The deal
Surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean, it only makes sense to see Hawaii the way ancient Polynesian voyagers did — from the sea. These pearls of the Pacific are packed with breathtaking natural wonders but they’re also a pricey cruise destination. So we recommend booking one of the early-bird specials we scoured, for three Aloha State sailings next spring. Discounts run as high as 56 percent and prices drop to as low as $1,049.

Circle Hawaii cruise aboard HL Zaandam
For the best savings and the most epic Hawaiian odyssey, you can’t do better than the terrific bargain just released by CruisesOnly. A 15-night Hawaii voyage with Holland America next fall sells for just $1,499 in an interior cabin. At this price, discounted by 32 percent, the upscale Zaandam hits high seas round-trip from San Diego on two dates: October 23 and November 22. En route, you’ll take in five of Hawaii’s most stunning spots — Hilo, Honolulu, Nawiliwili (Kauai), Lahaina (Maui), and Kailua-Kona — as well as Mexico’s Ensenada on the way back to California. Eight entire days at sea are also covered in the itinerary. Oceanview staterooms are also reduced in price to just $1,599!

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a spa retreat, lavish brunch, or a picnic

New Orleans, from $179 per room per night
When you book the Destination Mother’s Day package at the New Orleans Marriott, you’ll get accommodations for up to four (two adults and two children), a bouquet of flowers for the room, and brunch on Saturday or Sunday at the new 5 Fifty 5, which serves American favorites with Cajun flair. To top it off, the recently refurbished hotel places you in the French Quarter, where you can easily see the French Market, Jackson Square, and the New Orleans Voodoo Museum. Rates start at $179 per room per night.

When: May 8-11, 2008

Details: Based on double, triple, or quad occupancy. Requires a Friday or Saturday night stay. Ask for rate code MDYO. Does not include 13 percent tax and $3 per day hotel tax.

Airstream say: “Basecamp pays homage to Airstream’s past, taking styling cues from Airstream founder Wally Byam’s original 1935 Torpedo. Modern-looking and sleek, Basecamp is so light you almost won’t know you’re towing it. Park and open out the back: a tent option, engineered by outdoor products giant Kelty, gives you sleeping room on the ground to go with the two bunks inside the trailer.” Aistream tell Roaming Times that the base MSRP is $24,095.

The floorplan is shown below and is different! We like the overall concept very much - all of this in a trailer just 16′2″ long.
Some of the Interstate’s features (Airstream information):

• Exterior length - 16′2″‘

• Exterior height - about 8′

• Interior head room - 6′1″

• Rear entry step standard

• Fixed front wrap windows standard

• Bright Aluminum Interior Skin standard

• Portable Toilet - 5 Gallon - optional

  

Floor Plan

We found the floor plan to the Coachmen Catalina most attractive. It had a separate bedroom complete with a double bed, a storage compartment that goes over the bed and a separate storage closet on each side of the bed where clothes could be hung up. A night stand was also on each side of the bed with another storage compartment built in underneath the night stand. This room had lots of windows, one over the bed and one on each side of the bed. A pop-up shelf was also on the right hand side of the bed to hold a small TV or whatever else you would like to put there. The bed also has a hidden storage compartment underneath it that lifts up at the foot of the bed. I store extra blankets and bedding here.

The living room consisted of a flop-down sofa that made into a single size bed and a comfortable lounge chair. It also had storage space in the cabinet that held the stereo. The countertop to the stereo served as the perfect space for your TV. There are also cabinets above the sofa and window which both were enclosed and open, which can be used for decorative pieces. I store my dishes in the closed cabinets here.

The kitchen is very nice! It contains a full size stove (run off butane of course), double sink with window overhead, built-in microwave, compact refrigerator and booth style dining table. The dining table will flip over to create another bed large enough for two children. When the bed is not in use there is a large storage area beneath each seat. This comes in handy for storing items not used very frequently. There is also another large window by the dining table. The kitchen also has plenty of storage cabinets for your groceries, cooking utensils, and dishes. These are in the combination of cabinets and pull out drawers.

Down the hall is another large closet for hanging clothes on the right hand side of the camper and on the left you will find bunk beds. Each bunk bed has a small window.

And finally at the end of the hall you will run into the bathroom . The bathroom was another high selling point for us. It had more space than the other models we were shown. It had a full size bath tub with shower, vanity with storage cabinet above and below and of course a toilet.

Other Nice Things About the Coachmen Catalina
This model is completely carpeted except for the kitchen area and hall where you will find easy to clean linoleum.
There is a smoke alarm and also an ozone detector that came with the travel trailer.
All of the windows have color-coordinated blinds and curtains. I really liked the color theme here which consisted of aquas, mauves and a medium blue.

Central heating and air. (Very nice here in humid Louisiana.)

Outside storage bin for tools and spare tires is adequate.

There is a nice and big pull-down awning that makes a great shaded patio.

This model weighs in at approximately 7500 pounds so you will need a 1-ton truck to pull it! We have a Chevrolet Dulley for this job! It pulls the Coachmen Catalina without any problems. We do use a sway-bar to reduce swaying on long trips.

It handles very well on the road once you get used to it! My husband has even trusted me to drive while pulling it in the mountains!

Set-Up

Setting up the Coachmen Catalina Travel Trailer is very easy. The campgrounds here in Louisiana that we frequent the mostly have concrete pads for travel trailers making leveling the travel trailer a simple feat. However, on the rare instances where we find that we must use a more “primative” area we have the square PVC waffle blocks that can be stacked to level the travel trailer. The sewer hose is stored in a rear compartment which needs to be connected to the travel trailer and put down in the “dump hole”. Electricity is also a simple feat, just remove the wiring from the compartment and plug in. The water hookup requires a garden hose (they actually have specific ones for campground use although I have no idea what the difference is). This unit has dual butane bottles (for running the stove) so when one runs out you can switch to the other bottle. The refrigerator can run on battery back-up or electricity.

Maintenance

Routine care includes keeping the Coachmen Catalina clean. It is prone to mildew if it sits outdoors without regular cleaning. We use Simple Green diluted in water to wash the travel trailer down.

The only other maintenance that we have incurred is replacing the awning which my husband decided to do himself. The replacement was due to unexpected high winds. The awning was ripped, hence calling for a replacement. This would not of been a big hassle if the company would of shipped the correct awning for our model of travel trailer but hence they did not. We had to return the original awning shipped to the local distributor and wait for the correct model to come in (another 2 weeks). The correct model awning installed without problems.

Overall Rating

We have enjoyed the Coachmen Catalina tremendously over the last few years. It has held up well with regular maintenance. I especially recommend this model to families with children. There is enough room here to where you won’t be stepping all over each other here. We have been pleased with this travel trailer on both long and short trips.

India has rich cultural and historical heritage well preserved in its temple architecture and pilgrim sites. From the majestic Himalayan ranges in the North, to Kanyakumari in the South, India is arrayed with thousand of shrines, temples and worship places dating back to hundreds of years.. Many theories have been formulated to explain the existence of these holy sites in such a huge number, paving the path to attain salvation or “nirvana”. The statuary and adornment in these ancient temples showcases one of the world’s foremost artistic heritages. The designs of major temples have augmented into enormous architectural splendor.

People from all over the world has acknowledged, experienced and written that water has a strange calming influence on everybody’s mind and body and relaxes the senses and souls of those who seek solace on its shores. In India Kerala is home to some of the best Beaches of the world and witnesses a constant rush of people who tired from the monotony of their strenuous life finds comfort in the tranquil waters of Kerala, South India. If a beach Holiday is what you are looking for than join us on Kerala beach Vacations.

Well maintained, neatly kept and securely guarded, the Beaches of Kerala are turning into an ideal beach vacation destination in India. Networked by 44 rivers crisscrossing it, Kerala is home to a long and charming shoreline housing numerous beaches and beach resorts. The Alappuzha Beach is the most visited beach in Kerala. Blessed with nature’s green beauties such as lagoons, vast lakes and numerous fresh water rivers, Alappuzha is a natural wonderland of Kerala state. The famed Snake boat race is also held in these waters around the Onam festival. You can also tranquilize your body and soul on this beach with Kerala Beach Vacations, India.

Situated at the mouth of the Chaliyar River in Kozhikhode district, a unique feature of the Beypore beach is a bridge built nearly 2 kms into the sea, made up of huge stones piled together, making a pathway into the sea. So if you want to treat yourself to a bronze tan then come and visit the majestic beach of Beypore. Beach of International repute, Kovalam lies on the Malabar Coast along the 600-kilometer length of Kerala Shoreline. Popular as a small fishing village Kovalam, the place promises the holiday of a lifetime.

Soundly maintained and severely administered, spending a vacation on the beaches of Kerala is like a dream come true. All the beaches are surrounded by a wide array of resorts and holiday homes from 5-star to 2-star that makes sure that vacation in Kerala is everything you had want it to be, and more.

Last year, P&O Cruises ensured that the enduringly romantic notion of being married at sea became a reality, as they fully introduced their weddings at sea program. P&O Cruises have now reported that the first year saw busy captains perform no less than 184 ceremonies, and have confirmed a 40% rise in the programs second year. It seems then, that the romance of the sea is still working its magic.

So what is it that is pulling people away from the church and onto a cruise ship? A major factor is the price.
Interestingly, a report carried out by the Carnival UK Group has shown that about 3 quarters of all couples using P&O Cruise’s wedding service will have been married at least once before, therefore, they are fully aware of the tremendous costs of a traditional wedding which can average anywhere between a huge £15,000 and a staggering £25,000.

A basic ceremony onboard a P&O cruise ship starts from £948, once optional extras have been added on, such as a photographer, the average cost is coming in at a modest £5000 – this including the honeymoon cruise. When you compare this to the traditional wedding, you’re looking at paying under a third of the cost, excluding the honeymoon.

Cost is a particular issue because although couples who are marrying again tend to be older and therefore may be better off than they were the first time around, they are also likely to be stumping up the entire cost themselves. Infact, wedding planners at P&O Cruises have disclosed that the payment almost always comes from the couples themselves, and there is no evidence that the fathers bride is coughing up the funds for a second time, this is also true of the one in four couples for whom the wedding is the first time.

A further interesting find was that there has been a distinct shift northwards in those couples choosing to marry onboard. Southampton, P&O Cruises’ home port, has always been a winner for those in the South for the convenience, but statistics have shown that in comparison to 2006 where 44% of all P&O Cruise’s wedding couples came from Southern England, and just 30% from Northern England, 2007 saw a complete turnaround with 59% coming from the North and just 30% from the south.

Couples marrying onboard tend to be younger than the typical passenger, with an average groom age of 45, and brides averaging 41. The youngest couple of all those tying the knot in 2007 was just 21, with the oldest being a groom of 87 marrying his bride who was 74 years old, who said romance was dead..?!

Aside from the lower cost, the incorporated honeymoon and the magic of tying the knot at sea, there is a final, rarely admitted plus point which makes running away to sea a very tempting option for many couples. Weddings held in the UK often have huge guest lists filled with people you feel you should invite, but don’t necessarily want to invite! We’ve all got a relative or “friend” out there who could potentially put a downer on your day, whether it’s the dress, the flowers or even your future husband they have taken a dislike to, a wedding at sea can save you all this bother.

In 2006, the average guest party size was 6, with a rise to 8 in 2007. This increase may be due to booking discounts offered to groups of 10 or more. Out of all the couples marrying onboard, nearly half of them choose to invite no one at all, and the largest guest list was seen in 2007, where the ceremony was performed infront of a record 67 friends and relatives.

Unless the lucky couple are extremely generous and decide to pay for their guests, the etiquette for inviting friends and family to a wedding at sea is for the couple to send invites to their proposed guests, with information included on how they can book and pay for the cruise, if they decide to join the couple onboard.

One of the requirements of modern day life is to take periodic breaks and go on vacations which would break the monotony of life and relieve one from the daily grind of unforgiving itinerary. No wonder going on break is one exercise everyone looks forward to. An activity which was always greatly in demand but which has reached a new high in recent times, thanks mainly to the growing work pressure amongst people. Talking about holidays one place that is hugely in demand is Mexico. Indeed, Mexico holidays is one vacation that everyone seems to be eager about but no one seems to have enough of it.

Now, the question that arises is that what is it that makes Mexico such a hotspot for traveling enthusiasts. Well, answer to this is very simple. The very experience of being in Mexico is an experience that only people who have enjoyed being in Mexico can only reveal. Visitors are immediately taken up by the carnival atmosphere in Mexico. A place that guarantees fun and frolic is how Mexico can be defined.

Home to some of the most stunning locations, Mexico is home to several stunningly beautiful natural scenes which leave the visitors spell bound and gasping for more. Then again it is not that Mexico has only natural beauty to its credit for the place also has great potential for night birds. Replete with outstanding casinos, pubs, bars, discos etc. the place is heaven for night crawlers. A place like Mexico which is so full of attractions for tourists is bound to be on the top of the wish list of people.

And if the present day popularity is anything to go by then one can be rest assured that coming days would see the popularity of Mexico Holidays being taken to another level.

Though the inaugural Singapore Grad Prix is scheduled to be held this year in September, Singapore has long been a part of Automobile racing dating back to 1960s in the racing history. From 1960s to 1970s Singapore held Grand Prix races in its Thomson Road Circuit. It started out as the “Orient Year Grand Prix” though after one year it was renamed as Malaysian Grand Prix. Only after two years, Singapore de-merged with Malaysia and gained independence in 1965. The Grand Prix was renamed Singapore Grand Prix and continued its races for about 7 more years before it ceased due to a number of reasons.

The FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix which is named after its main sponsor Singapore Telecommunications is scheduled to start off on 28th September. The event has sparked much enthusiasm in the racing community due to a number of reasons. The competition will be first of its kind as it will be the first street race in Asia and the first ever night race for Formula 1. Apart from the thrill and excitement the night race concept will also be a great solution for live broadcasting as it will be convenient timing especially for in European audiences.
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Siloso Beach on Singapore’s famed Sentosa Island is the ultimate hangout for beach bums from all over the world. Siloso Beach lies on the west portion of the southern coast and it is known as the place for beach volleyball and other outdoor activities such as canoeing, skim boarding, mountain biking or rollerblading. The beach is also pet friendly; dogs are allowed to swim in the waters.There are also dining and shopping outlets along the beach. The Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort is located at the western end of Siloso Beach.

The beach is marketed by Sentosa Island as Singapore’s hippest beach and it certainly lives up to its marketing tag line. There are usually a number of fun filled events, concerts and parties organized on Siloso Beach all year round, with a special year end mega party on December 31st that features high powered pyrotechnics at twelve midnight.
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