Traveling alone makes people vulnerable and open for danger. There are many things that you can do for personal protection to ensure your safety.

When you are traveling alone and you know you will be alone it is very important to plan your trip in advance. Know where you are going to be, learn the map, determine your transportation and more. If you get a rental car the best thing you can do is get the GPS system. The last thing you want to happen is to get lost from your hotel on a bad side of town. A GPS allows you not to have to stop to ask strangers that you don't know for directions. Also, you should find out if the place you are traveling to is a safe destination for women to go to, especially if you are headed out of the country.

When you are traveling alone it may be tempting to get a cheap hotel so you can save money. One thing to consider is that the majority of the criminals are not going to target people in the larger and safer hotels. This is because the larger hotels have a valet service, security guards, security cameras, and provide a safe place to stay. The cheaper places may have the door to your room on the outside of the hotel, no security, and may not even have a well lit parking lot. Also, when you choose your hotel make sure it is near attractions and the location you need to go to. This way you won't have to travel as far and you will minimize the chances of getting lost.

If you are traveling to another country it is important to learn the language a little bit so you do not have too big of a communication gap. When you are alone in another country and something happens to you it will be impossible to find help if you cannot speak the language. Practice before you plan your vacation.

Another very important thing you need to do when you are traveling out of the states by yourself is find out where the US embassy is located. If you are robbed, attacked, raped, kidnapped, or anything else this is where you need to go. They will protect you and get you back to the states and home to your family.

You might consider personal devices such as a stun gun, Taser or pepper spray for protection and self defense when you travel out of the country. Always find out what the laws are before you board a plane. You don't want to end up in a foreign jail because you didn't do the proper research. Take care of yourself and plan ahead so you can have a safe vacation.

When you are traveling out of the country there are many things you need to consider so you are as safe as possible. The best thing you can do is plenty of research on the crime and the city you are going to. Find a big and safe hotel and don't be too cheap. Paying for safety is the best thing you can do in another country. Also, find the US embassy and be clear about how to get to it.

If you like the idea of spending some time relaxing at a top spa or health retreat, why not go all out and really indulge your senses. To help you choose which one to visit, here is a list of what we believe are five of the top spas and health retreats in the world.

1. California Health and Longevity Institute, California, United States:

This is the ultimate in opulence! The California Health and Longevity Institute offers a wide range of holistic therapies, combining ancient Asian wisdom with Western awareness. This is a world-class facility where your personal Life Advisor will help you to devise a plan for your life, health and rejuvenation. Complete with numerous experts on hand including a health chef, this venue has an amazing 40,000-square-foot spa where you can be pampered to your heart's content.

2. Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand:

The Chiva-Som International Health Resort is a stunning resort that is perfect for a luxury Thailand holiday. This sanctuary offers a variety of spa treatments along with physiotherapy, iridology, live blood analysis and electro-dermal screening. They also provide US qualified doctors, nurses and naturopaths enabling visitors who feel like a total rejuvenation to have specialist treatments such as botox injections and laser resurfacing. While in Thailand, make sure you rejuvenate your soul too by exploring some of the mystical ancient temples or meditating with monks.

3. Lausanne Palace and Spa, Lausanne, Switzerland:

This exquisite resort is sure to leave you spellbound! Imagine spending a week or two of total bliss in this spectacular palace, with breathtaking 360o panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and Lake Geneva. There are various refreshing treatments available here, from wellness, fitness, beauty - even an Aveda hair spa. To complement these treatments, the Yogi booster programme offers nutritional advice to help you create total health balance.

Enjoy an aromatic massage and rejuvenating facial treatment before venturing into the nearby town to explore the city and enjoy some well-deserved shopping. Make sure you add the Lausanne Palace and Spa to your luxurious travel itinerary.

4. The Grove, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom:

This prestigious escape is sure to impress even the most discerning traveller. An extraordinary estate, The Grove leaves most five star resorts way behind. Just a short drive from London, this Cosmopolitan Country Estate is located upon 300 stunning acres. The services offered at the award winning The Grove include state of the art leisure and sporting facilities such as an 18 hole championship golf course and a world class health and fitness centre. For your total pampering, spa treatments incorporate a delicate blend of aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and Ayurvedic philosophy. This is an ideal retreat that is adored by men and women from all over the world.

5. Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa, Gold Coast, Australia:

For the ultimate in 5 star resorts you can't beat the Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa on the gloriously sun-drenched Gold Coast. This oasis retreat is nestled amongst 37 lush, tropical acres alongside azure waters and golden beaches - just the right atmosphere to begin your relaxing vacation. This resort boasts a spectacular 2.5 acres lagoon - as well as smaller lagoons hidden throughout the resort - a variety of elegant suites or villas to choose from and several award winning restaurants and bars. For your pampering, the resort's Golden Door Spa and Health Club provides an array of sumptuous treatments. Once you are feeling re-energised and refreshed, you can enjoy an invigorating workout in the gymnasium, a game of tennis, swim in the lap pool or just put your feet up in the relaxation lounge. If you are planning a wedding, the Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa would be the perfect place to spend a luxury honeymoon.

There is no doubt that we all need some time out now and then, and what better way to refresh than by spending time at one of these exclusive health retreats? If you can't decide which one to go to, perhaps you can take an extended vacation and visit them all!

Let's face it. Some getaways are more relaxing than others. If your idea of rest and relaxation is running around an amusement park, that's just fine. Some people want a truly carefree and relaxing vacation...and those types of people head off to someplace exotic. Someplace with beautiful sandy beaches.

Sometimes the exotic is not within reach. When price is a factor, traveling to the Bahamas or some other luxury setting just isn't feasible. Good thing there are other beaches located here in the States! Maybe a quick trip to California or Florida is an easier luxury vacation to swallow than the expensive cruise or tropical island getaway.

These beautiful stateside beaches offer some of the best vacation spots around. Accommodations are easily found with amenities galore. But for a truly relaxing and romantic vacation, finding a beach house to rent is right up there on the ultimate trip scale.

What could be better really, than having a beach house just steps from the warm sand and rolling waves? With all the conveniences of home, you'll want for nothing. Waking up in the morning to the sounds of crashing waves and the cry of seagulls flying around searching for food and going to bed embraced by the light and beauty of a sunset just over the water.

Vacationers to such places enjoy walks on the sand, holding hands with a loved one and even surfing the waves or tanning on the beach. A beach vacation affords you the choices of something different to do each day without the pressure of keeping a schedule. It is a place of leisure, a place of serenity.

So if you are looking for that truly relaxing vacation, a closer to home beach front property might just be the answer.

Many would argue the ill effects tourism can have on natural habitats and the animals themselves but the major argument for positive tourism is sustainable tourism - sharing the benefits of wildlife and socioeconomic development through the promotion of tourism. The objective of those working in the African travel industry should be to bring about sustainable economic development by way of eco-tourism, which is said to be the fastest growing industry in the world! Poverty and ineffective land use can be addressed with the help of tourism opportunities like African safaris, adventure holidays and fair trade travel.

Contrary to popular belief poverty in rural Africa is caused by lack of education, massive unemployment problems (due to large masses of land and the remoteness of many areas) and the limited options for the profitable use of such land. Sustainable projects and private commercial ventures that provide adventure holidays have economic potential through eco-tourism because they make use of the natural resources an area has in a way that benefits the local population without depleting those same natural resources.

Without such forward thinking approaches local people in and around remote areas have few alternatives but to exhaust the very resources (animals, land and natural beauty) on which their survival depends. Eco-tourism can be seen to protect the world's natural assets by emphasising their value to visitors and locals alike.

Historically, it was the Berlin Treaty of 1884 that literally carved Africa up with no concept of tribal groupings, wildlife migration routes or ecosystems. Current national boundaries reflect this somewhat warped history. The establishment of 'peace parks' like the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier conservation area aim to correct this past century but significant injustice by building on neighbouring relationships and encouraging improvements to natural habitats, wildlife and people through the joint management of these resources. The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier will become the worlds largest conservation area straddling Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe upon the completion of the project in 2010.

Eco-tourism and the development of 'peace parks' are an up and coming standard that African Governments (including Zambias) are using to create a sense of harmony between humankind (both foreign and local) and nature by using the lands natural resources to create prosperity. The beneficiaries are:

• visitors who leave more knowledgeable and with a positive and authentic African experience,
• local people who benefit from job creation and the development of schools and clinics,
• and also business owners who work sustainably and profitably.

All these factors lead to economic stability and since stability is seen to be the cornerstone of peace, when all benefit and development is sustainable, peace prevails, hence the name 'peace parks'.

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Finding The Best Online Disneyland Vacation Packages There are an infinite number of online travel sources offering Disneyland vacation packages. A query with a popular search engine yielded over four million links when the keywords were entered. That amount of information can overload the most seasoned trip planner. This article aims to simplify the planning process for your next fun-filled family vacation to Disneyland.

The homepage for Disneyland Resorts offers a free vacation planning DVD that includes tours of the Disney theme parks in California and Florida, highlights of current shows and attractions, and additional planning tips for a Disneyland vacation. The online form asks for basic information and is very easy to fill out. This free DVD can be a great help in planning your vacation and getting everyone excited about a trip with a preview of what's in store for them at Disneyland.

The homepage for Disneyland Resorts are also a portal to vacation packages. The benefits of packages through this avenue include several exclusive offers of commemorative items and early entrance into the park. Travel reviews have indicated that the early entrance into the park isn't much of a benefit, however. The lines can still be long and the park crowded with other guests having access to the same early access. This is a quick way to get your trip booked but it is also the most expensive option when planning a Disneyland vacation.

Disney's Good Neighbor hotels are more economical than the Disney properties, but many hotel and travel websites offer these rooms at a discounted rate. Major travel websites also have car rental and airfare availability when putting together a Disneyland vacation package. They have add-on activities such as dining with characters and special excursions that can be personalized for your family vacation.

Auction websites are also an option to locate Disneyland vacations. Hotels and resorts frequently offer timeshare presentations in exchange for deeply discounted or free lodging. These types of offers are often found on auction websites. Travelers that have booked packages but for personal reasons are unable to travel may list accommodations as a way to recoup some of their money. One person's loss can be your family's gain.

There are many ways to find online Disneyland vacation packages. Hopefully this article offered some guidance to help make planning your Disneyland vacation a bit easier. Happy traveling.

Houston may be the home of big oil and cowboys but there is also a very lively comedy scene going on as part of the backdrop of provided by Houston's nightlife. Comedy clubs have sprung up in the last ten years or so as audiences have demanded better comedies and more performances than the restricted venues were able to provide but it is the older clubs which still dominate the scene in Houston.

If you are a looking for a great night out with good food and excellent food and drink, then a trip to one of the top three comedy spots in Houston is just what the doctor ordered to cure any blues and to set the seal on a great visit to Houston.

Here are the top three comedy nightclubs for you to enjoy in Houston.

The Improve

The Improve has been making them laugh for over 20 years and has a stable of top grade comedians on hand to make sure you laugh the night away. Food is served in the evening with a restricted menu available during the day - make sure you enquire with the venue prior to booking and note there is also a restricted menu available depending on where you sit. One nice touch is that the management has split the venue up into separate sections for smokers and non-smokers.

Minimum age for entry is 18 but remember you must be over 21 to drink alcohol in Texas.

Dinner reservations get priority on the seats but otherwise it is a first come-first served basis so you are recommended to get there early if you want to be sure of getting in. Like the other two comedy venues in Houston, it is commonly sold out so don't leave it to chance.

The venue is located near downtown Houston and paid valet parking is available if you don't feel like a short walk from the mall within which the club is located though there is also free parking at the rear of the venue too.

Laff Spot

The Laff Spot runs shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and combines some of the best comedy acts in town with excellent jazz and fine food. Unlike the Improv which is comedy at its rough and readiest, the Laff Spot is a refined establishment and the food and service are excellent. The club is also completely non-smoking and there is a full waitress service on offer while parking is plentiful in the vicinity.

One feature offered by the Laff Spot is a defensive driving course taken by customers with the team of comedians - the joke is that the certificate you come away with is recognized state and country wide and may end up getting you a reduction in your driver's insurance premiums!

Houston's Laff Stop

This is perhaps the premier Houston comedy club and certainly the most expensive. Class comedy acts which are nationally recognized frequently use the Laff Stop as the venue for the Houston leg of their tour and you are well advised to check who is playing before you make a booking. The club claims to be Houston's laughter central and probably this is not an idle boast but competition amongst the established clubs is fierce!

Food and drink are plentiful too and you can enjoy a great evening's entertainment which also includes plenty of time for music and dancing if you are not inclined to simply have gags thrown at you while sitting around all evening. Comedy show nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday while they have an open mic night on Wednesdays if you are brave enough to face a crowd for real from the other side of the stage lights.

The Bahamas is one of the most visited islands in the entire Caribbean region and this happens because it is very close the the mainland of North America (first Caribbean island which belongs to Bahamas is just at 45 miles distance to Florida!), but also due to the great accommodation offered by hotels in Bahamas. Actually, beach resorts in Bahamas welcome each year a few millions of tourists and the tourist industry of this country employs directly or indirectly about 50% of the local workforce! Most holiday makers choose to spend a vacation in Bahamas to enjoy the splendid beaches from there, to relax in hammocks under waving palm trees, to see beautiful sunsets in the cooling breeze of Caribbean Sea, to taste the spicy Bahamian food, or to practice a wide range of water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, surfing, fishing and the list could continue almost endless...

The Bahamas is in fact an archipelago located in the northeastern side of Caribbean region, comprised of two bigger islands (New Providence and Grand Bahama) and a lot of smaller islands, named "The Out Islands", from which the most important are Abaco, Andros, Acklins and Crooked Island, Biminis, Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exumas, Inaguas, Mayaguana, and San Salvador. As one of the renowned holiday destinations in Bahamas, island of New Providence attracts in its main vacation spots, Nassau and Paradise Island, a big part of travelers who visit this country. Hotels in Nassau and Paradise Island belong to the best of the entire archipelago and most of them are pretty crowded all year round. It features great accommodation amenities and range from 3 star budget units up to luxury 4 and 5 star hotels, which pamper tourists like few other resorts in Caribbean region do! Nassau is also the capital city of the country and the main entrance gate to the holiday resorts. Paradise Island is located off the shore of the city of Nassau and it is perhaps the best know Bahamian vacation destination, featuring also some of the best hotels in Bahamas. In this area the best hotels are Hotel Atlantis Royal Tower, Hotel The Cove at Atlantis, Hotel The Reef at Atlantis, Hotel British Colonial Hilton, all this being 5 star accommodation units, but also Hotel Atlantis Coral Tower, Hotel Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort (4 star resorts) or Hotel Paradise Island Harbour Resort, and Hotel Atlantis Beach Tower, which are 3 star hotels.

Hotels in Nassau and Paradise Island are not the only attractions on island of New Providence. There are a lot of duty-free shops, restaurants, old colonial buildings, cultural centers and, of course, many pristine beaches such as Cable Beach and Paradise Island Beach, which offer exciting holiday activities like sailing, water skiing, snorkeling, windsurfing, scuba diving, and fishing. People who want just to relax, enjoy a couple cocktails and lazing on comfortable sun beds are also welcomed...Tourists interested in cultural events can enjoy musical evenings and hear the frenetic rhythms of "junkanoo", "goombay" and "rake 'n' scrape", musical styles evolved of West African dance music brought by slaves to North America. The tropical atmosphere of this islands is also proper for weddings and tourists who want planning a such event or decide instantly to do it have to know that are required a residence for 24 hours prior to applying for a marriage license, birth certificates and a notarized affidavit. Most hotels are equipped to assist guests with marriage arrangements and have professional wedding planners who can organize a such event like in tales!

A vacation in Bahamas and its hotels is something unique and memories gained there last a lifetime! For longer holidays or just short breakaways, beach resorts in Bahamas are perfect and people who visited once this God blessed land will return again and again to enjoy better the freedom sensation that can be felt only in Caribbean...

When booking a trip abroad people are often so desperate to make sure their time away is perfect they neglect any worries about the price they are paying. As long as people enjoy their trip away they often do not mind what price they pay. However, on returning from their trips many travelers find themselves asking whether they could have had greater value for money.

Unfortunately asking this question when returning from a holiday is too late as travelers should look at money saving tips before they travel. The best way to save money on holidays is to book early or late. Many companies offer great value deals on holidays for travelers who are willing to commit to a trip that is in the next year, for example. As well as making an initial saving by making a booking this way, this method also allows the traveler plenty of time to prepare and make necessary savings well before the trip comes around. Perhaps a greater way to get a 'value for money' holiday is to gamble and wait for a last minute deal.

This method allows travelers to benefit from huge discounts in travel and accommodation but does have an element of risk involved. Travelers make a huge saving as often people cancel holidays or flights are not fully booked up. Once this is the case, holiday providers are willing to offer a holiday at a heavily reduced cost as they look to fill seats on planes! Anyone considering this method must be very flexible and open to different types of holidays as it is often a case of taking what you can get, as opposed to selecting your ideal holiday.

This world in itself is a wonder and therefore, undoubtedly, there will be no end to wonderful things in it. Some of the wonderful things that are found in it are there since the day of the world's creation while some are man-made. But whatever it is, the beauty of these makes everybody to marvel. However, certain such wonderful things of this world are being termed together as the Seven Wonders of the World. Though only seven such monuments are being taken in it but apart from it there are many other things that are worth-seeing.

The new list of the seven wonders had been made on last 07.07.2007. Though the previous list was different from this one but still certain common wonders are being found occupying place in the new list also. The new seven wonder of the world are Chichen Itza, Mexico; Christ Redeemer, Brasil; Colosseum, Italy; Taj Mahal, India; Great Wall of Chine; Petra, Jordan and Machu Picchu of Peru. So, this is the list of wonders which are of the modern world. Among these the Taj Mahal of India, Colosseum and the Great Wall of China were also there in the previous list of medieval world. Other monuments that occupied that list are Stonehenge, Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, Hagia Sophia, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Cairo Citadel, Ely Cathedral and Cluny Abbey.

Monuments that were included in the list of the ancient world are like these Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes and Lighthouse of Alexandria.

So, the world is just full with such magnificent things. You can plan a trip to all such awesome places and find the true meaning of life and beauty.

When I first came to this country eons ago and told people I was from Nepal, I usually got two responses. The first one was more common and dealt exclusively with who, what or where Nepal was. The second was a common query from people who knew just enough about Nepal to be dangerous (A little knowledge.....). These people would always say how cold out it must be there specially in the winter. I would then have to go into detailed explanations about the "cold" in Nepal.

When I came to the US, it was at night in the month of December and the weather was extremely cold. I did not realize any place could be this cold. Next morning, when I woke up and saw the sun shining brightly, I thought that this was more like it. I walked out of the apartment in short sleeves and almost froze on the spot. I rushed back in and was taken to task by the doorman fro going out "without clothes." When I protested that the sun was out, he looked at me in a puzzled manner and said, "Yes, it's ten in the morning but still as cold as the Arctic." When I ventured to explain that the sun was out and it should have been warmer, he replied that the temperature would stay low because it was winter. Then it dawned on me that in the eastern and northern Unite States, the sun was only for lighting purposes and not for heating - winter time, of course. What a strange phenomenon! The sun here was used only as a big torch during the winter - helping people see their way about. I then had to recount to all those "cold" queries about Nepal by explaining that back home the sun not only gave light but also heat.

Most people who knew something about Nepal did so mainly because of Mt. Everest and the Himalayas(?) - please read my last article on this subject. Ergo, almost all of them thought that Nepal was another Antarctica, another frozen wasteland of snow and ice. I then had to explain in detail that Nepal bordered China and India. The northern part (Chinese border) was cold most of the time but warm during the summer. The "middle" part of the country was hot during Spring and Summer and also Fall and Winter when the sun came out. The southern part of the country that bordered India was HOT most of the year and still quite warm during the daytime in the winter months. This polemic left most baffled. They could not believe that a person could walk around in tees and shorts after about ten in the morning in Kathmandu. It was like my Russian acquaintance from Vladivostok who scoffed at people who used to speak of Siberia as the barren wasteland of chills and cold. The common retort seemed to be that it was what they had read from most dissidents ("exiled" writers). This innocent reply infuriated him and sent him into apoplectic fits.

So is Nepal COLD? That depends very much when you go there and which part of the country you go to. For those not up on your latitude and longitude, let me remind one and all that the latitude of Nepal is the same as that of the northern part of Florida. Is Florida a snowy wasteland? You tell me.