As a travel agent, I am honoured to see countries around the world. The thing that never ceases to surprise me is the resilience of both the people and the land itself of different countries.

In September 2004, the Cayman Islands were hit by a monstrous hurricane. Most of the devastation was apparent on the showpiece of the Islands – Grand Cayman.

Grand Cayman’s sister islands – Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were spared most of the impact from this hurricane and yet the people of these islands suffered along with their fellow countrymen.

In May 2006, less than a year after this horror, we had the opportunity to visit these islands and could not have been more surprised. The smaller Islands were well on the way to recovery and continued their tradition of friendly hospitality and pride in their home.

Little Cayman is world renowned as a top-notch dive site. Michael and I had never tried this sport. We were finally able to take lessons in snorkeling from a well-qualified dive master. The magic of the seas and the beauty of the creatures, that we never see in Canada, were awe-inspiring. We caught “the bug” and actually purchased our own equipment. I do not believe that it is possible to be dive off “the Wall” on the west coast of Little Cayman without feeling captivated by the World of Wonder under the seas.

Little Cayman boasts of the few inhabitants and the iguana population. Somehow, the island was missed almost completely by Ivan, which meant that the iguanas were protected. They continue to flourish and “own the roads”. Very little “fancy” on this island but I found it a joy to be amongst some of the happiest people I have ever met.

Sadly, Grand Cayman was not so lucky. When we flew into that airport, we witnessed the power of wind and water when they are unleashed on low-lying lands. Much of this island is just barely above sea level. When Ivan crashed in, the water struck two sides and met in the middle. We learned that the runways of the airport stood under more than two feet of seawater for more than two weeks.

The effect of the salt water also was tragic for such special places as the Butterfly farm and the Botanical Gardens. The butterfly garden was wiped out – and yet when we arrived there the first time, their colleagues had rallied to help recreate this beautiful environment. I have numerous photographs of iridescent butterflies and beautifully “painted” ladies. This “farm” is a perfect example of what I mean about the resilience of the people and the land. Within six months, the land had been cleared, had been replanted and many indigenous plants simply sprang up again. Finally, the people who are so committed to this project repopulated the farm with many butterflies and started their research projects again.

Grand Cayman is known for its beautiful Seven-Mile Beach with its spectacular white sand and turquoise waters. When we returned to this island in May 2007, we were on a conference cruise. Over one hundred travel agents poured into this unique harbour and went off to see some of the many attractions.

Since Michael and I had been there recently we went looking for something new. What we found was so magical we stayed much longer than we should have. The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is a lush tropical oasis. This park bursts with the colour and blossoms that are natural to the island with a few plants that are tropical worldwide. Set amongst huge tracts of uninhabited land it in fact covers more than 65 acres.

Orchid lovers will be in heaven in this park. There are 26 orchids native to the Caymans and seven of which can be found only in these islands. The park boasts examples of many of these classic flowers.

Peace and quiet can be found during the week on Rum Point. A small protected bay with a beautiful beach, this rest stop is a short ride from the Botanic Park. Accommodation can be found in small guest houses in the area.

The Cayman Islands – a world of wonder waits for you – people who are so proud of their nation and a land that seems to have bounced back to display its beauty better that before.

Susan Birkenshaw, CTC, MCC

If you’re planning to visit Portugal, then Albufeira is one of the most exciting and vibrant places to visit there. Located in the heart of the Algarve region, Albufeira is only a 30 minutes drive Faro international airport. There are over 25 golf courses within easy reach of Albufeira, as well as stunningly beautiful beaches. Add in some great nightlife and shopping, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Albufeira.

Until the 1960s, Albufeira was little more than a town reliant on fishing. Gradually tourists began to discover the charms of this beautiful, sun-drenched region, and Albufeira became a prime tourist destination. More than 5 million tourists visit the Algarve region every year, with large numbers of them heading for Albufeira. This influx of visitors has caused Albufeira to expand, with many facilities being developed specifically for visitors. Recent additions include the huge Algarve Shopping Center near Guia, and the Albufeira Marina. Restaurants, shops and cinemas have sprung up to provide entertainment for tourists, as well as the more recent influx of permanent residents.

If you’re interested in historical things, then you will enjoy wandering some of the older parts of Albufeira, where there are narrow streets, whitewashed houses and a feeling that you’ve stepped back a few centuries. Albufeira also has a small museum with historic Ming ceramics, as well as the new Virtual Archaeological Museum. The Municipal art gallery also regularly holds exhibitions with paintings from past centuries. Nearby there are ruined castles, or the caverns at Ponte Grande if you want to explore some natural history.

Perhaps sitting back and relaxing is more your style, in which case you should grab a coffee on the central square, Largo Engonheiro Duarte Pacheco, and sit back to watch the world go by. When you’re done, there’s a nearby pedestrian-only mall and tunnel that leads through to the town’s main beach, so you can go and soak up some sunshine.

For a family day out, visit Zoomarine and enjoy the shows of seals, dolphins and other sea animals. Your children can swim with the dolphins, as well as enjoy various other interactive programs. You can travel a little further afield and fine water slides and other fun activities.

One of the best things about Albufeira is that it’s a great place for a holiday all year round. In some ways, it’s actually better to visit outside the peak time of summer, so that you can avoid some of the crowds. The low season from November through to February is particularly good if you want a little bit of peace and quiet and fast service in the restaurants. The weather is still very mild, and you get more of an opportunity to experience the friendly locals.

There are so many great things to see and do in Albufeira and the Algarve region of Portugal, that this article can’t do the area justice. Still, take a holiday there yourself and you’ll soon discover what so many others have found before you – it’s hard to leave.

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A Disney World vacation is a dream vacation for most families. But it’s also an expensive one, especially if you don’t know how to find an affordable package.

There are many flexible ways to purchase tickets. The more days you plan to stay at the resort, the better bargain you’ll receive. If you want to visit more than one theme park, it might be a good idea to hang around the resort for a little while. You can save a little money and experience some extra Disney magic with your family that way.

The “Park Hopper” option is also a good way to save some money and it allows you and your family to visit multiple theme parks during the same day, for however long you purchased tickets for. This rids of you having to carry a ticket for each theme park and being limited to a single park a day.

Also, there is a “Magic Plus Pack” option which allows you access to other Disney World attractions, like the two water parks, Disneyquest (an indoor, interactive theme park) and more. Then there is the “No Expiration Option,” which allows park access for up to fourteen days after the original resort tickets have been used. Of those fourteen, any unused days can be taken advantage of for a future vacation.

But wait, there’s more….

Disney World isn’t just known for its exciting sites, shows, and attractions. From inexpensive restaurants to fine dining, there are several options to choose from. In a package deal, each family member is provided with combination meals and a snack every day and there are over a hundred restaurants located in the Disney World parks and hotels. You can contact your travel agent for detailed information about the opportunities you and your fellow vacationers will have.

The premium package is certainly one of the most elegant vacation deals around – it includes meal vouchers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as theme park tours and admission to shows like Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba.

A Disney World Vacation is sure to be unforgettable and worth every penny, especially if you plan ahead. There are plenty of goodies you may want to invest in, like the pass that allows you to hang around the park after hours and Walt Disney World is prepared for all your needs, whether it be child care or transportation to and from the different parks and hotels. So make sure you to give more than a cursory glance to all the different package deals and benefits of a Disney World vacation!

What are you waiting for? Book the vacation of your lives and share some magical Disney moments with your family.

Simon Oliver has an interest in Travel & Holidays and Disney World Vacation, for more FREE information and articles please visit rapidsgazette.com/2007/05/02/the-best-way-to-enjoy-your-disney-world-vacation/ Disney World Vacation Resources

Different airlines have different domestic airfare. The airfare depends on the destination. The airfare is usually fixed however the airlines do change them if there is too much of rush. The airfare is reduced generally during the off-season or during those hours of the day when there’s not too much of traffic.

The tickets are put up for sale on all the airlines websites. The discounted rates are also put there so that you can choose the best option. There are a number of low cost carriers today in the market. This has increased the level of competition. A traveler today has the choice to fly at cheaper rates than those offered by the top airlines. This is primarily due to the fact that low cost carriers offer very reasonable rates.

Domestic tickets can also be purchased from some travel sites. These sites work together with various airlines and offer discounted rates. The rates may actually be less than what is offered by the airlines. There are some travel sites which are based on search engines. They display all the information available by visiting the sites of almost all the airlines. This is yet another way to buy domestic air ticket.

You can buy a cheap ticket through online shopping. There are the flight search engines like Sidestep.com, Kayak.com, SmarterTravel.com and Bookingbuddy.com. There are also the conventional sites like Orbitz or Expedia. You should always check out the rates offered by these sites. After this, visit the airlines sites so that you can compare the rates and go for the best option. Travelocity and Expedia are actually travel agents who work online.

Search capabilities differ for each website. Orbitz and Expedia will search only their databases for the available flights, car rentals and hotel rooms. The options are thus restricted. However travel services and search features are better on these sites.

You can also get an air ticket at the price quoted by you. You have to enter your destination city and the price for which you will like to buy the ticket. Various airlines sites will be searched to see if they can offer the ticket on the price quoted by you. However you have to make adjustments for the flight even if it doesn’t suit you.

With these options, domestic airfare has become much more affordable. This is the reason as to why more and more travelers across Europe and US are buying tickets online.

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