Choosing the Right Holiday Loan

Travel and Tourism in Sierra Leone is a Hot Topic!

Author: Rajni Khannabr
Source: articlerich.combr
br
Until a few days ago, if you had asked me to tell you about Sierra Leone, I would have had to think long and hard to tell you much about this West African country. I could probably have explained roughly where the country is located. I may have mentioned something about the slave trade being connected to Sierra Leone. I could certainly have told you that they had experienced a brutal civil war. I might even have admitted that I wasnt entirely sure whether the war was 100% over. And thats about it.

Slavery and war. A pretty negative view of what is in fact an exceptionally positive country. Today, I see Sierra Leone from an entirely different perspective.

It is difficult to ignore Sierra Leones history and focus purely on the present. Once a fertile area inhabited by dozens of tribes, it was settled by the Portuguese in the 1400s who built a fort as a trading post for gold, spices, ivory and slaves. A British protectorate in later years, Sierra Leone had the dubious honor of becoming home to more than 40,000 freed slaves who gave Freetown its name. As a protectorate, Sierra Leone was exploited for its mineral and diamond wealth in the 1900s and Sierra Leoneans fought against the Germans in Cameroon in the First World War, and alongside the British in the Second World War. In 1961, Sierra Leone achieved independence from Britain and governed itself peacefully for 30 years. The peace was not to last and was followed by a decade of brutal civil war that destroyed the economy, brutalized the people and left a country that is rich in resources as one of the poorest in the world.

The conflict was officially declared over in January 2002, and President Kasbah reelected in May 2002. Since then, the people of Sierra Leone have been pulling together to repair, renew and regenerate.

Whilst doing research for a new website looking at travel and tourism in Sierra Leone, I came into contact with Sierra Leoneans from all manner of backgrounds living in both Sierra Leone and elsewhere. Their passion for the country was infectious: they clearly wanted to get the message across that Sierra Leone has far more to offer than a sad recent history and that reconstruction is moving ahead at a rapid pace. And indeed, proof of reconstruction is everywhere – new roads are being built, mines are being re-opened, dam projects started before the war are once again underway, markets are once again thriving and humming with life. There is also a great deal of confidence in Sierra Leones potential as a tourist destination: a Chinese company has recently invested a reputed US$270 million in the hotel infrastructure; enterprising companies like Kevin McPhillips Travel (based in the UK, USA and the Netherlands) offer exclusive twice weekly flights to Sierra Leone; African Tour specialists are researching viable package holidays in the region. The exciting thing about investment in Sierra Leone is that more is set to follow!

They have a right to be confident. The beaches along Sierra Leones golden peninsula are said to be one of the worlds best kept secrets. Secluded, clean and stretching for miles on end, beach tourism is one of the top items on the governments tourism promotion agenda. Beaches with very British names like Kent, Lumley, Sussex and York mix with more African names like Bureh Town, Tokey and Mammah beach, and

Although many of the forests and much of the wildlife has been disturbed and in some cases, destroyed, by the war, eco-tourism is an important focus of Sierra Leoneans and natural treasures like Outamba-Kilimi National Park, populated by game animals such as elephants, chimpanzees and pigmy hippos, and Mount Bintimani, the highest point in West Africa, are just two of the worthwhile wildlife attractions on offer. Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary rescues orphaned and captured chimps and has been described as one of the most successful Sierra Leonean wildlife endeavours, whilst Tiwai Island is home to over 3000 chimps as well as other game.

Lakes, rivers and dams are perfect for picnics and relaxing. The marshlands hide a myriad of colourful birds – indeed, the bird life has been less affected by the war than the animals, and everywhere you go, the air is filled with birdsong. Sierra Leone is a bird-watchers dream! Tiwai Island for one boasts over 135 different bird species!

For culture vultures and those with historical interests, the remnants of the slave trade make interesting and though-provoking expeditions. Bunce Island, a slave trading fortress, is a brief boat trip up the river; Freetown is itself a monument to freed slaves and its Cotton Tree, which stands in the heart of what is thought to be an old slave market, is now an impressive national symbol. Graves, monuments and forts are all that remain of British and Portuguese power in Sierra Leone: each has a tale to tell. There are over 16 different ethnic groups in the country, including the Krio, descendents of freed slaves who speak an English-based Creole called Krio, and visiting villages and chatting to people in markets and in the streets is rewarding for all parties!

Freetown is probably the most developed of the cities, offering a level of safety that is difficult to match even in Western countries. Hotels, restaurants and nightspots are sprouting like mushrooms, and eating out in Sierra Leone promises a range of traditional and international treats, and seafood that is beyond belief!

One has to wonder what attraction will tip the scales in making Sierra Leone the popular destination that it once was before the civil war. Based on my experiences with Sierra Leoneans in recent weeks, I feel that it will be the people who make the difference. Without exception, every Sierra Leonean that I have met or worked with has been proud of their country, proud of its progress and excited about the future. They are unfailingly welcoming, greeting aid-workers and travellers alike with smiles that you can only find in Africa, with an optimism – no, positivity – that other countries would do well to emulate.

For travellers in search of a diamond in the rough, Sierra Leone offers a holiday like no other – my only advice to you is to visit sooner rather than later, to avoid what is sure to be a stampede once holiday-makers and tour operators latch on to this gem of a destination.
br
br
For more useful tips hints, please browse for more information at our website :- a href=http://www.adsence-dollar-factory.com rel=nofollowhttp://www.adsence-dollar-factory.com/a
a href=http://www.100earningtips.com rel=nofollowhttp://www.100earningtips.com/abr
br

Ten Travel Tips To Get the Most Out Of Your Holiday

Author: Catherine Potinbr
Source: articleage.combr
br
Planning a vacation can be quite stressful. Budgeting, finding the right airline ticket, planning and organizing the trip and booking the right accommodation can be time consuming. A lot of people end up going back to the same vacation place every year to avoid going through the stress of planning a vacation. Any mistakes can end up costing you stress, money and some distress during your holidays.
The truth is traveling and vacation are fun and exiting. For some of us, we live for these few weeks of freedom and total enjoyment. They energizing, uplifting, fun and for sure take us out of our daily routine. With a few travel tips and travel advice and knowing where to book your vacation accommodation, air tickets and get the best value for your money and time, you can have as much fun planning your trip than being on the trip. A double vacation in a sense! The following are 10 travel tips to get the most out of your vacation.
1 – Traveling Internationally
Get to know some of the customs from the country you are visiting. Specially if there are any absolute nonos that you need to be aware off. Check how safe it is to get around, learn a bit about the political climate and the people in general.
2 – Air Travel Tip
If you travel in group or with your family, to get the best value air ticket, book early and use comparison tools of the Internet from company like Expedia or Travelocity.
When traveling to Europe, often flying to London, Brussels or Amsterdam can get you the best deal. Even with a night stay to catch a connection you might still be ahead. It is worth checking. Some travel companies will give you a special deal for a couple of nights hotels with the flight.
If you travel alone and have a flexible schedule, last minutes deal can save you a lot of money
3 – Vacation Accommodation
Hotels are often the first choice when going to a different country. However, you probably will get better value with private vacation rentals and bed and breakfast.
More space, cozier, more personal and better pricing, vacation rental and bed and breakfast can be rented for a few days, a week or a month.
4 -Research Your Vacation Spot Before You Go
Go online to research your vacation spot. Local websites are wealth of information for point of interests of the beaten path, secrets from the locals and details that might not be available from your travel agent or tourist book guide.
5 – Formality When Traveling International
Before you leave enquire about visas, vaccines, health issues you need to be aware off as well as security issues. The best place is the embassy or the consulate from the country you are visiting. Your departing airport can also give the information you need.
Nothing worse that getting stuck at customs because you do not have the required traveling documents.
6 – Packing Tip
I only have 3 advices for packing: Travel light….travel light…..travel light!
It is easier to move around. How many outfits do you really need! If you need more clothes you can always buy locally.
Find out about the weather pattern form a local website. They are the best source of information and pack accordingly.
When traveling by plane, make sure you have a change of clothes and your personal care kit with you. In case your plane get delayed you might appreciate being able to have a shower, brush your teeth or get changed.
7 – Away From The House For A Little While
Let the neighbors know you are away and see if they would be ok to keep an eye on the house. You can return the favor when they go. Open the curtains, empty the mail box…. t like someone is still in the house!
For your plants a turned over full water bottle will keep them moist for at least 10 days
8 – Traveling With Children
Make sure you take toys and book to keep them entertain. If you are traveling by plane, candy or gum will help their ears during take off and landing.
If you are traveling by car, snacks and breaks during the trip are great for everyone. Bringing along the special pillow, blanket or stuffed bear can also be very helpful.
9 – Traveling With Teenager
Keep them involve in the vacation planning process. If possible take one of their friends along to keep them company. Remember this is a social age for them. Your teenage son or daughter might appreciate having another teenager they know to hang out with.
10 – Money And Currency For International Traveling
Have some local currency with you but using your credit card for cash withdraw and purchase will give the best rate exchange. Call your credit card company and make special arrangement.
Catherine Potin has travelled the world and currently lives on the West Coast of Canada. Successful publisher of Vacation Rentals in Mediterranean Countries, Catherine invites you to join us for more Travel Tips to maximize your stay, get the best value for your budget and the most out of your vacation.br
br
br
br

6 Essential Holiday Tips For an Oversea Tour

Author: Fortune Ihunweze
Source: ezinearticles.com

As you embark on a holiday to a foreign country, there are things you should know so you would enjoy you trip without regrets. 6 of these essential tips necessary to ensure you have a good trip are contained in this article.

1. Bear in mind that you are in a foreign land and so has a new set of laws and rules to obey. If you play by the rules, you would have no problem. If for any reason you get involved in a security problem, please do quick to contact the home country embassy.

2. Think before you consume. You should mind what you eat and drink. Be sure the quality of the water is good. If you are going out of town area where you can buy good water, please make sure your enough to serve you till you are back to your town-base. Carry a refillable drinking bottle.

3. Buy locally made products whenever possible, and beware of wasteful packaging practices. At the tourism sites, don’t leave a pile of trash behind. Bio-degradable products and packaging are definitely the sustainable way to travel.

4. Think before you buy. Don’t purchase everything you see. Be sure what you are buying is not a prohibited artifact. Souvenir made from ivory, corals, sea shells, turtle shells and rhino tusks are prohibited. Avoid also dead remains of endangered species. It is a crime.

5. Ensure you keep your traveling documents safely to avoid theft. In the case of any theft, do well to report immediately to police and security agents of your host country.

6. If you have a health problem, be sure you carry your drugs while traveling and ensure you make this known to your host organization so provision can be made against any emergency.

I wish you a safe trip and a wonderful stay when next you go holidaying abroad.

Click here read other articles on tourism and environmental managment.

Fortune Ihunweze who is the author of this article is a professional Environmental resources Manager. He is very vast in environmental management issues and has written many articles on the environment. His website which covers just about everything you would need to know about the environment is located at: http://www.environmenthighlight.com

India Travel Tourism

Author: RobertWilliams
Source: articledashboard.com

Tourism is traveling for the most part frivolous or vacation purposes or the stipulation of services to support this leisure time travel. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who “travel to and reside in places outside their usual environment for not more than one uninterrupted year for relaxation, business and other purposes not related to the implement of an activity compensated from within the place visited. Tourism is the transitory, short-term interest group of people to objective outside the places where they normally live and work and their activities during the stay at each destination. The India Government Nations classified three forms of tourism in 1996 in its Recommendations on Tourism information: nationalized tourism, which involves residents of the given country traveling only within this country; Inbound tourism, concerning non-residents traveling in the given country; and Outbound tourism, concerning inhabitants traveling in another country.

A package holiday or package tour consists of convey and somewhere to live advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour machinist. Other services may be provided like a rental Taxi, Car activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via Train, airline to a country. Package holidays are a form of product bundling. Of course I can barely stay away from conversation about my intuition whether you can go ahead a meaningful life there. As often in existence, it depends. It depends on what you represent by a meaningful life. In case living a consequential life implies for you signpost as much money as probable, it may be a good idea to stay away from tour, unless you are self – employed and enormously successful. However, individuals whose lives gyrate only around making money and nothing else are usually quite a wretched bouquet. One of the things that I like best in New Zealand is that it is quite easy there to shelter your solitude

American Holidays – Following the San Antonio River

Author: Sarah Maple
Source: ezinearticles.com

When it comes to American holidays, Texas is not often the first place most European travellers think of – especially in comparison to New York City, Florida and Las Vegas. However, the River Walk in San Antonio (SA) is one of the most visited attractions in the United States, with over five million visits in 2008 alone (for reference, Niagra Falls had 12 million visitors) and there is even more to see in the area. Here is a quick guide to SA and its surroundings.

The River
The San Antonio River is located in the central eastern region of Texas. It is 240 miles in length and feeds into the Guadalupe River and then on into the Gulf of Mexico. The River itself is primarily fed by the SA Springs which are designated the Source of the River Archaeological District. The unique area around the springs and the nearby Edwards Aquifer are home to many endangered species – and is an especially intriguing site to visit.

The City of San Antonio
Just five miles from the springs and the start of the SA River you will reach downtown San Antonio. Home to over one million people, San Antonio is rich in cultural and historical sites of interest. One of the most recent attractions is La Antorcha de la Amistad, a bright red abstract sculpture in the centre of town. There are also a number of theme parks in San Antonio, including Seaworld and Six Flags in the north-west of the city.

San Antonio River Walk
The most popular tourist destination in the state (and 11th most popular in the country), the San Antonio River Walk stretches for two and a half miles through downtown SA. It is essentially a unique pedestrian street along the river banks, and is home to numerous bars and restaurants along the way. The walk includes a huge network of walkways and bridges which have mostly been in place since the 1940s, but have since been expanded in the 1980s.

The Missions
The most well-known Mission in the SA area is most widely called The Alamo. Today the site is a museum in honour of the US’s history with artefacts from the Texas Revolution. However there are four more Missions to be visited and all are significant in their architecture and use. They are Mission Concepcion, Mission Espada, Mission San Jose and Mission San Juan Capstrano. The buildings range from 300 to 400 years old and are preserved by the SA Missions National Park.

Sarah Maple writes for Gohop.ie who offer last minute holidays and American holidays.

Ten Top Travel Tips

Author: Caroline Poynton
Source: articledashboard.com

For the modern traveller, the world is your oyster. Okay, maybe you’re not prioritising a summer visit to currently war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq or Sudan. Likewise, tales of drug-trafficking, kidnapping and armed muggings might put you off a two-week sojourn in Venezuela or Colombia. But perhaps you are considering something a little more off the beaten track – a holiday that will test your nerves a little, or that will embed you in a completely different culture or environment?

Many a modern traveller now explores further afield, with Australasia, South America, Asia and Africa proving very popular for those with an adventurous spirit (who don’t mind long plane journeys). But for any such trips, there are known – and unknown – dangers that you may want to research before you leave. Visit Australia and you’ll probably be bombarded by people listing its dangerous creatures – box jellyfish, crocodiles, redback spiders, taipan snakes, sharks, and so on – together with a litany of tales surrounding those backpackers who never came back… But go to ’safe as houses, no dangerous animals/plants here’ New Zealand and you may not realise that its capital city, Wellington, sits on a major earthquake fault line that is well overdue a ‘big one’!

Indeed, in a Norwich Union survey of last year, several places were highlighted as potential danger areas, including Thailand, Mexico and South Africa, where illness, accidents and crime are common. Again, not terribly surprising, perhaps, but did you know that travellers to Mexico made the most number of claims to the insurance company for overexposure to the sun? Probably not.

The findings also mentioned the Caribbean as the worst area for travellers to suffer insect bites and stings, and even Spain and the Canaries hit the list, for possible robberies and pick pocketing.

Even if you deal with all the insects, robbers, earthquakes, illnesses, hungry sharks and venomous snakes, you may still get in your car and crash. In fact, the most likely way for holidaymakers to meet misfortune is on the road, with 15 million people a year injured worldwide in traffic-related accidents. Remember that terrifying taxi journey on the way to your hotel last year? Yes, most of us can recall at least one terrifying car journey in our search for that holiday magic.

But don’t worry, BeatThatQuote.com is here to help address all your holiday concerns (both those that you knew about as well as the ones we’ve just got you worried about). With these travel tips, you can be sure you’re making the right preparations for a safe and happy trip, no matter how adventurous you are feeling:
1. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office website is a great source of information on safe/dangerous destinations, as well as general travel advice. Well worth a look if you’re planning to backpack round the world. 2. Do not forget or skimp on your travel insurance. Get travel insurance and check that the cover is appropriate for your destination and planned activities abroad. Also ensure it covers any health issues you might have. According to recent research, 15% of British people risk going abroad without any kind of travel insurance – considering an air ambulance from the east coast of the US might set you back ?30,000, it is really a risk you don’t want to take. 3. If you are planning to hire a car or you are taking your car with you, check you are covered for accidents and/or breakdowns. Don’t assume your UK car insurance will cover you for driving overseas – it might not protect you for anything more than road traffic accidents. 4. Check what vaccinations you need at least six weeks before you go and consider whether you need to take extra health precautions. Ensure you have sufficient medical insurance cover for your chosen destination, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions. 5. You will probably be leaving your home empty while you are away – ensure you have got/renewed your home insurance in the event of anything happening while you holiday. Also consider asking a neighbour to pop in/water the plants every now and again to ensure your house looks occupied. 6. Get a good guidebook and get to know your destination. Find out about local laws and customs. 7. Make sure you take all documentation with you, including your passport, necessary visas, and insurance documents. Make copies and store separately just in case you lose anything. 8. Check your bank cards. Do you know how much you will be charged for using your cards abroad? It might also be worth telling your bank or credit card provider about your trip. With fraud on the rise, some card providers/banks will stop your card if they see unusual/unexpected spending. A phonecall will remedy this situation but it’s just another holiday ‘downer’ you can avoid. 9. Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds, for example, travellers cheques, sterling or US dollars. 10. And if you’re going for a long trip of several months or more, just don’t forget your responsibilities at home, including your mortgage. Budget carefully and ensure you can cover all your payments both at home and abroad.

Once you have done all of this, all you need do is pack your bags and go. It might be a scary world out there, but with a bit of forethought, there’s a whole lot of opportunity for adventure too. Have fun!

Malta – Last Minute Holiday Destination For Summer?

Author: Sarah Maple
Source: ezinearticles.com

At a time of continued speculation about the affect of the recession on a number of European holiday destinations, the Mediterranean archipelago of Malta is the latest country to receive negative predictions in the press. According to predictions made by yourmalta.com, whilst the country has seen an increase in visitor numbers over the last few years – stimulated by low cost flights and cheap deals – bookings could fall by as much as 20 percent in 2009 unless we see a rush of bookings of last minute holidays.

Despite such doom and gloom (which has also been predicted for other areas of the Eurozone), there are many aspects of Malta described across the media that are being tipped to maintain its reputation as an unforgettable and low-cost holiday destination. In fact, one of its most important attributes according to yourmalta.com is the abundance of cheap flights to the area.

However, the country has a number of other aspects set to lure the unconvinced holidaymaker. A recent report in a North American water sports magazine, Diver, cited Malta as the third best diving destination in the world, beaten only by Egypt and the Maldives. In total, the coastline boasts 140 kilometres of coastline to explore, with reefs, golden sands, stunning Mediterranean wildlife, and an interesting maritime history.

One of the other benefits of Malta is its small size, making it very easy to sample all of its delights. If sea-based activities don’t take your fancy so much, the country is also home to a number of UNESCO-listed Megalithic temples.