A Content Composer

Shopping for presents, viewing the holiday lights, partying with friends and families, or just relaxing by the fire — these are timeless traditions we all love and share, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity because they symbolize one abiding hope –peace and good will among men. Perhaps no one is more aware of the importance of such traditions than the owners of our beloved B&Bs, whose inns are the very symbol (essence) of the cozy American hearth and home.

Do you want to book a room at one of thousands of inns that feature the traditions you know and love -or establish new ones along the way? Or give a Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificate as a holiday gift for family or friends so they can discover the magic of those traditions for themselves? If you or they are looking for an old-fashioned holiday atmosphere you might head north to New England. The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina of Connecticut is just a few steps away from the old waterfront town of Niantic with its quaint shops, boardwalk and lighthouse. On December 11 Niantic sponsors an annual Light Parade. Nearby, too, are Christmas tree farms and historic Mystic Seaport, Connecticut. The Inn can arrange tickets for Seaport’s unique Lantern Light tours guaranteed to bring you back into an earlier era.

Further north at the Riverbend Inn in New Hampshire’s White Mountains are sleigh rides, fine shopping for candles, pewter and presents at nearby stores and the factory outlets of North Conway. If you have a sweet tooth, remember to look into the special package offered for the Mt. Washington Valley Inn to Inn Christmas Cookie and Candy Tour, December 10-11. Skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers often find the Riverbend Inn a perfect place to bunk down because of its proximity to North Conway’s famous mountain resort, one of the oldest in the nation. After a busy day on the slopes or the shops, Riverbend Inn guests warm themselves by the fire while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate or a hot toddy.

Tucked away in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, is the “Currier and Ives” town of Littleton with many shops and the Beal House Inn & Restaurant. Naturally, you’re just minutes away from sleigh rides, alpine and cross-country skiing, tubing, and snowshoeing. You can also book the Inn for your whole family for one of the holiday weekends, including Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day Brunch. No reason to worry about New Hampshire’s chill temperatures because the Inn’s Common Room always has hot cider brewing in the afternoons and homemade cookies near the Inn’s roaring fire.

For an old-time holiday in a romantic Midwestern setting, visit the Colonel Taylor Inn in southeast Ohio. A special Thanksgiving meal is served for guests in the dining room of this sumptuous high-ceilinged lodge. Santa hosts a special tea for the public on the first Sunday in December, - complete with sandwiches, fruit cheese nuts and fresh-baked pastries - but a similar tea is also served daily during holiday season for Inn guests, accompanied by Christmas music on the piano and a colorful array of carolers in Victorian dress.

Another way to light up your holidays is to visit northern Idaho’s The Roosevelt in Coeur d’Alene, a historic redbrick inn with bell tower in a remodeled old schoolhouse. The lakeside community of Coeur d’Alene is known as Christmastown USA because of its snow, charming shops and decorations. The Roosevelt B&B is replete with tasteful garlands of fresh greens, holly and mistletoe and the entire building - including its bell tower - gleams with 270,000 lights. In case that’s not dazzling enough, guests will enjoy the spectacular fireworks that burst over the Lake of Coeur d’Alene as well as an animated light show.

Crave a rest from the hustle and bustle of the holidays - but still need to buy presents for friends and family? A visit to either the Biscuit Hill Inn or Canyon Lake Ranch in the Texas hill country provides you with a chance to get away from it all. Both inns provide restful views of the hills; have wood-burning fireplaces, Jacuzzis and hot tubs. Holiday shoppers are only short distance from several historic towns, stores and the largest outlet mall west of the Mississippi. This year, Saturday December 3 the Hill Country Yacht Club sponsors their annual Parade of Lights on Canyon Lake, featuring 40 boats decorated with lights, along with jet skiers, party barges, a Santa and anything else that floats. Guests may book either Biscuit Hill or Canyon Lake individually or rent the inn entirely for their family during the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.

According to an old farming tradition of Provence, France each dinner of the twelve nights of Christmas ended with a different desert. Today in Virginia’s mountain-ringed Shenandoah’s Valley, the romantic L’Auberge Provencale has maintained that mouth-watering French tradition for its guests by serving a dozen gourmet deserts every afternoon by the fireside on linens and pottery of bold yellow, blue, green and pink - the traditional colors of Provence. Surrounding this quaint country inn are views of the Blue-Ridge Mountains. Tourists will enjoy seeing its nearby historic homes, visiting its vineyards and fine antique shops.

The darkest time of the year may be at holiday season, but not at the Lodge at Sedona in Sedona, Arizona. At dusk, nestled beneath the sycamores on the banks of beautiful Oak Creek, guests and visitors begin the cherished tradition of lighting six thousand luminaries in the courtyards and walkways in the village of Tiaquepaque while enjoying complimentary apple cider and holiday music. During the day, visitors enjoy browsing the distinctive Southwest shops found in Tiaquepaque, Sedona’s famous Arts & Crafts Village. Added to the holiday fun are daily surprise visits from Santa, performances by carolers, musicians and dancers — Mexican style, of course.

Wherever you decide to go and whatever style you choose to celebrate, don’t forget that Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificates are the perfect holiday gift for friends and loved ones! They can be purchased for any length of time, for any time of year, can be used at over 1000 inns of the recipient’s choice, and never go out of date.

Holiday traditions old and new! Your choice - they’re up to you!

Information on all of the Bed & Breakfasts featured in this article and Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificate information can be found at www.BnBFinder.com.

Mary White is Founder of http://www.BnBFinder.com, a search directory that provides gift certificates and listings for thousands of B&Bs and Inns.

Comments Off

When playing in a pokern tournament, most poker players want to cash more than anything else. Chances are, when you are near the bubble, your stack will not be excessively large. Whether it is or it isn’t, aggressive play on the bubble will yield strong results, as most other players will be trying to preserve their chips, and make it into the money. By exploiting this given that occurs in every tournament, and aggressively going after the blinds, three-betting opponents, and moving all in with strong hands, you can build your stack and make a run at the final table, instead of just settling for the smallest payout.

Throughout the poker tournament, blind levels increase, and many bad players bust out early. Through the initial stages, there may be many players who are way above the average. However, as you get deeper in and closer to the money, variance tightens up, players enter fewer pots, and many players regress back to the average. Ratios of big blinds to stack sizes shrink, and because of this, players slow down and play fewer pots in order to survive. You should be using this fact to ensure your own survival, by taking their blinds, and coming over the top of their raises. Of course, be reasonable and make good reads, but if the situation warrants a steal and you are in position, go for it. Play fearlessly on the bubble and you will have a greatly increased chance at making the final table, where the payout is substantially more.

Adjust your mindset, and play for the win instead of for the cash. Over the long run, your profit from winning and final tabling will greatly exceed those few times you didn’t cash because of a consequential beat from an aggressive play on the bubble. Do what you have to do to win, not to cash, and you will see much greater results in the long run.

Comments Off

Russians have a thing for chess and, frankly, are very good at it. Being from San Diego, I thought chess was something you put photo albums in.

Playing Chess

Playing chess requires thinking ten or twelve steps ahead. If I wanted to understand the Russian mind, I had to learn to play chess. If nothing else, it would be a good way to pass the time. This I was told by Robert, an American living in the same town as me.

I wasn’t particularly excited about learning, but gave in one day after growing tired of staring out the window. I had seen the movie, “Searching for Bobby Fisher”. What more could I possibly need? How hard could it be?

After beginning the game, Robert took pity on me after I apparently made some moves that were questionable. He explained why he was making particular moves and the resulting implications for my king. The game proceeded slowly while he explained strategies to his inattentive student. Then the magic moment occurred.

I imagine every teacher suffers from the occasional embarrassment of being outdone by a student. I like to call it beginner’s luck and invoke the empirical evidence at horse racing tracks and Las Vegas casinos. If you’re a first timer, you will always win. It doesn’t matter if you’re betting on a horse because of the color scheme or hitting on black jack while already holding 19 in your hand. It just happens.

With our chess game, Robert had made a particular move and was in the process of explaining it. I sat staring at the board and thinking deep thoughts, which is to say I was wondering what was for dinner, etc. Just then, I noticed something on the board, moved my rook and declared, “Checkmate!”

Robert stared at the board. Then he started laughing. Then he wanted to play again. Being a good sport, I immediately announced my retirement as a chess player.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t leave my victory alone and gloated to a few people about it. Make no mistake, Robert would beat me a million times if we played a million games, but you have to live in the moment!

Within a few days, karma struck and I began to pay for my gloating. People would start showing up at my apartment with chessboards and, of course, vodka. The games were so laughably one-sided it was ridiculous. Typically, I would make two moves and then hear “Sah!” which I believe meant “check!” in Russian.

My humiliation occurred more or less every day for roughly a month. Some of the victorious would even come back for a second pounding. Finally, I had to take the dramatic step of refusing to answer the door.

In the end, I set the game of chess back a few hundred years and Robert had his vengeance.

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles.

Comments Off

Some songs for the festive season

The twelve days of Christmas
(… or “Don’t keep buying me photographic stuff”)

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love sent to me …

Twelve filters filtering
Eleven tripods holding
Ten flashes flashing
Nine models posing
Eight grips a-gripping

Seven hoods a-shielding

Six weddings booking

Five D-SLRs

Four camera bags

Three photo mags

Two shutter lags

And a winner in every photo comp

Jingle Bells

(… or “I don’t want to be doing this”)

Dashing through the snow

Along a muddy track

O’er the fields I go

Camera on my back

Rain and cold and ice

Will never stop desire

My friends - that’s very nice

- Are sitting by the fire

Oh, snap, snap, sneeze

Snap, snap, sneeze

Coughing all the way

Oh what fun that I could have

If I was snug like they

Twas the night before Christmas

(… or “If anything can go wrong, it will”)

Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the place

A photographer wandered

To catch Santa’s face

He’d set up his tripod

And cocked up his shutter

When he heard in the chimney

A cough and a splutter

He steadied his camera

And charged up his gun

For the best of all candids

In life he had done

With a soot cloud of blackness

Down Santa he came

The photographer pounced

A great image his game

But the lens he discovered,

As he saw Santa’s foot,

Had poor optic properties

- it was covered in soot

Eric Hartwell is an enthusiastic photographer. He owns and runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums http://www.theshutter.co.uk/forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com. Anyone interested in getting involved contact him at shutter@theshutter.co.uk

Comments Off

It seems to me that it took me no time at all to get out of shape and now it looks like an eternity before I will get back to where I started.

I guess I should consider myself lucky that I did not fall away to a ton while I was recovering. It feels like I lost most of my stamina and endurance.

What I need at this point are Bodybuilding Supplements and an exercise program that will rebuild my torn muscle and let me get back to a point where I can run and feel fit without wanting to take a nap.

All I felt when it happened was a sharp pain down my leg. By the next day I had trouble walking unassisted.

The next thing I knew I was taken off almost all exercises until my hamstring healed. Today I got the OK to get back to the gym and start working out again but after a short workout I was winded and had to quit.

Now I am looking for Bodybuilding Supplements that will bring back my energy and restore the stamina I had before the injury.

Has anyone tried the Xplode II product? It supposed to be mixed with water and taken 40 minutes before working out.

Comments Off

Scarlet, canary yellow and shimmering blue feathered birds flecked with iridescent green, chirp songs to greet the sunrise as you awake. But you do not notice. Thor’s hammer pounds your head in fury. Your eyes close from the pain. The smell of your breakfast sends waves of queasiness through your rumbling mid-section. The nausea increases as you rise. Your back is a slab of concrete. Again you try getting up and your muscles scream so loudly you move in the slow motion of a special effects film. Your palm burns from the 102 plus degrees F radiating from your forehead as you brush your hair back trying to stimulate yourself to alertness. A trip hammer thunders inside you at 100 to 110 beats per minute where your heart should be. Good morning. You have Yellow Fever.

A few days after the sudden onset of symptoms, as you worsen, you’ll become jaundiced and watch as your skin yellows to the point you more resemble a Halloween caricature than a dying person. The destruction of your liver cells results in the accumulation of yellow bile pigments in your skin, giving the disease its name. Your heart will slow to around 50 beats per minute. The rumbling in your stomach is your gastrointestinal tract bleeding. You vomit the characteristic black blood of Yellow Fever. It will become much worse. You don’t have long to suffer though. Death usually occurs between the fourth and eighth day after the onset of the disease.

As little as three days, but more than likely around two weeks ago you were bitten by a species of an Ades aegypti mosquito that was itself infected by sucking the blood of an infected monkey or other infected primate or a sick person. If you are one of the rare cases who recovers, the disease will never recur, one attack providing immunity for life.
Yellow Fever is an untreatable, mosquito-borne disease which is endemic in Central America, some parts of South America and much of sub-Sahara Africa. Along both the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific coasts from Mexico to Panama, Colombia and Ecuador an alert caused by outbreaks of Yellow Fever is currently raging. From November of 2003 until mid-January of this year nearly a score of deaths from Yellow Fever have been recorded. Immunization is of extreme importance. There is a good vaccine available which protects you for up to ten years. Many countries require an international vaccination certificate if you are traveling to or from an infected or endemic area because “many parts of the world are inhabited by mosquitoes capable of carrying this devastating disease and no one wants to see it spread beyond its present range”, according to Dr. Jane Wilson Howarth in “Bugs, Bites & Bowels”.

There is no specific medical treatment for Yellow Fever once it is contracted. Care consists of treating the symptoms of the disease by preventing dehydration and reducing fever. Bed rest is also important states Dirk G. Schroeder, ScD., MPH, in “Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa and Latin America”. In 1939 the South African physician Max Theiler developed a vaccine that confers immunity to the disease. The vaccine is not recommended for people with a severe allergy to eggs, children under 9 months of age, during pregnancy or in people who are immuno-supressed (e.g. cancer and AIDS sufferers, or people on high dose steroids). Before traveling, you should discuss your options with a doctor or immunization center. If you are considering travel to Mexico (or other countries in Central and South America), get vaccinated and carry the yellow health/vaccination records card you will be issued to avoid future problems. Take care. Don’t be a victim.

NOTE: You cannot enter a Yellow Fever area (i.e. Panama, Colombia, Brazil, etc.) without being vaccinated and you MUST show proof of vaccination within the past ten years.

Larry M. Lynch is a bi-lingual copywriter and photographer specializing in business, travel, food and education-related writing in South America. His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News and Brazil magazines. As an expert author he can ghost-write original articles for your articles marketing campaign and content for your website, newsletter, blog or e-zine. Please e-mail him now with your requirements or details at: pentagon_elsb@hotmail.com.

Comments Off

Summer vacation just got sweeter for kids visiting the New Nickelodeon Family Suites at the Holiday Inn Resort in Florida with their families. Dreamy decorations and a dedicated spa specialist await young guests at their very own vacation spa service in Orlando. The Sugar & Spice Kids Spa is a deluxe space complete with massage chairs and treatments for girls and boys alike.

A sweet treat for both the young and young-at-heart. The Sugar & Spice Kids Spa was a special treat for Atlanta, Ga., native Joan Cullity’s daughter after a long day at the theme parks.

“Visiting the spa was the perfect pampering experience for both of us. The prices were reasonable, the staff was great, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

Girls can relax at the Sugar & Spice Kids Spa and enjoy special treatments like a pretty pastel polish manicure and a sparkly topcoat with a Manigirl treatment. Elegant French and acrylic Manigirl treatments are also available.

The Pedilady lets girls pamper their feet with soothing lotions, heated massage, pretty pastel polishes and flowery designs.

Fabulous and fresh avocado or oatmeal scrub coupled with a face massage, cucumber eye lift, cleanser and moisturizer are all part of the Fantasy Facial.

The Tasha Touchup adds a finishing touch with a dab of lip gloss, brush of blush, splash of glitter and a dash of perfume, plus a special surprise.

With a Glamour Photo girls can enjoy a fun photo shoot with gorgeous gowns, beautiful boas and haughty hats.

Jamaican Braids are a treat for girls who want to add a little spice to their vacation. The Jamaican braids or elegant up-do comes complete with butterfly barrettes and ribbons, topped off with glistening glitter.

The Maniguy Individual Spa Service for Boys includes fun manicures with temporary hand tattoos, finger massage, thumb wrestling and arm wrestling. Adventure awaits young men with the special Pirate, Commando, and Celebrity services.

Kids can let their imagination take to the high seas in an adventurous get-up including eye patch, red bandana, polished earring in one ear and an extraordinary temporary tattoo.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to fun at the New Nickelodeon Family Suites at the Holiday Inn Resort in Florida’s Sugar & Spice Kids Spa. The spa specializes in birthday party packages for groups of six or more. The Princess and Pirate Parties include special spa services by experienced state certified technicians, group photo sessions, party games, pizza and cake for the occasion.

Party packages also include special treats for girls and boys. Girls at the Princess Party will be pampered in the spa, treated to a glamorous photo session, a beaded bracelet for each pampered princess, and a traditional tea party. The Pirate Party for boys includes a treasure chest of fun like leather armbands for all attending mates, who will also dress up for their group costume photo during their adventures. Special discounts are available off each child for guests who reserve a suite for parties.

The Nickelodeon Family Suites at the Holiday Inn Resort is recognized as the “next generation” of family travel. The unique family amenities like the world’s first 2-Bedroom Kidsuites and special attention to guests of all ages make a visit to the resort an adventure for the whole family.

Among the family oriented values and features are the 1-Bedroom Kitchen or Whirlpool Suites, and Kidsuites with the choice of 2 or 3 Bedroom suites. Two unique pool courtyards are available for guests to enjoy. A zero-depth entry pool with interactive water park features, a kiddy pool, playground and Putt-Putt highlights the East Track courtyard. An Olympic-sized lap pool, two whirlpools and a complimentary fitness center await guests in the West Track courtyard or test your skills at the Junction, a 9-hole miniature golf course.

Upon arrival have the children drop by the Kids-only check-in desk to find out more about exciting activities available. After a day of excitement at the theme parks they’ll enjoy a relaxing visit to The Sugar & Spice Kids Spa or the 1,400-square-foot Locomotion game room.

Other bonuses we’ve enjoyed are The Kids Eat Free Program for children 12 and under. A Free all-you-can-eat hot breakfast buffet will be available daily for every guest through 2004. Free scheduled transportation to all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks is available throughout your stay. Families can also enjoy Free nightly family entertainment.

For more information about Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort call toll-free (877) 387-KIDS (5437) or (800) HOLIDAY, or visit the resort’s Web site at www.hifamilysuites.com. For an exciting sneak peak of the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn you can take a virtual tour at www.nickhotel.com.

The Sugar & Spice Kids Spa’s operating times vary by the seasons. For more information or to make reservations guests can call the resort at 1-(877) 387-KIDS.

Sugar & Spice Kids Spa originated in and is headquartered in Newark, Delaware. For more information about the Sugar & Spice Kids Spa visit www.kidsspa.com.

Explore America’s Backyard, and discover thrilling helicopter tours in Hawaii, bed and breakfast, spas, antique collectibles, fishing, hunting, whitewater rafting, roller coasters, concerts, poker games, national parks, civil war battle reenactments, the carnivorous Venus fly trap, and many more unique travel destinations and attractions. Visit USA Travel Magazine online at http://www.usatravelmagazine.com or by mobile at: http://www.usatmm.com.

Comments Off

In 1652 the Dutch East India company establishment a refreshment
station at the Cape of Good Hope aiming to provide fresh food to
the company’s fleet on voyages to India and surrounding areas.
As a result of this trading station South Africa now boasts a
flourishing wine industry and colourful, multi-cultural nation.

The fertile soil and Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape,
makes the Cape Winelands one of the most renowned wine producing
areas in the world. The Western Cape is also cooler than its
position of 34 South of the equator might suggest, making the
area ideal for growing a wide range of noble vine varieties such
as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and
Pinot Noir. The traditional wine growing areas along the coastal
regions are seldom more than 50km from the ocean and are exposed
to cool breezes blowing in from the sea.

All the wine grape varietals cultivated in South Africa, belong
to the Vitis vinifera species, originally brought from Europe.
Unfortunately these European vines were susceptible to
phylloxera and as a result many South African viticulturists
these days often have to graft their vines onto American
rootstock in order to resist the insect.

Although Cape Town and the nearby Boland basin is best-known
for it’s superb Bordeaux-style red wines, the wine-producing
regions of the province extends further north- and eastwards and
has established itself as producer of world-class red, white,
fortified and sparkling wines from a wide range of varietals.

Constantia

The oldest and one of the most famous wine farms in the area is
Groot Constantia, which was granted to governor Simon van der
Stel in 1685, by the Dutch East India Company. The estate is
located on the Southern Slopes of Table Mountain and is still
world-renowned for it’s superb wines and breathtaking location.
It’s beautiful Cape Dutch homestead also forms part of the Iziko
South African National Museums. The Constantia region also
features such formidable estates as Steenberg well know for it’s
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and Semmilon while the nearby
Buitenverwachting produces outstanding Chardonnay. Both estates
feature award-winning restaurants.

Boland

>From Cape Town, the Winelands spread north-east and eastwards to
the beautiful Boland basin with Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek
and Wellington being the most prominent producers. Some of the
oldest wine farms in South Africa are situated in and around
this beautiful Cape Dutch village, which at over 300-years old,
is the oldest town in the country. Although the area hosts an
endless amount of superior wine estates, well-known farms
towards the east include the Shiraz and Port producing Alto; the
prolific Blaauwklippen estate which produces one of the only
Zinfandel’s in the region; the red wine producing Delheim; the
famous Lanzerac estate and hotel; the prominent Middelvlei; the
international award-winning red wine producing Rust en Vrede
estate; Vriesenhof with it’s outstanding white wines; the
exclusive Engelbrecht Els estate and the beautiful Tokara with
it’s adjoining restaurant managed by famous local chef and
saucier Etienne Bonthuys.

Towards the west of the town there’s the well-known
Beyerskloof, famous for it’s award-winning Pinotage; the
superior sparkling wine producing House of JC Le Roux, the
scenic Meerlust estate with it’s legendary Rubicon blend; the
family-run Overgaauw; the “Cap Classique” producing Villiera and
Zevenwacht estate.

The nearby Franschhoek, which translates as “French corner”
also boasts some of the country’s oldest estates: The beautiful
Boschendal with it’s typical Cape Dutch homestead; Cabriere
Estate with it’s flagship range of Pierre Jourdan “Methode Cape
Classique” sparkling wines; Graham Beck with it’s signature Brut
Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine and Rhona Muscadel; and the
beautiful La Motte estate which produces outstanding Shiraz.

Overberg

On the otherside of the Franschhoek and Hottentots Holland
mountain ranges, the Overberg region includes quaint villages
such as McGregor, Montagu and Robertson - the latter boasts the
De Wetshof estate, owned by the prolific Chardonnay producer
Danie de Wet, while the nearby Hemel-and-Aarde valley close to
Hermanus is home to such spectacular wineries as Hamilton Russel
with it’s well-known Pinot Noir and the legendary Bouchard
Finlayson.

Swartland

North of Cape Town, the predominantly wheat producing Swartland
region includes the fructuous Riebeek valley, well-known for
it’s Shiraz wines and olive farms. This region hosts such
prestigious estates as Kloovenburg, Allesverloren and Twee Jonge
Gezellen, as well as the larger co-operative wineries such as
Riebeek Cellars, Swartland Cellars and Darling Cellars,
extending further east, towards the Hexrivier Valley at De
Doorns and north towards the Olifants River valley close to
Citrusdal and the fruitful Orange River Valley near Upington in
the Northern Cape.

Comments Off

What do we know about the life on the Orient?! From the stories of 1001 nights we imagine a magic country with magnificent gardens, singing fountains, where everything is covered with gold and diamonds. A different, out of reach world.

The contemporary Turkey is totally different. The salesmen offer gold and diamonds to you. The natives are non-stop inviting, offering, anticipating your desires, forecasting the intentions. The light blue water of the Bay of Antalya is surrounded by the great mountain chain Taurus. On average 300 days in the year are sunny. You can go skiing in the morning and go to swim in the sea in the afternoon even during March and April. The water temperature doesn’t go under 17oC in winter. The transparent waves, sandy beaches long almost 200km and the romantic rocky bays are promising rest and a wonderful skin complexion. For water sports lovers Antalya is just heaven.

The coasts of Mala Asia are saving the traces of the past ages - ruins of antique cities, Greek, Roman and Byzantine cultural monuments. This wealthy land was Egyptian - Marcus Aurelius has made a gift to his lover - Cleopatra. In the past several years more and more young couples choose Antalya for their honeymoon destination.

The roads are great - which Turkish doesn’t like the fast trip? The people in Turkey live in a different way. In towns they are building small white houses near the rocks. The expectations are that after 10-15 years the Mediterranean region will welcome 30 millions tourists annually, while at the moment they are about 8 millions. Everywhere is surprisingly clean - there are trash bins on every step.

Antalya was and will be one of the most affordable resorts. You can count on unbelievable comfort not only in the famous hotels, part of well-known international chains, but also in the small hotels and hostels. The main requirement is the availability of air conditioner. When you choose a place for your future stay, even from the seacoast you can determine the star category of the hotel. As the natives like to say - if the ringing of the cell phones on the beach is stronger than the song of the crickets, the hotel is high-class one; if they are equal in sound - the hotel is maximum four stars and so on. The customer service is on very high level everywhere and you won’t need to wait for attention.

Who hasn’t visited Pamukkale (Cotton Palace) hasn’t seen Turkey at all. The ancient Hierapolis, built near a warm mineral source 190 years before Christ, is famous with the biggest saved till today necropolis in Antalya. The rich in calcium water have made small basins in the stones. They are shining with a fantastic white color. There are a lot of hotels around with their own pools - the water heals skin and heart diseases. But you should not think that just the health care is attracting so many tourists. The spring is called Cleopatra, who was taking a bath here and kept her beauty till the end of her life. Another version states that the lovely queen had given her secrets to the spring. As a result you can see many women in the water, hoping to become younger with ten years. Every tour program in Turkey includes shopping - gold, clothes, carpets, jewelry. Men have no choice, but to fulfill all desires of their Cleopatras.

Everybody think that Olymp is in Greece, but apparently there are about 20 mountain picks with this name in Antalya. Unfortunately, all of the almost destroyed temples of ancient gods in the surrounding mountains are not accessible for tourists, because there are no roads built.

Antalya offers a lot of entertainment as well. Part of it can be found in the hotels and then the quality is directly related to the service level of the hotel - discos, show programs, fireworks and Turkish baths, national dinners (the real Turkish dance kyuchek is included) and many others. The travel agencies and tour operators offer yachting, jeep safari, fishing, diving, one-day trip to the Greek island Rhodes and visit to the magnificent waterfalls Duden and Kursunlu.

Maggie Wallace is online marketer interested in travel. For more information visit her website - http://www.cheapflightbooking.com Cheap Flight Booking. She can be reached at info@cheapflightbooking.com

Comments Off

It’s true. Travel Agents are treated differently than the rest of us. And the reason is simple: The travel industry is a 4 trillion dollar a year business!

With that kind of money being spent on travel, you can just imagine the competition. The travel industry will spend millions on advertising and they’ll do what ever it takes to get them their piece of the pie.

It’s a known fact; the travel industry survives on the business supplied to them by Travel Agents. And because so much of their business relies on Travel Agents, the travel industry treats these Travel Agents like royalty!

In all honesty, if a travel related business or vendor is not known and utilized by the country’s travel agents, their business will suffer tremendously. In other words, travel companies need Travel Agents to survive…their business depends on them!

And most people don’t know that becoming a travel agent is quick and easy if you know the secrets. In fact, with our exclusive insider information contained in the Travel Industry Secrets, you’ll actually become a licensed Travel Agent in about twenty minutes…it’s that quick and it’s that easy!

When you become a Travel Agent, new doors are opened and courtesies are extended to you, that everyday folks aren’t privy to. Like I said, travel companies need travel agents and when you become one of them, you’ll be showered with discounts and gratuities by way of deeply discounted and even free travel benefits.

Just imagine setting sail on a Caribbean cruise this winter while everyone back home is shoveling snow and staying indoors, trying to keep warm. And not only are you enjoying the balmy breezes of the Caribbean, you’re doing so for just $35 a day while the occupants in the cabin next to you are paying upwards of $200 each day for the same cabin, the same food, and the same service.

Or maybe you just want to fly home to visit your relatives. Instead of paying $600 to fly across the country like you did last year, your ticket is discounted to only $285. And just before you board, you hear your name over the airline’s loudspeaker, calling you to the ticket counter. As you approach, you are notified that your discounted coach ticket has just been upgraded to first class. Now, your $285 dollar coach ticket has a value of over $1,500 simply because you are a licensed Travel Agent.

So, you arrive at your destination and make your way to the rental car agency. Before you left, you booked a standard size vehicle for 50% off the published rate. Once at the counter, the rental agent advises you that you are entitled to a free upgrade and they ask if you’re interested….

These are just a few of the courtesies that you’ll find extended to you when traveling as a licensed Travel Agent. But they get even better.

You see, the travel vendors - airlines, hotels, tour operators, car rental agencies, cruise lines, etc. recognize the benefits of having travel agents being familiar with the products they are selling. Its for this very reason that in addition to favorable rates and discounts, these same vendors also offer free familiarization trips to resort destinations, free dinners, free shows, and free cocktail hours to learn about vendor offerings.

Just imagine…a couple weeks after receiving our priceless information, you get an invitation for you and a guest to spend an entire week at an all-inclusive resort, absolutely free. Normally, this experience would run a hefty $3,000 per couple. But this resort wants to pamper you and create an experience of a lifetime for one reason. So you, as a Travel Agent, will refer your “customers” back to them.

Do I Need to Sell Travel to get in on these incredible Discounts?

If you want to earn an extra income selling travel to friends, family members, or even customers, you’ll be licensed to do so.

Besides the extra income, there are a great many other benefits to being “in business” as well. There are also great tax advantages. For example, you can deduct such items as your computer, the space in you home from which you operate your business, your telephone line if you use it for business, and more.

In fact, just working part-time can make you a great second income…but its not required. When you become a licensed Travel Agent, no one knows how much, if any, travel you sell. Selling travel is not required to get in on the benefits.

Go and see the Ultimate Manual while it is legally available! http://travel.selfsecrets.com

Comments Off