All About Thailand For Traveler |

Mauritius is a perfect beach destination for any serious holiday maker – whether as a couple on honeymoon or a family with children. Please get to know your destination.

Nestling some 3000 km off the east coast of Africa, just above the Tropic or Capricorn, is the beautiful tropical island of Mauritius. This jewel of the Indian Ocean boasts 160 km of beautiful coastline surrounded by coral reef, a breathtaking central plateau and dramatic picturesque mountains.

The Brief History of Mauritius

Mauritius was originally discovered by the Arabs in AD 975. Although they named it Dinarobin – meaning Silver Island – they left no evidence of their presence. In 12507, the Portuguese discovered it and gave it the name Ilha de Cerne, or Island of the swan. The Dutch, en route to their colonies in the East Indies – discovered it in 1598, naming it Maurits, after Prince Maurice of Nassau. In 1715 the French landed, calling it Ile de France. For years, pirates and bounty- hunters under French protection plundered the British vessels travelling to and from the spice and silk markets of the East. In 1810, the British launched a surprise attack against the French and conquered the islands, along with nearby Reunion. In 1968, Mauritius won her independence from Britain, remaining within the commonwealth. Today, Mauritius has little unemployment and a thriving economy, based mainly on sugar, tourism and textiles.

The Climate of Mauritius

The seasons can be divided broadly into a hot, wet season from December to April, and a pleasantly cool, dry season from May to November, making Mauritius a perfect year-round destination. Coastal air temperatures range from 22 degrees Centigrade in winder (72 degrees Fahrenheit) to 31 degrees Centigrade (88 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer. Water temperatures vary between 22 degrees Centigrade (72 degrees Fahrenheit) and 27 degrees Centigrade (81 degrees Fahrenheit)

Population and Languages

The population numbers just over 1 million consisting of Hindus, Muslims, Chinese, Creoles and Europeans. English is the official language and French is also spoken alongside Hindi, Creole and other oriental languages.

The Currency

The currency is the Mauritian rupee, divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 1000 and 2000 rupees: coins as 5, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 5, and 10 rupees.

Passports, Visas and Health

A valid passport is required by all visitors to Mauritius, as well as a return air ticket. Visa and vaccination requirements differ from country to country, please consult your nearest consular office or travel agent. There are no endemic diseases in the country and any poisonous insects or dangerous animals.

Packing – what to bring

Beachwear and informal clothing are perfect for daytime – cotton is ideal. The sun in Mauritius can be very strong so sunglasses and suntan lotion with the necessary sun protection factor should not be forgotten.

Dress cord in the evening is generally smart casual, and a light wrap can be useful.

The time zone

Mauritius time if fours hours ahead of GMT.

Getting there

Mauritius is served by a number is international airlines. Please consult with your travel specialist for further information. It is essential to reconfirm onward flights 72 hours prior to departure either with a ground operator or the airline direct.

Transfers

There are a number of options, from helicopters, through private transfers in chauffeur-driven air-conditioned limousines or 4×4 vehicles to minibuses and taxis. Several car hire companies are represented at the hotels.

Inter Island Transfers

Flying time to Reunion is 40 minutes and Rodrigues 90 minutes. Scheduled boat services operate to both islands.

Shopping

Mauritius is a shopper’s paradise. There are several different shopping areas, as well as bargains with can be found at the various local markets and independent vendors. In Port Louis, there is a large and colourful market, specializing in clothing, hand-embroidered linen, stunning Indian fabrics, souvenirs and spices. Nearby is the brand new Caudan shopping precinct offering intricate model boats, clothing, jewellery, books, Persian rugs, beachwear and souvenirs. Curepipe is the main residential town and specializes in model boats, clothing and beautiful knitwear. Cosmopolitan Craned Bay on the north coast of the island also offers some great shopping opportunities as well as some interesting restaurants.

Sightseeing and excursions

Port Louis, the capital city and the world’s latest Freeport, is a kaleidoscope of colour and activity, sights, smells and sounds. Scour the market for bargains, take a drive to the top of La Citadelle for the marvellous view, admire the grand 19th Century buildings, and see the re-constructed dodo and rare artefacts and the fascinating Natural History Museum.

Pamplemousses Royal Botanical Gardens, a short 15 minutes drive from the bustle of Port Louis houses, and astonishing array of rare indigenous flora as well as a small deer and some giant Aldabra tortoises from Seychelles, where they are an endangered species.

Grand Bay offers intimate art galleries and a wide variety of boutique clothing and fascinating souvenir shops.

Eureka House is a beautiful restored Creole-style house situated in Moka. Reputed to be one of the largest houses on the island, it has 109 doors and windows. Tea is served on the wide verandah.

Domaine les Pailles is a gracious estate which will delight nature lovers, gamblers, gourmets and horse-riders alike. Ten minutes drive south of Port Louis, the architecture is in traditional style.

Ile aux Cerfs, is five minutes on a taxi-boat from Le Touessrok, this idyllic tropical island has restaurants, bars and numerous water sports.

Domaine du Chasseur, a privately owned nature reserves nestles in the Bambous Mountains offering spectacular views down to the sea. Wild boars, hares, guinea fowls and monkeys abound. There rare Mauritius Kestrel can be seen by visitors at this naturalist’s haven.

Maheboug, once the capital of the island has an unspoilt, rural atmosphere and a visit to the Naval Museum is well worthwhile. Relics from shipwrecks and battles, portraits and the bell of he renowned Saint Geran are housed here. Admission is free.

Black River Gorges, Grand Bassin, Plaine Champagne, Chamarel

The black River Gorges carve dramatically through the Black River National park, where the rare Paille-en-Queue and pink pigeon thrive. Marvellous place for a nature ramble through the park. An extraordinary phenomenon is the seven coloured earth at Chamarel on the Plaine Champagne. The sacred lake at Grand Bassin is a place of pilgrimage for the Hindu people of Mauritius.

Casela Bird Park allows visitors the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful stroll through beautiful gardens where some 2000 birds of 150 different species live in 85 aviaries.

Solomon Okila is the Editor African Voyages Ltd website. The African Travel Guide and Tourist Information and Information Centre for African Hotels, Lodges and travel Information

On the 15 July, the Florida Public Services Commission granted FPL permission to begin work on three major Solar Power plants across the state.

The first of these projects is ‘The Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center’, scheduled for construction at the company’s already existent ‘Martin Plant’ site. It is expected to be operational in 2010, and will produce a maximum 75W output. It will combine steam with solar thermal power in order to reduce the amount of natural gas used in the energy conversion process.

Second is ‘The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center’ which is due for completion and operation in 2009. It is named after the county in which it’s being developed, and boasts a 25MW photovoltaic maximum capacity. This figure, when reached, would make it the largest photovoltaic center in the world.

The final project in the trio is ‘The Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center’, and is the product of a partnership between NASA and the FPL. It has a photovoltaic capacity of 10MW, and will reportedly serve the needs of more than 2500 people. It is expected to be operational in 2009, and is to be built on the same grounds as the ‘Kennedy Space Center’.

With the green light now given, it signifies another step towards a greater and more proficient level of sustainable energy in the US. FPL reports that - pending the successful completion of the three plants - the energy saved would amount to the prevention of 3.5m tons of various green house gases over the three power plant’s lifetimes. The Environmental Protection Agency calculate that this has the same effect as 25,000 cars being removed from the roads of the United States each year.

Along with ‘Solar Tres’ the European Union commissioned large scale Solar Thermal Power plant, the Florida plants contribute to a Trans-Atlantic development of sustainable energy sites. Add ‘Nevada Solar One’ - the replacement for ‘Solar One’ and ‘Two’, on which ‘Solar Tres’ was based - and the number of substantially funded solar powered facilities is growing.

And it is not just Europe and North America that has been affected: The Japanese Companies ‘Kansai Electrical Power’ and ‘Sharp Japan’ announced plans in June for two solar power plants to be built under the ‘Sakai City Waterfront Mega Solar Power Generation Plan’, and are expected to be operational in 2010. The two sites are reported to have a combined maximum power of 38,000KW, and will therefore become two of the largest solar powered sites in the world.

Three of the world’s biggest political players, then, are continuing their commitment to sustainable energy sources. Include ‘Kigali Solaire’, the largest solar power plant in Africa - opened in Rwanda in 2007 - plus a maximum capacity 400KW photovoltaic array in New South Wales, Austrialia, and it amounts to sustainable energy in four of the six world continents. Place on the tally the plans for a ’solar trough’ - one long set of parabolic solar panels - in Mexico, which would amount to a maximum 400MW output for the city Agua Prieta, and that makes five continents in six.

Perhaps, then, the FPL centers are simply bucking the trend.

Chris Wright is the Solar Power expert at EcoSwitch.com The environmental social network.

As a young man, I was drawn to Manhattan because of its magnetic energy, its endless promise and its aura of mystery. To me, Manhattan was an imaginary city of glittering majesty, the city described by Fitzgerald as a place that has all the “…wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.” I came to this city somewhat na

The news is not good. A Governor of a large state throws everything away for a few hours of hidden pleasure with an expensive prostitute. Common sense would suggest such behavior is insane, but is it? Or a presidential candidate spins a tall tale about her brush with sniper fire on an official trip to war torn Bosnia. But TV cameras had followed her to Bosnia and the footage reveals that she had made the whole story up. How could she believe that she would not be found out?

History is littered with powerful people wrecking their own lives as well as the lives of countless others. And we are not even counting the rest of us. Why is this? What is it about human nature that reveals a compulsion to succumb to self destructive forces that contradict reason and common sense? Have lying and adultery suddenly become acceptable as a new moral norm or is something more troubling and insidious in play? Is this a problem for our time only or has it been a problem since the beginning of history?

At one point in his new book The Devil’s Delusion, David Berlinski addresses these questions from the perspective of Ivan Karamazov in Dostoyevsky’s famous novel The Brothers Karamazov: In that novel the question is asked: What happens if God does not exist? The answer: If God does not exist, then everything is permitted. Berlinski goes on to tell a story about an elderly Hasidic Jew who was commanded by an SS guard to dig his own grave. When he had finished digging, the Jewish man stood up straight and addressed his executioner: “God is watching what you are doing,” he said. And then Berlinski wrote: “And then he was shot dead.” If God does not exist, everything is permitted.

Berlinski goes on to say this: “What Hitler did not believe and what Stalin did not believe and what Mao did not believe and what the SS did not believe and what the Gestapo did not believe and what the NKVD did not believe and what the commissars, functionaries, swaggering executioners, Nazi doctors, Communist Party theoreticians, intellectuals, Brown Shirts, Black Shirts, gauleiters, and a thousand party hacks did not believe that God was watching what they were doing. And as far as we can tell, very few of these carrying out the horrors of the twentieth century worried overmuch that God was watching what they were doing either.”(The Devil’s Delusion pp 26-27)

Those who would have us believe that God is a delusion, never tell us about the downside, for there are dark potentials that seems to reveal themselves in daily headlines with alarming frequency. In a world where everything is permitted, “everything” must include holocausts, mass starvation, atomic weapons and every other instrument of crime, large and small, known to man. If the world is godless, where are we meant to place our bets? Surely the relevant evidence would suggest that the innate goodness of human nature is a very thin reed to build hope upon.

The biblical diagnosis is as bleak as Berlinski’s. Unredeemed mankind’s descent into darkness has no limits, for without God, everything is permitted: This is the way it has been from the earliest days of liberated man restlessly wandering the earth. “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.”(Genesis 6:5) Jeremiah, the great prophet of Israel tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”(Jeremiah 17:21)

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, catalogues a litany of horrors that we can expect when godless men’’futile thinking darkens their hearts. (Romans 1:21) What is interesting is that Paul does not exempt himself from the probability of falling prey to the desires of a rebellious heart: “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me…waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work in my members.” (Romans 7:21-23) But whereas the godless indulge the dark inclinations of a corrupt heart, Paul wages war against such inclinations through the power of the Holy Spirit.(Romans Elsewhere, he says that we are to live as free men, but warns that we should not use our “freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”(Galatians 5:13) The Bible reveals that man is utterly and hopelessly lost because he has abandoned God in pursuit of a lie.

When God is expelled, the heart naturally turns to indulging itself by becoming blind to the voracious appetites of our human nature. Everything is permitted. Who will see? Who will hear? Who will judge? Nobody is the answer we want to hear because then we are like God indulging ourselves in the most ungodly ways.

“They encourage each other in evil plans; they talk about hiding their snares; they say, ‘Who will see them?’ They plot injustice and say, ‘We have devised a perfect plan!’ Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.”(Psalm 64:5-6)

It is only when we know that we are known that we pause in our pursuit of our own dark desires. This picture of the other side of human potential is a necessary anecdote to the relentless tide of opinion that would have us believe that a world without God would be a better place. History is littered with the corpses of such deluded promises, and we should resist the temptation to fall into the first sin of believing the devils claim that “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”(Genesis 3:5) For we know that the devil will keep part of that promise. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”(1Peter 5:8)

The psalmist says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God’” Then he says, “They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”(Psalm 14:1) But elsewhere, a different more hopeful picture is painted: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him. You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”(Psalm 8:4-5)

Man without God is a fool; man under God is capable of being crowned with glory and honor. Take your pick. The evidence would suggest that there is no real choice at all.

Eric Kampmann received an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a graduate degree in English at Stony Brook. Eric is the author of two other books: Tree of Life (2003) and The Book Publisher

Our culture is obsessed with the acquisition of material goods and worldly status. However, in the race to attain these temporal things, people forget to pursue spiritual riches. When we spend the best days of our lives chasing after fame or wealth, then we are to be pitied, for in the end, nothing of lasting value will be ours. “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Unlike many of the popular writers of the “lost generation” of the 1920s who reflected a world stripped of God, Solomon is not writing as a stoic or nihilist. He is simply describing a truth that has been lost in our own time: The world is nothing more than a wasteland without God. “All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

When the purpose of life is reduced to satisfying the appetites of the body, we ultimately discover that the appetites are insatiable and, like a fire out of control, they never have enough. Solomon explains how futile it is to only strive after things of this world: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11)

Looking back over the course of his long life, Solomon realized that he had lost his way when he turned to pursuing pleasure as the primary purpose of life. For no matter how much wealth he accumulated, no matter how many buildings he built or goods he possessed, the thirst could never be quenched, nor the appetite ever satisfied.

What is man without God? The long, sorry history of mankind wandering in the wilderness of godlessness is perfectly summarized in the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans. It is a brutal picture, but we deny the truth of it at our own peril: “…since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:28-32)

Man apart from God is a profoundly lost creature is evoked in T.S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men.” If you remove the Christianity of Christ from life and describe raw existence as it really is, life is much like the hard service of a hired hand, as Job describes it (Job 7:1–5).

In a world where Jesus never existed, one would be forced to adopt a strategy based on either hedonism or its reverse, stocism. Life in such a world would indeed be nasty, brutish and short.

But in a world where Christ lives through the Holy Spirit, the issue of hard service and suffering is transformed into something quite different. Christ asks those who serve to be strong and persevere, whatever the circumstance. He does not teach those who follow that life will be a romp in the park; quite the reverse for he says in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven….” (Matthew 5:11-12)

Despite the suffering and conflict in an unredeemed world, we are called to service through faith. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9) Perhaps knowing what it meant to be a 1st century Christian would be a good place to start for a sojourner navigating through a world characterized by Paul as “a crooked and depraved generation.”(Philippians 2:15)

Eric Kampmann received an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a graduate degree in English at Stony Brook. Eric is the author of two other books: Tree of Life (2003) and The Book Publisher

With the promise of balmy weather and a growing collection of some of the best courses in Europe, golf holidays in Portugal have plenty to offer the avid golfer. While there are good courses throughout the country, the majority are concentrated in the Algarve and near Lisbon, with a couple of hidden gems on the nearby island of Madeira.

The Algarve

Golf holidays in the Algarve have become hugely popular in recent years, with Portugal’s south coast rapidly turning into one of the most significant golfing destinations in Europe. The region draws thousands of holiday goers each year with its combination of glorious weather, excellent beaches and relaxed atmosphere – all features that make it equally appealing to those interested in a golf break in Portugal. Vilamoura has become famed as something of a golfers’ paradise, and while some of the best courses in the region are concentrated around this resort, there are numerous other courses in the region that shouldn’t be missed.

Top Course:

• Monte Rei – This course only opened in 2007, but has quickly established itself as one of the best courses in Portugal. A golf holiday to Monte Rei will allow you to enjoy a superb and challenging course designed by Jack Nicklaus himself.

Top Hotels:

• Vila Sol Spa and Golf Resort – This resort is truly luxurious. Placed next to the Vila Sol Golf Course, it offers top class dining and outstanding quality of service, and the beautifully furnished rooms are the perfect place to relax after a hard day’s golf.

Lisbon

The advantages of golf near Lisbon are obvious – so close to the capital, transfer from the airport is quick and painless, and this region also has some of the best courses to explore while on a golf holiday in Portugal. The golf hotels are also of superb quality, offering five star facilities, individual character and outstanding service for the ultimate luxury golf holiday.

Top Course and Hotel:

• CampoReal – Nested in wooded hills and valleys and designed by Donald Steel, this course is jaw dropping to look at. But it is about more than just the scenery at the CampoReal, with the course presenting a good challenge for even the most experienced golfer. Attached to it is one of the finest golf hotels in Portugal, with an outstanding club house, full spa facilities, and three top quality restaurants amongst its many features.

Madeira

Located almost a 1000 kilometres off the west coast of Portugal, a golf holiday in Madeira offers the perfect taste of island relaxation to help you focus on improving your game. Long renowned for its wine and world famous New Year celebrations, the island is now beginning to attract golfers with its two courses and range of five star hotels.

Top Courses:

• Santoro de Terra – Located in the mountains of Madeira, Santoro de Terra was designed by Robert Trent Jones, and features some truly astonishing views. A challenging course, especially when the wind is up!

• Palheiro Golfe – Overlooking Funchal and the south coast a round at Palheiro Golfe is as much about enjoying the scenery as it is about perfecting your game, and is a great course to play on while on a golf break in Portugal.

Top Hotel:

•Casa Velha Do Palheiro – Perfectly placed next to the Palheiro course in the hills near Funchal, this luxury hotel prides itself on its quality of service, and features a sauna and outdoor pool to help you unwind after a round of golf.

Morgan Clarke is the Chairman of Your Golf Holidays, a company that has been providing bespoke golf holidays for over 25 years. They are experts in the world

During our six and a half year circumnavigation in Dolphin Spirit we visited 56 countries and ate in 50 of them. The only time we were ever sick was after eating at a McDonalds in Egypt – that exotic food will get you every time.

In fact that bit about exotic food is totally untrue. After having lived and worked in more than 100 countries over more than 30 years, I have had food poisoning just three times, the above incident being the second. The third was in France where I dined one night on fish soup followed by fish in puff pastry.

I attribute my survival to one simple rule – eat the food of the country you are in. In Sudan I ate lamb tartare (minced raw lamb) regularly, with occasional side dishes of sheep eyes and testicles, and suffered no ill effects. When in Brazil, I ate lamb tartare at an Arab restaurant, and spent the next two days unable to leave a bathroom. That was the first food poisoning, and the one from which I developed the “eat local” rule.

In the south of Columbia we stopped for lunch at a roadside “restaurant.” An open drain ran through the middle of the dirt floor under the open-sided thatch roof. Chickens, dogs and children chased around the few tables, which had the beneficial effect of keeping the clouds of flies in constant motion. We ate steak, well done, with boiled yams, washed down by beer directly from the can, with no problems.

Which brings me to the first codicil to the rule – grilled meat, well done, and boiled, skin-on vegetables, can be eaten anywhere. Unless you have seen the steak cut off the just killed beast and placed on the grill, then rare is an invitation to disaster, outside of the better restaurants in the cities. If refrigeration is rare, then the meat should not be.

During a visit to Asmara, the Eritrean capital, by good fortune we stumbled into a room reserved for locals. It had weapons and game heads on the walls, low tables, stools and couches each covered with an individual baby goat skin - a wonderful ambience. Dinner was a four foot diameter platter, lined with pancake like sour bread, and covered with heaps of various local dishes, all meat, mostly goat. Correct procedure was to tear off a piece of bread and scoop up some food with it, all with the right hand of course, as the left is reserved for more intimate cleaning functions. Left-handed me had some etiquette problems.

That introduces the second codicil – learn the local customs in advance. In Taiwan, when you are asked to pick the snake you want to eat from out of a slithering heap, just go ahead and pick one. After cooking and smothering in delicious sauces, it will taste just like the delicious sauces, and you know it is fresh. It is perfectly okay to decline to drink the warm snake blood you will be offered, but very bad form to not select the snake.

I have eaten almost every type of meat there is from rat to elephant and turned down only a few. Raw monkey brains is not something I even like to be in the same room as, particularly when they are still attached to the monkey. For some reason, I cannot stand rabbit – yes, I comfortably eat rat, snake and flying fox, but won’t eat rabbit.

Travel is about broadening knowledge and gaining new experiences and this includes experimenting with new foods. In other countries there are hundreds of fruits and vegetables with tastes that range from bland to delicious and which are never seen in the US. So, even if the thought of eating meat that may not have come out of a US supermarket is revolting, try a new fruit a day. Do remember to eat only fruit you have peeled yourself, never pre-cut, pre-peeled or un-peeled.

Oh, yes, I was poisoned a fourth time, through eating an already cut watermelon I bought at an Indonesian market to quench my thirst. Break the rules and you will be punished, even if they are your own rules.

Lawrence Pane circumnavigated with his wife and young son, and his expertise in the areas of sailing, cruising and travel, expressed through two books, numerous magazine articles and very popular seminars, has informed, assisted and entertained a wide audience of sailors and non-sailors. Visit Chasing Sunsets to enjoy the photos, buy the books, and check up on coming seminars.

If you want a good idea for a great family vacation spot in Barbados, then why not check out the Pirate’s Inn at Christ Church in the south end of the island.

A Family Vacation Spot in Barbados isn’t really any different from anywhere else in the respect that it needs to be near enough to walk to a beach or beaches. There needs to be watersports plus proximity to golf, tennis, squash, and other dry land sports, and of course shops, restaurants, banks, and supermarkets. In addition there is the safety element both in and out of the water. Choose the Pirate’s Inn, and you will be more than satisfied on all these counts, which makes it the right spot for a great family vacation.

Another couple of points to make in that all the rooms have a kitchenette, which means there is a self catering option which is often much better for a family vacation, so you aren’t necessarily tied to meal times. Children get hungry and tired at the most inconvenient times in a hotel!!

The rooms in the Pirate’s Inn come as Studio Suites with a generous 360 square feet of space, or 1 bedroom apartments which are big enough for families. It is also fair to regard the Pirate’s Inn as a cheap hotel with an average price of around USD90 per night.

Guest satisfaction is high at this family vacation spot, and one of the main reasons given was that Pirate’s Inn is different to most hotels. Many guests feel almost paralyzed by inaction when they stay in a hotel. It’s like having the power of choice removed the second you walk through the door. What with meal times, and the almost sheep like behaviour of guests, with everyone doing what everyone else is doing. By comparison arrival at the Pirate’s Inn and the fact you can have a mobile phone issued to use, then the realization that you have a kitchenette opens up a world of possibilities, and so you view your holiday quite differently.

As an example you are now very much more likely to get out of the hotel and mingle with local people. You will be going quickly to the local supermarket, and realize immediately how much cheaper everything is there, from the booze to basic foodstuffs. Whilst not suggesting for one second you are going to eat in, at least you have another choice of what to do. Statistically you will eat out more, you will travel around more, and you will really appreciate how nice it is to return to Pirate’s Inn, instead of spending your entire holiday complaining about shortcomings in your family hotel, because you haven’t been anywhere, or seen anything.

This may seem like a rant, but sadly it is all too common with any family vacation spot if you are stuck with it because you have a meal deal. Even the best food in a hotel becomes repetitive after a week, but if it is prepaid or you are all inclusive, then you have to lump it.

Not so at the Pirate’s Inn, where you have a hotel with a great pool, perfectly located for anything you want to do.

The staff are warm and helpful, as well as being efficient, understanding and kind. You will be more than reassured by the high level of security with 24 hour staff on duty for this purpose. You won’t ever feel unsafe at night because the hotel is locked up and guards are there. For a relaxing family vacation spot you can’t really ask for more.

The cleanliness is also above reproach, so if you just continue to remind yourself that the Pirate’s Inn is a cheap hotel, and is not The Hilton, you should be well pleased with this as a family vacation idea.

Andrew Watkins is the owner of Barbados Vacation Spots as well as being a contributor on occasions to Worldwide Vacation Spots and he thinks it would be worth your while to check out Caribbean Vacation Spots especially any information you can find about Barbados.

A self catering holiday within a hotel environment has to be potentially the best of both worlds. The freedom of self catering, and the facilities of what will normally be an affordable hotel.

The Butterfly Beach Hotel is no exception to this rule, sitting in the Christ Church area of Barbados in a lovely oceanfront location with access to two white sand beaches. With 90+ rooms it isn’t too big so as to be impersonal, although only rated as two star it could be ideal as a decent quality affordable hotel.

The Butterfly Beach Hotel is what might best be called a mixed accommodation hotel with some Superior Rooms but no kitchenette, then the Superior Island View Studio, but with no balcony to sit on, with a kitchenette, called The French Balcony Rooms. Then there is the Superior Island View Studio as above but with a balcony or a terrace. The Superior Oceanview Studio as before, but with Oceanview obviously!

In addition there are one and two bedroom Island view apartments, Two Bedroom Oceanview Apartments, and a Penthouse Apartment, and the cost per room per night starts at about USD100 and rises to about USD300 depending on the time of year. All the rooms are air conditioned, with ceiling fans, and cable TV, and internet access. You will find the rooms are large, kept very clean, and generally offer good value for money, and the oceanview rooms do offer a great view of the sea.

There is a large swimming pool and there are beach towels provided at the front desk. There is a restaurant and beach bar, open all day offering buffet breakfast, a la carte lunch, and dinner, offering a good choice of Caribbean Cuisine and international options. The breakfasts and lunches get a very high satisfaction level from guests, and although the dinner menu is a little limited the quality is good, and the price very reasonable.

For those who prefer to use the Butterfly Beach Hotel for a self catering holiday the town of Oistins is close by where there is the famous fish fry on a Friday, and also eating out in St Lawrence Gap is great fun with good restaurants, and getting on a local bus to and from, is very much part of the fun. They come often, are cheap, almost always crowded but very good natured. Restaurants like Houdinis, and Bellini’s are well worth a visit, and many of the restaurants have lovely views of the bay and the beach. It is also worth going to Pisces, although it isn’t cheap, the food is fantastic, and also the Mexican restaurant Caf

If you’re looking for a great skiing holiday location, then be sure to check out St Martin de Belleville in the Rh