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Posts Tagged ‘Tropical Vacations’

South Pacific Dive Sites

June 27th, 2009 1 comment
by Matthew James

One of the best places in the world to scuba dive is in the South Pacific. Some of the best tropical islands in the world are here and off these islands you will find a rich diversity of reef systems. From cheap Thailand to expensive French Polynesia, in the south pacific a diver could see all the major types of fish and coral systems in a vast array of color and diversity.

Diving in the south pacific is also a good way to learn about the area. The reef systems here are very well preserved and by coming here you can learn about how they work and they dangers they face elsewhere in the world. Diving in the south pacific is more than just fun- it’s also educational. In many parts of the world, reef systems are dying but here they are still vibrant.

There are many great facilities on Fiji for diving. You can use these boats to explore all the beautiful scuba diving points in this area. You also have the option of contacting the scuba diving instructors in case you need a bit of expertise on your trip. Fiji is especially wonderful for fish enthusiasts as there are over 1200 species of fish besides dolphins and whales. The sea temperature out here is pretty warm. You should ideally go for a dive out here in the early morning before the wind picks up.

A good off the beaten path islands is the island of Samoa. Samoa scuba diving holidays are very limited and dive sites and professional scuba diving operators are rather limited when compared to other islands in the region. There are some very good reefs for scuba diving but these sites are limited to the south coast. The main attractions here are pinnacles and marine life such as dolphins and turtles. You won’t find amazing diving here but if you want to avoid the crowds, this is a great place to do it!

You can also try Tahiti, but remember its again quite expensive when you compare it to the other options available in the South Pacific. It has a fine display of sharks and rays and a fine collection of colorful reef fish too. Head off to Bora Bora and Moorea if you want to scuba dive. Tahiti is a must for coral reef lovers. The visibility out here is very good and the sea temperature too is ideal for scuba divers. Tonga is another good option for scuba diving. You will be able to spot whales around this area.

There are many great dive spots all over the world. Yet for its size and complexity, the region of the South Pacific must always be the top area to go diving. Here you will find a wide variety of fish, coral, and sea life that just can’t be found anywhere else. It’s size also ensures that you won’t have to dive with lots of people and you can have wide areas to just yourself.

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Islands Worth Seeing in Africa

March 2nd, 2009 No comments

Besides the South Pacific, one of the best areas on the planet to find pristine, beautiful tropical destinations is on the continent of Africa. Most of the islands are undeveloped and arent very touristy, they are often very rough|mountainous|tropical|rugged, the water is a stunning clear blue, the sea life abundant, and their beaches are fine white sand. If there were any islandson earth that looked like post cards, the following tropical islands would be it.

Zanzibar is an island that is part of Tanzania. Heavily influenced by its Arab trading partners, Zanzibar has a rich cultural history. The capital of the island is Zanzibar City. The old section of Stone Town is a World Heritage Site. The beaches here are untouched, and the area around the island has an large amounts of fish, as evident by the piles at the fish markets. The island is still sometimes called the Spice Island because of the significance of its production of cloves.

Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The country is the fourth-largest island in the world and has 5% of the world’s plant and animal species. The eastern side of the island is home to many tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts. For those looking for tough jungle trekking, cool streams, and beautiful waterfalls, consider Madagascar.

Mauritius is an island nation off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers east of Madagascar. Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Reunion to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues to the northeast. This island is home to white sand and palm fringed beaches, warm water, and friendly locals. Its out of the way location makes it a great place to go to get away from the crowds. Interestingly, the island of Mauritius is renowned for having been the only known home of the dodo.

An island of true contrasts, Reunion is relatively unknown to many of the world’s travelers. This unique island in the middle of the Indian Ocean is simply one of the most intriguing spots on earth. With an active volcano on its south coast, 17 miles of warm, welcoming beaches in the west, and lots of mountains and forests in between, Reunion offers a little bit of everything to its travelers. Like Mauritius, it is also part of France.

Africa may be known for safaris, jungles, desert, and poverty but the continent also offers great tropical islands. With so many great places to visit, consider a trip to the islands in Africa the next time you are planning your tropical vacation.

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Tropical Destinations in Africa

February 18th, 2009 No comments

One of the best places in the world to discover pristine, stunning tropical beaches is on the continent of Africa. Most are undeveloped and not visited by many tourists, they are often very rough|mountainous|tropical|rugged, the water is a stunning clear blue, the coral copious, and their beaches are fine white sand. If there were any placeson earth that are postcard worthy the following islands would be it.

Zanzibar is an island that is part of Tanzania. Once its own state, Zanzibar has a rich history of spice trading with Arab cultures. The capital of Zanzibar is Zanzibar City. The citys old area of Stone Town is a World Heritage Site. The beaches here are undeveloped, and the area around the place has an amazing amount of fish, as evident by the piles at the fish markets. It is still sometimes referred to as the Spice Island due to its production of cloves.

Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean of the coast of Africa. The island is the fourth-largest island on earth and has 5% of all the world’s species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. The eastern end of the island is the location of many tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which are in the shadow of the highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts. For travelers desiring rugged jungle trekking, refreshing streams, and cascading waterfalls, a vacation to Madagascar should be on your travel list.

Mauritius is off the coast of Africa in the southwest Indian Ocean and is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Reunion to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues to the northeast. Mauritius has great palm lined beaches and crystal warm water, as well as nice people. Its out of the way location makes it a great place to go to get away from the crowds.

An island of true contrasts, Reunion is relatively unheard of to many of the world’s people. This different location in the middle of the Indian Ocean is simply one of the most captivating locations in the world. With an active volcano in the south, 17 miles of inviting beaches in the west, and lots of mountains and forests in between, Reunion offers a lot to its travelers. Its remote location means that little travelers are there. Like Mauritius, it is also part of France.

Africa may be known for safaris, jungles, desert, and poverty but the continent also offers great tropical islands. With so many great places to visit, consider a trip to the islands in Africa the next time you are planning your tropical vacation.

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Tropical Vacations – Can Serious Dangers Lurk Under The Sun?

September 3rd, 2008 No comments
by Dorothy Yamich

Even though these three sun related medical problems, sunburn, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, are not diseases, they can be serious and could put a real damper on your vacation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is especially true when dealing with the sun. Remember that the sun’s rays in the tropics are more intense between noon and three p.m. as well as at high altitudes, even if it’s an overcast or cloudy day.

What can you do to prevent getting sunburned?

In general, the lighter or fairer your skin is, the easier you may sunburn. Clouds offer little or no protection from a severe sunburn, so why take a chance of ruining your holidays when getting a painful sunburn is easy to protect against? To prevent getting a bad sunburn, especially if you sunburn easily, you should use a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30, or stronger if possible. Use sunscreen liberally, wear a wide-brimmed hat, buy UVA & UVB protection certified sunglasses, and wear long-sleeved shirts and slacks. If you can, try to stay out of the sun between noon and three in the p.m.. Build up your exposure to the sun gradually each day. Limit the time that you spend in the sun to approximately fifteen minutes the first day, and increase your time in the sun gradually on subsequent days.

What can you do to treat a bad sunburn?

You can ease the pain of a sunburn if you soak in a cool bath three to four times every day. If you add baking soda to your bath, it will help even more. Cool showers may hurt too much, and not be as soothing or effective as cool, relaxing baths. To help with any headaches, or pain and swelling, take an aspirin or other pain medication such as Ibuprofen or Advil. It may not be a good idea to take any aspirin based pain medications if you are on a blood thinner or have an ulcer. If you’re not sure about taking these pain relievers, check with a doctor or pharmacist. Avoid dehydration by drinking at least six to eight glasses of water per day. Do not break any blisters if you can avoid it. Any broken blister can easily get infected, particularly in the humid climate of the tropics. Wash them gently with soap and warm water if they happen to break.

If your sunburn does not appear to be getting better and you still have pain after a couple of days, you develop a high temperature or fever, have a splitting headache that won’t go away, are vomiting or have diarrhea, feel dizzy or confused, or your eyes hurt and light bothers them, you must seek medical attention immediately.

What can you do to avoid heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is absolutely preventable. If you wear a wide-brimmed sunhat, drink lots of liquids, and stay out of intense heat and humidity, you can you avoid this serious problem.

What are the best things that you do if you have the symptoms of heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is caused by a combination of extremely high temperatures and humidity. This may result in loss of fluids from your body due to excess sweating. These fluids have to be replaced immediately or heat exhaustion can result.

The symptoms include headaches, fatigue and lethargy, giddiness, and muscle cramps. The treatment is to immediately get out of the sun or heat and drink plenty of liquids. Commercial beverages containing electrolytes, such as Gatorade, are preferable. Don’t drink any alcohol. This will make your condition worse.

If you do not feel better and show positive signs of recovery in a very short period of time, have someone take you to a hospital immediately as your condition could quickly progress into a true medical emergency, heatstroke.

What must you immediately do if you get heat stroke?

If heat exhaustion is not successfully treated immediately, it can result in an extremely serious medical emergency. Heatstroke is characterized by a very high body temperature of 102 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, or 39 to 41 degrees Centigrade. There is also cessation of sweating. The symptoms of heatstroke include flushed and red skin, a severe headache, confusion which can progress quickly into delirium and convulsions This can be fatal.

Note: Someone must help you get out of the sun or heat and rush you immediately to a hospital or medical center.

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All Inclusive Tropical Resorts Reviews

August 4th, 2008 No comments
by Fisher Ellis

Who will be entering my hotel room? In most instances, Magic of Romance will coordinate with the hotel to arrange all activities within your hotel room. If someone other than a hotel employee must enter your room, only authorized agents or independent contractors of Magic of Romance will be given access to your room in order to alter the decor, deliver flowers, or any other activity clearly stated in the itinerary. Persons entering the room will always be accompanied by a hotel employee.Most international flights to Fiji arrive at Nadi Airport on the west coast of Viti Levu.

How long is the flight? Coming west from Canada and Europe, you’ll stop in Los Angeles, and some flights out of Los Angeles and Canada stop in Honolulu. Air Pacific has four non-stops and Air New Zealand has one out of Los Angeles. Flight time from LA to Fiji is 10 hrs, Auckland to Fiji 3hrs, Sydney to Fiji 3hrs 50min.The site will be promoted primarily via Public Relations activities. Journalist interviews have been conducted both in the United States as well as in Europe.

Where is Tahiti and how long does it take to get there? The Islands are located south of the equator, in the same time zone as Hawaii, and halfway between California and New Zealand. Papeete’s Faa’a Airport (PPT) is under 8 hours by air from Los Angeles (LAX). From North America, nonstop flights depart LAX nearly every day on Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, or Air New Zealand. There is now also a direct flight from New York departing three times per week.We do not suggest that you make this trip a complete surprise for your significant other.

Do I need a passport or visa to enter Tahiti? Every visitor to French Polynesia must have: a valid passport, a return airline ticket to their resident country or to at least two more continuing destinations and sufficient funds to cover their planned stay. For stays of up to one month, there are no visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. A foreigner with a residence card for the U.S. is not exempt from the above requirements and should consult the French Consulate based in the U.S. for information. Rental cars are available at most Airports for drivers over 21 years of age with a valid driver’s license.

Should this be kept a secret from my significant other? We do not suggest that you make this trip a complete surprise for your significant other. In fact, you may want to involve her in the planning of the itinerary (while keeping the romantic layers a surprise). If you would like to present a Signature Experience as a gift, we can provide you with a plan on how to surprise your loved west from Canada and Europe, you’ll stop in Los Angeles, and some flights out of Los Angeles and Canada stop in Honolulu.

Do I need a passport or visa to enter Tahiti? Every visitor to French Polynesia must have: a valid passport, a return airline ticket to their resident country or to at least two more continuing destinations and sufficient funds to cover their planned stay. For stays of up to one month, there are no visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. A foreigner with a residence card for the U.S. is not exempt from the above requirements and should consult the French Consulate based in the U.S. for information.Magic of Romance will never contact your significant other without your prior consent. We send all packages to the address you provide (typically a business address) and they will be sent with the Magic of Romance cipher (MOR) in lieu of the company name (Magic of Romance). We often suggest that our clients tell their significant others that they’ve “”had a little bit of help”".Dress is casual and informal throughout the islands. Visitors should bring a light tropical wardrobe including shortsleeve shirts, T-shirts, shorts and slacks for evenings.

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