Taking off Travel blog

Theme Parks - Florida's Got 'Em!

Florida is one of my favorite places. Here, Adriano Comegna shares the reasons he thinks the Sunshine State is worth a visit.

1. Florida enjoys 3,200 hours of sunshine a year. Orange juice is the Official State Beverage and over two million alligators patrol the state’s waterways. It is a playground for the super-rich and a hideaway for eccentrics. From the beginning of June to the end of November it’s hurricane season. And, of course, it is the theme park capital of the world.

2. Standards of service are universally excellent. In Florida, as in the rest of the US, servers are paid half the minimum wage, the balance being made up by tips. 15%-20% is customary to the extent that it can be taken as an insult if a tip is not forthcoming. Obviously if service is bad, complain. Service matters here – people are proud of what they do and, if you accept this cultural difference and budget accordingly, you will be guaranteed a smashing time.

3. A local delicacy well worth seeking out is the stone crab. The only part that’s eaten is the claw, which with a blindfold and mayo, is as close as you’ll get to lobster without actually eating lobster. Stone crab fishermen remove the biggest claw from stone crabs before dropping them back in the sea. The crab can still defend itself and within 18 months has grown a new claw.

4. Florida is known as the sunshine state. Those 3,200 hours a year help produce mangoes, papaya, guava, passion fruit and citrus of every description. Breakfast can seem like the best meal of the day. If options allow, choose the buffet.

5. Sited as far south as feasible, in order to benefit from the ‘slingshot’ effect of the spinning earth, the Kennedy Space Center saw the last shuttle roll to a halt on July 21st 2011. It remains a monument to the first space age. Attractions include the Saturn V rocket, the launch simulation room at the Apollo Centre, the Rocket Garden and tours of the launch pads.

6. The Florida Keys are closer to Cuba than the US and have a charm and laid-back intensity all of their own. The writer Ernest Hemingway loved it here and, on wilder nights, would referee boxing matches in a local restaurant.

7. The Art Deco architecture of South Miami is famous worldwide and is a magnet for photographers. Sign up for one of the gossipy walking tours and discover niches and corners usually undiscovered by tourists.

8.Founded by conquistador Leon in 1509, St Augustine is the oldest settlement on the US mainland. Cobbled streets, Spanish renaissance architecture and a sprinkling of galleries and antique shops make for a quaint break from the bustle and shine of 21st century Florida.

9. No visit to Florida would be complete without a visit to a theme park. The choice is staggering, the theme park business having been almost invented here. Disney of course is king, with all things mouse and Pixar celebrated here. Usually the ride is constructed after a hit movie. Not so with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ at Disneyland. Expect a soaking. [Ed: check out Orlando Airport Parking if you're planning a visit to a Florida theme park.]

10. The Everglades are a primeval landscape of mangroves and alligators. Take an airboat tour to glimpse wildlife and enjoy a landscape that hasn’t changed since the last ice age. Complete your journey in Miami with a spicy Cuban style dinner. The food here seldom disappoints. Enjoy.

Adriano Comegna writes on behalf of Thomson holidays, a leading travel operator specialising in Florida holidays.

San Francisco is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and popular cities in all of America. Unfortunately, the city does not lend itself to easy travel, particularly for newcomers. If you’re planning a business trip to San Francisco, here are some tips for navigating the city without using your entire expense account for tolls.

The Airport

San Francisco is home to a top-rated International airport. If you’re a frequent traveler, you should have no problem navigating your way through the airport. If you don’t travel, getting in and out of the airport can be a bit daunting. The best tip, in this case, is to make use of either the airport’s shuttle service or a taxi. Hiring a professional will take the stress out of leaving the airport and finding your way to your hotel.

Where to Go

If you’re given a choice of where to stay, head to Market Street. The street runs from the northeastern edge of the city, through downtown and continues southwest through the city. Not only does Market Street give you a true taste of all that is San Francisco but it virtually eliminates the need for a car.

If you have a bit of time to explore, hop aboard one of the cable cars, horse-drawn streetcars or trolleybuses and head out on the town.  Market Street is home to everything you’ll need on your trip so there’s really no need to stray far. From shops and restaurants to cafes and pubs, walk out of your hotel and you’ll be only a block or two away from whatever you’re looking for.

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This vacation destination in the Canary Islands owes its perpetually perfect climate to its location between Spain and Africa. The island is unique, with volcanic backdrops, natural wonders, sandy beaches, and luxury resorts. Enjoy active adventures or relax at a fine restaurant. Although a popular spot for a holiday, Lanzarote has retained much of its natural beauty, culture and traditions.

History and Culture

After volcanic eruptions decimated the island in the 18th and 19th centuries, the people of Lanzarote came up with a way to farm and stay on the island. It rarely rains in Lanzarote, but the volcanic rock that covers the soil soaks up moisture from the air, releasing it into the plants cultivated beneath it. The stark lava fields are actually quite fertile, and grapevines grew well in this soil—wine is now a popular industry in Lanzarote.

Artist and architect Cesar Manrique had a significant influence on the island. He prevented tourism from overtaking the island and made sure the natural aesthetic was maintained as resorts and tourist attractions were built. Manrique made sure no building on the island was taller than a palm tree and he  prevented billboards from being raised on the roadsides.

The people of Lanzarote are jovial, colorful and unassuming. Festivals and music are popular any time of year, and the cuisine reflects the local culture. The people of the island take pride in the local agriculture: the small potatoes grown on the island, local wine and seafood.

Jameos del Agua

The top tourist attraction in Lanzarote is an ancient lava tube that has been transformed into a center of art, culture and tourism. Explore this tunnel that houses a restaurant, a natural saltwater pool, and an auditorium. It’s a distinctive blend of natural and manmade that’s unexpected and surprising.

Visitors enter the attraction via a large stone staircase that winds its way into a restaurant-bar. After walking down a hallway, visitors will come upon a natural saltwater pool that has collected from salt water seeping through the volcanic rock. Living in the pool are miniscule albino crabs that have become blind from their evolution in this dark cave.

After passing the saltwater pool, visitors will enter an exotic tropical garden that surrounds an aqua-colored pool. Attend a concert or a music festival in the auditorium at the end of the tunnel.

Outdoor Activities

Lanzarote is an ideal place to be active. Take a camel safari across the arid landscape, or play golf on a lush, green course. Visitors can go horseback riding across the beaches or bicycling over the rolling hills. If you would rather go exploring underground, check out the many caverns and tunnels formed during the island’s volcanic history. Ancient inhabitants of the island used to hide in these caves to stay out of sight of invading pirates, but today many caves are open to visitors and tours. If you prefer to view the land from above, you can take a sky tour on a small plane or fly like a bird on a skydiving excursion.

Of course, relaxing on the beach is one of the best things to do on Lanzarote. Walk along the white sand dunes at Fuerteventura Beach and swim in the crystal-clear water. Playa Blanca, once a quaint fishing village, is now one of the most active tourist beaches on the island. Find a secluded beach on the south side of the island. They are easily accessible, but due to their lack of amenities, beaches like Playa Mujeres and Playa de Papagayo remain relatively private.

If you’re looking for the perfect vacation, the perfect weather and the perfect beaches, check out Lanzarote. The landscape and the tourist attractions are like no other, and there is always something to do, whether it’s sampling the local cuisine or getting out into the open air.

Francesca Santelli is a travel advisor who suggests cheapholidaysabroad.org as a great package holiday search engine with lots of ideas for Mediterranean and European destinations, such as lanzarote holidays specials.

The Caribbean is often a place of extremes and that was never more apparent to me than on my last trip to Jamaica. As we were driving out of Port Royal and heading for the hills, we passed through a bustling town with the usual Saturday morning market sounds and smells. It was busy and colorful – like what many tourists expect from a foreign market. At the same time, there were dozens of people dressed up to the nines as they went to church or did other business that called for a little more formality. Shops were crammed along the streets cheek by jowl, while vendors showed off their wares to every passer by. But once we’d left that area behind, the landscape changed.

The next part of our journey took us past one of the island’s top educational institutions on one side and Jamaica’s Beverly Hills on the other. Don’t scoff at the thought of Beverly Hills on a Caribbean island. These mountain top mansions were pretty impressive, sprawling over several acres, covering a few floors and looking as though they’d been recently painted. And let’s not forget the equally impressive satellite dishes to keep the occupants in touch with the world. I thought that they must have had a fabulous view of most of the island, though not all of it. Jamaica is so big that you can’t always see the sea, a rarity in the Caribbean.

In the Mountains

Climbing higher took us to the end of our journey and another quintessentially Jamaican experience. As we pulled into the John Crow Blue Mountains Holywell National Park, I felt a sense of coming home. I’ve always loved the mountains and now I was surrounded by them. Climbing more than 4,000 feet, the mountains are pretty impressive, and the park is a testament to how you can enjoy nature without defacing it. Wooden cottages and gazebos were set into different areas, accessible by short trails, so you could have privacy while enjoying nature. These were only partly accessible by car.

Once we reached our hut, I was able to sit on a mound and look out towards Kingston or back towards more mountains. it was a peaceful location, largely untroubled by the sound of transport, and with a refreshing breeze. The highlight for me was to be able to look across and see the clouds move past at eye level, seemingly close enough to touch. That’s something you just don’t see every day – and it’s why I’m sure I’ll be visiting Jamaica and the Blue Mountains again.

Flying to Jamaica? You can travel from JFK on United, JetBlue, American Airlines and others, including Air Jamaica. There are also direct flights from Miami and other US cities. Don’t forget you can park and fly with Park Ride Fly USA –  check us out on Twitter and Facebook for coupons.

It’s the place you dream about when you envision white sands emerging from clear, turquoise waters. Photographs of the ocean taken from a bird’s eye view expose every shade of blue, green, and teal, and you’re almost certain you’re looking straight through the surface to the bottom of the sea. It’s where lagoons transform from an imaginative fantasy to stunning reality and thatched roofs and coconuts are a way of life. If you’re not there, you wish you were, and when you are there, you won’t want to leave. It’s Mauritius, a perfect little island nation in the Indian Ocean whose beauty borders on profane as it tests the limits of paradise.

Secret Lagoons

The reefs surrounding Mauritius Island create serene, protected lagoons that are perfect for kayaking. In fact, the only way to reach some of these lagoons is by sea. If you’re the kind of person who prefers to travel where there are no footprints, paddle a kayak around the coast. Many hotels offer kayak rentals or you can take a guided tour. Some multi-day kayaking tours allow you to spend the night on secluded beaches and enclosed lagoons.

Hidden Waterfalls

Tamarin Falls cascades over the edge of a canyon in one of the most serene places on the island. You can view this series of seven waterfalls from the road, and most taxi drivers can take you to an overlook, but the best way to view them is by foot. Trek down through the forest that opens up onto volcanic rock closer to the waterfall. You’ll follow the open rock down to the plunge pool, where you can bathe in the crisp water or stand under the plummeting falls.

The lava cliffs that hide behind Rochester Falls are a geological wonder. The pool at the base of the falls reflects the clear, blue sky, and the white water gurgles down the rocks. You can view the waterfall from above or below, but a swim in the plunge pool is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Secluded Islands

There are several islands near Mauritius that can be accessed by boat or kayak. Ile aux Benetiers is a flat, clam-shaped island that contrasts with the mountainous terrain of Mauritius. It’s a quiet island that does not allow water sports, so expect to be completely relaxed. You can get there with an organized excursion, or you can hitch a ride with fishermen from one of the small villages on Mauritius.

Rodrigues Island is almost deserted. The beaches are not crowded, and the diving is superb. There are few hotels on the island, but it’s easy to access as a day trip. One of the main attractions here is the Caverne Patate, an underground marvel with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

Ile aux Cerfs means deer island, but there are no longer any deer on this island. Instead, there is a ribbon of soft beach and millions of fish to observe while snorkeling. Swimming here is like being in a pool because the water is so clear and warm. There are no hotels on the island, so you’ll have to leave before sunset, but there are plenty of boats to take you back and forth to the main island.

A beach vacation will never be the same after you have experienced Mauritius. Even though it is a popular vacation destination, you can find areas that are nearly untouched, and it’s easy to be alone with nature. You won’t believe how easy it is to be swept away by a warm breeze and a warm ocean. Swim with the dolphins, sail on a catamaran, and enjoy the sunsets.

Photo credits: Golden Brown sunset by Colin Houston/flickr; Grand River South East waterfall by Adamina/flickr; Ile aux Cerfs by Adamina/flickr

Sonya Neal, as a travel writer, loves finding fascinating colonial history. The Silver Beach Hotel Mauritius provides some unexpected history uncovered during her travels.