Jamaica, the land of reggae music, palate-pleasing and mouth-searing cuisines, and Blue Mountain Coffee is one of the best destinations for women. It offers an eclectic mix of beaches, waterfalls and mountains. There are a number of luxury retreats in towns such as Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and Negril that attract visitors.

The Bahamas is another popular destination, offering water sports, golf, and shopping opportunities.

It comprises of a number of islands and cays with important cities like Nassau on New Providence Island popular for its recreational activities and Grand Bahama Island featuring casinos, shopping districts, and golf courses.

The Dominican Republic attracts sport lovers, nature enthusiasts, and history buffs alike. Visitors can stay at one of the innumerable luxury resorts that line the numerous beaches. Santa Domingo and Puerto Plata are some cities in the Dominican Republic that offer a mix of culture and history while Punta Cana is full of great places to stay.

Whatever one is looking for be it nightlife, shopping, or activities, the Caribbean Islands provide a wide variety of options to a visitor. Those interested in a laidback vacation can take it easy and relax on one of the secluded beaches that the Caribbean has to offer or just lounge at the poolside in one of the all-inclusive luxury resorts.

Getting there
Take the route via MRameswaramadurai to reach Rameswaram. Reaching Madurai should take you six to eight hours from Bangalore as it is located approximately 450 kilometers from the city in the state of Tamil Nadu. You need to take the route to Hosur via Electronic City and then travel towards National Highway 47.

Once you reach Madurai you can stopover for the night, rest and drive along to Rameswaram the next day. It should take you three hours to reach Rameswaram located at a distance of approximately 150 kilometers from there. Take the National Highway 47. It’s pretty good and well-maintained. Before entering Rameswaram, a stretch of five to seven kilometers of road that runs parallel to the Bay of Bengal will provide a spectacular view. There are signboards along the way to guide you too.

Things to do
Visit Rameswaram for religious or architectural interests. For pujas at the temple, you can take the help of a priest. Before negotiating with the priests, you can consult the state government’s help counter right at the entrance of the temple to know about the fees for different pujas. These vary from Rs. 200 to Rs. 2,500. Also keep in mind that before any puja, you need to take a dip in the sea (100 meters away from the temple) and then a dip in the holy waters of all the 22 wells.

If it’s history and architecture that interest you then these details might help. The temple was built around 2500 years ago and is considered as a great piece of art. Murals, carvings and statues along the walls and pillars of the temple give a more profound effect to the beauty of the place. Also check out the corridor which is said to have the maximum number of pillars among Indian temples at 1,219. It’s spectacular.

At about 18 kilometers (10 kilometers of concrete road and 8 kilometers of sand) from Rameswaram, you can also see theDhanushkoti coastal borders of India and Sri Lanka merging at a place called Dhanushkoti. Dhanushkoti is a serene place with untouched natural beauty where Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. You can go there by hiring a local bus or a jeep. A wonderful place to spend some quiet time with blue-green sea, white sand and sun to keep you company.

Stay options
Rameswaram has limited good hotels to stay in. Only two are near the temple. Hotel Royal Park is one such option. The hotel is quite old and has both AC and Non AC rooms. There is a multi-cuisine restaurant. Rooms boast of basic amenities like cable TV, cupboards and rest rooms. For details on reservation, availability and tariff, please call the hotel at 04573-221680 .

Hotel Shanmuga Paradise is another option located just opposite to the temple and offers rooms at lower rate. The rooms are well furnished and services are up to the mark. The check-in and checkout timings are at 12 noon.  For details on reservation, availability and tariff, please call the hotel at 04573-222984.

MetroMela’s Tips
• You can visit Rameswaram anytime of the year but since the weather there is hot and humid, the best time to go there would be between October and March. Advance booking recommended during peak season.
• There are hardly any good places to eat on the highway, so we recommend that you carry food. At Rameswaram you will find a lot of Marwari food restaurants that serve good, home-like food.
• Taking the help of a guide/priest is recommended because of the temple’s size. You may get lost. You will find guides at all entrances to the temple. Try to bargain on rates as per government policies notified at the entrance. You will have to pay for taking bath at wells and also for the basic puja.
• Cameras are not allowed inside.

But why not try something out of the box then an ordinary next trip? I have few interesting travel destinations to suggest and Im sure that these would be great travel destinations for you. You can explore these places as your next travel destinations: Jamaica, Australia Bahamas, Belize, and St. Lucia.

Jamaica:

Jamaica has great things to offer as a perfect travel destination. You can find the best beaches, lovely women out there in Jamaica with elegant resorts for tourists. You have to first come at this travel destination to understand what I’m talking about. There are few bad things you may have heard about this travel destination.

Jamaica = Best beaches (This makes it a good travel destination)

Australia:

Australia is no doubt one of the most beautiful and most visited travel destinations of the world. Australia is a multicultural country and welcomes people from all over the world. The people of Australia love theater, cricket and music.

Australia = Beautiful country (A hot travel destination)

Bahamas
Bahamas has got the Atlantis Bahamas Resort and its one of the worlds most loved travel destinations. Bahamas is a very amazing place. You can find here playground, casino, spa, and water parks (all what you need to have lots of fun!). However, Make sure you watch your pocket because Bahamas can be pretty expensive as a travel destination.

Bahamas = Great fun!

Belize:
Do you love to have adventure in your travel? Do you want to enjoy outdoor activities? If yes, then Belize is a place for you. Belize is one of the most loved and visited travel destinations for nature lovers. You can explore the beauty of Belize and visit the jungle with your loved ones and enjoy river boating. Im sure nature lovers will surely come again at this travel destination after their first visit.

Belize = A must visit for nature lovers

St. Lucia :
Do you want to go away from a stressful environment? If yes, then St. Lucia is the best travel destination for you, you can explore the beauty of St. Lucia and kick your stress away. Most people who seek peace of mind and seek privacy visit this St. Lucia. It has a good view and you can have a great fun and good time with your friends and family.

St. Lucia = stress free environment and a favorite travel destination of millions of people. In the end, I would say. Having a good vacation is important and beneficial for your health and well-being. Moreover, it relieves stress and energizes your body.

Step 1: Sign up to the AAA.  The first step to getting AAA travel discounts is enrolling in the AAA program. Keep in mind, that if you have AAA coverage for your vehicles, you may already be a member. If not, sign up by going online  to aaa.com or call the local AAA office in your area. For a small yearly fee, you’ll get membership card with a personal ID number. Also at this time, you’ll receive details about the other services provided by the AAA. Once this is done, you can start receiving AAA discounts.  

Step 2: Plan your travel needs. It’s a good idea to plan your trip, like your destination and a few activities, and see if your AAA membership gives you discount.

Before contacting the AAA travel agent, it’s a good idea to pick out your destination and form of transport.

Step 3: Research the topic. Before taking advantage of your AAA travel discounts, it may be wise to comparison-shop for prices online. Some hotels offer discounts for online bookings. Discover the prices for accommodation in the area you’re headed, as well as car hire, tours and other attractions. Even if you have AAA discounts for those same things, the online price may still be better. Be sure to mention the lower prices to your AAA travel agent.

Step 4: Consult with the AAA representative. Even though it is possible to sometimes get the AAA discount at the travel destination, it may be wiser to obtain it from the AAA agent before you leave. Contact AAA and request an agent to discuss reservations as well as receiving your savings. The best hotel, flight and travel package for you will be selected with the help of the agent. You will save a lot of money by booking your travel this way. The AAA agent will use your discounts to get you travelling for way less than the original price.

Anyone can now afford staying in a luxury hotel with dhr.com’s discounted rates in accommodation. Experience royal treatment during your stay at the Regent Esplanade Zagreb Hotel, which used to accommodate passengers from the Orient Express train and now considered the second home of affluent people. This 5-star hotel is situated right in the heart of the city and near some of Zagreb’s main attractions including The Gothic Cathedral, Parliament of Croatia, Art Pavilion in Zagreb, Muzej za umetni obrt and Fundacija Mestrovica.

If those are not enough for you, then easily explore the other sites in Zagreb such as Maksimir Stadium, Bundek Lake, Museum of Mimara and Archaeological Museum because of the hotel’s close proximity to main public transportations. Regent Esplanade Hotel offers 209 sophisticated rooms and suites that are equipped with first-class amenities such as satellite TV, internet access, three telephones with voicemail, plush bathrobes, marble bathrooms with drench showers, trouser press and accommodation for dogs. The hotel is also known for organizing successful corporate and social events because of its excellent venues, latest technology and professional team of event coordinators. Enjoy the other services and facilities offered by Regent Esplanade Hotel such as world-class spa services, complimentary internet access and excellent restaurants.

Get great value for your money by booking a room at the I Hotel Zagreb which is known for its affordable rates and convenient location. This 3-star hotel is just a few minutes away from the city center, Zagreb International Airport Pleso and the Zagreb Fair. Guests would surely find peace and serenity during their stay at I Hotel because of its beautiful floral surrounding and tranquil atmosphere. This modern hotel has 215 well-equipped rooms and suites, parking space, fully-furnished office space for rental, massage center, internet corner, travel agency, hair parlors, cosmetics saloon and stylish restaurant/bar.

Enjoy all the wonderful sites in Zagreb by saving up on Zagreb Accommodation. Get as much as 70% savings in Zagreb Hotelsat dhr.com. Start booking your choice of Zagreb Hotelat dhr.com and earn discount codes which can be used in future hotel reservations.

Start booking your choice of Granada Hotelat dhr.com to get secured reservation and earn discount codes which can be used in future hotel reservations.

Have an unforgettable vacation in Granada by staying at the posh La Casona de Los Estrada Hotel which is famous for its excellent location, lavish architecture and world-class amenities. This 4-star is situated between the San Francisco Convent and the Independence Plaza. Guests staying at this legendary hotel can see all the wonderful attractions and landmarks surrounding the area by choosing from the tours offered by the hotel including tours at San Jacinto Hot Springs, Mombacho National Reserve and City Managua. Those who want to explore Granada on their own can take a ride at the nearby metro, underground train, railway or bus stations. La Casona de Los Estrada Hotel has been in operation for more than 160 years already and continues to strive to make its guests feel comfortable and relaxed during their stay offering elegant rooms that feature the latest amenities including cable TV, air-conditioning, direct-dial phone and spacious closet. Guests can enjoy the other facilities and services offered by the hotel including function room, reading corners, parking space, souvenir shop, therapy massage services and a cozy bar.

The perfect hotel for backpackers and budget-conscious travelers is the Hospedaje El Maltese Hotel which is a charming little hotel that gives a breathtaking view of the lake. Guests can relax at the hotel’s lovely garden, front yard that consists of wooden chairs and tables or at the terrace which has hammocks. This 2-star hotel offers trendy rooms that give natural daylight and consists of simple furnishings and air-conditioning.

The city is well connected by road (through the development of the coastal motorway), rail and the local airport is the Murcia-San Javier Airport, which is near the towns of Santiago de la Ribera and San Javier, nearly 50km to the south east of Murcia City.

The Costa Cálida (Warm Coast)
The Murcia Region is characterised by the almost 250km of Mediterranean Coastline known as Costa Cálida, and located to the south of Murcia City.

The beaches are splendid, and the waters are warm, a major plus for tourists all year round. It is easily accessible along the AP-7. If you travel along this route, you will be astounded by the change in scenery and emphasis from the fishing villages to the food producing areas.

Mar Menor (translated as ‘Little Sea’) is located to the north of the coast and includes the largest lagoon in Europe. The famous tourism region of La Manga (a 22km slice of land) is what keeps Mar Manor from the sea.

Some of the major coastal towns along the Costa Cálida are Mazarron and Cartagena. The most popular beaches in the region are Cavanna, Puerto de Mazarron and La Puntica.

Things to Do and See in Murcia City & Region

Murcia City This city offers plenty of fine tourist attractions including:

- The Cathedral of Cartagena Diocese which was completed in the 15th century over a 70 year period. It is constructed in the Gothic style, with the first two storeys built in the Renaissance style and the other in Baroque.

- The Plaza Cardenal Belluga is the location where the Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace are. The Palace dates from the 18th century.

- Murcia City Hall is located in the 18th century constructed part of the city called the Glorieta.

-If you take a walking tour of the old town segement of the city, you will be in the Plateria and Traperia districts. Markets were common in this part of the city, and one of the most impressive sights to see here is the Casino, which was constructed before 1850, and a major social club in the area. The inside of the Casino is an example of the wonderful Moorish style.

- The El Valle Regional park offers a good location for walking and relaxing.

- Romea Theatre & Monteagudo Castle are other locations worth a visit.

- Salzillo Museum to learn about the history of the area.

Cartagena Is the 2nd largest city in the Region and is now one of the main headquarters for the Spanish Navy. The Museum in the city is very impressive and well worth a visit. It tells the story of the civilizations that make up the history of the city from the Romans, Moors to the Christians. The City is home to many relics of the Roman empire, and the Roman Theatre in the city that has been marvellously restored.

The Port of Cartagena has been much improved and the local National Marine Museum is well worth visiting.

La Manga & Resort The most popular tourist area and resort in the Murcia Region is La Manga Resort. It has developed a great reputation as a sport and leisure resort, and a popular place for professional football teams from the UK to gain warm weather training in, and to enjoy a team building winter break. The use of the resort is a testimony to its top class facilities.

La Manga town is located on a 15 mile strip of land which divides the Mar Menor lagoon from the Mediterranea Sea. There are plenty of top class hotels and restaurants located here. The beautiful waters of Mar Menor is warm enough to swim in all year round, and is perfect for watersports.

Puerto de Mazarron and Águilas Probably the most two important resorts after La Manga. The beaches and bay waters are welcoming. Águilas was once a fishing port used by the Romans. A 15th century castle here is well worth looking at.

Caravaca de la Cruz & Lorca These locations both have wonderful religious connotations, and a history to match. Lorca offers some of the most wonderful Easter celebrations in Spain. North of Lorca is Caravaca de la Cruz. 2010 will see the latest Annus Sanctus (Sacred Year) and there will be many pilgrimages made here. The Church of Salvador is one of the very best examples of Renaissance architecture in Murcia.

Festivals in Murcia
The Holy Week Procession – Perhaps the most famous in all of Spain, this Easter festival chronicles the events that led to the Crucifixion of Christ. In the Festival, the wonderful sculptures by esteemed artist Francisco Salzillo are borrowed from their respective museums and used in the Holy Week Procession to trace the steps of the final moments before Jesus’s crucifixion.

The Easter Week Celebrations at Lorca are well worth a visit.

Jumilla, which is one of the major wine producing regions has its own wine fiesta called ‘Vendimia’ – full of revelry and sampling of wine!

At Calasparra in the North West of the Region, there is a major bull running festival that takes place in September.

Every September in Cartagena, there is a local fiesta celebrating the culture of the region – residents dress up in attire from the Roman and Carthage era.

Have we tempted you to take a vacation in Malaga? Well, the best way to explore the city and region is to avail of a top quality car rental. For the very best deals in car hire, visit our Car Hire Murcia Airport page.

Kerala Tour takes you to its mesmerizing attractions such as beaches, backwaters, wildlife destinations, hill stations, Ayurveda centers, tea, coffee and spice gardens, and quaint villages.

Whether you are a wildlife enthusiasts, adventure freak, nature lover, holidaymaker, business traveler or honeymooner, Kerala has something for every kind of tourist. Its beaches steeped in breathtaking natural beauty, highly rejuvenating Ayurveda massages, gorgeous hill stations, national parks with a wide variety of wildlife, including the endangered ones and bazaars spilled with beautiful handicrafts beckon you for a memorable experience.

There are several wonderful tourist destinations in Kerala and some of the most famous ones are:

Cochin
Affectionately dubbed as the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’, Cochin is a wonderful city of Kerala.

It is well known for its spice plantations and spices like ginger, chilies, black pepper, turmeric and nutmeg are grown here in huge quantity. Backwaters, Chinese Fishing nets, Willingdon Island, St. Francis Church, beaches are the other attractions.

Munnar
Picturesque to the hilt, Munnar is synonymous with tea and coffee gardens. It is a beautiful destinations also boasting of the famous Eravikulam National Park. You can also enjoy boating, fishing and trekking here.

Alleppy
It is a fascinating destination known for its backwaters. Popularly known as the ‘Venice of the East’, Alleppy is a favored destination of honeymooners. The famous snake boat race of Kerala is also held here.

Wayanad
This destination takes pride in its mesmerizing surroundings, natural beauty, arresting hills, salubrious climate, caves, islands and enchanting wildlife.

TravelHost Magazine is by and large the leading national in-room travel publication; since its inception it has gone on to serve close to 6000 hotels and approximately 1.2 million rooms worldwide.

The magazine features new vibrant cover designs for the year 2011 and the publications contain compelling advertisement messages from different hotels thus helping these establishments to increase their room reservation volumes and annual revenues.

This magazine has effectively served the hospitality and travel industry by providing travelers with a unique guide for navigating around different travel destinations and information about the many attractions they can expect to encounter. The traveler will therein find many special feature sections that will provide interesting visitor info in an easy-to-read and traveler-friendly format. Travelers can expect information on concierge services, media guides, features available the travel destination, places of worship and customized maps to help get around with relative ease.

TravelHost Magazine is loved for its great feature articles which provide in-depth insight alongside past and present accounts about the locales of a given travel destination. Tourists also find great travel suggestions and traveler-targeted information to help them make better traveling decisions about their future vacations. This magazine is of great help in terms of presenting tourists with a wide variety of traveling options. Studies have shown that many tourists avoid exploring new travel destinations because they do not have adequate info about them and as such they end up visiting the same destinations for all their future vacations to avoid putting themselves at risk. This magazine has been pivotal in rejuvenating many travelers’ adventurous spirit.

Ardent travelers have been making use of TravelHost Magazine to hunt down the best deals in the destinations they intend to visit. In this magazine they are certain to find lists of the top hotels accompanied with details of holidaying incentives including restaurants, shopping centers, fast food spots, drinking venues, beaches, fitness facilities, festivals and events, and so forth. This magazine is certainly an indispensable travel accompaniment that will ensure that every travel decision you make is an informed one. The magazine also features great travel photographs and which in every way illustrate what leisure travel is all about.

Many travel writers are always eager to share their encounters on TravelHost Magazine and this is a clear testament of the popularity of this publication. Nonetheless, this magazine demands nothing short of top quality articles for its readers. As such, major preference is given to top travel writers as they can ably provide in-depth vivid travel collections that can inspire travelers to more travel adventures.
 

While your kitchen staff may provide excellent and exquisite menu items, the appearance of your serving staff and their restaurant uniforms will form an impression in the minds of you customers and instill an instant conception of service standards.

For a classy, upper class steakhouse or specialty establishment like a sushi or Thai eatery, restaurant uniforms should exceed customer expectations. The guests are in their best attire to enjoy fine dining and expect nothing less of the waiter or waitress that will be serving them. What is labeled as “black tie” apparel should definitely be applied to the look of the restaurant uniforms of your staff, including servers, food runners, greeters, hostesses and coat check employees.

There’s something about black paired with white for restaurant uniforms that exhibits professionalism and high standards, and with this color scheme, you can rarely go wrong.

Neatly pressed black slacks complemented by a long-sleeved white dress shirt are an impressive combination; complete with non-skid black moccasins kept clean and polished.

If you want to add still a little more flare to your well-to-do establishment, having your staff wear neckties can be a fun and creative endeavor. Leave the design and color up to the server, as long as the graphics are tasteful and not too out-of-place. Being able to express their unique personalities to the guests will give the customers something to talk about and be amused by, and may strike up a conversation between the customer and server, possibly leading to increased tips. Adding accomplishment pins to restaurant uniform shirts such as “employee of the month” or “exceptional server” will give the waiter a boost of confidence and provide assurance to the customer that their order will be correct and their service prompt.

If you run a more light-hearted, family-oriented diner, restaurant uniforms should be kept casual, allowing the customers to relate to their server more comfortably, increasing their dining experience. Suggestions include solid color tee-shirts, baseball caps, and colorful aprons.

Finally, avoid placing a “trainee” tag on a new server’s restaurant uniform. This singles out the waiter, making them self-conscious, possibly leading them to be a victim of customer maltreatment. The word trainee screams out incompetent and inexperienced, and will instantly instill a message in the customer’s minds that their service will be less than exceptional. Having “new hire” plastered on a newcomer’s restaurant uniform may also make them more nervous, making them feel like they stick out like a sore thumb.