NEALTOWEY

Archive for November, 2010

Recently, we took a two week trip to visit family in Georgia and Iowa. We spent a total of 6 days in the car driving. Now first of all, any small business owner knows you can’t leave your business for 2 weeks and expect to find it running at full capacity, or sometimes even running at all. Second of all, small business owners know you cannot sit in a car for 6 days and not work. What a waste of precious time! Here are a few tips I picked up along the way that will help make your trip go smoother:

Call ahead and check for internet capabilities. When making your reservations, find a hotel that has high speed internet access. Most hotels are now carrying these capabilities. If you have a laptop, make sure your room will have the capability of supporting your computer. This is important, as I went to a hotel in Nashville, TN and was told they did not have internet in every room, but they would keep a business room for me. When arriving there, they told me they did not have any of those rooms available. I had to go down to the lobby late at night to check my email, and of course I couldn’t do my work because I needed to be able to download files to my computer. Ensure that they will GUARANTEE your room will have internet access. Call and find out if you will need any special hardware to assist you in using their internet. If you don’t have a laptop, don’t worry. Most of the hotels have a business center in which they provide internet access and a computer. Find out what they have for your use and make sure it will be sufficient.

Make a list. Decide what it is you will want to work on. Make a “To Do” list. Then, going off of your “To Do” list, be sure to pack everything you will need to take to complete your list. If necessary, make a “To Pack” list to ensure that you take everything you need. There is nothing worse than getting 200 miles from home, and realize you left an essential client folder at home, and now can’t complete your work.

Make sure you have all the necessary hardware. Here are a few things to think about taking:
Laptop
All accessories for the laptop, including your carry along bag. (If you don’t have a laptop bag, I got a nice, cheap, black leather one at Sam’s Club.)
A power adaptor. Unless your laptop has long lasting battery, you are going to need an adaptor. I got a 300 watt power inverter at Radio Shack. It handles my laptop beautifully. If you are not sure what you will need, go in and ask the guys at your computer shop or call the maker of your computer and ask what the requirements are.
Something to set your workstation on. I got a cheap $10 lap TV tray at Wal-Mart that works beautifully. It holds my laptop, keyboard, and mouse and is comparable to having a small desktop. It folds up when I am not using it so that it doesn’t take up too much room. (This one is for those of you driving.)
Wireless PC card-if you have one. Some hotels will allow you to hook up wirelessly at their hotels.

Make everything accessible. When you pack your car, make sure everything you need will be in reach. Be sure you don’t pack any necessary files in the trunk, if in doubt, keep them out! If you are flying, don’t check your work bag.

Use the time to catch up on “menial” work. Sometimes I find I am so busy with my clients, I don’t have time to do my work. It just piles up. I spent several hours of my trip doing menial things like organizing my Outlook, my computer files, sorting through old files, etc. Use this time in the car or on the plane to your benefit!

Enjoy yourself! Remember this is a vacation. Don’t spend the whole time working! Work while you are in the traveling mode, but when you reach your destination, enjoy your time. If you are driving, make sure to watch the scenery around you as you work, so that you can enjoy yourself. Be sure you enjoy your family and friends as you travel!

Have wonderful and safe travels!

If you’re planning to visit Phuket, you may be wondering what places have the absolute best deals on hotels. There are plenty of places that you can stay in Phuket, and at reasonable prices as well. Whether you are looking for a nice hotel to stay in that has a lot of accommodations and services, or you just want a place to crash for the night after a long day out around the city, you will be able to find what you need while you are looking for hotels in Phuket.

For a hotel that is right on Patong Beach, look into the Seaview Patong Hotel. It’s in a great location – you are off to the side of the beach, so you aren’t constantly surrounded by people and feeling like you are too crowded, but you are still right there and able to easily access everything that you could need. Most things are right within walking distance, so you could take a stroll to get to restaurants, shops, and other things. You are also right on the beach, and many of the rooms have beautiful views of the water and the sand. And during the day, you can either lay out on the beach and soak up the sun’s rays, or you can go for a swim and splash around in the cool, clear waves.

Another great option is on Karon beach, and it’s at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa. Also located right on the water, this hotel and resort is the perfect place to stay in no matter who you are traveling with, whether it’s family, a group of friends, or even young children. They have a “Play Zone” set up for the little ones, so you can drop them off to have all sorts of fun while you enjoy your day. The hotel rooms themselves are gorgeous, with all of the amenities that you could want. Some even have their own private kitchenettes, and there are suites as well as rooms with balconies available. The hotel itself has a spa, where you can get a number of treatments done, as well as multiple pools and plenty of places to relax.

Also consider staying at the Centara Sawaddi Patong Resort. This is located right on Patong Beach, and has a wonderful atmosphere and feeling to it. It is nearby to everything that you could want in Phuket. Spend your day strolling through the white sand to stop at a variety of shops, or just relax by laying out on the beach or getting a massage. If you want to be a little more active during your vacation, there are plenty of places where you can go for a nice swim, and the area also has a number of water sports available that you can try out. When it comes to food, this hotel is right nearby a number of truly excellent restaurants, so you can sit down and enjoy a delicious meal after a long, fun day. Spend your evening enjoying some of the nightlife, such as the bars and clubs that you can visit downtown.

Most of the newer ships offer wheelchair assessable state rooms and can provide dining room seating arrangements to avoid stairs and raised areas. Just be sure your travel agent notifies the cruise line of your wheelchair usage and any other special needs prior to sailing when making your cruise vacation reservations. Cruise travelers with physical challenges should check with the onboard tour office to ensure that all pre-reserve tours can accommodate their needs.

Cruise travel may be the ideal vacation for an individual using a wheelchair, since it provides the opportunity to visit a number of destinations in a relatively short time. A cruise vacation provides effortless travel between locations without the inconvenience of packing and unpacking. You’ll appreciate the choice of experiencing the ship’s destinations or relaxing and enjoying the comfort of being pampered at a “resort at sea.”

Is important that if one of your party uses a wheelchair you want to ask the following questions:

* How many wheelchair accessible cabins on the cruise ship?

* Are the doors to the rooms and elevators wide enough to accommodate a regular wheelchair?

* Can I get my wheelchair out on deck and into the public rooms during my cruise vacation?

* Will I be able to access the dining areas?

In some ports of call, where the ship must anchor, access via wheelchair may not be possible.

Ships generally stock a limited number of wheelchairs but please be aware they must be pre-reserved at the time of your booking.

Due to S.O.L.A.S. (Safety of Live At Sea) Regulations, physically challenged passengers must have partial mobility, and a traveling companion who can assist them, should an emergency arise.

You’ll find that the newer, larger cruise ships have been built with the goal of full-accessibility. A new ship will have wider corridors, more spacious cabins, more, and larger, elevators and ramps where needed. In addition, the designated “accessible” cabins on newer ships are outfitted with many of the following features that will make your cruise vacation a more comfortable experience:

* Stateroom and cabin doorways wide enough for wheelchairs (at least 30″)

* Stateroom dimensions and floor space for maneuverability and bathroom dimensions adequate for maneuvering

* No “lips” or sills into bathrooms

* Sink positioned so wheelchair can roll under it

* Roll-in shower wit a fold-down stool in shower with detachable showerhead

* Bathroom walls with handrails

* Raised toilet seat, at least 17″ inches high

* Pull-down clothing racks

* Light switches at wheelchair level

* Adjustable mirror above sink

* Portable telephone

* Blinking lights in staterooms for the hearing challenged

In some ports, ships must anchor offshore due to size of the port or because of extreme weather (if the weather is too extreme they won’t stop at that port at all). They “tender” guests to shore with small boats that may not be accessible to guests in wheelchairs. You’ll want to check with the shore excursions department to determine which shore excursions are most suitable for you. In some destinations, particularly those outside of the United States, you will not always find accessible transportation and facilities.

Some of the Princess cruise line ships have hoists by the pool so a physically challenged passengers can enjoy the pool. Some of Holland American ships have the ability to tender wheelchairs into ports where they do not dock. Ask your travel agent to inquire with those lines to find the ship that is suitable for you.

There is no reason that anyone who is physically challenged should avoid a cruise vacation. Just remember when you are looking into cruise travel that you have your travel agent find the cruise ship that caters to your needs.

Now that you know that a cruise vacation may be perfect for you, call your travel agent and start packing.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright ? 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

The sea shores of Kovalam in Kerala offer a blissful holiday to its beach lovers. It depict the golden miles that welcome the gentle waves and and the natural rays, all the year round. The best time to enjoy a beach vacation in Kovalam is from October to March, when swimmers, surfers and sun-bathers covers miles after miles and explore its scenic beauty.

Beach Activities in Kovalam, Kerala

Kovalam beholds three touristy beaches, namely- Samudra, Hawah and Lighthouse. All the three beaches are best places for hang out, particularly in the evening. A number of open-air cafes and pizzerias offers the cool ambiance to the visitors. They arrange deck-chairs, eatables and leisure activity for the sybarite and also organizes water-sports equipments for the adventure lovers.

Water sports in Kovalam beach in Kerala

Beach travel in Kovalam gets exciting with undertaking dozens of water-sports on Kovalam beaches.

The beach shacks and resorts, set up Hawah beach offers surfing boards and boating facilities to the adventurers. Visitors can also opt for boating offered by the local fishermen.

On visiting Thiruvallom, located 8 km from Kovalam temple, enthusiast can enjoy a boat ride on Kerala backwaters. The riding adventure is organized by Thiruvallom Boat Club, which further pave the way to Pozhikkara Beach. The spot offers the scenic view of Karamana and Parvathy Puthanaar river, that joins the great Arabian Sea.

Ayurveda on Kovalam Beach

The serene atmosphere of Samudra beach promotes Ayurveda in Kerala. The beach is one of the quietest beach in Kovalam and presents the place to get engaged in the vedic therapy. Apart from meditating on the beach, the ubiquitous Ayurveda is offered by centers, that has acquired a special Green Leaf and Olive Leaf certification. The Somatheeram Ayurvedic Beach Resort and Manaltheeram Ayurvedic Beach Village on Chowara beach(8 km south of Kovalam) is popular all over the world.

Accommodation in Kovalam

Beaches in Kovalam are dotted with places of stay, which suits visitors pocket. Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach Resorts, Taj Green Cove Resort and Hotel Samudra are some elite accommodation option on Samudra beach. Holidaymakers can also opt for Hotel Neelakanta on Hawah beach, Marine Palace on Lighthouse beach and Somatheeram Ayurvedic Beach Resort in Chowara beach in Kovalam

How to reach Kovalam beach:

By Air
The nearest International Airport to Kovalam beach is at Thiruvananthapuram(19 km)

By Rail
Thiruvananthapuram Central, situated 13 kms away is the nearest railway station to Kovalam beaches

By Road
NH47 connects Kovalam with Alappuzha, Kollam, Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram and other major tourist destinations in South India.

Warm, inviting and sensuous is what tourists say about Goa Beaches. It is the most famous attractions of Goa Tourism which is famous for the juxtaposed beauty of azure sea, slivery sand and glistering sun. Tourists from world overcome to Goa to let loose themselves in the beauty of white sandy beaches, swaying coconut trees, pristine oceans and mesmerizing waterways. Dive into the azure sea; swim with marine species or just reveal the incredible beauty of the sapphire sea which makes Goa the Shore Capital of India. Some of the famous beaches of Goa which are visited by large number of tourists are:

Anjuna Beach:

Red laterite cliffs, white sands and azure sea are the elemental features which make this beach a beautiful place to spend a memorable holiday. The speckled beauty of this beach suits the temperament of all tourists. The waves are calm which make it an ideal place to enjoy the foaming sea up to maximum level. This beach is also famous for its full moon parties which are organized during full moon night. These parties are conducted on the beachside with the sea and star-studded in its background. These parties are accompanied by scrumptious Goan cuisine, high volume music, drinks, dances and stage shows which heightens the ecstasy of tourists who are part of these grand celebrations.

Dona Paula:

This is one of the most happening and busiest beaches of Goa where tourists come to enjoy scenic locations and water sports activities. Incredible surroundings make this beach a destination to enjoy pleasant holiday in serene and scenic ambiances. Tourists who come to Dona Paula get captivated by the assorted beauty of swaying palm tress hemmed the slivery sand and blue sea. And the engrossing beauty this beach is also renowned for several water sports activities such as windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, water scooting, kayaking, scuba diving and more.

Calangute:

This is one of the most happening beaches of Goawhich is also known as the Queen of Beaches. It is a 4 mile long beach located between the Baga and the Candolim beach. This is the best place of Goa tourism because of water sports activities, restaurants, nightlife and entertainment. It is one of the most sought after destinations for tourists who want to expose themselves to fun, thrill and excitement of Goa.

Goa beaches are the foremost attractions of Goa tourism which is famous round the world for natural and cultural beauty. Tourists from round the world come here to enjoy the composed beauty of sea, sun and sand. Some of the other most famous beaches of Goa are Bambolim, Arambol, Vagator, Benaulim, Palolem and Agonda.

India is a beautiful country with great cultural and geographical features. The country has many tourism options to grab the attention of tourists and vacations. Among those hill station and beach tourism are very popular among those tourists and vacationers who are looking for fun-filled holiday with great tourism opportunity in India. Hill stations and beaches of India are ideal for family vacation and honeymooning vacation as they offer serene and scenic ambiance for peaceful vacation along with some of adventure and sport activities. Exploring beautiful hill towns and beach towns of India is itself a unique experience you will love to cherish forever.

There are many vacation stations and mountain towns in India widely known for hill station tourism. In whatever part of India you will travel, you will find some of picturesque hill stations inviting you with their sectional charm. If you are honeymooners then you will certainly fall in love with awe-inspiring charm of Indian mountain towns. Indian hill stations are also known for adventure and sport activities.

North India is globally famous among tourists and vacations as it has many picturesque hill stations which are gifted with superb nature beauty and serene ambiance. Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Kashmir, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Ranikhet, Almora, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Gangtok, etc are some of popular vacation stations in northern part of India you will love to travel and spend your holidays for some days enjoying nature beauty and adventure & sport activities. Southern part of India also has some of famous vacation stations known for exotic nature beauty and adventure & sport activities. Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Ponmudi, Coorg, etc are popular vacation stations located in southern India. Munnar is so beautiful that it is often described as the Kashmir of South. Indeed hill stations in India have a great impact on Indian tourism.

There also many beaches and beach towns in India appealing tourists and vacationers through out the entire world. Western India and southern India are dotted with many exquisite beaches. Goa and Kerala are widely acclaimed for their breathtaking beautiful beaches fringed by palm-coconut trees. Beaches of India are ideal for fun vacation, family vacation, adventure holiday and honeymoon holiday. Palolem, Colva, Bogmalo, Anjuna, Aguada, Baga, Dona Paula, Miramar, Calangute, Benaulim, Mobor, Arambol, etc are popular beaches in Goa. Kovalam, Varkala, Beypore, Alleppey, Kollam, Mararikulam, Cherai, Fort Kochi, etc are popular beaches in Kerala. Goa and Kerala attracts a large umber of tourists and vacationers through out the entire globe for India beach tours and provide them a wonderful opportunity to enjoy beach tourism which is full of delights and cheerful activities.

Well, if you too want to enjoy the charm of Indian hill stations and beaches it is advisable that you should go with a right package. With a right India tour packages covering hill stations & beaches you will be able to explore the charm of Indian beaches and hill towns in most convenient and cheerful ways.

Africa and Safaris go hand in hand. Imagine the excitement in seeing live, wild animals in their natural habitat yet some as close away as a stone’s throw!

Such countries as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana and Rwanda just to name a few, offer great diversity of landscape and animal species. Their Wildlife Parks are perfect for animal spotting, taking amazing photography or, if you are into painting, even immortalizing what you see in oil or watercolors.

A Safari can be taken during the dry season when animals are seen at drinking at watering holes or during the rainy season when herds roam around eating the growing lush vegetation.

Safari vacation packages can include treetop accommodations, campgrounds, lodges with pools or even outdoor baths, and saunas and spa treatments to help you relax after a full day of adrenaline fatigue chasing after the quarry. Some packages go as far as including butler service.

Professional Safari Guides are available for hire. These guides will help you explore the best regions for great photography and fond, long-lasting memories as well as ensure safety for you and your friends.
They will take you to the best reserves. Travel can be done over land with Safari vehicles, by water on boat tours or even by aircrafts. Imagine observing and photographing a herd of buffaloes, crocodiles, lions or a group of graceful giraffes. Gorillas, mammals, birds, reptiles and flora are also part of the whole African wildlife picture.

If a trilling hunting experience is what you seek, these guides can include hunters and trackers. They know which animals are legal to hunt and when so as to ensure that none becomes extinct. You will need a hunting permit. For Big Game, lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, hippos and elephants are some of the most dangerous. Other Game can include Eland, Hyena, buffalo and many other kinds. Hunting can be done with rifles or bows depending on what game you are after.

Africa, however, is not just about its dangerous animals. It has spectacular sunrises, mountains, rivers and beaches. When in Africa, try to make time for some deep-sea fishing, wildlife painting, hiking and a host of activities as part of your trip.

Choose the Safari vacation package in the country or countries of your choice. Choose a package that best fits your budget from among the many African Wildlife Reserves and get ready to experience the most trilling time of your life.

Our country is famous for its beaches, some of the most beautiful in the world, remote, pristine and bathed in sunshine!

But there are pros and cons to a lazy day on the coast of Australia and there are many things you’ll need to be aware of as a first timer or visitor. Below we’ve put together a list of the biggest and most important rules to follow, ensuring your Australian beach outing is one to remember, for good reasons, and not bad ones.

* You WILL need sunscreen. As great as it looks to have a dark tan these days, 1400 people die each year from sun cancers in Australia and 8,800 are diagnosed with melanomas. A layer of 30+ sunscreen is both smart and necessary, not to mention an easy way to stay sun cancer free. Take a look around, all of the locals are slathering some on, you should too.

* Don’t forget a hat and a shirt to put on, for when the sun is out in force and your shoulders need a break. The hottest time in the day during an Australian summer in between 10am and 3pm, keep this in mind during outdoor activities.

* Keep up your water intake. In summer it is easier to become dehydrated, especially on the beach, so keep a bottle of water handy.

* Swim between the flags. Australian beaches have sections of beach that are patrolled by highly trained lifeguards, these sections are easily marked by bright yellow and red flags. In this area, the lifeguards are able to quickly spot you if you are in danger, and come to your rescue. Outside of these flagged areas you run the risk of not being seen by someone and being carried further out into the ocean by rips.

* Decide how long you’ll stay in the surf and how high the waves should get before going in shore. It sounds small, but it’s easy to get into big trouble if the waves are too high or rough for you. The surf is no place to be a cowboy! If you start to feel uneasy where you are, that’s a major sign that you’re already in too deep.

* By aware of scary things at the beach. This can mean lots of things, rocks under the water, jelly fish, sharks, rips in the tide or even people on the shore who might like the look of your belongings and want to steal something of value while you swim 20 metres away. You have to take care of yourself and be aware of what’s going on around you!

If you find yourself in trouble, there are a few easy things to remember that might save your life.

* If you get caught in a rip; wave your arms to attract attention from others around you (and the lifeguards). If you are too far out and are struggling, it’s best to swim parallel to the shore along with the rip. This way, you won’t exhaust yourself and eventually the rip will break and you can swim to the shore. The important thing is not to swim against the current.

* Listen to lifeguards. If they say a particular area is dangerous, it is. You might think otherwise, but they have your safety in mind. Also, if a lifeguard comes to help you, follow their directions.

* Seek attention immediately if you are stung by something. If you are stung by the dreaded blue bottle and there are no lifeguards to help you, a good remedy for pain is to bathe the sting in hot water.

In many ways, New York has developed almost a symbolic reputation as the cultural capital of the United States. It is the most diverse city in the country with over 800 languages being spoken in the city alone. The diversity of the city gives it a unique dynamic, which is most evident in the multiplicity of restaurants and street food. It is further exemplified in the layout of the city, which is divided into boroughs and each possesses its own unique identity.

Ellis Island Immigration Museum – What would a trip to the city be without a visit to the immigration museum? The museum provides an interesting look into the communities that settled the city as well as the hardships they encountered and the challenges they overcame. The best way to see it is through a walking tour and watching a few of the movies.

Staten Island Ferry – The Staten Island ferry takes onlookers on a tour of the City’s harbor and more importantly a view of the Statue of Liberty. The Statue is the single most important symbol of what the city represents and the people that built it. Make sure to take the ferry during dusk when the sky begins to change.

Grand Central Terminal – Opened in 1913, it quickly evolved into a hub for transportation. Now you can browse the shops, dining and other features of the station. If you are interested in the history, there are walking tours as well as free tours on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Albufeira is a Portuguese city in the district of Faro, in the Algarve region. To cater to the annual flood of visitors, the city offers facilities that include a marina, golf courses, innumerable hotels, restaurants and bars. Once a thriving fishing village, Albufeira is now somewhat washed away by a tide of tourism and is now a major holiday resort in the southern region of Portugal.

Things in Albufeira do not slow down with the setting of the sun. The pace picks up for a lively nightlife when restaurants, bars and clubs are full of people who even spill on to the narrow streets. There are a whole lot of things you can do in here. Dinner in itself is an event and the Portuguese really enjoy their food. You can try out some dancing at a club or head to a local low key bar or just stroll around to spend time.

There is no dearth of Albufeira activities that you can take part in. Some of the interesting ones you can enjoy in the daytime include:

Dolphin and Cave Watching – You can go on a cruise along the Algarve coast, between the Carvoeiro beach and Albufeira beach to spot groups of dolphins playing in the water. You can also discover some of the amazing rock formations and caves during the trip. You might not find a better way to relax yourself than this. Golf Club - Golfers get an opportunity to play this game in the best of surroundings provided by the Natural Wildlife Reserve in Albufeira. The sea view from the golf course adds more fun to your Albufeira golf experience. Diving Activities - This is one activity which can keep you busy through out the day. There are high quality and safe diving centers catering to your expectations. Diving courses, guided diving and equipment rental would all be at your fingertips. Pirate Boat - The famous pirate ship ‘Leãozinho’, which means ‘little lions’, sails through the dazzling sea to the most spectacular spots located at Algarvian Coast. This will provide you with a visual treat you will never forget.

You can also take a stroll down to the beaches which are easily accessible from the streets and are just a few minutes from the town square. The main beaches are the Praia de Balaia, Praia de Castelo, Praia de Falésia, Praia de Galé, de Olhos d’Agua, Praia de Maria Luisa, and Praia de São Rafael.

Nightlife here can mean visiting popular bars and nightclubs dotted throughout the Old and New Towns. You can visit boutique shops and eclectic restaurants that fill the marina quayside providing a more laid-back but exciting feel. However if you want to spice up your night time entertainment a bit more, there are also a number of top class lap dancing and strip clubs which can send your mind in a tizzy.

All in all Albufeira is a pleasant place to be in, to stay, to enjoy and bring back memories with an inherent Portuguese flavor in them. There is no need to think twice if you have already spotted Albufeira on your travel radar.