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Hurricane season is upon us and anyone who has scheduled a late-summer
vacation in the Southeast over the past few years knows how a hurricane
can wreck havoc with your vacation plans, regardless of where you’re
traveling. For 2006, we have complied a list of hurricane-safe
destinations for you and your family to enjoy. Whiles most of these
destinations are not a sure things, they have been among the safest
of the past several years. Don't let the hurricane season spoil your
travel plans this year!
OUR RECOMMENDED DESTINATIONS & VACATION EXPERIENCES
GO ON A CRUISE:
The good thing about cruises is that they can usually sail around the
worst of a storm. And today's ships are extraordinarily safe and with
the advanced weather tracking available today, bad weather is something
they can avoid. The downside is that the cruise line always reserves the
right to reschedule port calls and change itineraries for
weather-related reasons and therefore you may not get to visit the
places you had hoped to.
The big advantage of sailing during hurricane season is that prices
tend to drop to their lowest point of the year. Your best deals
are during the fall months -- late August to mid December, so it's
an attractive time to buy a cruise. And the reality is that
statistically speaking the chances that your particular voyage is
going to be affected by a hurricane are very slim. But it does
happen, from time to time. The thing to bear in mind is that it is a
possibility and to approach the cruise with the right attitude.
POPULAR CRUISE DESTINATIONS:
THE CARIBBEAN:
When planning a trip
to the Caribbean during hurricane season, it is
good to know that hurricanes are less likely the further south you go.
The islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados
and St. Vincent, including the islands below them, are the least hit by
hurricanes. However, as Grenada discovered in 2004 with Hurricane Ivan,
never say never and keep in mind that hurricanes are unpredictable. If
you still prefer to travel to the usual destinations, we recommend
look for hotels and resorts that offers
hurricane
guarantees or something similar.
Antigua
Antigua's secluded
white beaches - among the most pristine in all the Caribbean -
provide the ideal setting for a tropical paradise. The azure seas
surrounding all sides of the island beckon you to the beaches, all
365 of them.
Aruba
Hurricane-free year round, the beaches and hotels of Aruba welcome those
who travel for romance.
Barbados
Barbados offers all
the things a Caribbean vacationer needs in a tropical paradise -
coral shore beaches, crystal clear waters, a climate that's sure to
delight, and for water sports enthusiasts, a dream come true.
Bonaire
Included in the "ABC"
islands, along with Aruba and Curacao, Bonaire is a small island
located in the southern Caribbean known for its pioneering role in
the preservation of nature, in particular the preservation of the
marine environment, and for its excellent scuba diving, snorkeling,
and windsurfing, among other things.
Curacao
On Curacao, there's
never a shortage of exciting things to do - with sailing or fishing,
kayaking or windsurfing, shopping or dining, the options feel
practically endless.
Nevis
Intoxicating natural
beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and sparsely peopled beaches
combine in the sister islands of St Kitts & Nevis to make them one
of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean.
St Kitts
An uncrowded,
unspoiled respite in the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers its natural
beauty like a welcome mat for first-time and returning visitors
alike. The island boasts pristine and gleaming shores surrounded by
sparkling cobalt waters, plus many other facets to this impressive
jewel of an island.
St Lucia
Rich in cultural
history and natural beauty, the island nation of St Lucia offers a
touch of everything you want in a Caribbean vacation. An unspoiled,
tropical gem nestled in a chain of islands known as the Lesser
Antilles, St Lucia traces its colorful history to long before
colonial times, yet it has a legacy of over 400 years of European
influence.
St Maarten/St Martin
Like well-suited
counterparts, this striking dreamland offers two very distinct ad
equally fabulous destinations on one island. The Dutch St. Maarten
is a bustling haven, where surfers and divers head towards
electrifying nightlife when the sun sets.
The French St. Martin provides a more low-key ambiance, where serene
bays set the tone for relaxing feasts and peaceful strolls along
moonlit shores.
Trinidad &
Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago - two islands, one country. Two vacations in one -
could you ask for a better deal? Lying just off the South American
coast, this is the most culturally diverse of its peers, with a
landscape and natural history as rich and varied as the rainbow
faces of its many distinct heritages.
MEXICO -
(Central & West Coast):
Enjoy a Mexican beach getaway to fabulous resorts in Acapulco, Los
Cabos, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. Experience great beaches and
visit ancient cultures. Lounge on the beach and enjoy the pulsating
Mexican nightlife.
If you still prefer to travel to the usual destinations, we
recommend look for hotels and resorts that offers
hurricane
guarantees or something similar.
Acapulco
The gorgeous beaches,
romantic sunsets, and glamorous nightlife that attracted Hollywood's
hottest celebrities in the 1950s are still very much a part of
Acapulco today. This "Queen of Mexican Beach Resorts" is set around
a crescent-shaped bay and framed by verdant mountains that plunge
into warm, sapphire waters.
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
On the Gold Coast, the
dynamic resort center of Ixtapa and the quaint fishing pueblo of
Zihuatanejo are contrasting twins. One is bold, beautiful and full
of action, and the other is a quiet wallflower, living a simple life
on the outer edge of her sister's spotlight. Ixtapa is the most
modern resort on Mexico's west coast, with half of its land
protected as an ecological reserve.
Mazatlan
While other beach
resorts in Mexico work hard to dazzle visitors with mega-resort
excitement, the equation for a great vacation in Mazatlan is a
simple one of fun, plus food, plus lots of world-class fishing.
Mexico's largest West Coast port and the second largest coastal city
combines affordable accommodations with seaside charm and plenty of
ways to have fun in the sun.
Mexico City
Mexico City's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aztec
ruins, the continent's largest cathedral, and historic architecture make
Mexico City an interesting place to visit. Mexico City is also a
dangerous place to visit and security should be a major concern of
anyone who visits the Mexican capital.
Puerto Vallarta
Spectacular beaches, great tanning weather and a fun city combine to
make Puerto Vallarta an attractive destination. Its Bay of Banderas is
the place to be, but touring the nearby jungles on horseback is also an
attractive option. In addition, Puerto Vallarta is an area of Mexico
that has attracted many talented artists and is known as one of the
country's centers for the fine arts.
Los Cabos
To many travelers, Cabo has become the "place to be" in Mexico. Good
beaches, great shoreline, golf, fishing, and wild nightlife combine
to make the Cabo area an attractive destination for a variety of
travelers.
CENTRAL AMERICA:
Enjoy a different kind
of vacation experience...Central American style! Lounge on the
beach, visit ancient archeological ruins and enjoy the pulsating
island nightlife. Adventurous travelers will want to participate in
one of the fabulous Eco-tours offered.
Liberia, Costa Rica - (Costa Rica's western region)
Liberia is the capital
of the Guanacaste province and is fast becoming the new gateway to
the sunny Guanacaste beaches. Over the past couple of years it has
become more and more popular with tourists, just recently a new
international airport in Liberia has opened up and many American
airline carriers are now flying into Liberia. Liberia is very close
to popular Tamarindo and its surrounding beaches and it is also
becoming the preferred city to fly into if you are going to the new
resorts in the Papagayo Gulf, only 30-40 minutes away. It is also
very close to some popular and beautiful national parks. Parque
Nacional Santa Rosa, Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja and Parque
Nacional Guanasate are just to the north and are worth visiting.
UNITED STATES:
California
Enjoy a Los Angeles
getaway and include multi-day Disneyland®
Resort Park Hopper® Bonus Tickets, or
Universal Studios® Hollywood. Thrill to Pirates of the Caribbean at
Disneyland® Park plus other exciting
theme park attractions and entertainment. Or travel to San Francisco
and experience the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and
Chinatown. Also See:
Hawaii
Hawaii
is enchanting. Its beauty will stun you. Its floral scents will
surround you. Its culture will fascinate you. Its legends will
intrigue you. Its world-class resorts will pamper you, and you'll be
treated as honored guests, as the "Spirit of Aloha" embraces you.
There are several Hawaii
vacation packages,
and
hotels
to choose from. Day or night, flexible vacations options are
available.
Las Vegas
Everywhere you look, from the Las Vegas Strip to the dazzling
Freemont Street Experience, there's an incredible variety of things
to see and do. Take a roller coaster ride around Manhattan
skyscrapers. Trek through space at warp speed. Visit the world's
tallest Coke bottle, or the tallest observation tower in the United
States. Take a chance with Lady Luck. Dine from buffet to gourmet.
Swing into championship golf. Or relax beside a refreshing pool.
These are just some of the many incredible experiences waiting for
you in this remarkable desert playground.
EUROPE:
Explore Italy, Ireland, Asia, the
rest of Europe, or the Mediterranean our European vacations our
European tours. From our independent travel packages to European
escorted tours, we feature only the best companies offering European
travel and vacation packages. The dream of European travel is
easily turned into reality with our broad range of vacation packages
across a continent of distinctive cultures.
AUSTRALIA & SOUTH PACIFIC:
We invite you to
experience the splendid diversity of
Australia and South Pacific;
from breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef to the vastness
of the rugged Outback, to the beautiful islands of
Tahiti,
Fiji, Samoa, and Cook Islands - the most romantic destinations in
the world.
AFRICA, ASIA, SOUTH AMERICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS:
Please visit
Elite Travel Consulting.com (or sister site) for exceptional
vacation experiences to these fine destinations. Your Elite Travel
Consultant can customize virtually any itinerary to fit your
specific needs.
Destination
information courtesy of Funjet Vacations, GOGO Worldwide Vacations,
and Travel Impressions, our preferred vacation suppliers. |
