Vacations Tips and Travel Guide

Visiting a Contract Manufacturer in China: First Time Visitors’ Impressions

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

I have the opportunity and privilege of bringing customers to China almost every trip I make. Many of these visitors are making their first trip to China or if they have visited previously they might only have seen a factory and a hotel. They come expecting a quick 2-4 day visit to my factory to inspect plastic tooling, silicone tooling, or a complete turn-key assembly that is being prepared for sale to Amazon.com. However, they often come away with much, much, more… Most visitors view the travel as a burden of work and an extended leave from family and friends. While we always work hard during these visits, I also consider it my obligation to reveal to every visitor I host a glimpse of the people, the history, the food and the culture that makes this a great place to visit (and even live).

Here are some of the impressions that visitors have shared with me over the years;

The People

The Chinese people you encounter at hotels, restaurants and tourist areas will be extremely gracious and friendly. They are proud of their country and want to make sure that visitors have a good time and are treated well when visiting. Outside of these areas, you might get some looks and stares, it is not uncommon for someone to walk right up to a really tall Westerner and just stare at them. While most people in the larger cities speak some English, they are generally reluctant to speak since they do not want to embarrass themselves.

The History

Unfortunately, the area around Shenzhen where my factory is located does not have a lot of history remaining. The area was actually mostly mountainous jungle and barren prior to the 1980′s when it opened up to development and industrialization. However, there are some excellent museums and sites to visit. I always try to encourage customers (especially those visiting 1 time only) to make a stop in Beijing to see some of the amazing sites there including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

The Food

There is no food in any American Chinese restaurant that compares to the food in China. Visitors expecting and Orange Chicken dish or Egg Roll will not be happy! Perhaps, some of the restaurants in Chicago’s China-Town offer similar fair, but it is not the same. What are some of the differences? Of course, the ingredients in China are sometimes very unique and difficult (if not impossible) to find in the USA. Some of the favorites for visitors include unique green leaf vegetables, variations of fresh tofu, large whole fish (with names that can’t be translated even) and a variety of mushrooms that explode with flavor! Also, the mid-grade restaurants in China are able to put in a tremendous amount of labor and effort to perfect the presentation since the labor costs are lower. Finally, the Chinese consider some parts of animals to be delicacies that the Western restaurants would throw away. If given the proper treatment, cooking and attention, you might be surprised how good stomach, brain, heart and even small insects can taste!

The Culture

It is hard to get a thorough impression of the Chinese culture in a 3-4 day visit (actually impossible!). However, when I take visitors away from the tourist traps and theme parks and we get out in the country to go horseback riding or visiting a small village, they are amazed at the relaxed lifestyle and family focused nature. While outside the large cities, you might see a small hut (smaller than a 2 car garage) that is host to 3 generations of family supporting themselves off of a small plot of land growing strawberries that they sell on the roadside.

I welcome everyone to visit China. I have one customer that visited China, fell in love with the country, extend his stay, and now he lives there with his wife (that he met while visiting the factory)!

West Coast Road Trip of 1700 Miles and A Lifetime of Memories

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

Upon completing an amazing west coast road trip from Spokane, WA. to Southern California, I wanted to share some of the many highlights of a trip that covered small towns, big cities, beaches, forests, mountains, deserts, wildlife, rivers, the windiest road I’ve ever been on in my life, over 1700 miles and three wrong turns.

This article is the first in a series about one fantastic road trip.

I’d always wanted to take a trip down Highway 101 and Highway 1, down the coast from Washington to Southern California. I’m not sure why; the ocean, the adventure, and the romanticism of it all added to its appeal. So when my daughter informed me she was accepted into the Disney College Program and would begin working at the Mouse House in Anaheim, I thought that was as good an excuse as any other.

Whether you’re an artist, photographer, writer, illustrator, writer or just looking for a new adventure, there’s plenty to see on the route we took. In sharing this west coast road trip with you, I won’t bore you with all of the family details or every little stop we might have made. The focus will be on the route, beauty and major points of interest. I like road trips because they take me out of my comfort zone and allow me to explore new places. Perhaps it will inspire you to take your own road trip someday.

Day One

Our family usually leaves for a road trip around 6 a.m. We left Spokane bright and early on a Saturday morning after stopping at a popular local espresso spot, The Rocket Bakery.

On day one, the plan was to make it to Lincoln City, a beach town 470 miles away on the Oregon coast. We made it with only one wrong turn. (terrible signage in Oregon if I must say)

Driving down the Columbia River Gorge was the main highlight of the first day of our west coast trip. The drive along the gorge begins with the mighty Columbia River on the right, a view of Southern Washington across the river, and a flat, dry Oregon landscape on the left.

As you continue to drive west, you can see nearly everything, including dams, river barges, bridges, dramatic cliffs and the majestic Mt. hood, weather permitting. Luckily, the weather was clear and beautiful on this day. Recent additions to the first part of the gorge are wind farms on both sides of the river; I hope they provide enough energy to make the eye pollution worth it.

Halfway down the gorge, near a town called The Dalles and nearing Hood River, the “windsurfing capital of the world,” the landscape changes from dry and gold to lush and green. We saw at least twenty windsurfers near Hood River, including some with parachutes. Another site worth mentioning was Bonneville Dam, a little further down the gorge.

Even more of a must-see landmark is Multnomah Falls, a grand 620 ft. beauty with plenty of great photo opportunities and walking trails. It also has a restaurant, gift shop, hiking trails, and thankfully, bathrooms. There’s even a trail leading to the top of the falls, if you’re up for a hike.

The Historic Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway takes you on a narrow, scenic road past several waterfalls, including Multnomah. The calm, beautiful road is lined with trees and on that day happened to be more crowded than I’d ever seen before. If you’re ever in that area, do yourself a favor and at least stop by Multnomah Falls.

Along the scenic Highway 30 is the Vista House at Crown Point. Built in 1916 and recently remodeled, the Vista House sits high atop a cliff. As you can look out in every direction, the view from the top of Crown Point is nothing short of spectacular. Make sure you have your camera ready, particularly if you have a companion with long hair; the wind up there makes hair do crazy things!

On many road trips, the city of Portland, Oregon might be a particular stop of interest. But on this day of our trip, we needed to get through Portland as fast as possible to reach our destination of Lincoln City. It was in the process of getting there when the first of my three wrong turns occurred. I blame this one on an unfamiliar route, bad signage, a lack of map and an excess of confidence, all costing us a total of 45 minutes. The route to Lincoln City also included a lot of weekend traffic and our first (and last) Dairy Queen stop of the trip.

We arrived at Lincoln City with a few hours of sunlight left, which we shared with the hundreds of other people who decided a Saturday in August was a good time to hit the coast. Despite the sunlight, it was cold; that wind was blowing hard. However, it brought out some cool kites and the smell of the ocean, so it was all worth it. After a stop at the beach, it was time to find some food and get ready for day two.
Day one of our west coast road trip was a diverse palette of color, landscape, cityscape, and wonders both natural and man-made. The Columbia River Gorge was definitely the star attraction of this day and I recommend it to everyone, from artists to adventurers, in spades.

Welsh Weekend Breaks: Perfect for Everyone

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

Whether you’re looking for romantic breaks for couples or a trip away with the whole family, Wales will deliver. Boasting large areas of natural beauty, as well as bustling cities and quaint villages, you’re sure to find something that suits your party.

Parents looking for UK family holidays that won’t break the bank, but will still keep the kids occupied, will discover Wales has a host of attractions suitable for everyone from young toddlers to teenagers. One of the best ways to spend time together is to simply get out and about in the Welsh countryside.

If a break by the seaside is what you’re looking for, there are plenty of spots to choose in the area. Pembrokeshire on Wales’s south coast is one of the most popular places to visit, boasting 13 Blue Flag beaches, as well as one of the UK’s most scenic coastal walking paths.

Free days out here are easy to find, especially with so many stretches of sand nearby. Kids who love exploring will enjoy discovering the old tramway and its tunnels at the top of Coppet Hall beach, as well as delving into the rock pools to find all manner of sea life. For little ones, Tenby may be a better option, with its three bays offering more than a mile of sand to play on. Tenby North is particularly good if your kids are keen to swim, as it’s sheltered, making it the perfect place for a dip. Parents, meanwhile, will enjoy the backdrop at the Tenby Castle beach which, as its name suggests, is home to the remains of a fortress on one of the headlands.

Should you wish to entertain your teenagers on short UK holidays, travelling inland to one of the mountain biking parks is a good option. There are numerous trails all over the country, so you should be able to find something suitable for you and the kids. Whether you’re all accomplished cyclists looking for a challenge – like the 46 km Skyline trail in the Afan Forest Park near Swansea – or want something a little gentler, such as the Elan Valley route in Rhayader, you’ll be able to seek out the ideal cycling destination.

Wales isn’t only a suitable place for families to visit, though, with plenty on offer for couples seeking a romantic trip away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Hide away in one of the country’s quaint villages, get back to nature on long walks in its national parks or discover the attractions in one of the main cities for a getaway to remember.

Perhaps one of the best things to do on romantic breaks for couples is to enjoy leisurely meals at wonderful restaurants – and Wales can definitely deliver on this front. Monmouthshire is a good place to pick if you and your partner are foodies, as the region is home to numerous excellent eateries where you can sample everything from gourmet cuisine to simple, yet delicious, local dishes.

For the former, book a table at the Michelin-starred The Crown in Whitebrook, where you will be treated to a dining experience to remember. All the dishes are produced using seasonal ingredients, so what’s on offer will vary depending on the time of year you plan your trip. Among the options you can find on the dinner menu are hay-baked venison with celeriac, winter vegetables and chocolate and pan-fried turbot served with cauliflower, wild mushroom and samphire.

Alternatively, you can dine at the Foxhunter in Nantderry, which serves up mouth-watering cuisine in a relaxed setting. The restaurant is located in an old, Victorian pub, which has been brought up to date while leaving many of the original features – such as its flagstone floors – in place. Dishes on the a la carte menu include starters like grilled mackerel with tomatoes and rhubarb chutney and mains such as Madgetts farm duck breast, port-soaked damsons, sauteed potatoes and thyme. Those with a sweet tooth will be well catered for too. Creamed rice pudding with poached cherries and rum and dark chocolate mousse with poached wild Mirabelle plums are just two of the choices on the dessert menu.

Wales’s all-round attractions make it the perfect destination for a range of holidaymakers, whether it’s couples looking for some solitude or families seeking an action-packed break to occupy the children.

Vespa Experience in Bali

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

For many travelers, Bali is the unique island of the Gods, or the island of thousand temples. These are just two of the nicknames, given to Bali by clever tourism marketing people.

That sounds mysterious and exciting. And for many tourists it is enough to visit several temples, to admire the exotic charm of another world from the outside,
and possibly enjoy some cheap massages in a spa. On my first visit to Bali that’s been enough for me also. But I was infected at the same time. A virus had overwhelmed me. A virus called Bali. Since those times I have been to Bali very often, have made many friends and experienced the “real”, the original Bali. The Bali beyond the illusory tourism-world.

For several years I stayed, whenever I have been to Bali, with my Balinese adoptive family. I shared their everyday live. So I got very deep insights into the culture of the island. And then it happened, that I met the Balinese Vespas.

Amazingly, there is a very interesting Vespa scene in Indonesia. This is because in Java until the year 2001 Vespas were produced. The old scooters are now often taken over by “young guns” to prepare them. There are three fractions. The first tries to restore Vespas faithfully. In this scene, you can meet real beautyful scooters.

There are also two other types of “scooterists”: extreme and gembel. The “extreme” change their Vespas often so, that you wouldn’t imagine that there is still a vespa-engine in the heart of the newly formed vehicle. There is a range from “choppers” to a variety of trikes and even small cars.

The “Gembels” (the Indonesian word ‘gembel’ = very poor, ragged, torn down), however, attach utmost importance to their Vespas just ragged, torn, rusted and almost like a moving pile of garbage come along. There are holes cut into the bodies and everything is omitted, which is not absolutely necessary. Often have Gembel Vespas sidecars in the form of a platform with a bamboo roof, sometimes even the classic sidecar-form as permeable grid structure made of tubes welded together.

All this is possible because a vehicle inspection by authorities is not performed. As long as there are papers in which the chassis number and engine number are shown correctly, you can unscrew the license plate of the “former” Vespa, simply put it on the redesigned vehicle – and no one complains… Common to all scooteristsin Indonesia is, that they are organized in clubs where close cohesion is practiced. And of course there are plenty of shared tours. Highlights are as in Europe, the big Vespa meetings.

We from Bali Vespa tour can offer tourists the experience to join tours with members of the local Vespa scene. Our guests will get deep into the Balinese culture on our trips (including mixed Vespa / trekking). They come to places that other visitors to Bali have rarely seen. And last but not least they will have many contacts with friendly locals who do not want to sell anything to the guest, as it happens elsewhere in the encounter between tourists and Balinese way too often.

Unique School Rugby Tours to Japan

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

When you are a teacher or coach, it is often hard to organise tours and study trips that will teach your young students new facts about the history of any given sport. Therefore, it is always good when a clear-cut destination for such an endeavour comes along. And this year, teachers organising school rugby tours will undoubtedly want to look towards Japan, specifically Fukuoka, where the 2012 Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival is being hosted.

Set to be held between October 28 and November 4, the 2012 edition of this event has the particularity of being a landmark not only for the rugby world, but also for Japan, which is hosting an event such as this for the very first time. The touristy appeal of the country, in conjunction with the relevance of the festival itself, is therefore likely to make Fukuoka the destination for many school rugby tours this autumn.

It is also worth mentioning that the choice of this city as the host for the festival was far from arbitrary. Fukuoka is considered the sporting capital of Japan, and has a long, well-documented tradition in rugby. Most notably, it spawned the highest number of national team representatives for this sport out of any Japanese city! No less than two Top League teams are also based on this city, making it an even more attractive candidate for school rugby tours.

The festival itself will feature three days of games, interspersed with “free days” dedicated to picnics, exploration of Fukuoka, and of course the opening and closing ceremonies – the latter of which includes an award ceremony sponsored by NZ Airlines. The numerous teams already signed up for the event include representatives from Australia (the best-represented country), New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Cook Islands, Ireland, Russia, the United States, and of course Japan. With so many professionals in action, there will no doubt be ample opportunities for students on school rugby tours to appreciate and absorb the finer points of the sport. And, on the two ‘off days’, they can enjoy a picnic or do a little sightseeing in the attractive Japanese city, helping round out a package that perfectly combines the educational and touristy aspects inherent to school trips.

The reasons detailed above, coupled with the fact that Japan is a somewhat unusual destination for this type of trip, contribute to make Fukuoka, and the 2012 World Rugby Festival, an attractive proposition for those looking for new places to visit on their school rugby tours.

What You Need to Know About Airlines and Their Subsidiaries

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

If you are a regular traveller, you know that choosing a particular type of airline matters a lot. For example, if you are in India, you can decide to fly with Jet Airways or its subsidiary JetLite. Whichever one you choose, you would want to fly with the one that provides comfort and is within your price range. If you can afford first class or business class tickets, that is well and good. If that is way out of your budget then work within your budget. In any case, the most important thing about flying is that your reach your destination safely.

In this day and age, there are quite a number of airline subsidiaries that have come up. An airline subsidiary is actually a secondary airline that is run by a much more recognizable and major airline. In India, Jet Airways is a major airline. Its subsidiary is JetLite. In both cases, the profits go to the same company, only that each brand has its own features. The subsidiary airline will definitely have less extravagant features than the major airline. This will in turn mean that the tickets of the subsidiary airlines will cost less than those of the major airlines.

One unique thing about airlines these days is the use of airline credit cards. Airline companies collaborate with credit card companies to come up with credit cards that can be used on airlines. This collaboration means that subsidiary airlines of the major airlines will also accept the said credit cards. If we use the example earlier mentioned, if Jet Airways is the more popular and outstanding airline and has a certain credit card, its subsidiary, which is JetLite, will also accept the same credit cards. Since both are within the same ‘company’ the airline credit cards used can be applied across the board. The benefits that come with the credit cards can also be appreciated across the major and the subsidiary airline. These benefits include car rentals services, discounts on hotel reservations and also discounts when purchasing tickets.

With the above information, it is possible to have a rough idea of the differences and similarities between major airlines and subsidiary airlines. The important thing is to work within your budget. Treating yourself once in a while to a first class treat would be good but if you can’t, just work with the money you have. As long as you get to your destination safely, you can either choose a major airline (in the case above, Jet Airways) or a subsidiary airline (JetLite).

What To Do If You Lose Your Passport Overseas

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

There are few things that can ruin your international vacation quicker than losing your passport while overseas. Knowing the right procedures will help hasten the retrieval of a new passport. If you lose your passport while traveling, you will most likely have to change your itinerary, no matter how efficient the recovery system might be. Even though it will be a worrisome and frustrating situation, you need to make sure you follow these procedures.

Report your lost passport to the police

The moment you discover your passport is missing, you need to head to the nearest police station to report the lost passport. When doing that, it is important that you remember your passport number and the date of issuance. It is always a good idea to carry a piece of paper that has that information on it in a separate place in your luggage. If you think you lost your passport at the airport, the people to contact first are the airlines. If you the airlines can’t find your passport, the customs personnel will contact your country’s embassy in such a case.

Contact your embassy

When traveling, whether you discover you have lost your passport in the airport, or otherwise, the only people who can help you get a duplicate passport are those at the embassy. Embassies are located in every capital city. After lodging a police report, you will have to take a stamped copy of it to the embassy, so that the loss can be validated. Consulate professionals can help you with the right steps, especially if you are open about your plans and intentions of visiting the country.

Get ready for the application of the duplicate passport

Getting a duplicate passport is easier if you lose it in your home country. However, a certain readiness for going through the procedures is important. After lodging a police report, you need to take your passport references to the nearest passport office. It is always better to access the place where you sent in your application for the old passport. If you did it through an agent, this time go directly to the passport office or issuing unit. Remember to carry a copy of the police report, a photocopy of the passport, identification documents, and an adequate number of photographs of yourself.

Stay in touch with the issuing office

Until you have received a fresh passport, stay updated on the status of the renewal. Do not take it for granted that the new passport will be sanctioned without any complication. Although rarely, duplicate passports take a lot of time, and visits from the local authorities may make the process even longer.

Stay in touch with the police

By lodging a police report, you have officially asked the police to investigate the loss. You may be lucky and they find it, but it is vital that you know that no one is trying to steal your identity.

Wie haben Punta Cana So beliebt?

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:47 +0000

Punta Cana, located on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, has become internationally renowned as a beautiful tropical vacation paradise with luxurious, eco-chic, value-priced, accommodations. In fact, Punta Cana has now become the #1 tourist destination in the entire Caribbean — and this amazing transformation has occurred over just 28 years! This news has been reported in many of the popular travel magazines and travel websites. I want you to know that this stat is based on REAL data, not just marketing hype. The stats are gathered by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, a non-profit which keeps close tabs on 29 countries in the Caribbean Region.

Below, I will discuss this data in more detail. My discussion will center around the data released in 2010 as the Caribbean Tourism Organization has not yet published the December stats for 2011 so there is not yet a complete data set for that year. However, if you study the data available for the first 11 months of 2011, the overall trends remain the same.

The Dominican Republic received more non-resident airport arrivals than any other country in the Caribbean, easily beating out Cuba, the second most popular tourist destination. The following is a quick reference list for you to view the top 10 Caribbean destinations along with the total number reported for non-resident airport arrivals:

1. Dominican Republic – 4,124,543
2. Cuba – 2,531,745
3. Cancun Mexico – 2,106,485
4. Jamaica – 1,921,678
5. Puerto Rico – 1,369,814
6. The Bahamas – 1,368,053
7. Aruba – 825,451
8. The US Virgin Islands – 691,194
9. Martinique – 476,492
10. St. Maartin – 443,136

Now, let’s break these stats down even more into European travel, US American travel, and Canadian travel. Europeans pick the Dominican Republic overwhelmingly as their #1 favorite Caribbean vacation spot. Their next favorite is Cuba. The United States has a close 4 way race between Cancun Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Cancun edges out the other 3 but the Dominican Republic gained 6.8% in just one year and this trend is continuing. Punta Cana is now the #1 destination within the Dominican Republic for US Americans, replacing Puerto Plata on the north coast, which used to be #1. Canadians also seem to really like the Dominican Republic, especially Punta Cana, choosing it as their second favorite Caribbean vacation spot after Cuba. Please note that United States residents are not allowed to travel to Cuba.

So, with this convincing data in mind, let me ask:

How did Punta Cana get so popular?

With many popular tourist destinations, it would be difficult to pin-point one specific thing that made the area soar in popularity. Not so with Punta Cana. On the Punta Cana coast, which stretches for about 39 miles from Bavaro in the north to Cap Cana in the south, there is one easily identifiable event that took place in 1984 that changed literally everything and completely transformed this region into the mega-popular tourist destination it is today.

Do I have your curiosity piqued yet? Keep reading…

Punta Cana is absolutely gorgeous. It offers expansive silky white sandy beaches with a warm sparkling blue sea lapping along its shoreline. It is so inviting it calls you in – some say it even “seduces” you. When you add to that the thick grove of coconut palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze along the entire coast in this region, you have the iconic Caribbean paradise seen on post-cards sent to those back home who weren’t lucky enough to go on the trip but who will surely wish they had.

However, before 1984 few people really knew about this tropical gem. It remained largely undiscovered by most world travelers until the construction of the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). In Spanish, the official language of the Dominican Republic, this international airport is called, “Aeropuerto Internacional de Punta Cana.”

You see, no matter how spectacular a place is, if you have no convenient and reasonably priced way to reach the area, it won’t be seen by many people. Before the Punta Cana International Airport was built, the tiny air strip that had been built in 1971 could not handle the large size jet planes. Furthermore, in order to get there from another country, you had to fly into Santa Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, and then endure a 4 hour bumpy bus or taxi ride to Punta Cana. The unpaved road was narrow and full of gigantic potholes. The road would also wash out in heavy rains and motorized vehicles were sometimes held up by horse traffic, making the pace miserable for weary travelers wanting to get to their hotel.

The air traffic of the PUJ has grown by leaps and bounds and is on course this year (2012) to serve more than 4 million people! It now receives far more traffic than the next busiest airport in the capital of Santo Dominigo. There is no other privately funded airport in the world that even comes close to this degree of business success.

People come to Punta Cana from all over the world now. International airlines that serve the Punta Cana Airport are Air Canada, AirTran, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, KLM, Spirit, United, US Airways, and Westjet. USA 300, recently defunct (as of January 30, 2012), was established by Apple Vacations and served PUJ for a long time as well. Canadian charter airlines to the Punta Cana Airport include Air Transat, Sunwig, Skyservice, and Canjet. They run during the cold bleak Canadian winters.

So, an area that began with very humble beginnings about 4 decades ago, now commonly provides beds for more than 70,000 people at one time. Punta Cana has definitely established itself as one of the top places world travelers think of going. And… there’s no end in sight for the growth of this area. The approximately 39 mile Punta Cana coast has essentially been a “gold rush” for the major hotel corporations, especially the Spanish owned ones, since the area was opened up by the international airport. Classy high rise resorts, perfectly sited to take advantage of the view, have sprung up almost overnight. The infrastructure has also vastly improved as money for big projects has poured in.

The Europeans and the Canadians seemed to have “discovered” Punta Cana before the US Americans did. However, over the last 10-15 years, the US Americans have been rapidly catching up. In fact, this has happened at such a quick rate, entire resorts have been built to cater specifically to the US Americans as the customs of the Europeans and the Americans sometimes clash a bit within the resorts, although some US Americans prefer the European ambiance.

US Americans and Canadians in the Eastern Standard Time Zone can depart on a direct flight in the morning and arrive in Punta Cana by mid-day with no jet lag as the time zones are the same, except during daylight savings time when it is only one hour different. Even a trip from the west coast of the United States or Canada is a relatively easy trip when you compare it to other equally exotic destinations.

The Punta Cana Airport also fits in nicely with the Dominican landscape and makes a nice first impression when tourists enter the country. It has an open-air design with a picturesque thatched roof made of palm fronds. All of the materials used to build the airport were brought in from local sources including palm, local wood, and native coral. This was a very intentional effort by Frank Rainieri and the other investors in Grupo Punta Cana who privately funded the airport. Since they were under-funded for a project of this magnitude, Frank Rainieri approached a Dominican architecture major at Pratt University. He agreed to do it at no charge to establish a name for himself. He has since become quite famous and has been paid well for other projects in the Dominican Republic.

Originally, Grupo Punta Cana attempted to get the Dominican Republic government to fund, or at least partially fund, the building of the international airport but after 8 years they found they had to fund it privately entirely on their own. They should be credited for their vision and persistence because a privately funded airport of this magnitude had never been built before. They did have the much needed approval and cooperation of the Dominican Republic government though or the project would have never gotten off the ground.

So, there you have it. The tourism success of the Punta Cana coast hinged on one thing: building an international airport capable of giving tourists easy and affordable access to this beautiful paradise. It took incredible vision and perseverance.

Why Every Car Should Carry an Alcohol Breathalyzer

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:01:47 +0000

Carrying a French NF approved breathalyzer will become a legal requirement when travelling by car through France.

France is the first country to introduce a law that requires every car to carry a breathalyzer. Whether you live in France or whether you travel through France to go on holiday, you will need to carry one by law. If caught, you will get fined €11 which is not a lot of money, but a nuisance if you have to deal with the police.

In France every year 4000 people die in a car accident, a third of those as a result of alcohol. These drastic measures are a sign that the French Government wants to stamp out a culture of drink driving and wants to reduce deaths by road accidents to fewer than 3000. In the UK one of six of all road deaths are caused through drink driving. Although in 2011 road deaths in the UK were at a record low, we should aim to drop numbers even more.

France has already reduced the legal blood alcohol content limit to 0.05 which is high compared to other countries such as Sweden and Norway where it is 0.02. In the UK the BAC – blood alcohol content – is with 0.08 even higher.

The idea of the breathalyzer law is to educate people how little it takes to pass the legal limit. You cannot simply calculate the number of drinks you had. All this depends on your body weight, body fat whether you had something to eat and the individual ability to digest alcohol. Of course it does not help to carry the breathalyzer with you; you have to actually use it when you had a drink.

If this law makes a difference, it will be interesting to see whether other countries follow. Although not a legal requirement in the UK or in other countries, the new law in France should make us think and consider carrying a breathalyzer anyway. How easy is it to believe that one is within the legal limit and then something happens and you cannot turn back the clock. It is not just a case of being banned from driving and having a criminal record, consequences could be far worse. Is it really worth the risk?

There are two types of breathalyzer. The disposable one is very good if you need one on the one-off occasion, like travelling to France. The digital breathalyzer is more expensive but long-term more cost-effective if used on a regular basis. It is very important to find a breathalyzer that is French NF approved or it will be of no use if travelling through France.

Visit the wonders of Abu Dhabi, known as the Arabian jewel with best Dubai package holidays

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:07:47 +0000

Abu Dhabi, which means father, the deer is a very highly-rated tourist destination in this part of Asia. Beautiful beaches, impressive sand dunes, a world class infrastructure, ultra modern skyscrapers and host of activity options are something that Abu Dhabi a must visit a place for every holidaymaker has.

There are a variety of popular destinations and activities for tourists in Abu Dhabi. Some who must visit places are as follows:-.

Heritage Village:-Heritage Village is a Museum in the Centre of the city, providing much information about past, culture and civilization of the region. Tourists visit this place can buy too much of its souvenir shops.

Yas Marina circuit:-this circuit is the host for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The circuit is located in Yas Iceland, located 30 minutes away from the city of Abu Dhabi.

Khalifa Park:-this park is a perfect entertainment, fun and relaxation destination for tourists and local. There are a variety of activity options available here. Some important aspects of the Park include a majestically designed and developed grand Avenue, maritime Museum, a large amphitheatre, theme park and party room.

Emirates Palace Hotel:-it is one of the most visited hotels in Abu Dhabi. The majestic hotel has played always a perfect host as a venue for cultural events taken place in the city. It is not necessary here to stay to experience its grandeur and beauty. This hotel is open to all and anyone visiting can explore.

Apart from the above discussed places, there are many other destinations the special make the City visit. The city and its people give its guests also special meaning. The local Government has also many important steps to ensure that tourists here have the best time of their lives. Also the leading tour operators offer a variety of Dubai travel packages. These packages have been designed exclusively and developed to keep the different needs and requirements of travellers visit. In various price ranges, this Dubai are available travel packages ideal for experienced and inexperienced tourists to this area to explore.

There are many aspects of Abu Dhabi, which is, what makes it so interesting. The place has a lot to offer every visitor. So whether it the modern lifestyle and building, the interests you, or whether it has the glorious past, this city everything to inspire visitors. It’s the magic of this place is difficult words are. The amazing features of this place can be expressed only by visiting this place and it’s even a look with your own eyes.