Cuba announces plans to allow foreign travel

Cuba is the largest Caribbean island in size (750 miles long) and population (approx 11 million. Quite easily accessible from Canada and Europe, some regional connections, no connections from USA. Many excellent beaches on the mainland and on offshore cays, a few developed, many untouched, though access may be difficult. Extremely strong Latin culture, superb Spanish colonial architecture in Havana, Santiago and other cities, communist political history and leader Fidel Castro, lively people, many styles of music including salsa and son, dancing.

Cuban rainforest Varadero Beach, Cuba

WEATHER
Cuba enjoys a tropical climate that ensures hot and fairly humid conditions throughout the year. Between November and April the weather in Cuba is generally hot and dry and so this is the busiest time for tourists to visit. Between May and October there is normally higher rainfall. Cuba lies in the hurricane belt and is occasionally hit by these storms in the latter part of these months.

Havana by night, Cuba

TOURIST INFORMATION
Cubatur runs information desks in tourist hotels but these mainly sell tickets for organised trips. The best source of information for independent travel is almost always the local people.

Outside Cuba, information can be obtained from:

Canada – Cuba Tourist Board, 1200 Bay St, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2A5, t 416 362 0700

UK – Cuba Travel, 1st Floor, 154 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JT, t 020 7240 6655

Oasis Holidays in the Sahara Desert, Tunisia

The border region of the Tunisian Sahara has a wealth of sights and experiences to offer holiday makers. Shade and tranquillity can be enjoyed at the oasis towns of Tozeur, Chebika, Tamerza and Nafta whilst on the road into the desert, the great salt lake of Chat El Jeri, with its mirages and salt sculptures sits at the foot of the Atlas Mountains.

Tozeur, on the Western Edge of the Sahara

By far the largest oasis town in the region, Tozeur is situated near the southern range of the Atlas Mountains. The oasis covers an area of around 25 miles, a dense patch of greenery against the ochre landscape of the desert. Tozeur’s palm groves are sustained by 200 mineral springs. The water from these springs has always been prized, attracting many people from the Romans to the Berber tribes who still populate the area.

Chebika, Tamerza and Nafta-the Oasis in the Desert

Just an hour or so jeep ride from Tozeur are three very different kinds of oasis. Chebika, Tamerza and Nafta are all famous for their tranquil settings that make a pleasant respite from the arid desert landscape.

Chebika is situated amongst the mountainous gorges of the desert scrub land. Springs tumble down from the mountains, flowing through gorges to feed the local wadi or river. The springs also sustain the azure blue oasis pools surrounded in palm groves, which were once the bathing pools of Sufi Muslims.

Chat El Jeri-the Tunisian Salt Lake

Outside Tozeur is another natural phenomenon: the great salt lake of Chat El Jeri. A natural salt flat, it stretches along the base of the Atlas Mountains. Its glistening salt crystals, give the landscape a lunar quality. Here and there, around the narrow water channels that run just along the surface of the salt flat are pink veins of algae that thrive in the salty environment.

Maldives

Maldives Islands are characterized by a unique coral nature and thus they posses unique tourism resources though in a one-sided way, namely in the submarine and littoral environment of the islands, lagoons and reefs, associated with the year-round tropical climate.

Tourism in Maldives which was introduced in 1972 has successfully developed in the past years. Maldives tourism has been rapidly growing the number of tourist arrivals and resorts islands over the last ten year period.

On the European market, Maldives today rank among the most attractive travel destinations in the tropics. Maldives offers large natural resources for tourism and encourages eco-tourism to protect the sensitive environment and underwater life.

It is not only divers and snorkelers who enjoy the profuse underwater resources, but also beach tourists are attracted by the nature of the beaches and the climatic conditions as well. This environment really guarantees relaxation and recreation.

The Maldives honeymoon

Celebrate your special honeymoon in Maldives at the most beautiful and romantic islands of Maldives.

You could enjoy the privacy and intimacy of a secluded, natural setting and a warm inviting atmosphere, where the sunsets are spectacular!

The Maldives resorts offer you not only the crystal clear waters and azure blue lagoons, food is tasty and services are excellent.

As a welcome token, almost all Maldives resorts offers honeymooners fruit plates and flower decorated rooms on the arrival night – a romantic promise of what lays ahead. On request, resorts also arrange romantic candle-lit dinners on the beach and also champagne breakfast served in the privacy of your own room, to make your honeymoon holiday memories that will last a lifetime!

Maldives Tourism

 

On a map, the Maldives islands are only a scattering of dots over the equator in the Indian Ocean - hardly noticeable. In reality too, this is one of the few remaining holiday destinations that has remained elusive to the hubbub of modern urbanization. It is a country comprising more than 1,192 small coral islands naturally grouped into 26 atolls. Of these only 200 or so are inhabited by locals and from among the rest, 96 have been developed into luxury resorts

 

Maldives Resorts

 

The resorts of the Maldives offer the epitome of luxury wrapped in a serene package of tranquility and romance. It is the perfect retreat for those wishing to forget the buzz of city life, kick back and relax without a care in the world. The pristine blue waters, white sandy beaches and lazily swaying palm trees that writers and painters use to describe utopian tropical islands is exactly what the Maldives is all about. Be it romance, diving, surfing, relaxation or even rejuvenation you want, Maldives is the piece of heaven you need.

 

Maldives Diving, Maldives Surfing

 

The Maldives is also one of the best places in the world for diving and surfing. The clear waters and colorful underwater flora and fauna that is a Maldivian heritage coupled with the constant year-round temperatures of 28°C, 33°C make the Maldives a heaven for divers and surfers. Of course it is an added bonus that the Maldives is host to a number of world-renowned dive sites.

 

Maldives Holidays

 

For those who believe a worthwhile holiday is one in which you can simply sit back and relax, the Maldives is your paradise. What would be a better place to relax than a stretch of white sand caressed by turquoise waters, basking in the warm sun, cooled by the swaying palmss. If your idea of relaxation involves good food, drinks and music, each resort of the Maldives has restaurants, bars and discos that cater to a variety of tastes.

 

Maldives Spa Holidays

 

If its rejuvenation that you need then all that you require would be the well-equipped spas which is available in most of the resorts of Maldives. Many of these spas are situated on the beach where you can enjoy the natural beauty of the islands as well as the therapeutic spa treatments. Some resorts offer even more exotic settings such as underwater spas.

Tourism in the Maldives is carefully managed. The lack of local resources makes it necessary to import virtually everything a visitor needs, so it can't really compete on price. The strategy has been to develop a limited number of quality resorts, each on its own uninhabited island, free from traffic, crime and crass commercialism

The Maldives Tourist Promotion Board has helped build the Maldives' reputation as one of the best diving destinations in the world. And deservedly so with hundreds of breathtaking dive sites, a colourful and fascinating underwater world, perfect conditions throughout the year and a visibility every photographer dreams of.

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +5

Dialling Code: 960 

Facts for the Traveler

Visas:
Visas are required for most nationalities, but are free and can be obtained on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Health risks:
sunburn (In the tropics, the desert or at high altitude you can get sunburned quickly and seriously, even through clouds. Use a strong sunscreen, hat and barrier cream for your nose and lips. Calamine lotion and aloe vera are good for mild sunburn. Protect your eyes with good-quality sunglasses)

When to Go

If you're looking for a few extra hours of sunshine then you should visit the Maldives between December and April, which is the dry season. This is the high season, however, and resorts can be fully booked and prices are higher than the rest of the year. The Christmas-New Year period is the busiest and most expensive part of the high season. Between May and November it's still warm, but the skies can be cloudy, humidity is higher and rain is more likely. This is the low season, and there are fewer tourists and prices are lower. The transition months of November and April are said to be associated with increased water clarity and better visibility for divers. 

Las Vegas

Las Vegas has some really excellent entertainment, in fact some would say it is some of the best there is, so we created this guide to help you plan the perfect trip so you know what's going on when and where. To say that there is a lot to do in Las Vegas could be the greatest understatement ever! With so many fun things to do and see in this "Adult Playground", there is no way to do them all in one day. Las Vegas boasts world class hotels and casinos, world famous shows and nightclubs, sporting events, adventure tours, the finest restaurants, championship golf courses, state of the art thrill rides and so much more. You can always find something fun to do in Las Vegas and with our visitors guide you can always find exactly what you're looking for quickly and easily. Come see why this is one of America's favorite vacation destinations to almost 30 million visitors a year and enjoy all there is to see and do in this great desert city. Anytime is a great time to visit, so make plans today and treat yourself and family to the ultimate vacation! Everyone will be sure enjoy all the choices they have to choose from when it comes to the very best Las Vegas Entertainment!

If you're looking for great deals and discounts for travel to Las Vegas, Nevada then look no further! Las-Vegas.cc is proud to offer the lowest rates anywhere for trips to the "City of Entertainment". There are so many attractions and things to do, it's hard to decide what to do first. Whether you are coming for a business trip, fun or even to get married by Elvis himself, there is no need to worry we have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Vegas. There are tons of lodging options once you get here. No matter where you want to stay on your Las Vegas vacation or how you plan on getting to Las Vegas, our travel guide always has the best prices and the lowest travel rates. Any time is a great time to come visit. Let us help make this a vacation that you will never forget! Book your trip online or call today for reservations at 1-800-210-3429. Our team of vacation specialists are here waiting to hear from you.Viva Las Vegas!

Top World tourist destinations in 2010

According to the American travel site "Frommer's."  Tunisia is one of top World tourist destinations in 2010.

Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates are the only two Arab countries on this list which includes several European, Asian and Latin-American cities and capitals.

The Frommer's site considers Tunisia, particularly the areas around the capital Tunis, as a microcosm of North Africa's charms; Islamic culture mixed with Mediterranean spirit and beauty, modern colonial remnants and ancient Roman vestiges.

It adds that Tunis has an extensive and lively Medina as well as a colonial remnants of wide boulevards and straight lanes, inherited from France.

TUNISIA --- Carthage

Carthage, Phoenician Kart-hadasht, Latin Carthago, great city of antiquity, traditionally founded on the north coast of Africa by the Phoenicians of Tyre in 814 bc. It is now a residential suburb of the city of Tunis. Its Phoenician name means New Town.

Various traditions concerning the foundation of Carthage were current among the Greeks, who called the city Karchedon; but the Roman tradition is better known because of the Aeneid, which tells of the city’s foundation by the Tyrian princess Dido, who fled from her brother Pygmalion (the name of a historical king of Tyre). The inhabitants were known to the Romans as Poeni, a derivation from the word Phoenikes (Phoenicians), from which the adjective Punic is derived.

The date of the foundation of Carthage was probably exaggerated by the Carthaginians themselves, for it does not agree with the archaeological data. Nothing earlier than the last quarter of the 8th century bc has been discovered, a full century later than the traditional foundation date.

The site chosen for Carthage in the centre of the shore of the Gulf of Tunis was ideal: the city was built on a triangular peninsula covered with low hills and backed by the Lake of Tunis with its safe anchorage and abundant supplies of fish. The site of the city was well protected and easily defensible. On the south the peninsula is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The ancient citadel, the Byrsa, was on a low hill overlooking the sea. Some of the earliest tombs have been found there, though nothing remains of Carthage’s domestic and public buildings.

From the middle of the 3rd century to the middle of the 2nd century bc, Carthage was engaged in a series of wars with Rome. These wars, which are known as the Punic Wars, ended in the complete defeat of Carthage by Rome. When Carthage finally fell in 146 bc, the site was plundered and burned, and all human habitation there was forbidden.

From the end of the 2nd century it had its own Christian bishop, and among its luminaries were the Church Fathers Tertullian and St. Cyprian. Throughout the 4th and 5th centuries Carthage was troubled by the Donatist and Pelagian controversies.

In ad 439 the Vandal ruler Gaiseric entered almost unopposed and plundered the city. Gelimer, the last Vandal king, was defeated at nearby Decimum by a Byzantine army under Belisarius, who entered Carthage unopposed (ad 533). Carthage, after its capture by the Arabs in 705, was totally eclipsed by the new town of Tunis.


                        

Though Roman Carthage was destroyed, much of its remains can be traced, including the outline of many fortifications and an aqueduct. The former Byrsa area was adorned with a large temple dedicated to Juno, Jupiter, and Minerva, and near it stood a temple to Asclepius. Also on the Byrsa site stood an open-air portico, from which the finest Roman sculptures at Carthage have survived. Additional remains of the Roman town include an odeum, another theatre constructed by Hadrian, an amphitheatre modeled on the Roman Colosseum, numerous baths and 
temples, and a circus.

The Christian buildings within the city, with the exception of a few Vandal structures, are all Byzantine. The largest basilica was rebuilt in the 6th century on the site of an earlier one. Churches probably existed during the 3rd and 4th centuries, but of these no traces remain. The archaeological site of Carthage was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979. See also North Africa, History of: The Carthaginian period.

Etretat

Welcome To Etretat

We invite you to visit an exceptional natural site where the spectacle of the cliffs carved in openings, needles and pinnacles will take your breath away. Formerly a fishing village, Etretat is transformed into a resort in the nineteenth century and became a place of inspiration.

The play of the sunlight, arches, needle and flint caves

Beautiful, majestic and luminous, the Etretat cliffs are world famous. The natural openings of the resort, which are classified as a Site of Major National Importance, are known as:

• Porte d'Amont,
• Porte d'Aval,
• Manneporte,

At low tide, just walk a few steps along the beach and the 17thCentury oyster beds and the legendary "trou à l'homme" or manhole can be seen. Along marked-out pathways you can feast your eyes on the fascinating flora and fauna: herring gulls, arctic fulmars and peregrine falcons...

    

Please note that red grass and sea cabbage are protected plants species
Take the coastal walk on the Perrey - the small garden there is worth a detour since it includes an impressive plant nursery.

► Discovering Etretat

If you wish to discover or rediscover Etretat, its cliffs and its flora and fauna.

Les Attelages equestian centre

Trips in a horse-drawn carriage, rides, shows, ceremonies, livery stables or grazing, breaking-in, first pony, breeding.

Information and bookings
Les Attelages de st Jouin
17 rue des pommiers
Tél. 06 15 23 51 22 / 02 35 20 58 75

► Discovering things by air

Try an aeroplane, take the controls, your 1st flying instruction, initiation course, voyage of discovery, first flight, sensation day, training flight over the cliffs of Etretat...

Havre Aero Services
63 quai de Southampton
76600 Le Havre
(En face des cars ferry)
Tél. 06 32 75 60 70
02 35 44 58 28
www.aviationservice.fr

► Trips and sea-fishing on the "Ville de Fécamp" boat
    "Ville de Fécamp"

This boat offers trips along the cliffs, feeding the gulls or sea fishing
In July and August
Fécamp-Etretat-Fécamp 1h45
leaves from Fécamp
Timetables : fax to the Etretat Tourist Office (no drop-off points)

Boat Ville de Fécamp 
Tél. 02 35 28 99 53

► Rambles on foot

In the High Cliffs Country, valleys and plateaux that make up an enchanting landscape. Notice:
- To those who love nature and wonderful views,
- To walkers, cyclists and horse riders: Etretat and its surroundings have a large selection of walks of every kind…

- NATURE RAMBLING

The leaflet entitled " Natural Etretat " which presents the walk along the Etretat cliffs (GR21)

A leaflet entitled "The cliffs of Etretat and the charms of the Pays de Caux" is available at the Tourist Office. The circuits offer a choice of going on foot, in a 4wd vehicle or on horseback.. These circuits cover the villages of the area around Criquetot l’Esneval.

► Nature activities: Défi- Caux (Caux challenge)

At the heart of the natural site of the Caux coastal region and along the ramblers’ pathways in the surrounding area, the coastal brigade of the Défi-Caux (Caux challenge) invite you to go with the rangers of the coastal region to discover the natural riches of the High Cliffs Country..
Guided visits to see the flora and fauna are offered throughout the year on the protected natural-interest sites: the cliffs of Etretat, the valley of Antifer, fishing on foot, trip in a horse-drawn carriage in the valley of Antifer.

défi-caux : Tél. 06 85 94 40 58
The summer programme will be available at the tourist Office as soon as it is published. 

► Nature activities: Natterra

Cyriaque, your nature guide, offers you nature outings in the amazing Etretat region :

• Discovery trips; animals at low tide…
• Walk in the fresh air: easy 2 hours walk to a nature site, the valley of the Tilleul, to discover the environment at dusk, listening to little owls and tawny owls, spotting bats with a bat-box, observing the awakening of nocturnal life…
• Nature walks

Information and bookings
Natterra
19 route de la Plaine
76280 LA POTERIE CAP D’ANTIFER
Tél. 02 76 39 02 69 ou 06 82 77 87 55
www.natterra.fr

We have a heritage, both natural and architectural, that speaks volumes about the rich history of this village… Take a guide to show you along the cliffs of Etretat and in its streets.

The Tourist Office can provide guided tours for visitors all the year round, sp you can discover the town and find out about its history and legends as well. A guide will take care of a group of up to 25 persons at an agreed time and place for a walk which is both instructive and good fun. These visits are available to everyone, including children, and they are not physically demanding.

See the programme for guided tours (in PDF format)

During the summer onlywe can provide you with a lecture guide for a cultural tour,which doesn't have to be in a group. . Just make a reservation and come and discover the unique and picturesque location of Etretat! 

Download the summer visits brochure (in PDF format)