hr: traveller

Since we’re already in Jamaica, and we’re talking about honeymoon villas, there is another private villa in the tropical paradise of Jamaica that you may want to consider for your honeymoon vacation: the Royal Plantation’s extremely private Villa Plantana.

The exclusive three-bedroom villa has it’s own driveway and a stone walkway that brings about the thought of Disney cottages and fairytales. It offers your own private pool as well as a manicured garden. You are also just a wish away from a secluded cove beach for a romantic interlude.

Villa Plantana Highlights include:

* Three bedrooms
* Private Pool
* Ultimate in service and privacy
* Private butler and private room attendant
* All meals, catered from each of our three gourmet restaurants, and expertly served in the privacy of your own villa
* Personal chef is available to prepare meals at the villa
* Unlimited rounds of golf on nearby championship course, with transfers
* Use of all resort facilities

The comforts civilization combined with the serenity of a dream honeymoon, Villa Plantana is a wonderful hideaway for the most special time of your lives together.

Visit www.royalplantation.com.

Where you go on your honeymoon is as important as when the wedding will take place. And there are so many honeymoon destinations out there. There’s Fiji, Hawaii, the Caribbean… Heck, even New York is a honeymoon destination if you’re from, let’s say, Kentucky. But if you have the means to go out of country for your dream honeymoon, don’t forget the most important thing.

In a honeymoon, the newly wed couple should get lots and lots of quiet time and privacy, such as the one offered by Jamaica, wonderful villas for the most exclusive honeymoon retreat.

Choose one of the gorgeous villas of Gordon “Butch” Stewart, world-renowned expert of vacation perfection. The idyllic environment is not only quiet and serene, but absolutely romantic and magical as to make the real world disappear.

The Sundown Villa offers a private beach overlooking Discovery Bay where you can dine al fresco and luxuriate in the beauty of Jamaica.

You can relax and slip into tranquility in the Lime-Acre Villa. Located on the south coast of Jamaica, the estate house has been lovingly preserved from a lime plantation to its present glory, giving off the feel of authentic old Jamaica.

The pastel getaway Santa Maria embodies the magnificence of Jamaica with this 2-bedroom island condo. You can bask in the sun on the white-sand beach or take a dip in the sea, your choice.

Any way you take it, be sure to enjoy Jamaica and each other on your honeymoon. That’s what it’s all about.

And you know what else? You can also get married in Jamaica! According to Wikitravel, fifty percent of marriages in the country are done by tourists. These are called “hotel marriages”, or “any marriage occurring in the island, performed by a certified marriage officer of the island and taking place under the auspices of a hotel, villa, lodge, cottage or any other property designated to the purpose of tourist accommodation”.

And here are the requirements. So if you plan to do the wedding and honeymoon in Jamaica, bring the following with you:

1)Proof of citizenship - certified copy of Birth Certificate, which includes father’s name.
2)Parental consent (written) if under 18 years of age.
3)Proof of divorce (if applicable) - original Certificate of Divorce.
4)Certified copy of Death Certificate for widow or widower.
5)French Canadians need a notarized translated English copy of all documents and a photocopy of the original French documents.
6)Blood tests are not required by law.
7)Italian Nationals celebrating their marriage in Jamaica must notify their Embassy to be legalized and translated.

Best wishes!

Source: Wikitravel

Photo Credit: Conor Lawless

People say that Ireland, once visited, is never forgotten. Being one of the most magical places in the world, I believe that adage about Ireland to be true. Now, they also say that getting lost in Ireland is part of its charm. Maybe. If you had all the time in the world. But if not, you can take a guided tour and enjoy all the magic of the Emerald Isle without getting lost.

VisitIreland.com can take you on mystical guided tours of the island which will definitely pass through the best places the country has to offer. You can choose among the different guided tours that will take you to places you would want to see around the mystical Emerald Isle.

You can take the Introduction to Ireland tour which is eight days of sight-seeking and shopping around Connemeara, the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher.

You can stock up on Waterford Crystals along the way. You can also take an Unforgettable Ireland tour, a glorious 12-day comprehensive tour that includes a 2-night stay in a 15th century Cabra castle, visits to the sights of Dublin, Wicklow and Glenalough, Kilarney, the Ring of Kerry, Sligo, and Meath. In this tour, you get to see ancient and modern Ireland, and enjoy the country and culture at its best.

Once you see Ireland, it will always be in your soul, calling you back. No matter how many times you come back, you will always look for more.

So, do what is best. Visit Ireland.

Photo Credit: sparkyd
Alaska, as I have found out, is more than ice and cold. You may want to go on an Alaskan cruise to get a fair picture of how gorgeous this winter landscape is. You may want to check out my entries on Fairbanks and Anchorage to get more information about what I’m talking about.

Interested in more? Why not try a Princess Cruise to Alaska? One of the leading cruises in the world today, Princess Cruise offers an experience you would never forget with every cruise you join.

Their Alaskan cruise includes an insider’s view of Alaska where Libby Riddles, the first woman to ever win the 1,100 Iditarod sled dog race comes aboard in Juneau to share her adventures with guests. You can also hear more about Alaskan life in Skagway from more of talented storytellers.

You will also sail with full-time onboard naturalists to teach you about Alaska’s unique and intriguing flora and fauna. And you can also learn about the Glacier Bay National Park, one of the Alaskan treasures you shouldn’t miss.

I think I may have to add an Alaska cruise to my to-do list. And one cruise no matter where the destination on one of the Princess Cruises ships.

Photo Credit: creatingkoan
It seems like Disney is staying away from theme parks this time around but don’t feel bad about your dream Hawaiian vacation yet because Walt Disney Parks & Resorts is planning a gorgeous resort in the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

It has been reported that the initial plans for the islands will include “830 hotel and vacation time-share rooms, a fantasy-laden water play area and an 18,000-square-foot spa to Kapolei in the rapidly expanding Ko Olina resort on West Oahu”. And Disney has always been able to deliver when it comes to fantasy places. Just think of Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida. Not to mention the one in Hong Kong which is just as glorious and magical as the rest of them. It wouldn’t be entirely different.

The resort is also expected to hire a thousand “cast members” so even though it’s not entirely Disneyland, it will still have that Disney magic. It was also reported that there had been no mention of a full-scale theme park but I’m sure that whatever the Disney name will touch will include magic anyway. This will also be a treat to locals and tourists alike as Hawaii has no full-scale amusement park, banking only on the beauty of the Hawaiian beaches and volcanoes. In my opinion though, Hawaii has enough beauty on its own.

Get your surfboards ready and join Mickey Mouse on the sea, sun and surf. The complex is expected to be completed in 2011.

Photo Credit: Eustaquio Santimano

There’s more to it than booking flights and making hotel reservations. Going on vacation is actually harder than you might think. Not because you get to have a few days out of the office doesn’t mean that you’re scott-free. You have to ensure that your actual vacation is much more fun than the planning.

The first thing you need to do in planning a European vacation is to choose what type of tour or cruise or what part of Europe you want to see. Let me give you an example. You can choose one from the many European cities I’ve already written about from here. Or, you can choose a theme. Let’s see, what about traveling through classical Europe. I’m sorry, this is actually my dream European vacation.

Anyhow, for a Classical European vacation, you have to choose your intinerary rather carefully. Which wonderful places do you want to visit? My suggestions would be Athens, Rome and Paris in that order. These are the places that most define Europe at its classic fineness. In these places, you can go back and sample the ancient civilizations of the Greeks and Romans.

For more ideas, click on the links I’ve provided above and see which cities appeal most to you. After all, vacations are for you to enjoy.

Photo Credit: mrhayata

I was feeling nostalgic and was watching The Karate Kid II on HBO earlier this evening when I thought, hey! Why not write about Okinawa? It seems like a pretty place.

The name “Okinawa” is the Japanese word that means “rope in the open sea”, which describes the islands perfectly as the islands that make up Okinawa looks like a long rope that stretches from mainland Japan to Taiwan.

Okinawans separate themselves from the mainland Japanese and call themselves uminchu or “sea people”. They also have their own language and customs.

And as with the movie, Okinawa’s most famous contribution to world culture is the art of karate. Can you say “wax on, wax off”?

The subtropical climate makes the area a popular winter getaway, but it has great beaches, even in midwinter. Temperatures rarely go below fifteen degrees C in Okinawa. You can enjoy scuba diving in the islands. Check out Reef Encounters in Chatan in Okinawa Island. They cater to both Japanese and English-speaking tourists.

Aside from the beaches, there is also the Shuri Castle in Naha on Okinawa Island. You can also visit the tiny village of Taketomi in the southern Yaeyama Islands.

Naha is also the place to go to enjoy the Okinawa nightlife. You can find several establishment near Kokusai Street where you can enjoy a drink or two. Try the Rehab or the Smugglers Irish Pub. Anywhere in the world, the Irish can offer a great pint.

My most favorite city in the United States at the moment is New Orleans, said to be the most celebrated city of the American South. Okay, so I love it because of a book series that I’ve been following and have been obsessed about, the Dark-Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon, and most of the stories are set in the Big Easy.

What I can’t do is write about the whole of the Big Easy in one blog. It just won’t do. So what I’m going to do is pick a chunk of the glorious city and write about them one at a time.

Probably, one of the most popular citizens of New Orleans is my favorite couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who are back stateside after the birth of their twins, Knox and Vivienne. The couple lives with their extensive brood in a $3.5 million home in the city. Angie has recently been seen strolling with three of their children, Pax, Shiloh and Zahara. Hubby, Brad has also been seen cycling around the French Quarter.

The French Quarter or the Vieux Carre, is the oldest, most famous section of the city, laid out in the 18th century. It stretches alongside the Mississippi River. Although it is compact, there are loads to see in the French Quarter and you may need several days to completely enjoy it.

If getting drunk is your main vacation goal, you can go straight to Bourbon Street where countless bars, fine restaurants and pubs and joints abound designed specifically to cater to the hard-drinking tourists. Be ready to go to some really wild parties as the 8 blocks of Bourbon from Canal Street are not for the faint-hearted.

If you are to go to Bourbon at night, Royal Street is where a tourist should go to by day. These are where the art galleries, antique stores and specialty shops abound. Just one block away from bourbon, but as different as a an exotic dancer is in appearance from the queen mother.

Another enjoyable part of the Quarter is Jackson Square where live music and tarot readers abound.

You can also enjoy carriage rides, street entertainers and walking tours where you can mostly appreciate the magic that is the French Quarter. Try it and see what Angelina and Brad saw.

Brad Pitt’s photo courtesy of Popsugar.

Photo Credit: mcclave
I’ve always been partial to words such as magic and mystic. Since I was a kid, the word “mystic” had always been one of my favorites. So I was delighted when I found a place actually called Mystic.

A major tourist destination, Mystic, Connecticut is a village split in the middle, one part in Groton, another in Stonington. What’s lovely is that you can find the Mystic Seaport, and the Mystic Aquarium there, along with the more popular tourist shopping destination.

The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration boasts of indoor and outdoor exhibits, and habitats where you can watch the beluga whales and the Pacific white-sided dolphins. Being a sucker for aquariums, I’d sure head there first before anywhere else.

You can also visit the Mystic Seaport, also known as The Museum of America and the Sea, which is America’s largest maritime museum. While at the seaport, you can also ride the Steamboat Sabino, the oldest, operational wooden steamboat that can take you on a tour of the scenic Mystic River.

For shopping needs, the charmingly named Olde Mistick Village is an outdoor shopping area, home to over 60 shops where the whole family can spend a day.

What I remember though is a movie called Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts. Apparently, the real Mystic Pizza still exists on West Main St. They don’t have Julia Roberts but they do have great pizzas.

For something quietly mystical, head on over to Mystic.

Photo Credit: wyntuition
Thinking of where to go on vacation next? Let this article be your guide.

Miami, Florida wins as the city that has the most beautiful people, according to “America’s Favorite Cities” by Travel + Leisure magazine online survey. So if you feel like people watching is the best activity, get your suntan lotion and squeeze into your bathing suit and hit the Miami beaches.

If your up for wild, wild weekends, Las Vegas and New Orleans (my current favorite US city) still rank right there at the top for fun under the moonlight. Although, New Orleans has its work cut out for it in the clean city category. Thank God, Brad Pitt is there to save the day.

Not surprisingly, Washington, D.C. is top city for historical sites and monuments. And THE city of cities happens to be New York, receiving the most No. 1 rankings, for arts, shopping and skyline. Although you can’t expect it to be quiet, and affordable. San Antonio, Texas won the most affordable city award.

Honolulu apparently offers the best for a romantic interlude, while Orlando, Florida is at the top of the list for family vacations.

How I’d love to visit all the US states, but if you ask me my top five right now? I’d list New Orleans, LA (for Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters); Portland, Oregon (for the set of Twilight); Orlando, FL; Las Vegas; and of course, New York.

For a more comprehensive look at the list, visit www.reuters.com.