Paradise Awaits- Discover Maldives

Aug 2, 2012 by Nicole Lombardo

Paradise Awaits: Discover Maldives

For a country with a total land area smaller than that of many sprawling American cities, the Maldives are a surprisingly well-known place. In addition to being one of the world’s smallest countries by area, it’s also the lowest-lying and, as a long chain of islands and atolls a few hundred miles off India’s southwestern coast, the most geographically-dispersed. None of these attributes bodes well for the Maldives as sea levels rise, but for now, the country’s one-thousand-plus inhabitable islands are a major asset for its rapidly-growing tourist industry.

Climate and Environs

The Maldive Islands are the definitive tropical paradise. Located just north of the equator in the open waters of the Indian Ocean, the country receives regular rainfall for nine months out of the year and enjoys a predictable temperature range: in Male, the capital, the temperature never dips below 70 or rises above 100. Physically, the Maldives are comprised mostly of tiny atolls, with a few larger islands interspersed. A robust network of ferries and small planes handles the logistics of travel within the country.

A Late Start

Despite its obvious natural assets, the islands’ relative isolation and lack of infrastructure kept development away until the 1970s. The nation’s first proper resort opened in 1972 and was an immediate success. At first, tourists stuck to the city-island of Male and a few select atolls close in to the capital, but new resorts began cropping up in the outlying islands by the 1980s. In time, a tried-and-true blueprint for new resort developments emerged.

Sticking to the Plan

Each Maldives island may be unique, but most of the 80-plus resorts that dot the nation are similar in size, layout and function. Their buildings and grounds tend to occupy the bulk of an entire island, which are usually about half a mile long by several hundred feet wide. Most of these islands are completely surrounded by beaches, although the larger ones have a dedicated area for boat slips. Since the Maldives are exposed to the open ocean, rip currents in the waters immediately offshore are a major issue, and any saltwater swimming areas must be enclosed by breakwaters and “house reefs” that keep currents out and interesting wildlife in. Since few Maldives tourist islands contain proper towns, each resort has a full array of shopping and entertainment options, from fine-dining restaurants and snack bars to throbbing nightclubs and designer clothing shops.

Responsible Stewards

With its very existence threatened by the specter of climate change, it’s no surprise that the government of the Maldives is taking concrete steps to green the tourist economy. Most resorts now recycle the heat produced by their diesel generators, and a bygone practice of pumping raw sewage directly into the ocean has largely disappeared. The government has prohibited the development of new resorts across much of the island chain, effectively restricting new construction to islands adjacent to already-existing resorts. It has also begun enforcing a ban on the capture of sea turtles, which are a cornerstone of the local ecosystem, on resort beaches.

For its sheer novelty and classical tropical-paradise beauty, the Maldives have no equal: it’s a place that must be experienced to be believed. Unfortunately, the islands may not be open for business much longer, as the nation’s leadership recently expressed interest in moving its population to neighboring countries in anticipation of a continued rise in sea levels–which is all the more reason to plan a visit in the near future.

Tammy Collins blogs about Maldives holidays. If you are planning a trip to the Maldives Islands, you can brush up on Maldives history here before you go.

Tags

Hotel Security

Jul 17, 2012 by Judy

We all want to be safe travelers but have you ever thought about obtaining safety information on the hotel you’ll be staying with? Whether you travel alone, with children or maybe a location your not fully comfortable with it can give you some peace of mind to play detective.

Be a Sherlock Holmes

Before making your hotel reservations, you can check that you are going to stay in safe neighborhoods and that the hotel provides dedicated hotel security staff. Don’t be shy about calling ahead of your trip to ask the hotel about their security services. Every hotel you visit should provide around the clock front desk clerks and doormen as well as a full security staff on duty at all times to assist guests, prevent thefts, maintain hotel safety requirements, and respond to all medical emergencies.

Also, before you book your hotel, you can call to make sure certain safety procedures are not only in place but are practiced. For example, your room number should never be given out by the front desk staff no matter what and no phone calls should be transferred unless both the first and last names are asked for.

Is Security in Place?

You can ask things like, “Are their dead bolts on all room doors, are windows easily secured, are key cards used for room access, are their safes in the rooms, etc.” You can also find out about their credit card procedures making sure your information will be kept secure and confidential. You may want to inquire about lifeguards and child care services and ask what their background check requirements for employees are in place.

All good information for anyone to have before heading to their destination. Safe and happy travels to everyone!

Tags

Travel + Children = Fun

Jul 11, 2012 by Judy

Traveling with Children

There’s a lot of good information and products available now on how to make traveling with children fun and safe. I hope we can help break it down for you by offering up some really good advice by people who have gone before you.

Flying with Kids is a site dedicated to travel accessories and advice and breaks down the products by approximate ages so you can look at what is age appropriate for your situation. There are tips for staying sane, tips for the airlines and airports, diaper changing, meals on board and so on. Lots of good stuff! They also offer up other websites for further information.

AirSafe.com is dedicated to keeping your children safe while traveling and although it gives their top 10 tips, there is a lot of really good, practical information given. They even have information on resources for overcoming a fear of flying.

Fun Travel

My Little Nomads is an awesome site on family travel advice and destinations. His advice is insightful and practical like scanning your passports and emailing them to yourself, having one parent in charge of a given task like packing. If one parent packs, you’ll know where everything is. If two parents pack, no one knows where everything is. Notify your credit card companies before you leave. While not all these “seem” to be targeted for children, anything you can do to minimize confusion and misinformation takes the stress of travel down a notch and in my opinion is some really good information to have. This site also shares articles on the best websites for booking hotels, best flights and cheapest fares, Europe with kids, etc. I also learned a lot by reading all the comments at the bottom of the page and reading David’s replies. Excellent site!

50 Top Tips for Traveling With Kids is based in the UK so some of the information is specific to that region but I found a lot of good advice here with a good focus on special needs children. I never would have thought of considering a house swap with another family, in another country, who has a special needs child as well. It makes such good sense since the house would already be set up for a special needs child. They also offered this site pertaining to countries where malaria is endemic who.int/ith/en as well as tons more good info.

Be Prepared

How to Travel With Children Anywhere is a traveling with children 101 guide. It gives you pointers on traveling with any child of any age to any country and takes into consideration sickness, boredom and mental sanity. It is crucial for every family to plan ahead when traveling, especially with children. Traveling can have a long and lasting positive impact on a child’s life provided that the trip is safe and well planned out.

As you can see there is so much good information from parents who have gone before and ironed out some of the unknowns for you. The overall theme I kept reading was to “be prepared, be prepared, be prepared.” I hope these tips and information are helpful in planning your next trip with children and as always, please leave your comments below telling us about your great experiences or advice on traveling with your children.

Tags

Malaga, Costa del Sol, Spain

Jul 5, 2012 by Nicole Lombardo

Malaga is Costa del Sol’s largest city, and it sits like a jewel on the shore. On the southern coastline of Andalusia and Spain, the Strait of Gibraltar is a mere 100 kilometers to the west. The climate is one of Europe’s mildest, especially in the cooler months with average winter temperatures ranging between 7 and 20 degrees Celsius. Summer temperatures averagely run from 18 to 39 degrees Celsius.

Malaga has the honor of being the birthplace of the great and famous artist Picasso and its recorded history goes back nearly 3000 years to the time of the Phoenicians. Today, the city has historic buildings and museums as well as shops, restaurants, beaches and natural areas.

via http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/

Transportation

For public transportation, I find the buses and trains are convenient. Just to the west of the downtown area, the main bus station is directly across the street from the main train station. The Cercanias railway transports commuters while other trains whisk passengers to Cordoba, Seville and other cities about the country. Then, taxis are also available and rental cars for independent transportation. For travel by plane, Malaga owns a large international airport.

Attractions

A city rich in history, Malaga has historic sites like the Roman outdoor theatre that sits at the foot of the outside wall of Alcabaza. The Alcabaza is built on a hill, a castle constructed by the Moors in the 1000s AD. Many museums are also found in the city like Picasso’s birthplace and the Picasso Museum that holds many original paintings.

One site I recommend to visit is La Conception Jardin Botanico-Historico de Malaga. Many types of plants are beautifully arranged and walkways let visitors cool from the city’s heat. Within the grounds are quiet pools, arbors, and lookout vantage points. Fountains and other spots hold Roman sculptures.

For a low priced entrance, adults and children find many items of interest within the gardens. Guided tours are also offered. Closed on Mondays, the gardens are easy to reach by bus although most of the weekdays the bus line stops and 15-minute walk up the rest of the hill is required. The walks to and in the gardens are not difficult and the garden and views of the city and the surrounding area are incredible.

Foods and Restaurants

Fresh seafood is prevalent, and many markets and restaurants sell fish. Dogfish and occasionally tuna are served after marinating in a vinegar and garlic preparation. Deep fried seafood or sardines skewered and grilled are street favorites.

On the waterfront along the beach are scattered restaurants and booths selling food. People eat al fresco-style and enjoy the beach scene. One of the most popular places is El Tintero. This restaurant has no posted menu. The servers come out declaring what type of dish they are carrying. When guests waive and signal that they would like to eat the dish the server carries, they are handed a plate. Eventually one of the servers will inquire to see if the guests would like the bill for the food.

Coastal Setting

The setting in which Malaga is nestled is a place of natural beauty on the Costa del Sol or Sun Coast. The weather provides many sunny days for visitors to enjoy the beaches, the culture and sites of this lovely city.

via visitcostadelsol.com

April Santos is a freelance writer and traveler, and likes to do both in style. For the short amount of time she returns home she has limousine services in Los Angeles pick her up.

Tags

Sceptre Tours Takes You Away

Jun 7, 2012 by Judy

Tuscany with Sceptre Tours

Bed and Breakfasts can give you a much more intimate and unique experience that is often lost when we go the normal hotel route. Sceptre Tours offers you just that. An opportunity for a much more local experience that would otherwise be missed and if you travel someplace as wonderful as Italy, you want to get the most amazing experience possible. Enter Sceptre Tours whose offerings of a bed and breakfast can be a simple, charming apartment or a luxurious, lavish Italian countryside villa. Whatever your looking for Sceptor Tours has years of experience and knowledge of where, what and how to do things there.

Florence Italy

As a European vacation provider, Sceptre Tours offers both escorted and independent tour packages to Ireland, Britain, Italy and European river cruises. Sceptre allows you the capability to fine tune your travel interests, for example, you pick the regions you’d like to visit from their areas of expertise. You can then decide if you want to stay in one location for the entirety of your trip or if you want to explore a number of regions. In Italy, each region offers a diverse experience in both cuisine and local culture. Either way you are guaranteed an excellent and memorable time.

Italy

With Italy’s rich historical background you will want to experience their beautiful museums and many famous landmarks. However you choose to experience Italy you will be well informed and taken care of with Sceptor Tours leading the way.

Do you have a favorite destination, restaurant or shopping experience in Italy? Please let us in on your secret!

Tags

3 Things that Make Tel Aviv Stand Out as the Number-One Tourist Destination in the Middle East

May 21, 2012 by Nicole Lombardo

About The Author

Phil Byrne is an online marketeer with such a love of travel, he became a full time expat! Phil runs a number of travel related websites, the most successful of which is Cheap Hotel Chains – a comprehensive hotel comparison website that allows the browser to instantly compare all last minute hotel deals and prices within any destination worldwide.

Tel Aviv is a tourist hotspot in the Middle East, and it makes the perfect place for a vacation. But what is it about this city that has led so many people to describe it as the number-one tourist destination in the Middle East?

via israel.um.dk

1. Stunning Location

With is stunning coastline complete with golden sands and deep-blue sea, Tel Aviv rivals any of the best Mediterranean resorts in Europe. Dotted with cafés and restaurants, and with a good mix between quiet, chilled-out stretches of sand and beaches complete with every kind of water sport you can imagine, the beach is the place to spend the majority of your time when you stay in Tel Aviv. Some of the best to check out include Hof Hatzuk, Frishman Beach, Dolphinarium Beach, and Alma Beach.

via www.telaviv4fun.com

2. Great Climate

With its hot summers with an average temperature between 24 °C and 30 °C, you can enjoy perfect beach weather for many months of the year in Tel Aviv. One of the best things about the city is the amount of sunshine that it receives throughout the year, even during the winter. Most of the rain arrives between October and April, but even then it is not enough to ruin your holiday. Take advantage of the excellent weather by enjoying one of Tel Aviv’s summer festivals such as the White Night Festival which sees the main cultural centers of the city open up for the whole night.

via everythingblogg.blogspot.com

3. Cosmopolitan Vibe

Don’t let any preconceived notions of the Middle East put you off: This exciting, vibrant city with its large and growing population is a place where you can enjoy a 24-hour lifestyle. The shopping is great, with malls like Azrieli, the Dizengoff Centre and the Ramat Aviv Mall allowing you to shop until you drop, whilst the Flea Market in Old Jaffa provides you with something more traditional. Restaurants are plentiful and serve up any type of food you can imagine, including the delicious local cuisine. There is also an excellent nightlife to discover, especially when you head to areas like Namal, Dizengoff and Tayelet.

Discover It for Yourself

All of this makes it easy to see why Tel Aviv is the most exciting city in the region. So next time you’re planning your summer vacation, find out for yourself exactly why Tel Aviv is such a great destination.

Tags

Don’t Be “Sick On The Road”

May 16, 2012 by Judy

When you are traveling, whether it’s somewhere you’re familiar with or a new destination, there is always something we can learn about that particular place. How to do things better, safer or more economically, for example. The website, “Sick On The Road,” gives the readers advice from other travel bloggers on what they’ve learned while journeying. While this particular site focuses on staying healthy it is a great chance to receive excellent advice from people who have, “been there and done that.”

Thailand

There are 32 bloggers that give their educated opinions on ways to stay healthy. These insights include everything from obvious suggestions to wear sunscreen and using hand sanitizer to something as obscure as bringing your own hypodermic needles. This last suggestion came from a blogger who broke a bone while traveling in India. The conditions at the medical facility were so unclean she refused the shot for pain being pretty sure the needle wasn’t sterile. Good advice since needles are something I wouldn’t have thought about packing but will now depending on the destination.

Mountain Climbing In Peru

There is much more information on the site under the “Hot Topics” category like: Vaccines and Immunization, Malaria and Travel Insurance to name a few. It is so important to be informed and educated about where you’re going, especially if it’s outside your country of origin. They also invite you to submit your helpful hints for others to read.

You can read one of our previous blogs about the SteriPEN which is an incredible and affordable little hand held water purifier. I think the Mrs. Bird Bag we have available would make an excellent way to organize your first aid supplies keeping them contained and easy to grab in a hurry. Let’s all be happy, healthy travelers!

Mrs. Bird Bag First Aid Kit

Can you tell us below what your tips are for staying healthy while traveling?

Tags

Greenheart Travel

May 8, 2012 by Judy

Greenheart Travel experience

While CCI Greenheart Travel has several different programs for you to participate in, their main focus is to provide the traveler with cultural immersion programs that change lives, advance careers and create leaders. With a commitment to the environment Greenheart Travel is the leading eco-friendly exchange organization whose concern for the welfare of the planet is what drives them forward in helping responsible travelers satisfy their thirst for adventure while respecting the environment and the unique cultural heritage of the destinations they explore.

The list of opportunities varies from attending high school abroad, teaching and working abroad to volunteer programs like the Animal Rescue Center and Eco-Reserve in Costa Rica. There in the rainforests of northern Costa Rica, the animal rescue and eco-reserve volunteer project acts as a home for rescued wild animals. This project is also a site for ongoing conservation and community development projects that help protect and sustain the natural beauty of the rainforest and local residents. What an incredible opportunity for a unique experience this would be for you no matter what your age.

Costa Rica volunteer program

For a different type of adventure you may consider a language homestay abroad or independent homestay experience. This involves complete immersion in the language and lifestyle of your destination. Available countries of participation depending on your program choice are: France, Belgium, Italy, Thailand, Ireland, Spain and the UK. You should know that the Greenheart staff are in contact with you before, during and after their programs. As you can see, they offer an incredibly diverse and rich travel experience that will change your life.

Greenheart Travel event

If you’re someone who wants to be involved now, you can check out this upcoming event in Chicago’s Wicker Park and join CCI and Greenheart on Saturday, May 12 from 11-4 in Wicker Park for this field day for adults, kids, families and the entire Chicago community and explore how you can become a global citizen!

Tags

Budget Your Trip

Apr 25, 2012 by Judy

Budget Your Trip is a cool website that can help you calculate the costs of your trip. What a great idea and even better it’s free to join. Simply enter where you plan to go and the average costs, in all categories are displayed for you so you can begin to budget for your trip. I put a fictitious trip into Budget Your Trip just to try it out for you world travelers and it was a piece of cake to use but there are tutorials to help navigate the site if needed.

All projected costs for a given trip have been averaged from actual travelers input. Those keeping track of their spending using the Budget Your Trip site can share that information which is where the estimated costs come from. For my fictitious trip, I was given costs for taxis, alcohol consumption, hotels, food costs, etc., per person, per day. This is such a great tool, isn’t it? You can also ask for budget rates, moderate or luxury rates. There is a template available to keep track of your spending while on your trip. This way you can follow how you actually spend so you can better plan your next adventure.

Jose Del Cabo Mexico

Another thing I love about the site, is that other travelers leave tips about where they’ve been and you can do the same for others as well. For example when I was in San Jose del Cabo we were told by the hotel that if we wanted authentic Mexican food we should go to a particular restaurant. When we got there they had spaghetti and chicken tenders (among other things) on the menu. Not very authentic and at that time it would have been nice to have an insider tip. Sometimes a heads up by someone who’s been there saves you time and money. Bottom line is that Budget Your Trip could do both for you and that’s invaluable!

How do you save when traveling? We want to know if you have any budgeting tips you can share with us and happy travels to everyone.

Climate and Environs

A Late Start

Sticking to the Plan

Responsible Stewards

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Related Posts

Tags

Share This

Newsletter Signup

Hear From Us

Lusso Contributors

Instagram

Recent Pins.