The Ocean Blue Golf & Beach Resort is located in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and it’s only 35 minutes away from the Punta Cana International Airport. It is an all-inclusive resort, which means that you don’t need to worry about anything because almost everything, including all your meals, is already included in the price. Once you arrive at this hotel you will be sure that you made the right decision.
One of the biggest concerns that many tourists have is about how the room or suite will look like, if it will be big enough or very comfortable. Well, you should know that the Ocean Blue Punta Cana Resort has 296 junior suites, 72 junior deluxe suites, and 6 honeymoon suites. Each suite includes all the commodities you need to make your vacation experience even better. To give you an idea of how comfortable suites are there, this is what you will find : telephone, cable TV, hair dryer, air conditioner, one (king size) bed or two (queen size) beds, ceiling fan, a beautiful balcony, Jacuzzi, safety deposit box, and a mini fridge, just to mention a few.
Did you know that one of the most common questions that guests have in mind is how are they going to spend their vacations? Well, the answer is very easy. Tourists can just simply relax, spend most of the time by participating at the activities available at the resort, go shopping, or even plan a trip to go visit the cities nearby.
There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy at the resort. Beach volleyball, scuba diving, snorkeling, tennis, basketball, horseback riding, and aerobics are an example of how many sports you can practice there. If you are looking for other activities, then the swimming pool might be the answer. There are also Jacuzzis, a spa, sauna, a game room, and more.
With so many things to do, it’s time to think where are you going to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Well, fortunately this will not be a problem here because there are seven a la carte restaurants to choose from : Bucareno, which specializes in seafood, El Bodegon, La Brasa Caribbean Grill, Margarita Mexican Restaurant, La Casa de mi abuela, I Mascherati Di Venezia Italian Restaurant, and Route 66 American Restaurant. There are also areas where you can have snacks at any time. In addition to this, you can find 10 bars, some of them located at the restaurants.
For families with children there is available baby sitting service for a small fee. Children from ages between 4 to 12 can have fun at the Kids Club and for teenagers from ages between 12 to 17, the Teens Club is a great place to meet new friends.
If you are planning a trip to Punta Cana and haven’t decided where to stay yet, the Ocean Blue Punta Cana is the resort you are looking for.
Winter has returned to the Northwoods and Kate and I are now busy Christmas Orders and School. I do manage to squeeze in a hunting trip or two once in awhile but I am mostly teaching. As Fall fades to Winter, the resorts in the area have cleaned and closed down.
Eagle River was an amazing resort area in its hay day. Now it is becoming more populated with condos then little resorts. That is a life style that seems to be changing drastically in the Northwoods. Yes the economy has really effected our little area of paradise and we have seen our fair share of fellow business men and women decide to shut down their businesses but for the most part we are surviving this crazy economy.
Now is when the beauty of the northwoods really shines. The lakes are quiet as the boats are put away and ice is starting to form. The trees are already bare and the National forest seem to come alive with grouse, deer, and animals as they scramble to get nestled away for winter. The Musky fisherman are even done for the year.
Ice is beginning to form on the lakes marking the beginning of a promising Ice Fishing Season. Anglers by and large have more luck on the winter ice then they do during the summer when crowds of boats cover the largest chain of lakes in America. I think you will find that Eagle River ice fishing is just about as peaceful experience as you can get. It is amazing how quiet those lakes are. Bundle Up; Sitting on those big lakes is not for someone who gets cold easy. Don’t worry for the less adventuristic people, downtown shopping is still thriving in the Eagle River area despite the cold.
With the change in the weather, Minnetonka’s winter boots really start to become more popular. Ladies where them with skirts and shorts early in the fall and then switch to pulling them over their jeans in the winter. On cold weekend mornings, more and more mom’s are pulling on their fashion boots. Many of the stores in downtown Eagle River carry these boots. Deerksin Moccasins can provide comfort for those bunion problems. Minnetonka Winter Boots and Deerskin Moccasins can be found at the Arrow Gift Shop.
Spain is a fantastic country with a hot, sunny Mediterranean climate. With up to 300 days of sun a year, it’s the ideal place to book your summer holiday.
But where are the places to stay? Well first of all let’s have a think about the many costas. No, I’m not talking about a well known coffee chain, but the many Spanish Coasts. Costa is quite simply the Spanish word for coast. The most popular Costas are the Costa Brava, Costa Del Sol, Costa Blanca, and Costa Dorada, and you’re bound to find a fantastic sun filled Spain Vacation if you book your accommodation here.
As for price – well they needn’t Costa lotta! Break with the stereotypical hotels and think about booking your own accommodation online through a holiday rentals website. More of that a little further on!
As well as the Costas there are the Balearic Islands. These come under Spain, but are beautiful sunny Mediterranean islands, just off the coast. The most popular of the Balearics is Ibiza. Hundreds of thousands of people flock here every year and have a great time. Ibiza is famed for its’ bar and club culture, and nowhere encapsulates this more than the town of San Antonio. The other Balearic Islands are Formantera, Menorca and Majorca (AKA Mallorca). Again these are sun drenched islands where you can relax and get a great tan! Holidays in the Balearics are one of my recommendations for your next summer vacation.
The other popular Spanish islands are the Canary Islands. Canary Islands holiday destinations are Fuerteventura, Tenerife, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Lagamera, La Palma and the ever popular Lanzarote. As the Canary Islands are volcanic, you can expect to find black sand. But don’t let the thought and photos put you off -you’ll hardly notice when your laid back in your deck chair with a large jug of fruity Sangria!
Back on the mainland there are more places I can recommend for your Spain Holidays. We’ve talked about the Costas but think a little more about holidays inland. Why? Well not only do you still find the warm and sunny climate, but you’ll find some amazingly interesting places.
Holidays in Andalucia (and Inland Andalucia) are filled with touristic places to visit and things to see and do. City breaks in Barcelona are a must and then there’s Madrid – the Real Madrid (pun intended) where you can explore the capital city as part of your Spanish Vacation.
Bullfighting is still a popular tourist attraction in Spain, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not this is for you. Why not go and see some traditional Spanish Flamenco dancing, and get up and try some yourself!
Food in Spain is certainly interesting, and the locals make some very interesting meals. Try Tapas, which you can eat in many of the Spain Tapas bars. Paella is certainly not pastry surrounding meat and gravy! No, Paella is a Spanish dish made from a base ingredient of rice, and is absolutely delicious.
So, how do we make it “Costa notta lotta?” Well quite simply arrange the holiday yourself. Budget airlines can now get you to Spain from many major UK airports for less than £30! How Easy? Well it’s as easy as using the web.
And the web is best place for you to find your accommodation! Search Spain Holidays by using a holiday rentals website. You’ll be able to browse hundreds of Spanish properties at prices that will suit your budget. And they’re from the owners direct, so you can try out your haggling skills before you even set off to your destination! With the credit crunch biting, owners are as desperate for bookings as you are for bargains so deals are there to be done.
My personal recommendation is to book a Holiday Villa in Spain. Why? Well, a Villa in Spain is likely to be large enough to take your whole family comfortably. You may even get your own private swimming pool!
Spain Villas can be traditional in style so that you can really understand how the Spanish people live. OR they can be modern and have Plasma / LCD TVs, Gyms, Jacuzzis and all the modern comforts that you may want.
The key thing is that by using a rentals website, you have the choice. All the decisions are yours! You’re not going to be dictated to by hotels and their rules, your holiday is really YOUR holiday.
So, go ahead and book your holiday in Spain today!
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in the Caribbean, is composed of the main island of St. Vincent plus at least 8 smaller islands: Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent, and Union Island. All of the islands have their own special charms, and all except for Tobago Cays are inhabited.
When to Travel to St. Vincents
Peak travel time for visitors to St. Vicent and the Grenadines is December through April. If you are searching for a bargain trip to St. Vincent and the least crowded time, then choose the month of September to plan your visit. See below for weather information on the Grenadines.
How To Get To St. Vincents
This will be the most difficult part of the trip. You cannot get to St. Vincent and the Grenadines directly from the continental United States, South America, or Europe. You will need to land into Trinidad, St Lucia, Martinique, or Grenada. Small prop planes can then bring you into St. Vincents in the city of Kingston or the larger Grenadine islands.
Which Hotels To Stay In While in St. Vincent
There are many hotels on the islands such as Grand View Beach Hotel, Raffles Resort Canouan Island, and Sunset Shores Beach Hotel which are some of the best rated on the islands. There are many private accomodations that can be rented on all of the islands. You can find out more on those by visiting SVGTourism.com
What To Do on St. Vincents and the Grenadines
What can we say, but go to the beach! Snorkeling and Scuba Diving are big hits on the tiny islands of the Tobago Cays. When you tire of those activities, take a tour of the islands on a charter sailboat. You can also explore the Botanic Gardens or Fort Charlotte as cultural activities during your stay.
Weather on St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The driest months on the Grenadines are January through May with April being the driest month. If you want to stay clear of rain, make sure to not travel in July as the rain falls constantly during this time period. The temperature stays between 68 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
Languages
A localized Creole language is spoken on the islands, but if you are able to speak English, you will have no trouble during your visit to St. Vincent.
Touring
We highly suggest using the air taxi to hop from island to island during your stay. Visit SVGAir.com for flight information. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is also known world-wide for the some of the best sailing, so if flying isn’t your thing, or if you would like a more leisurely tour of the islands, chartering a sailboat or yacht is absolutely possible. See SVGTourism.com for more information on chartering a boat.
One of the first things you’ll notice about Curacao, especially in Willemstad, the capital, is the strong Dutch influence in the design and architecture of the buildings. The abundance of pastel buildings and red rooftops will remind you of the Netherlands, which is the point: Curacao is part of the Netherlands kingdom.
When to Travel
Curacao is a lucky island because it is normally out of the path of hurricanes that can ravage other Caribbean islands. So, putting severe weather aside, plan to visit Curacao during the September to early December period for the most cost conscious trip when the crowds are at their lowest. December to April is the busiest time period and includes Carnival. If partying is your idea of a good time, then Carnival, held in February, is your best time to travel.
How To Get There
Use airport code CUR when searching for flights into Hato International Airport. Very flew flights will take you directly into Curacao, but American Airlines and Northwest/Delta will get you there with just one stop. Air Jamaica, US Airways, and others can fly you into Curacao with 2 stops (all depending on where your flight departs). KLM services Curacao from Europe. There are many small flights that hop between the Caribbean islands that can get you to and from Curacao pretty quickly.
What To Do in Curacao
The largest draw for visitors to Curacao are the beaches. The beaches on Curacao are gorgeous and while they can be busy at times, if you pick the right time of year, you can have a little beach area to yourself with little interruption. Diving is also a huge attraction in Curacao. There are many reefs to be explored around Curacao’s clear water, just be careful to not harm the corals!
The Weather
Inclement weather is not normally a problem on Curacao. The average high for the year is 82°F (28°C). It very rarely rains with the most rain coming in November or December. Trade winds from the Atlantic keep humidity very low and thus keeping what heat is generated at 82°F from becoming unbearable.
Languages
While Papiamentu is the language spoken by the natives, Dutch and English are also official languages of the island. Almost everyone on Curacao speaks English, so you should be fine in most instances if English is your native tongue. Spanish is also spoken by many on Curacao.
Touring
Rental cars are available on Curacao for $50-$100 per day. Bus and taxi transportation is also available and are easily recognizable by the tourists. Bicycles and scooters may also be rented in many areas.
