I am planning a vacation for the beginning of July but don’t know where to go. I enjoy beaches and visiting ancient ruins. Please advise. Thanks!
I spent 7 years in Costa Rica… It is a must see country. Beautiful beaches, friendly people, rain forest… What more could you ask for.
What area is it best to stay during the carnival in Salvador (Brazil, South America)?
I’d like to stay near a beach – we have also heard that renting an apartment is cheaper, rather than a hotel. Any suggestions?
i don’t know, maybe on the terrace so u could a good view and not get mugged
Also, if you have visted all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, which ones are the nicest, cleanest and most friendly to guests?
Tough question. in the caribbean are many places with nice beaches Starting from in Samana, Sosua, Bahibe(Bahibe is
Brad Pitt favorite beach in the DR is has a beautifull sunset), Punta Cana. in The dominican Republic. Orient Bay, Guana bay in St maarten, In St Barths. Anguilla. and many more.
Is it to do with her shoulder surgery she had during off season?
Its called Kinesio Tape. Its helps more blood flow to that area it also protects her shoulder so she doesn’t strain it.
It is the end of an era in Thailand. Political changes occur rapidly in SE Asia. Nowhere is that more evident than inside the Land of Smiles. In the wake of the John Karr / JonBenet Ramsey fiasco, Thailand has tightened restrictions on Tourism Visas and stymied the lives of tens of thousands of travelers. Officials claim the two are not connected.
For many years now, backpackers have flocked to Thailand. It’s tropical climate, gentle citizens, inviting beaches and ease of travel beckon youthful exuberance. Over time, many of us have matured to suitcases and still less-stylish travelers followed suit.
During these Golden Years of Thai travel visitors form 39 countries could enter the Kingdom of Thailand for thirty days without obtaining a visa before their arrival. Those staying on longer would simply make a border run, cross out of the country and return, often within minutes. Whish! Stamp! Boom! They had another thirty days.
Currently details of the new regulations are as clear as mud in an unlit cave. It appears starting October 1, 2006, travelers such as myself will be able to make a maximum of two border runs. We receive thirty days on arrival. Then, we receive thirty days each for the two reentries. After that we may not enter Thailand again for ninety days. In other words, after ninety days in, we must leave for ninety days. Whish! Stamp! Stamp! Out!
The tourism industry will suffer! From taxi drivers and guest houses, to massage schools and laundry services, the impact will be felt. I imagine a Tuk Tuk driver will look up this January and think, “Hey, where’d everybody go?” I like to believe the cumulative economic loss will be more than the Kingdom fathoms and policies will loosen again over time. I also still hang a Christmas stocking up for myself.
Alongside Thais, how are long-term travelers being affected by the changes? If you think the inconvenience to individuals is negligible, consider the following. Here are some examples.
Donald Wood – UK
“My sister and her family were to spend February in Thailand with me. They have canceled their trip. Why? Because, I’ll be out for ninety days by then.”
Kelly Laidlaw – USA
“I paid for a one month TEFL Course and two months ‘volunteer’ teacher training on Samui next year. That’s three months total. I lose days from each 30 day allotment, because I have to do my visa border runs on weekend (to not miss class). This is what I’m left with. I leap into Thailand the day before class starts and sprint for Samui. Then, I fly out the day after I finish teaching/graduate. Perhaps a prospective school can interview me in the Tuk Tuk on the way to the airport.”
Claude DeVosjoli – France
“I had many plans for my six months- sure to travel, but more. I’m always doing something. Mahout training, an expansive meditation experience, maybe I learn to cook Thai. And, there’s trekking, Muay Thai courses… There’s so much to do here. Now I can do only half. Half lose my francs. It’s so hard to choose.”
Barry Anderson – Australia
“Funny thing is Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar) lost business because of the Thai regs. I wanted to hop over there bouts for a week mid-November. Can’t now. That would use up one of my precious two visa runs early. Don’t wanna torch thirteen days I figure.”
Kathy Taylor – Canada
“I sold my home to come to SE Asia for a couple years. The thinking was I would maintain a small apartment in Chiang Mai, take some classes, travel around a bit and have a place to nest and write in between. Now when I travel to other countries it will go lock, stock and barrel, along with my tourism dollars for many months.”
Alan McLawrie – UK
“I’m currently taking classes to learn to speak Thai. I’ll miss the third level now. Of course, I’ll be off in Vietnam not able to practice what I just learned anyway. Also, I volunteer at a dog rescue and will miss the pups. I’m financially independent, yet too young to meet the 50 year old requirement for a Retirement Visa here. Officials actually said this new law will stop bad people and not hurt good people. Well, if financially successful, charitable volunteers who study their culture are bad guys, send me to the front of the line.”
Anita Kroll – USA
“This change is a bit of a pickle for me. I have a three month course this spring. So, in December when my 90 is up, I have to leave Thailand for almost four months, not three. I’ll need the whole next lot of ninety days to cover my class time. The course starts in late April and I’m out in December. I wish there had been more notice before the government changed things, though in retrospect I did not have to pay in advance.”
As you see there are dozens of ways Thailand’s new policies will cause little inconveniences. But, how little are they? You see, I am Anita. I am Alan. I am Kathy, Barry, Kelly, Donald and even Claude DeVosjoli. All these issues occurred for just one peaceful gal who simply loves Thailand. What else do these issues have in common? That’s easy. They take money away (Whish!) from the Kingdom of Thailand and its citizens.
Nola L. Kelsey
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/coping-with-thailands-tightened-visa-regulations-58437.html
Learning all about Spain is the best way to plan and enjoy your vacation. Spain is a diverse country in terms of culture and geography. The geography consists of lush meadows, snow covered mountains, beaches and desert areas. There is something for everyone in this country.
Spanish cities offer historical sites, cultural regions, night life and beaches. There are hundreds of cities to choose from for your trip. Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that is well known for its amazing architecture. Madrid is the capital. This city has great museums and abundant night life. The Costa Blanca has beautiful beaches and a great climate.
All About Spain: Language and Travel
The language spoken in Spain is different from that typically heard in North and South America. Castilian is the most widely spoken from. It is closely related to Portuguese and is influenced by the Italian and French languages. Other less common forms, such as Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in some areas.
People travelling from outside the country generally arrive by airplane. There are many international airports located throughout the country. Most major airlines offer flights to the major airports in the country. Several discount carriers offer flights to Spain at reasonable prices.
Once you are in the country, travel by bus is one of the easiest ways to travel. Larger cities and areas have good public transportation services. They are convenient and offer frequent schedules to tourist areas.
Car hire companies operate in most large cities and in nearly all airports in the country. If you want to travel extensively or just want the freedom to travel where and when you want, this may be a good choice. You can find information on these companies on the internet or from your travel agent.
All About Spain: Food and Accommodations
There is a wide variety of restaurants throughout the country, both in large cities and smaller areas. Seafood is popular in coastal areas. This is very fresh and is delivered daily. Meat is common as well, with a wide variety of both meat and fish on most menus.
Very little frozen food is served in Spanish restaurants. They mainly use fresh meat, vegetables and other ingredients. High quality ingredients are used in most Spanish dishes, rather than a lot of spices or preservatives.
Lunch and dinner schedules may be different from many other countries. These tend to be later. Lunch is often eaten at around two o’clock in the afternoon. Dinner may be served as late as nine o’clock or even later.
Bars can be found all over the country. This is a great way to meet and interact with local people. There is no age restriction to enter a bar. You will find that public drunkenness is very rare in Spain. This is frowned upon by the Spanish people.
There are many choices for accommodations in Spain. A Parador is a state owned hotel. These are unique and rich in history. Many are located in historical buildings. Some are in old castles. These are a great way to experience the culture and history of the area.
If you prefer a more home like atmosphere, there are many choices in property rentals. An apartment, house or villa may be more to your liking, especially if you are planning an extended stay or are travelling with a family. Rentals can be found through travel agents, real estate agents or on the internet.
All About Spain: General Information
Spain is part of the European Union. The country began using the Euro for currency in 2002. Most merchants and businesses will not accept other currency. You can exchange your money at banks or international airports.
Credit cards are accepted all over the country. You will also find ATM machines conveniently located. You will need to show identification or a passport at most places to use your credit card. This is for security and to prevent identity theft.
Peter Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/food-and-accommodations-all-about-spain-133306.html
In the South Pacific Hawaii is comprised of six tropical islands. Hawaii is one of the most picturesque visitor destinations you can find in the world. The excellent beaches and many outdoor activities that Hawaii has to offer makes for an excellent tranquil setting. Many unique zoos such as the only rainforest zoo in the United States is found on the big island of Hawaii. You can also find several well known beaches in Hawaii such as the Kailua Beach and Waikiki Beach. Maui is also an excellent island for the outdoor enthusiast which two dormant volcanoes and activities such as biking and whale watching.
Many vacationers to Hawaii end up going to Honolulu on the island of Oahu. This city is known for its wide selection of resort accommodations along with an excellent variety of activities such as scuba diving, deep sea fishing and swimming with dolphins. In addition, Honolulu features Waikiki Beach which is known as one of the best beaches in the world. If you prefer other activities then Honolulu also offers the Waikiki Aquariums, the Honolulu Zoo and the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. If you prefer your outdoor activities in the form of nature walks then there is the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve which offers trails that focus on giving you the experience of unspoiled Hawaiian flora and fauna while promoting the preservation of local marine life. For the history buffs there is Pearl Harbor which features the USS Arizona Memorial to those who died in World War II.
The second most popular destination in Hawaii is Maui which has the world’s largest national park called Haleakala. In addition the west shore has some excellent beach options. Some of the best surfing and windsurfing in the world can be found at the Ho’okipa Beach Park on the east shore. In addition the small historic town of Lahaina nearby offers an excellent selection of museums and cultural activities. You can also experience the unique option of the Molokini Snorkel Cruise which lets you visit a half submerged volcanic crater that has some of the most unique marine life anywhere in the world. Between December to Mid-May there are number of humpback whale watching cruises available to visitors.
An excellent option for accommodations in Oahu is the Doubletree Alana Waikiki which gives you very comfortable and beautiful rooms with prompt customer service at about half the price of other hotels in Hawaii. It also features great cuisine at the Padovani’s Restaurant downstairs and it within walking distance of the famous Waikiki Beach.
In Maui an excellent option is the Pineapple Inn which is very small, but has a terrific value. There are only four rooms at this inn with one cottage. However it offers excellent panoramic ocean views and an excellent tropical garden. Each room comes with a small kitchenette so you can stay in your room and enjoy the ocean for as long as you want.
G. Chadwick
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/enjoy-excellent-beaches-in-hawaii-128099.html
Traditionally, investing in property in Mexico has been largely overlooked due to the troublesome political history of the country and the perceived economic risks involved.
However, more recently, Mexico has really started to grow and has become much more stable, economically, politically and even socially.
Tourists are now keen to travel to Mexico to make the most of the beautiful coastline and the warm climate. In particular, North American tourists have begun to flock to Mexico, although the appeal is now becoming more widespread with tourists from further afield also realising what this country has to offer.
In order to cater for the tourist market, there has been a huge influx of apartments and new build properties in the popular resorts of Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa.
Although new builds are by far the most popular option for those looking at investing in property in Mexico, there are also plenty of older properties available at very reasonable prices.
In these popular regions, property prices have risen consistently over the last few years, at an average annual rate of over 10 percent. Some analysts fear that the market in these regions has now seen the sharp increase and that those considering investing in property in Mexico should look to the less developed areas.
One of these potential options is Manzanillo, on the Pacific Coast, in central Mexico. Until recently this area had been overlooked, as it was consider to be inaccessible and to have weather extremes.
However, the reality is far from this and Mexicans going on holiday have been travelling to this region for decades! The area does not attract the weather extremes that were originally feared and has miles of beautiful undeveloped coastline to explore. The figures suggest that this area is undergoing a huge boom, with property prices rising more than 15 percent a year.
Despite the recent surge in prices, they are still considerably lower than the more popular areas of Mexico, with a detached house a few minutes from the beach available for purchase for under 100,000 US dollars!
One investor has stated: ‘The temperature is perfect and the beaches are spectacular. Even though you are able to find beaches and beautiful places all over the world, it is the people that really make Manzanillo a marvellous and special place one would not want to leave’.
Tourism is vital for anyone investing in property in Mexico. Over 55 percent of Mexico’s revenue comes from tourism and it is likely that this will be the main audience for any property investors. With this in mind, it is ideal to invest in areas that are experiencing substantial tourist growth such as Campeche, where a huge holiday resort is planned to attract tourists to the area.
The tourist market in Mexico is going from strength to strength, with 22 million visitors making their way to Mexico last year; and this is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
It is this factor that makes investing in property in Mexico a wonderful option for someone wanting to make the most of a booming market and a country very much on the up, in every way.
Tem Pearson
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/investing-in-property-in-mexico-91420.html
Why Bulgaria? It’s not just the good value of the land. Take a walk through a blizzard in Sofia, the capital city, like I did last winter. The snow is falling thick and fast and cars fly past me down the boulevard seemingly trying to break the world land speed record. Realising that I have a free afternoon I turn my head and through the falling snow and over the rooftops I can make out the looming white shape of Vitosha mountain. Let’s time this. Forty-nine minutes later I am looking down on the city with a snowboard attached to my feet flying down the mountain at death defying speed. What a place to live; work in the morning, snowboard in the afternoon. A lazy countryside, yet more rugged mountains and quaint villages lie a few kilometres beyond. Beaches stretch along the coast further out.
Of course there is more to Bulgaria than a few mountains and beaches. The countryside is varied and spectacular, littered with pretty villages. The people are warm and friendly and will invite you to drink a rakya with them, not caring that you don’t speak a word of each others language. On semi-major roads it is not uncommon to see a top of the range BMW overtaking a horse and cart. Eating out in a fresh seafood restaurant is cheap and the fresh fruit you find at road side stalls along the highway is some of the most delicious I have ever tasted. The country is also a major exporter of quality wine.
This mix has become a magnet for discount holiday seekers, and the property dealers – like myself – that follow. The Bulgarians have risen to the occasion, dropping what they’re doing and setting out their stalls to sell any property that they can.
Of course it wasn’t just the hot bulgarian properties that put me in competition with the locals. On my way back from a reconnaissance in June 2004, I arrived early to the airport to be in plenty of time to reserve my favourite window seat. To my utter dismay there was no window on my aisle and I was lumbered with a ‘wall seat.’ The Bulgarian girl next to me found it amusing, commenting “nice view!” Within 3 months we were living together in Sofia. Three more months and we were married. Daniel Brailsford was born 5 months after that. Fast work.
So I went online with everyone else and found many punters would prefer a cheap little cottage set in beautiful mountains or seaside areas. However, due to decrepit properties that often are worth nothing more than the land they are built on, money may be spent better elsewhere. Many of these properties have ownership complications hanging over them to boot not to mention being nigh on impossible to get to during some of the most brutal winter months. It became apparent that new-built developments are a far more sensible investment.
The capital is one destination many foreign investors are missing. While the coastal market has grown at an unnatural rate, and this may be of concern to the speculator, a capital city is the fairest measure of the true nature of a property market. Bulgaria will join the European Union in 2007. This will further cement stability and lead to further investment on all levels. All this combined and you have the perfect ingredients for steady and sustained urban market growth. It isn’t a bad investment for those willing to up the stakes and gamble on an apartment in the capital, especially new construction.
All things considered, in a foreign country with different laws and language it’s foolish to embark on anything without a good lawyer. English nationals can register a Ltd. company in Bulgaria when purchasing the equivalent to an ‘English freehold’ of land, or property with land attached. The law will change in this respect to bring property ownership in line with other European countries. When land is not part of the parcel – for example when purchasing an apartment – company registration is not necessary to gain freehold of the property. The daring are not finding these things to be much of a barrier.
The tricky thing is finding a trustworthy agent among the crowd, and that is where new investors in the region are stumbling. With my father as a former estate agent now specializing in surveying and having worked for him within the constraints of professional rules and ethics, with a civil engineering degree under my belt and construction experience, I was more than a little shocked at what I found in the Bulgarian market. Enforcement and good professional associations have not cleaned up the mess that high demand is spurring.
I spent a few months working with a Bulgarian estate agency of questionable ethics and following a failed coalition with some other wannabe estate agents, I discovered anyone can be an estate agent here and have heard various stories of people being considerably mislead. That’s not to say that all agents are sharks, but it does pay to shop around.
Unfortunately there are no numbers, nor a professional watchdog to say how much of this money might find its way into dubious transactions, but English investors might do well to check out their potential agents before leaping into the market. If regulation of the Bulgarian estate profession can be implemented, perhaps through EU accession everyone will be better off. If it all works out, more Britons will be flying the flag in the balmy Balkans, broadening the pool of pub-goers, and just maybe walking with a Bulgarian wife hanging off their arm. The bulgarian property I can find for you; a wife you have to find yourself.
Thomas Brailsford
http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/bulgaria-property-investment-it-does-pay-to-shop-around-18006.html
Costa Rica is a very attractive country for expats. It is an increasingly popular destination for retirees, ‘escapees’, ‘PT’s’ and others seeking a better life. There are many places you can go to in the Caribbean or in Central America, but this place is really an opportunity to live in the paradise.
This dreamland, bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the West and the Atlantic in the East, is full of rain forests, vibrant and colorful life, tamed volcanoes and amazing beaches. On the whole, Costa Rica is a friendly place with low cost of living and agreeable weather.
If you’re seeking for a great place for a second home, easily accessible from North America, where you can buy inexpensive, developed real estate or profit from a booming rental market, Costa Rica is for you. The real estate is a bargain compared with the U.S.A. and Canada and you don’t have to be a resident to buy it. There are some wonderful deals in Costa Rica. The real estate market on the Pacific coast is ‘Red Hot’ and we are still seeing good growth and appreciation. But if you plan to invest in property in a foreign land, be careful, because it’s not that simple to know what you are likely to get as in your country. Always work with professionals.
There are also many tax advantages if you choose Costa Rica. Investors pay no capital gains taxes on real estate, business taxes are minimal and high interest bank accounts are tax free. Property taxes are also reasonable compared to the United States.
This lovely country with white-sand beaches, unspoiled tropical nature and several national parks offers numerous more benefits out of the exceptional natural beauty. A very low incidence of violent crime (no society is crime free), a low cost socialized health care system, a wealth of every imaginable activity, including exciting sports activities like canopy; two excellent English newspapers, cable and DirectTV with all of the U.S. channels, American-like malls, good infrastructure and relatively cheap public transport are all make this country one of the favorite destinations all over the world.
As for the cost of living, most people can live on less than $1,000 monthly excluding rent. Some live for less and some for more depending on their lifestyles. Be careful with prices, because sometimes when a tico see a gringo coming, the gringo price is always 3 times the ‘regular’ price. But you can avoid these situations if you speak some Spanish and shop wisely.
However, this kind of lifestyle is not for everyone. If you are the type of person who is used to all of the comforts of home-efficient bureaucracy, first-class service, punctuality, etc.-then living in a country like Costa Rica might prove to be a little bit frustrating. But with patience and understanding of the culture and the advantages of this behavior and casual lifestyle, you will enjoy living in Costa Rica.
Fruzsina Csery
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/living-in-costa-rica-85444.html