Image via WikipediaIf you like warm, arid weather, beautiful sunny beaches, and stunning sunsets, Aruba might be the perfect vacation spot for you. This little treasure in the Caribbean caters to tourists, especially from the United States, so many people find this to be a great destination. If you’re interested in Caribbean travel, check out what Aruba has to offer to you.

Aruba is found not far north of Venezuela and is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the best things about this island is its climate. Unlike many of the other island in the Caribbean, Aruba does not have a generally rainy climate, and in fact is home to desert-like terrain featuring a few species of cacti.

The standard of living in Aruba is very high, and they cater toward a classy, high-end market. Therefore, if you wish to travel to Aruba, your stay may be a bit pricier than in some of the nearby islands in the Caribbean, like the Bahamas or Jamaica. However, the stay is definitely worth it. Aruba has famous white sand beaches and beautiful clear blue waters. If you like water sports, you don’t have to lie on the beach all day! You can try diving, snorkeling, sailing, swimming, parasailing, jet skiing, or any number of other fun adventures.

The Carnival season is important in Aruba and takes place from January until Ash Wednesday. Just as in many other Caribbean countries, Carnival in Aruba has a variety of great festivities in which vacationers on the island can take part. This includes midway games and children’s rides, parades, contests, parties, and special foods. If you’re looking for an exciting time to visit Aruba, try during the Carnival season.

Because the majority of this island’s revenue comes from tourism, and many of their tourists come from the United States, Aruba’s residents usually speak English. The America dollar is also widely accepted (for a fee) in the major shopping and restaurant districts, and the exchange rate is fairly fixed, so money is easily exchanged if you want to do so. More and more, Aruba is becoming a second home for the wealthy from the United States and from around the world.

Aruba can be your sole vacation destination, and you can fly directly into the country’s large public airport, or you can take a cruise throughout the Caribbean islands and stop to enjoy Aruba for the day. The island has a little something for everyone, so whether you like a relaxing vacation to sleep in the sun or an exciting vacation full of adventure, Aruba is a destination in the Caribbean that you should consider.

Gone are the days where a person had to use a paper travel map in order to find out how to get from one place to another. Now there is new technology called GPS systems, or global positioning systems. These devices, which have been used by the military for many years have recently become popular with the public. These are electronic devices that come in different forms, from handheld models to display models that are mounted or even a permanent fixture of some newer cars.

These devices, which are controlled by satellite, work by punching in a starting address and the final destination address. Once that information is put into the GPS, the GPS will guide the person step by step, turn by turn until the person has arrived at his or her destination. Some GPS systems will actually talk to you and tell you exactly where to turn and when, others are simply an interactive map that will show you on a display when and where to turn, but will not give verbal directions. Along with showing or telling the person where to turn, it also says where you are at, at which direction you are currently heading.

These global positioning systems, or GPS, are very handy to drivers since the driver does not need to be hassled with a large map while he or she is trying to keep their hands on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road. This is particularly true for those drivers that are driving without someone else to navigate for them. These GPS systems are also very handy if a person does become lost. Because the system will tell the person where they are at, they could call for help and be able to tell another person their direction and exactly where they are.

Not only are GPS systems useful for drivers, but they are also very useful to anyone that is unfamiliar with any location that they are at. Take for instance hikers. With hand held GPS systems, they can make the most of their hike and again, if they get turned around, they can find out how to get back on track if they know which direction they should go in relation to the direction they are currently headed.

Of course, this new technology is very handy and can save a person a lot of hassle, but it is important to understand how to use the particular system, and to understand that not all GPS systems work exactly the same way. It is also important to know that with any technology, they may not always work and it is still a good idea to have a traditional back up travel map, just in case.

Whether using an electronic device such as a GPS, or using a traditional map, it is a good idea to become familiar with it and familiar with your destination before you actually leave for any trip. Maps, whether traditional or electronic are only as good as the person that knows how to use and read them.

Image via WikipediaAbout the Country

Cyprus is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is inhabited with mountains on the north and south and the south coast is covered with plains. The temperatures are really hot indicating Mediterranean climate. Winters are cooler. Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus. The currency used here is Cypriot Pound.

Culture

Greek, English and Turkish are the languages spoken here. There is a mixed culture of Greek and Middle East. The locals are very friendly and welcome outsiders with an open heart and make them feel at home by offering them with something to drink. To greet someone a handshake will do. It is customary to offer the guest a small gift when invited for dinner. One can dress casually, but the swimsuits must be confined to the beaches only. Social functions call for formal dressing.

Site Seeing

The country is full of vineyards, 12th century buildings, orchards and monasteries. Be careful when photographing outside. It is forbidden in military areas and special permission must be taken for taking pictures in places like museums and art galleries. Most of them do not allow flash photography. Taxis can be hired to move around the big towns in Cyprus, which charge according the government regulated meters. Tipping the drivers is customary.

Electricity

240 V, 50 Hz

Getting There

Port of Famagusta at Ammochostos and Port of Kyrenia, and airport of Ercan, have been declared as illegal ‘ports of entry’, so check it out while planning to get there.

The national airline is Cyprus Airways. It connects most of the major cities of Europe. Other forty airlines, too, serve at the airport of Larnaca, which are 5 km away from Larnaka and 50km away from Nicosia. Taxis can be hired to reach any destination from there as there is lack of buses and trains services at the airport. The other services that are offered at this airport is duty-free shops, bank, tourism and hotels information, restaurants, car hire, post office and reservation office. The other airport, Pafos, is 15km away from the city and it takes about 35 minutes to reach the city from the airport. It provides the same facilities like the Larnaca airport.

The major ports of Cyprus are the Limassol port and Larnaca port which connect other ports of Middle East and Greek. Not only ferry services are provided here, even cruise services are provided here.

Cyprus Island is not connected by roads to other countries, but roads run across Cyprus connecting all the cities and villages. Buses run on roads except on Sunday but they run late in the mid-night during summers. Tourists can get on to rural buses to surf through the remote villages, but they are very slow. If planning to hire car, advanced booking is recommended, especially in summer as the booking is full most of the times. Do remember to carry a National driving license or International driving permit.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
2. 1l of spirits (over 22 per cent volume) or 2l of fortified wine or sparkling wine
3. 2l of still wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
4. 800 cigarettes or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco
5. 10l of spirits, 20l of fortified wine, 90l wine, 110l beer

Most of the food items and items relating to agriculture are prohibited. Explosives and fire arms are a strict no-no.

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It has been a goal of ours since before our oldest son was born, 22 years now, and we are getting ever closer to Hawaii. He doesn’t know it yet but he is not invited on our first trip to Hawaii so we wait until he is out and then we scan the internet looking for places to visit and places to stay while we are visiting Hawaii.

As we find places that are worth mentioning we will add them to our travel blog so you can benefit from our research and experiences.

Today I came across ParrishKauai.com. I’m excited already at all the choices for places to stay. Here are the three choices that got our blood and minds active.

• Poipu Vacation Rentals
• Poipu Condos
• Poipu Home Rentals

What could be more relaxing than staying in a Poipu Home Rental instead of a 2 bedroom hotel room or a four person tent. We have gone to Florida a few times where we stayed in a rented home and it was twice maybe three times the vacation. Even backyard BBQs, try that at a hotel.

Because we have waited so long for this, the first of many trips to Hawaii, we intend to stay in comfort. No more camping out or Disney theme hotels, sorry son, that was fine when we were taking you and your buddies with us.

If our son is good to us and gives us a grand child I think we will take them with us to show our appreciation.

My wife and I are baby boomers who love to travel. As the time to retire draws ever closer we are looking for places that we can travel to for months instead of days. Not that where we live isn’t beautiful because it is and the beauty is why I moved here. But we want to see other beautiful places and we have a spot in mind.

My wife and I are just itching to see the Na Pali Coast. I visited http://www.napali.com/ and my mouth dropped open. The beauty almost brought me to tears. It’s breath taking and a feast for the eyes not to mention the fact that is’t warm and we are sitting here freezing our buns off in -15 degree weather.

We have done the coastal tours, to see whales, where we live, we saw exactly one, and we really enjoy seeing the flower pots sticking up out of the ocean but it’s time for new scenery and warmth.

We won’t be going for another year at least but that gives up plenty of time to plan our trip. Our goal will be to experience the Kauai boat tours along with Kauai whale watching. I see this as a trip of a lifetime so it will just be my wife and myself, sorry son.
Our tours will be through Capt. Andy’s Boat Tours. He offers sailing adventures, which we have never done and raft expeditions as well, which we have never done. I feel like I am starting to twitch just talking about it.

Learn more through this online comprehensive Na Pali Coast Guide.