So a work in progress...this is my interesting and stylish look at the isla of Antigua in the Caribbean.
There are two to choose from, both offering an action packed day out with a variety of features. We personally chose to go to the Aquaventure, located within The Atlantis Palm resort, as it was closer to our hotel and gave us the opportunity to see part of The Palm up close, as well at the renowned Atlantis Hotel. The other park is called Wild Wadi.
We booked our day out through our hotel's Tour Manager, for a slightly reduced rate of 260 Dirhams each, which included entry into the aquarium (inside the hotel) called 'The Lost Chambers'. I would advise pre-booking, as it really reduces your wait time when you arrive. *Note that transport is not included, but from JBR a taxi costs around 40 Dirhams, so is relatively inexpensive.
Lockers can be hired for 40 Dirhams, with the small locker being perfectly sized for a large rucksack and small handbag. If you are travelling with a member of the opposite sex, then you will need to decide which of you has the locker wristband, as the locker rooms are split for men and women. The wristband issued has a barcode on it, which when passed across the reader in the centre of the lockers will designate you a locker number. It will then open that locker and once you have loaded it, you push it to lock it. All very straightforward and efficient – plus the air-con in that room is a real bonus for a few wonderfully cool minutes!
You can hire towels there for a nominal fee, but we took our own as we were going door to door by cab, so it really was not a hassle.
The rides on offer cater for all, with everything from the lazy river, rapids and torrents, a near vertical drop slide and several tube slides with a mix of twists and turns and total darkness. If you are there for a full day, you would easily be able to do everything more than once. We went in August and did exactly that, plus spent most of our time 'commuting' from ride to ride on the lazy river.
One tip – find a sun lounger by one of the lagoons as soon as you arrive and leave your towels and any other non-valuables there. It gives you a base to return to and catch your breath for 5, or to sit and eat an ice-cream/have a drink or to have some time relaxing in the sun.
Another tip – if you choose to buy one of the refillable drinks cups, note that only the larger food outlets and restaurants can refill them. The smaller kiosks do not, which was a bit of an annoyance in 45 degrees when you're THIRSTY!
Within the past 10 years, winter sports have taken a dramatic turn, in terms of their increasing popularity throughout the globe. Are you planning on booking a trip anytime soon? Perhaps you are travelling to a well-known ski resort or ski passes. If you intend to engage in extreme winter sports, then you need to seek adequate protection, for your health and your finances. Never underestimate the importance of winter sports insurance when you are travelling.
BenefitsInsurance plans that cover winter sports have several benefits. Essentially, you will receive the typically allotted benefits you would with everyday travelling insurance. Basically, if you happen to develop a sudden medical condition or you end up with a serious physical injury, you will receive full coverage of this. This will minimise your out of pocket costs when you are travelling abroad. This is especially smart if you plan to engage in winter sports. Sports radically increase your chances of receiving a traumatic physical injury. Hence, you need the accessibility of quality health coverage.
Your insurance will also cover any lost luggage. If you are planning to ski, or engage in other winter sports, your luggage will hold the key to your sporting experience. Most likely, your luggage will carry your ski clothes and other key preparatory items. As a result, sports insurance is highly recommended.
If you decide to cancel your trip and return to your home country immediately, this can be covered as well. Sometimes, family emergencies or deaths arise while you are overseas. It is critical to travel back as soon as possible to attend to your personal issues. Hence, cancellation coverage is yet another quality benefit of enrolling in this type of insurance plan.
Finally, one of the primary benefits of this type of insurance policy is to cover any damages that affect your winter sports equipment. Sports equipment can prove costly, and, you cannot afford to break you sports paraphernalia. Hence, you may be able to find coverage that reimburses you for sports equipment damage.
This will have been my 4th Mark Warner holiday split evenly between winter resorts and summer resorts. I reviewed the Levante Resort in Rhodes back here.I did no research on this holiday however I knew that I wanted to go to corsica one day ok it's a resort but you still get somewhat an experience of a country/island.Corsica sits above Sardinia and below the south of france so you are normally guaranteed good weather for part of or all of your summer holiday.Here is the link to go direct to the Corsica Resort on the Mark Warner WebsiteThe resort is located just south of Santa Lucia Di Moriani you will find a good sized casino supermarket here otherwise not much of interest but you can buy some beach things around the town. It doesn't for example have restaurants at least not obviously. opposite the resort check out what looks like a basic veg shop its
The Good Points
The staff. Always smiling and friendly and helpful to the extreme. Mark Warner knows the importance of this especially when you are trusting the staff with your most precious little ones.The activities and plan for your week.The resort size is ideal - your not too far from anything.
A 30 minute transfer is not too far and helps to reduce time to resort and the start of your holiday.It was supposed to be the cheaper room but the views of the mountain were lovely and I think its quieter than the ocean facing rooms where you also have the restaurant underneath and the pool.
The mostly all included watersports which is windsurfing, small sailing boats like picos amd lasers and hobby cats, kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboarding, no jetski or waterski and dissapointingly no kitesurfing.The menu and food was very good though we didnt take the lunch option see the beach bar limits on snacks.The sunloungers were of good quality and modern - shame that no matching tables where you could put your drinks.
By Marianne Comilang
(all photos also by author)
With year-round sunshine and blue skies, the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean and kilometres of golden sand, Máncora is quickly becoming one of Peru’s most popular destinations. Located in the country’s northern coast, Peruvians and foreigners alike are now flocking to this small seaside town to enjoy some fun in the sun and, of course, fresh seafood.
Máncora proper is small and easy to navigate, with one main road that parallels the coastline. You’ll find most of the restaurants in one of these two locations. Suffice to say, it doesn’t take long to discover the area’s best places to enjoy a great meal.
DCO Restaurant at DCO Suites, Lounge and Spa (Playa Las Pocitas)
Some envision lazy days on luxurious beaches while dreaming of the quintessential Caribbean vacation. Adventure seekers picture hundreds of brightly colored fish flitting in and out from the coral reef. The Caribbean is known around the world for its incredible shallow reefs just off of island shores, making snorkeling one of the most sought after past times on the islands.
If you are interested in making swimming with the fishes, part of your Caribbean holiday, you will want to book your time on one of these islands:
Roatan
One of 3 islands known as the Bay Islands, Roatan is the largest and can be found off of the northern coast of Honduras. What makes Roatan and the Bay Islands so special is that they are severely under developed in comparison with the other islands in the Caribbean. This gives you a feel for what life was like in paradise before the western world discovered it.
