you cruise to you'll be able to get cell reception), or picking up walkie talkies.
Sticky notes are free but cell phones can get costly, especially when you figure in roaming charges. That's why walkie talkies are popular with some families.
Many of them have ranges large enough that you will be able to talk to family members anywhere on the cruise ship, and there's no roaming charges with these puppies.
If you're worried about walkie talkies taking up too much room in your luggage, you may want to check into extra small ones, such as the wrist watch walkie talkies shown here. You can get a decent set for about $50.
Published from Cruises 101
Cruise Cabin Differences
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When you book your cruise, one of the first things you'll do is choose which cabin you want to stay in.
There are several types of cabins, all with different price tags. Sizes range from tiny (60 square feet) to huge (5,750 square feet). Of course, there is some variation from line to line, but here are the basics you can expect for each type (price for inside cabins is cheapest and goes up from there):
Inside cabins -- These rooms come without a view. They are on the inside of the ship and have no windows or portholes. They are very dark when the door is closed, so if you are claustrophobic, you may not like an inside cabin. However if, like many people, you tend to enjoy all the ship has to offer and just use your cabin for sleeping, this sort of accommodation may work just fine for you.
Outside cabins -- The next rooms up will have windows or portholes, so you get a little light coming inside and you can get a glimpse of what's going on outside of the ship.
Outside balcony cabins -- In addition to, or instead of, a window/porthole you'll actually get a little private balcony you can step out onto. Private is relative, of course, since you'll usually be able to see your neighbors or even the people below you on their balconies. Beware the term "French balcony" in the room description, because that just means there will be doors you can open for air but you won't actually have room to go outside.
Suites -- These are the largest and most expensive living spaces on a cruise ship. They usually feature a balcony and junior suites that may or may not have balconies of their own.
Published from Cruises 101, lets help Annie get her cruise!
What is Freestyle Cruising?
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Do you like to dress up?If you answered no, then freestyle cruising is for you.Some people really like to dress up, but I hate it. I work from home, and I don’t have to interact with clients face-to-face, so my wardrobe consists of t-shirts, jeans, and sweatshirts. I’m convinced the desire for this loose, laid back attire is the reason I became self-employed. The free-to-do-what-you-want-when-you-want-and-sleep-in stuff is all well and good, but it’s really about the clothes.
Since I don’t get excited at the idea of shopping for clothes (I know, I’m an embarrassment to womankind all over the planet), I wouldn’t even know how to shop for formal attire. I have this vision in my head of walking into some fancy-smancy place and getting kicked out, just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, but alas I don’t have Richard Gear’s no-limit credit card to save me.
But I digress (actually I’m not sure I ever was on topic).
This post is about freestyle cruising and what that means.
Basically, freestyle cruising means you don’t have to go to the set dining times that are arranged on most cruise ships. You aren’t assigned a table, and you don’t have to get to know the same people every night if you don’t want to. You can go to eat whenever you want. And best of all, you don’t have to dress up.
Oh, you still can if you want to, but nobody is going to stare at you or make you feel awkward if you stroll into the dining room in shorts, flip flops, and a tropical shirt. (To me, I can’t imagine wearing much else on a Caribbean cruise vacation!)Besides, I haven’t factored shopping for new clothes into the money I need to earn to pay for my first cruise.
So, in short, freestyle cruising means:
no dress code (no formal attire needed)
no restrictions on when you dineThe cruise line that’s famous for its freestyle cruising policy is Norwegian (can you guess who I’m looking to book with?).
no dress code (no formal attire needed)
no restrictions on when you dineThe cruise line that’s famous for its freestyle cruising policy is Norwegian (can you guess who I’m looking to book with?).
Posted from cruises 101. Cabin Girl Annie hope to earn enogh money from her blog to go on a cruise, so I am publishing a few of her articles in hopes of helping her achieve her goal and finally go a her dream cruise.
Spring Break Vacation Financing
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With prices up on travel this year and the struggling economy, we sought out some Spring Break and vacation financing solutions for our clints.
fast, unsecured loans....Get paid to travel this Spring Break!
Top 10 Spring Break Hot Destinations for 2008
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Cancun is most of the way back after 2006's Hurricane Wilma -- get a passport, though! This little piece of Mexico is pure craziness during March and April: margarita madness and a massive influx of students doing the spring thing on drop-dead gorgeous beaches and in late-late-late night clubs. Hop the ferry to Cozumel or the bus to Playa del Carmen for slower-paced sandy paradises. Xel-Ha is fun for snorkeling, and Tulum is worth a visit (90 miles south; go early a.m.) -- great beach and unba ruins, but don't expect nightlife (the quiet nights -- generator-powered lights out by 10 -- are part of the charm).
Acapulco's not Mexico's best beachside city (that might be Puerto Vallarta), but it's tried, true, and ready for you. Acapulco's turf war problems have little to do with you -- mind your Mexico manners and consider student travel safety tips, and you should be as safe as you would in any US city.
Acapulco beaches range from quiet hideaways, like Playa Pie de la Cuesta, to elbow-to-elbow humans, like La Condesa. Stay in a hotel on the Costera (main drag) -- drop by the small Puerto Marques village for an afternoon.
Florida's Daytona Beach has definitively fallen out of the top spring break hot spots running and Panama City's top dog billing will again get some serious encroachment from Miami, including South Beach, this year. Panama City is a sure bet for the kind of foolish fun that makes a break memorable (or not!), while South Beach is a tres cool club scene (are you really ready?). Panama City: 27 miles of sugary sweet beach on the Gulf of Mexico (west coast of Florida). Temps in the 70's during the day and blessedly cool at night. As for Fort Lauderdale... you may want to read what they think about you before you make reservations.
Do think about hopping a cheap flight to the islands while you're here -- pretty Puerto Rico, perhaps.
You don't need a passport to drive to Mexico this year, making Rosarito Beach once again a mega spring break 2008 hot spot. Parts of this oceanfront Baja town just south of San Diego (20 miles) and the sprawling border city of Tijuana can be charming, and but most is just good-time party central. Learn about what there is to do inside and out in Baja with some Rosarito Beach photos and get the Rosarito Beach nightlife scoop, plus some Rosarito Beach hotel ideas.
Don't overly worry about the recent spate of Baja roadside burglaries if in town, but perhaps reconsider if you're planning to camp -- maybe not the best time for that.
Ski resorts are moving up on the list of cool spring break hot spots for 2008 -- check out a list of the top Colorado ski resorts welcoming you, plus some ideas for Whistler, Jackson Hole, Heavenly, a few quieter spots, and some places you may want to give a pass (snowboarding's still prohibited in some US resorts that are best left to your grandparents, anyway). I live in Rocky Mountain high country now, and have lived in, partied in or skied all but one of these top ten ski resorts -- and I promise it's all good. Get the whole skinny on how to get there, and where to stay and party.
Europe (yep, the whole joint) gets its own spot on the list of spring break hot spots for 2008 -- Amsterdam, London and Paris will be the cities in which you'll see the most American students, with Rome a close fourth place followed by Florence, Frankfurt, Madrid and Berlin. Those are mostly chilly cities at this time of year, so the social scene will be indoors (your hostel's always the best bet for finding the party place), but the sights will be free of summer's mobs... great time to be in Europe.
The forecast for spring break 2008 in Negril, Jamaica, is sunny and the outlook is partly party, party, party with scattered water sport fun. And this year, expect major music action from Jamfest, a concert series slated for March Mondays, featuring folks like Shaggy and Bernie Man. If you go, remember that Jamaica is a developing nation; cheaper hotels may not have fully functioning amenities and parts of the island can be a walk on the wild side. Don't fear to adventure -- just be safe.
We welcomed Puerto Vallarta to the list in 2007, and this pretty Pacific coast Mexican town will again have a lot of what you want for 2008 -- friendly folks, awesome nightlife, beautiful beaches and great all-inclusive hotel deals. All the action's not just at the beach, either -- this is one of those cool jungle-meets-mountains towns and you can parasail or mountain bike, or do a zipline tour. Hasta pronto!
The US's Las Vegas and Havasu are off the supreme hot spots list (hopefully forever -- neither of 'em particularly want you), but South Padre Island, where vacations are biiiig Texas style, is still a fave for students this year, though we do sometimes wonder why (a bit) with more exotic locales easily available for cheap. South Padre's guaranteed fun, though; if you go, the sandy spit near Corpus Christi is windblown but sunny, and Padre Island proper has hundreds of miles of beach. The gang's all at South Padre, where you can find fresh shellfish and every conceivable kind of water sport. Surf's sometimes a little rough. Scooters are a great way to get around the whole island.
