Whether you are looking for a destination for family vacation or want a memorable romantic honeymoon in a tropical paradise, Cancun Mexico offers something for everyone. This lovely locale isn’t one of the world’s most popular destinations without reasons. In Cancun, a tourist has a choice of tons of great activities. Cancun has fanstastic weather all year round. It has white beaches offering spectacular visuals. Cancun also has an exotic flora and fauna, wildlife and marine life. Since, Cancun has many options to stay from hotels to affordable and quality vacation rentals; Cancun is a prime choice for tourists from all over the world.

For a traveler looking for great vacation homes, Cancun Mexico Vacation Rentals are the best in the region. A vacation rental is a great idea for a traveler who wants to stay for a considerable amount of time and savor the beauty of Cancun and Riviera Maya on his own terms. If you want to stay away from crowd of all-inclusive resorts or hotels, then your own rental vacation home in Cancun Mexico gives you exactly the experience you’re looking for. Whether you are seeking fun with the family and friends or a romantic getaway, Cancun Mexico vacation rentals have major advantages over a hotel or a resort.

Mexico Vacation Rentals give you lots of space. For a family visiting Mexico this option is the best. This is much more appealing than accommodating the entire family into one or two small hotel rooms. Kids can get separate rooms and couples can spend quality time with each other and not be bothered. This makes a Mexico vacation worthwhile for everybody.  Read more...

Guilin … I have just arrived by aircraft and, I am able to be able to breathe!  Xi’an was impressive for the saga of the Terracotta Warriors etc. but it was extremely not easy to breathe … the climate in Xi’an plays a huge role in the air pollution, also I discovered a low count of trees, by watching, al ot of dust … we require trees replanted here (Xi’an) to hold down loose earth …

In Guilin though, I got to feel fresh air,  Lovable elderly ladies saying few words in English to put up for sale their fruits, books, post cards, and one lady was promotion aprons … it was difficult to continually say no, so i in the end bought a Guilin book with a 10 set of post cards for just 40 Rmb…what a bargain 40 divided by 7.5 … I paid ~ $5.33CAD … very inexpensive prices … your buck goes very far in China …

It was so wonderful cruising down the Li River .

Mulong Lake Park–A nice Pagoda in Guilin during an evening cruise!.. the hills were so splendid… this was the best part of touring in Guilin,  the cruise trip along the Li River … so peaceful, and fascinating… I took photos of women washing their clothes on the rocks along the Li River, women (with kids on their backs) reaching out with long sticks with nets at the end to capture fish, NO, to catch $$ from tourists passing by on the many ships travelling the Li River … the scenery along the Li River will eternally stay a highlight of Guilin; I can’t clarify it, but the sensation is incredible.  Next time I will stay for no less than a week!!!  Read more...

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Budget travelers beware: your travel agent may not be able to offer your the best deals possible. Though they claim to know people who know people who can get you a deal, you might be able to find a better deal yourself. Of course, doing all the legwork yourself isn’t for everyone. But if your priority is to save money and customize your trip to your tastes, then a connection offered by cable, DSL or satellite internet may be all you need to essentially become your own travel agent.

Some people don’t mind paying a bit extra, especially some California and Arizona residents. But wouldn’t your rather spend it elsewhere? Even saving as little as $20 is noteworthy. That could be the difference between watching the sunset on the beach or having that little extra spending cash to watch it as you’re riding around on a sailboat. It could also be the difference between snorkeling and scuba diving. If you’re on a budget, it’s even more relevant to save some cash as small differences will have more of an impact.

There’s nothing wrong with a travel agent. For the most part, they’re honest hard-working people. But demanding consumers always want a better deal. This is true of anything that’s for sale. If you want a gallon of milk, you’ll go where the deal is, even if you have to go out of your way. And with the advent of the internet, the better deals are on the web. The only thing you need is a connection offered by cable, DSL or satellite internet and you can have access to them, even in some remote parts of California or Arizona.

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Vacation house rentals are a relatively new concept to many people in the UK and the US, though the facility is highly popular in some parts of Europe. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that vacation house rentals are one of the best kept secrets of the travel industry in the US. So, let us take a quick look at what these are and how you can benefit from this facility.

Vacation house rentals are nothing but homes that can be rented. Many property owners in prime tourist destinations rent out their property to tourists. These owners generally depend on a manager to rent out their properties. Sometimes, they independently put up their rentals on search engines too. Vacationers can get the relevant information by contacting realtors in the area or through the Internet. Vacation house rentals fetch home owners a neat side income. But, what’s in it for the vacationers?

Imagine staying in a fully furnished home of your liking, with all the amenities and comforts you want, located in a convenient and accessible area of your choice, priced about 25-80% below the price of a hotel room! And the best part is the fact that vacation house rentals are available in the most unlikely of places, even in beautiful nooks and unexplored crannies where you wouldn’t find hotels and resorts.

These days, vacation house rentals are available in just about every touristy part of the US, UK and Europe. Whether you want a beachfront villa or a log cabin, a condo or a penthouse, you can easily find the accommodation of choice in your dream destination. So, you get more value for your money, more space, more amenities and ultimately, more satisfaction.

Cruise ships are a major and growing source of ocean pollution. Cruise ships produce and dump millions of gallons of inadequately treated sewage and wastewater into the sea daily. 

Take a look at what cruise ships generate everyday:

1) Blackwater (Human waste)
Blackwater is sewage, wastewater from toilets and medical facilities, which can contain harmful bacteria, pathogens, viruses, intestinal parasites, and harmful nutrients. Discharges of untreated or inadequately treated sewage can cause bacterial and viral contamination of fisheries and shellfish beds, producing risks to public health. 

2) Graywater
Graywater is wastewater generated by laundries, showers, sinks and dishwashers. It contains detergents, cleaners, oil and grease, metals, pesticides, and medical, dental and other forms of toxic waste. Waste that should be segregated and disposed at land-based facilities is often pumped into graywater. 

3) Garbage and solid waste
This trash of ocean pollution includes glass, plastics, bottles, aluminium, steel, cans, paper, cardboard and food wastes. Approximately 75 to 80 percent is incinerated at sea and then the ash is dumped into the ocean. It can be either non-hazardous or hazardous in nature.

4) Hazardous waste (toxic waste)
Cruise ships produce hazardous wastes (toxic) from a number of on-board activities and processes, including silver, mercury, lead and cadmium through dry cleaning, photo processing photographic processing, print shops, painting activities, equipment cleaning and other sources.

5) Oily bilge water
Residual oil from routine engine maintenance mixes with bilge water and collects at the bottom of the ship. Ocean pollution like oil, gasoline, and by-products from the biological breakdown of petroleum products can harm fish and wildlife and pose threats to human health if ingested.

6) Ballast water, 1,000 metric tons per release.
Ballast water is often taken on in one region and discharged in another.Cruise ships take in millions gallons of ballast water to stabilize and trim the vessel, discharge back into the ocean as needed to maintain and to ensure safe operating conditions.   Read more...