Archive for September, 2010
Jamaica Sailing Cruise Vacation: Beyond The Tourist Traps
While its dazzling white beaches are not much different from those you will find on a dozen other Caribbean islands Jamaicas remarkably dense tropical landscape and soaring Blue Mountains with their perfect coffeegrowing terrain has far more than the sun ocean and sand to recommend it as a cruise destination. Jamaica has more than 100 rivers plunging and tumbling from their mountain sources on their way to the sea miles of hiking and equestrian trails and jungle canopy tours to appeal to the most adventuresome cruise enthusiasts.
Jamaicas beach resorts are of course its most popular tourist destination. Seven Mile Beach at Negril on the islands westernmost point is famous for its rugged cliffs and unforgettable sunsets. Negril however lacks a harbor so your sailing cruise ship will have to leave from one of Jamaicas three portsofcall.
Jamaicas northern coast is where you find Mo for Montego Bay and Ocho Rios its two busiest resort towns. Montego Bay is home to the “Hip Strip” formerly known as Gloucester Avenue where you will find plenty of shops restaurants and clubs. If you want a natural healing experience you could head for the mineral springs at Montego Bays Doctors Cave Beach.
A more familyfriendly portofcall Ocho Rios is home to one of Jamaicas biggest craft markets along with an abundance of dutyfree shops and a generally more relaxed lifestyle. Perhaps the most stunning of all Jamaicas three portsofcall however is its smallest one. Port Antonio on Jamaicas north east coast was in days gone by a magnet for Hollywood elite and the favorite hideaway for Errol Flynn.
Far removed from its three most popular ports of call is Jamaicas capital city of Kingston which is also the largest Englishspeaking city in the Caribbean. Jamaica has a rather turbulent history beginning with its reputation for harboring pirates centuries ago.
Most Jamaican sailing cruises are scheduled between January and March which is also Jamaicas peak tourist season. You probably will not be able to book a Jamaica sailing cruise between July and November when the heat heavy rains and possible cyclone conditions make it too dangerous to sail.
When making arrangements for your Jamaica sailing cruise pay attention to the legal details. Once you have reached Jamaica you will have to let customs know that you have arrived and give them access to your ship for inspection. They will ask you or whoever is managing your Jamaica sailing cruise to supply information which includes your cruise ships registration team list and affirmation a record of the ships stores and your departure permission. While many amateur sailors arrive at Jamaica in their own yachts the great majority of tourists taking Jamaican sailing cruise vacations simply rent their boats. Most of these sailing cruises last between seven and 10 days departing from Montego Bay the site of Jamaicas airport. Negril however is another ideal departure point for a Jamaica sailing cruise.
You have a choice of three different types of ships for your Jamaican sailing cruise. There are crewed charters skippered bareboats and if you are an accomplished sailor bareboats. If youre new to Jamaica getting a skippered or crewed boat will ensure that your sailing cruise hits thelargest number of attractions. Having a crew on board will also give you as much free time as you like to enjoy Jamaicas remarkable beauty!
About the writer: myroadtotravel was created in late 2007 as way for my wife and I to do what we love most…Travel. We love to share our experiences with others and have recently created our first blog myroadtotravelblog.com to help us do just that. Through this blog we offer travel tips our own personal experiences/adventures and photos from our vacations. Please stop by and give us your feedback and remember for all your travel booking needs please visit us at myroadtotravel.com
Jamaican Vacation Resorts: Unparalleled Family Fun
Regardless of your budget you will not have to worry about finding accommodations in Jamaica. Jamaicanaccommodations range from clean safe guesthouses priced at between 10 and 20 a night to 300 per night resort suites with full maid service. Of all the Caribbean islands however Jamaica is the one on which you are most likely to find allinclusive resorts.
By booking your reservations at one of the allinclusive Jamaican vacation resorts you will not only have a comfortable room but you will receive all your meals and snacks airport transfers drinks gratuities the use of all the resorts facilities and water sports if it is a beach resort. If you stay at one of the all inclusive Jamaica vacation resorts the only money you will need to carry is what you intend to spend while shopping. You will even be provided with a bus for your shopping expeditions!
The one catch to choosing one of the all inclusive Jamaican vacation resorts is that many of them will not accept children. So before you book one find out what its policy on children is. If you are traveling with your family to Jamaica do not worry. Some first class allinclusive Jamaican vacation resorts accept kids and weve listed just two of them:
The Beaches Boscobel Spa Resort at Ocho Rios has plenty to keep every member of your family busy. For the adults there is the fun of a swimup bar and the kids will love the free pools and the enormous water slide. Kids can also enjoy face painting treasure hunts arts and crafts classes as well as the presence of Sesame Street Elmo and the gang.
Your all inclusive Beaches Boscobel vacation will let you try your hand at windsurfing sail boating scuba diving and hydrobiking. The family can marvel at the Caribbean marine life with a trip on the resorts glass bottom boat. The resorts five restaurants are certain to have food to please palates young and old and do not forget that the cost of your meals is included!
Your allinclusive Beaches Boscobel stay will entitle you to play to your hearts content at the nearby Sandals Golf and Country Club widely regarded as one of the best in the Caribbean. Even the kids are welcome as long as the little ones under 10 tee off after noon. Your greens fees and transportation to the golf course are included but you will have to pay for the mandatory caddy.
The Beaches Negril Resort and Spa is another of Jamaicas outstanding familyfriendly vacation resorts. Located on 20 acres along the widest stretch of Negrils famous Seven Mile Beach the Beaches Negril Resort has accommodations to suit everyone from solo travelers to families with toddlers. All its rooms or villas have patios or balconies with ocean or garden views.
The family will be enchanted with Beaches Negril Resorts Pirates Island with its own river to dizzying water slides a pool bar and a snack and soda bar to keep both parents and kids relaxed and refreshed. The selfserve ice cream machine may be the hit of your familys entire Jamaican resort vacation!
Beaches Negrilhas its own tennis court openair fitness center and Xbox 360 Game Garage and five worldclass restaurants offering cuisine from TexMex to Japanese to the International buffet where the kids can munch on fish fingers to the Caf Carnival with its fresh madetoorder pizzas. Snacks and drinks are available around the clock.
About the writer: myroadtotravel was created in late 2007 as way for my wife and I to do what we love most…Travel. We love to share our experiences with others and have recently created our first blog myroadtotravelblog.com to help us do just that. Through this blog we offer travel tips our own personal experiences/adventures and photos from our vacations. Please stop by and give us your feedback and remember for all your travel booking needs please visit us at myroadtotravel.com
Israel Back On The Tourist Map?
Israel suffered a slump in tourist numbers between 1999 and 2001. Those from Britain numbered 200000 in the former year 80000 in the latter only two years later. What had happened in the intervening time? The second intifada had broken out in September 2000 after peace talks collapsed during that summer. The intifada lasted a ghastly five years.
TOURISTS ARE BACK
However despite the war against Hezbollah in the summer of 2006 Israel is now judged to be relatively stable and tourist numbers are rising again. From the UK 167000 visitors travelled to Israel in 2006 and within a year the number is expected to be ten per cent higher. Guidebook publishers are starting to put Israel back on the map.
The revival comes not before time for Israels tourist industry which was barely scraping by since 2000 but has lately picked up enormously. The country attracts not only religious devotees but also plain tourists interested in the multiplicity of things that the country has to offer.
ABOUT ISRAEL
srael is tiny: nearly 12 Israels would fit into the area of the United Kingdom. Nevertheless it boasts no fewer than 54 national and nature parks displaying a range of features from Turkish baths to mosaics from Roman ruins to mediaeval citadels from spas to fortresses. Kursi for example on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee is mentioned in the New Testament as the scene in the country of the Gadarenes at which Jesus exorcised the devils from the body of a man and transferred them to a herd of pigs. The pigs then purportedly hotfooted it down to the water where they drowned.
JERUSALEM TEL AVIV
Jerusalem it goes without saying is a place for all seasons for worshippers and heathens for historians and shoppers for photographers the light and the yellow stone of the old buildings are wonderful and restaurantgoers. Tel Aviv is one of few capital cities that are situated along a beachfront and also have a 24hour culture suited to all ages and tastes.
SECURITY
Security is tight on leaving as well as entering the country. Here is the text approximately of a conversation my partner and I had with a security officer on our first visit to Israel my thoughts in italics:
Security Officer SO: Sorry to ask you a personal question but what is the relationship between you two?
I: We are partners.
SO: You live together?
I: Yes. We work together too.
SO: You live together and work together. How long have you known each other?
I: Two and a half years.
SO: How long have you been living together?
I: Two years.
SO: So youve been living together for two and a half years.
I: No weve known each other for two and a half years and been living together for two years.
Are you trying to catch me out or are you just forgetful?
SO: How often do you have sex?
No sorry I must have imagined that one. It just felt as if we were being asked that.
SO: Where have you been staying in Israel?
I: Partly with relatives partly in youth hostels.
SO: Ah!! You have relatives here. How are they related to you? What are their names? Where do they live?
I told her.
SO: Do you speak Hebrew?
I: No.
SO: Have you ever made any attempt to learn Hebrew?
As though my learning five words of Hebrew would make me less likely to be carrying a bomb.
I: No.
SO: Is this your first visit to Israel?
I: Yes.
SO: For both of you?
I: Yes.
SO: Why have you come to Israel?
I: Because I have relatives here and we thought it would be interesting.
SO: Ah! And you havent visited the relatives before?
Good thinking kid. I already told you that.
SO: So youve been living in the UK for 34 years. How come youve been allowed to stay in Britain that time?
None of your business. Thats between me and the British government.
SO: Have you spoken to any Israelis while youve been here?
No Ive temporarily turned into a deaf mute.
SO; Were your relatives born in Israel or did any of them make aliyah immigrate?
I: The ones Im seeing were all born in Israel.
SO: So none of them made aliyah?
I: No they were born in Israel.
As before.
SO: And where do the relatives live?
I: In Tel Aviv in Karkur in Yiron Kibbutz on the Lebanese border and in Kfar Yehezkel.
SO: And you dont speak Hebrew?
I: No but my pronunciation of names is all right isnt it?
SO: Not bad for a foreigner.
In the end I expressed my puzzlement at some of the questions. What possible indication of my ill intent could they glean from for example the fact that my relatives were born in Israel?
I could tell you said the security official but Id have to kill you afterwards.
Dont bother. In the end I later realised the heat of an Israeli summer nearly did that.
Apart from the questioning at the airport Israel was one of the most beautiful countries I have so far visited and the people were extremely hospitable. So welcome back to Israel and as the Israelis say: Enjoy!
To find the best holidays to Israel look for the UKbased operator AwimAway 020 7430 1766 www.awimaway.com that offers adventure and experiential holidays around the world customised to suit your desires and your budget.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;? 2006 Harish Kohli.
Harish Kohli is an avid traveller who likes to share good adventure travel ideas with others. He is also CEO of AwimAway.com where he can help tailormake an experiential or adventure holidays for you. Visit www.awimaway.com to see what’s new on line.