The Cheap Cruise

Made up of about 700 islands and located just a short flight or cruise from the mainland United States, the Bahama Islands are a wonderful tropical retreat. It is perhaps the most popular destination for cruisers, especially first time cruisers. Like its Western “cruise cousin”, the 3-day jaunts to Ensenada and points in Nortwest Mexico, a Bahamas cruise is a great choice of busy people who need a few nights away from it all.

Nassau, the capital city on the island of New Providence, is an easy to explore city with losts of history, shopping and food. A day’s excursion brings with it ample charm by exploring it’s grand architecture and getting to know its charming residents.

The architecture is mostly 18th and 19th century colonial which remind one of the city’s origins as a modern city. Be sure to see Parliament Square when you tour the city to get a real feel for the history of the islands.

Like tropical beaches? Make sure to leave time for relaxing on the Bahamas’ warm Caribbean beach and waters. Here you’ll find sailing, snorkling and diving opportunities. Or, just kick back and enjoy the wonderful tropical sun.

And, when you’re ready to kick up your heels and party, the nightlife in Nassau is alive with great dining and casinos and nightlclubs.

Freeport, the Bahamas’ second city on Grand Bahama is a must visit. Like its name implies, Freeport offers duty free shopping in its huge internationa bazaar. Bring your credit card!

But Freeport is not just for shoppers. It’s night life is known the world over. It offers world renowned entertainment and cuisine.

The Bahamas are just a short hop away. But, even though close, offers American travelers a whole different world. Visit this tropical paradise. You won’t come away dissapointed.

Tiny Teterboro, New Jersey is situated just south of Hackensack at the edge of the Meadowlands only twelve miles from midtown Manhattan. This Bergen County borough is mostly known for its airport, as the residential properties in the town are few. Indeed, recent census figures put the towns population at just 18 souls! Meanwhile, business dominates the town and the airport, named for the town, is the chief job generator in the town as well as in surrounding communities.

At just over one square mile, Teterboro certainly is easily missed. Bordered by state highways 46 to the north and 17 to the west, the town would certainly be overlooked unless you failed to notice the regular flow of general aviation traffic entering and leaving the airport. Indeed, Teterboro Airport {TEB} ranks as one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country serving Piper and Cessna owners all the way up to Gulfstream V charter operators.

In 1917, a Mr. Walter C. Teter purchased what is now known as Teterboro from North American Aviation, who had operated a plant on its site during the first world war. Over the years, the airport changed hands several times until, finally, in 1949 the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey purchased the airport. Since then the authority has operated the airport through contractors or has managed it directly; vast improvements to Teterboro Airport have been made since the authority assumed control.

Teterboro is the home to numerous aviation companies including Atlantic Aviation, Million Air, Jet Aviation, First Aviation Services, and Signature Flight Support. All five companies operate what are known as Fixed Based Operations {FBOs} which provide essential airport services including aircraft fueling, passenger processing, and more. In addition, aircraft hangars occupy key sections of the airport for operators to house their expensive business jets within.

One of the most famous landmarks in the Teterboro is the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of NJ. Located on the airport grounds the museum, which opened in 1972, was the first state aviation museum in the nation. Aviation pioneers Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhardt both flew in and out of Teterboro.

Towns bordering Teterboro include: South Hackensack, Little Ferry, Moonachie, Wood-Ridge, and Hasbrouck Heights. Indeed, the entire lower third of the airport actually falls within the boundaries of Moonachie.

What do women want? For many, it’s the array of eateries, galleries and specialty shops that can be found on an Art, Antiques and Appetizers tour.

More than 20 museums and galleries featuring folk art to fine art stay open late the first Friday of every month in Tallahassee, Fla., with the new First Friday Gallery Hop. A three-hour trolley tour can help take it all in as the state’s capital city offers a conglomeration of cultural complements.

Whether donning T-shirts and jeans or high heels and pearls, ladies get a chance to catch up and laugh during antique-hunting side trips to nearby Havana, Fla., or travel the town boutique bopping for stylish new accessories. When it comes time to sit back, relax and savor samplings, Tallahassee has diverse dining choices, from fine French restaurants featuring appetizers such as sauted foie gras to rustic farmhouses, known for complimentary boiled peanuts.

With its mixture of tree-lined roads, deep-rooted history, rolling hills, moss-draped oaks, cool climate and Southern-style hospitality, Tallahassee is an excellent location for a girlfriends’ getaway for the weekend. The city features a variety of other sights and adventures, including the site of America’s first Christmas, a wildlife habitat, capitol buildings, civil rights monuments, fascinating museums of history, highly acclaimed fishing, hunting adventures and nearby beaches.

Vacations are for getting away; getting away from work, stress, and for you over-worked parents: the kids. So this next vacation, leave the kids at home and take an inexpensive romantic getaway on the island known as The Island of Romance: Catalina Island. This exclusive island off the coast of California is offering visitors packages and discount rates from April 1 to June 15, 2006.

Romance Getaway packages include round trip boat transportation, accommodations, and include other bonus gifts such as free champagne and chocolates, spa treatments, sightseeing tours and complimentary breakfast. The room rates start as low as $154 per person.

Catalina Island is located just 22 miles off of the coast of Los Angeles. It has been inhabited for nearly 7,000 years beginning with the Gabrielio Indians. The Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to visit the island in 1542, and since then the tiny island has changed ownership several times and is now owned privately

In the late 1880s, George Shatto, the owner at the time decided to turn Catalina Island into a notable tourist destination. It was he who had the idea to build the town of Avalon, which remains the islands only city and main hub of activity. To bring in the tourists, Shatto constructed golf courses, and hotels galore. He also encouraged people to go hunting, and to pursue other outdoor activities.

Today, the island still maintains its historic beauty. Though it contains all essential utilities such as electricity, water and phones, it obtains its drinking water by collecting rainwater in specified areas throughout the island. The water is then purified and piped to the towns of Avalon and Two Harbors.

The island, which is the closest island to the mainland, is easy to get to and offers an appetizing array of activities and special events throughout the spring, including:

* Jewels of Avalon Tile Walking Tours
* Earth Day Celebration
* 12th Annual Catalina Island Rugby Festival
* 1st Annual Catalina Island Hoe-Down
* 19th Annual Silent Film Benefit
* Conservancy Summer Naturalist Programs

Avalon, the islands only city, offers a unique romantic setting that is part of Catalinas Mediterranean charm. Many of the hotels on the island have in-room fireplaces, whirlpool Jacuzzi tubs, private balconies, and ocean views.

For more information about Catalina Island, including transportation, hotel availability, activities, and special events, visit http://www.CatalinaChamber.com. For more information about the history of the beautiful island of Catalina visit http://www.colapublib.org/history/catalina/, http://www.catalina.com/history.html

Locked in the vaults of Scottish legend lies an enigmatic stretch of water famous the world over. Within the wells of Celtic folklore, the mystery of Loch Ness has baffled scientists for decades.

Loch Ness sits in the north of Scotland, near the town of Inverness. It forms part of a series of lochs running from the Irish Sea on the east coast, over to the North Sea on the western shoreline, almost dividing the country in half.

Loch Ness is the deepest body of water in the United Kingdom. Despite its natural beauty and standing as a tourist attraction in its own right, of course the real reason Loch Ness achieves cult status is the legend of the Loch Ness Monster.

Since those first blurred, black and white photographs from the first half of the twentieth century, the legend of the Loch has kept the world captivated; countless scientific expeditions have failed to reach a conclusion, elevating the monster myth.

Standing on the shores of Loch Ness, I have come here to experience the aura and mystery which has besieged the entire neighbourhood.

Drawn by a desire to meet the land and its people, I headed north from England, navigating the secluded mountain roads and low winter sun.

The journey trod a magnificent path through the bleak Scottish mountains, the neighbouring landscape carpeted with a blanket of snow. An immense feeling of isolation gripped me along the open roads, greeting little other traffic.

This was quintessential Scotland, just as nature had intended. Vast, wide open spaces, with barely a sole to witness, civilisation stripped to its bare bones. Lifes fundamentals were all this place required.

The water rippled gently about my feet as I stared deeply across the waters surface, clear, but for several birds bobbing on the surface. I felt the answer to the legend was out there somewhere, but it was going to take a better man than me to work it out. I was simply here to enjoy the ride.

Theres a romance about the uncertainty. The enigma drives the tourist trade, on which the livelihoods of many people depend. But its not just about money. The people here are proud to be associated with such an iconic landmark.

To be honest, Im undecided whether the truth either one way or the other is what people really want. I get the impression the majority of locals feel the same way.

After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The Horror

As my new Russian friend walked down the hall, I reflected on the information he had provided me with a grimace. The train ride from Khabarovsk to my destination, Chita, was going to take three days. I had already been traveling for four days and the thought of 3 days on a train made meunhappy.

While reflecting on this development, I had an opportunity to take a look at my new neighbors, errfellow passengers. They were moving in. Literally. Pillows, sheets, bags full of food. The general impression was we were going to be on the train for a long, long time.

As we actually cleared the city, I told myself to look at it as an adventure. An adventure? Oh, yes.

Of Crackers and Grape Juice

Nutrition is an odd thing. Like many, I try to eat a healthy diet with vegetables and so on. Of course, a stressful day at work has led to more than a few fast food meals. On the Trans-Siberian Railway, I wouldve killed for fast food.

Contrary to what another passenger had told me, the food car on the train was open for business. The woman in charge of our car told me this in limited English and an exasperated look on her face. Well, she didnt lie. The food car was open. Unfortunately, the only thing it was selling were boxes of crackers and grape juice.

Im not a big cracker fan, but Ill eat them. I happen to like grape juiceor I did. For the next 48 hours, Grae, a fellow traveler, and I munched crackers and drank juice. Then we drank juice and munched crackers. Then we crushed crackers and put them in the juice. Then we made feverish declarations to never eat crackers or drink juice again. Ever.

The Funny Part

After 48 hours of crackers and juice, I was more than willing to starve. I kept having nightmares about the horrible things happening in my stomach. Grae apparently had arrived at the same opinion. Cinching up his pants, he went to hit up our fellow travel companions for some real food.

Part of the fun of traveling is realizing how foolish you really are. When you are in a country where you dont speak the language, you are going to eat a pretty hefty amount of humble pie. What the hey, we were hungry.

After five minutes, Grae returned to our compartment with one of those looks on his face. We had lived on crackers and grape juice for no reason. Yes, we could buy food at every stop the train made by just walking into the train station. And we stopped a lot.

As we pulled into a little town, Grae and I were hanging from the doors of the train. We ran into the station andall they had were crackers and grape juice. Just kidding. I am not sure what we bought, but it was the best food Ive ever had.

Next stopChita!

Read more of this Russian Travelogue at NomadJournalTrips.com

We were on the Radiance of the Seas for the western Caribbean cruise on November 28/04. This was our second cruise with Royal Caribbean with our first last year on the larger Adventure of the Seas. After one cruise with RCI, I expected roughly the same standards with the Radiance and in general, I wasn’t disappointed.

Staterooms:

Our stateroom was an inside aft cabin and we were not disappointed. It was roomy enough and the lighting was adequate. Closet space and drawers were also sufficient for our use. We noticed that the double beds here were actually a bit better than the one we had on the Adventure since we couldn’t really feel the split between the two separate beds like we did last time. If there’s one thing that can be improved is the shower curtain. The one installed was not adequate in keeping in all the water from the shower. The shower on the Adventure utilized a double glass door system which was far superior. Otherwise, the cabin was nice and dark for sleeping at night. Although we heard a little noise from the cabins next to us, it was minimal. We didn’t miss having any window or balcony at all since we were hardly ever in our stateroom. We were either at port or elsewhere on the ship and went back to our cabins just to relax or sleep. We would definitely book an inside cabin again with RCI unless we had a free upgrade.

Dining:

The main Cascades dining room was nice and meals were good. Breakfasts had the same menu every morning. Lunch at the dining room was okay. The dinners were good but not every meal item was a winner. There was the odd appetizer and dessert that was not up to par. One thing that my partner noticed was that the portions of the main courses seemed to be smaller than those served on the Adventure. We usually went upstairs to the Windjammer to get more food after dining at the Cascades. In some parts of the Cascades room, the tables were placed too cramp so walking to out own table was tricky at times. The self serve Windjammer was good. It usually had more variety of food than served downstairs at the Cascades. Breakfast and lunch were busy at the Windjammer but during evenings, most people chose to dine at the Cascades. The two other optional restaurants onboard Portafino and Choppe House were available at $20 US per person but we never tried them since the meals already included at the Cascades and Windjammer were fine by us. Other passengers who did go to these optional rooms told us that they were nothing special. There was another cafe available during late evenings called the Seaview and they provided fare such as sandwiches, salads and burgers. This was a nice feature. One thing we did object to was that they charged for the coffee and tea there. There was also a specialty coffee place on the main centrum of the ship and they also charged. We had more availability of free beverages on the Adventure.

Service:

The service by the stateroom attendants and dining room staff was top notch as expected.

Entertainment:

The evening shows at the Aurora Theatre were a mix of the ship’s own crew of dancers and singers plus some outside comics and singers. In general, the shows were quite good. We would have liked them to mix up the entertainment each night rather than allocate music, comedy and magic into different evenings. Rather than an entire show of magic, we would have preferred each night featuring a variety of entertainment. Live music around the ship was a nice added touch.

Amenities:

Although smaller than the Adventure, the Radiance had fine amenities including the gym/spa, mini golf, pools and the shops. There was internet access but at 50 cents per minute, the service is a bit steep. There were things to do during the days at sea such as art auctions, cooking demos and dance classes. However, we felt that there was more offered on the Adventure. As for embarking and disembarking, there was no problem on the Radiance. The 6th level contained the casino and for non-smokers, this was a problem. The ventilation in the casino was not great and as a result, cigarette smoke travelled to adjacent areas near the casino. My partner wanted to avoid going on the 6th level whenever possible.

In summary, we enjoyed our cruise on the Radiance of the Seas. However, comparing it to the larger Adventure of the Seas, we would rate the larger ship a bit higher. We liked the huge promenade on the Adventure which was not available on a smaller ship like the Radiance. Given a choice in the future, we would opt for the larger ship. For first time cruisers, the Radiance would still be a good ship to vacation on. This is simply the case of where veteran cruisers would expect more especially if they have been on higher end ships.

Beach vacations continue to be the most popular choice for a romantic honeymoon getaway. Honeymoons are the ultimate romantic vacation and just about any destination can translate into a romantic rendezvous for the newlyweds. The following five suggestions are a few of the several honeymoon vacation ideas.

The Hawaiian Islands are an excellent honeymoon vacation selection. If you decide to do some island hopping and visit the other islands or spend your honeymoon on the island you chose it impossible not to enjoy a romantic vacation. The beautiful beaches and cool, clear aqua colored water are just a few of the amenities of honeymooning in Hawaii. Hawaii also boasts a cultural extravaganza of its own and offers its visitors the ability to sample the richness of a foreign land.

Although it is expensive, Bora Bora is another romantic honeymoon destination and it is worth every penny. Its an out of the way location that is does not get frequented by many tourists like other popular honeymoon destinations. The serenity of the islands will create an atmosphere that is wonderful and relaxing for you and your new partner.

Colorado is a great romantic honeymoon location. The majestic Rocky Mountains and ready availability of woodsy cabins make Colorado a great getaway; it is truly famous for its winter sports. Choosing to honeymoon in Colorado will give a couple an adventure based destination.

Las Vegas can also be a very nice honeymoon vacation location. It is known as, Sin City, and is famous for its glamour and gaming, but Las Vegas can also be a romantic location for a couple enjoying their newly formed relationship. The location offers a plethora of luxuriously appointed rooms in a variety of styles and themes. This wide variety guarantees that there is something for everyone in Vegas.

European locations such as France, Portugal and Slovenia are also popular romantic honeymoon vacation destinations. The traditions and culture that these areas boast make them special by giving a couple the chance to be surrounded by the allure of history. Additionally, if the newlyweds do not speak the native languages, it gives the couple a sense of being all alone even in a crowd which enhances the romantic atmosphere.

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Urban dwellers would normally prefer to rove around the metropolis and explore every side-street in search for ideal refuge, more than traveling to remote provinces. However, there are more than 7,000 reasons to explore the parameters of this archipelago, taking into account its profuse land and marine resources and myriad sanctuaries.

Among the many interesting regions in the Philippines is the mountainous terrain and savanna in northern Luzon as inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of this region is Sagada. With a measly P2,500, a determined explorer can take a fulfilling jaunt to Sagadaa serene mountain community in Mt. Province. The adventurous travelers would customarily take the 10-hour bus ride from Manila to Banaue, Ifugao (via Solano, Nueva Ecija route) that costs not more than P300.

In Banaue, travelers have the option to take the day off and trek along the well-engineered Banaur Rice Terraces or take a jeepney ride to Bontoc and from there, one can catch a bus ride to a more tranquil region, Sagada in Mt. Province.

Sagada has economical lodging houses and hotels to spend the night over. For as low as P200, a traveler can avail of a bedroom for two and a well-scrubbed common bathroom with sufficient amount of waterfor an overnight abode. Even though electricity and water are accessible in these highland regions, one of the guidelines in immersing to remote areas is not to expect for urban amenities.

However, the lack of adequate necessities is not an hindrance to any devoted backpacker. Indeed, the remarkable view of the mountains, sight of abundant natural resources, and exposure to mountain community are enough reasons to enjoy the trip.

Trekking along the narrow mountain trails of Batad and Bangaan Villages in Banaue is one of the many leisure options where panoramic views of the terraces can be enjoyed. To keep track of the trail, a number of villagers can be hired for hours as tour guides.

The trip is truly breathtaking and for an amateur trekker, the long hours of walk should not impede them to reach the other side of the trail. There are a number of brooks along the curvy mountain range that are guaranteed to quench ones thirst during the hours of hike. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring endpoint is an antidote to muscle pain.

Batad is comparable to realizing the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow. It boasts of scenic and unspoiled layers of rice fields forming a colossal amphitheater, where native Ifugaos mostly dwell. The terraces is still a functional source of livelihood and personal sustenance for Ifugaos, except for some where irrigation systems have been destroyed through seepage, landslides, prolonged drought, erosion, and other inevitable natural calamities.

Situated in the heart of Bergen County, New Jersey at the crossroads of state highways 4 and 17 is the town of Paramus, home to some 30,000 residents, but also home to one of the largest retail meccas in the world. Lets take a look at Paramus and what has made this town such a popular destination for shoppers.

Convenience Nearly one million people live in Bergen County, but draw a 75 mile radius with Paramus at the center of it and the figure mushrooms to over 20 million people! Yes, all of northern and central New Jersey, New York City, southern New York State and parts of Long Island and Connecticut fall within this circle. That makes for a lot of potential shoppers in such a compact area.

Malls Four big malls plus several free standing retail establishments are located within the town. The largest is the Garden State Plaza, a beautifully enclosed mall with over two million square feet of retail space. The Garden State Plaza features 280 establishments including Nordstrom, JC Penney, Lord and Taylor, Macys, and Nieman Marcus. Other nearby malls include the Bergen Mall,, Paramus Park, and the Fashion Center. Smaller malls include The Mall at IV and Thirty Five Plaza plus free standing retail establishments like home furnishing giant, IKEA.

Tax Free In New Jersey, there is no tax assessed on clothing purchases. For nearby New Yorkers, this is an attractive reason why a trip to one of Paramus many retail destinations is so desirable. New Yorkers pay 8.25% tax on clothing, so the savings can be significant especially when purchasing back to school clothing, a uniform, a fur coat, etc. New Jerseys sales tax rate is 6% for most other items.

Closed on Sundays Perhaps the biggest reason why Paramus is such a success is that most retail establishments must remain closed on Sundays. Blue laws are still in effect and the trade off that residents have made over the years was to allow all the stores in, but with one caveat: your business must be done in six days.

Paramus isnt for everyone, indeed Saturday traffic can be stifling and the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas can bring regular and constant traffic jams. Still, zip code 07652 Paramus, New Jersey is the second highest performing retail district in the nation, wedged between two popular New York City zips: 10022 and 10001. Visit the U.S. Census Bureaus site at www.census.gov for their Economic Census Report by Zip Code report for more information.