Jibacoa - Cuba's Holiday Relaxation Hot Spot

Relaxation, peace and quiet are very much the watchwords of Cuba's reputation as being an exotic holiday hotspot, but as more and more people hear about it, the less and less relaxing it gets! It's a bit of a catch-22, but as more and more people are heading on Cuba holidays to the likes of Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Varadero, it becomes less and less relaxing. Fortunately, there are still some hidden gems on the island that are clear of the hustle and bustle of tourist life.

My pick of these places is the calm resort of Jibacoa in Cuba. If you're thinking of booking into a hotel in Varadero or Havana, consider these selling points first - you might just have a change of heart:

1) The peace and quiet

Jibacoa, Cuba, is the very definition of a quiet resort. It's beautifully tranquil - just you and a handful of other visitors enjoying the sunshine and the wonderfully calm atmosphere. It's something of a hidden gem, so you shouldn't have to compete too much against other Cuba holiday makers. In particular, party animals and families with noisy young children have no interest in the place so won't be on hand in Jibacoa's hotels to disturb you. It really is the best place on the island to unwind from the stresses of modern life.

2) Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Just a little way off the shore is Jibacoa's coral reef, making this an unforgettable place to snorkel and scuba dive. If you have access to an underwater camera, bring it along, because the quantity of tropical sea life beneath the surface is simply astounding, and the kind of thing you do not want to forget in a hurry. If you have no experience of either snorkeling or diving, you will have to pass a test - but there are facilities at the Jibacoa resort to prove you have what it takes to the instructor. It may seem like a lot of hassle for a 'relaxing resort', but you'll thank me as soon as you get an eyeful of the beauty beneath the waves!

3) Beach

It should be enough to tell you that residents of Havana take the 60km journey to Jibacoa resort's beach to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If it's good enough for the locals, then it is good enough for you. A small secluded beach that is the perfect antidote to the chaos of Varadero's miles of sands. Here, it's just you, the white sands, then sun and crisp blue water as far as the eye can see.

4) Markets

If you ever tire of the beach and blissful relaxation (what's wrong with you?!), you may wish to venture from your hotel to Jibacoa's old town. The sight that will greet you is a street market stretching off into the distance. For shopoholics, the 15 Mile Market is an attraction to the area in itself, and here you'll be able to buy everything you could want, from jewelry, to leather goods to keepsakes and crafts. With so many stalls to see, its well worth coming over for a couple of visits.

5) Easy Access to Havana

Perhaps the main reason people don't choose resorts off the beaten track is because they want to have access to the bigger cities, but Havana is just a 33 miles away from the Jibacoa resort! This is close enough to allow you to enjoy the bright lights of the city, but able to return to your tranquil Jibacoa hotel when it becomes too much like the busyness of everyday life.

Sure, it's not the perfect Cuba holiday destination for party animals, who would be better served with Varadero's delights (though there are places to stay out all night should you wish for a break from the relentless calm!), but for everyone who likes an ocean of calm in their hectic lives - be they couples, families or singles - the beach of Jibacoa, Cuba, is simply an unbeatable solution.

Tips for a better holiday dive

Tips for better scuba diving holidays to a variety of destinations. Find out about scuba diving holiday accommodation within close proximity to some of the best dive sites around the world. Get expert advice from experienced divers, from locations where you can explore a relatively 'new' and previously unseen world beneath the oceans and get much closer to the sea-bed than you ever thought possible.
A stay in scuba diving holiday holiday rentals enables you to explore the underwater world and to enjoy the sight of coral reefs, or the playful "Nemo" Clown Fish and other colourful tropical fish. In the Far East, Thailand offers some excellent diving in the islands around Phuket and further offshore in the Andaman Sea. In the U.A.E. around Dubai and Sharjah, the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf have wrecks teaming with Angelfish and Snapper!
In the Mediterranean there is something for everyone from Spain, Italy, Greek islands, Turkey, Sardinia and also Majorca to Malta and Croatia to Cyprus. Just around the corner, scuba diving in Canary Islands offers some surprisingly good diving with their volcanic origins evident in the underwater landscapes. Heading West; some locations like Stuart Cove's in Nassau, offer fish feeding experiences of Sting Rays and Reef Sharks as added attractions, whilst other dive sites in the Caribbean, such as the Cayman Islands, (Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac) are well known for close encounters with turtles or dolphins.
However, there are also wrecks both old and new to explore; some with an unknown history behind their sinking and others with a story to tell. Barbados has a long history as a port, with many easy wrecks to dive in Carlisle Bay, or the SS Stavronikita a.k.a. "The Stav." sunk in the marine park on the West coast and is now a home to many fish and soft corals. There is also the attraction - however unlikely - of diving a previously undiscovered wreck and discovering treasure! For many SCUBA divers, wreck diving offers the best of both worlds as they effectively become artificial reefs and become a home to reef fish, soft corals and sponges.
Explore the alternative types of Scuba diving holiday accommodation specific to locations, check out reviews and reports - by region - from around the world before your trip. The basic SCUBA qualification is the Open Water Diver course, where you study both the theory and learn the skills needed to safely enjoy the sport. Then it's off to Open Water to demonstrate your competence and comfort to qualify for your "C" (certification) card.
It is possible to do the Open Water course during your holiday, but getting the qualification before you travel leaves you free to enjoy your vacation. Once you've qualified, there are many specialties available to help such as 'Dive Horizons' who can help you enhance your underwater experiences. Like many adventure activities it is also important to keep your skills up to date, so if you're thinking of looking for scuba diving holiday rentals, taking a refresher session in the pool is a good way to prepare for your trip.

Reference : www.thaisabuy.com

A holiday home in Maui for the best diving and snorkeling!

Maui is Great! Vacation rentals Maui bring you the best scuba diving adventures! The scuba diving off of Maui's Southwest coast is one of my very favorite locations. In particular, the famous Molokini marine sanctuary, a partially sunken volcano crater, is a magnet for marine life. Its backside is a vertical wall that drops to 300', and its interior offers nice sloping ridges that run from snorkeling depth down to 130' plus. There are also great dive sites along the coast off Wailea, many of which are deep like the 110' "battleship" site (it's not a wreck.)

How it Works:

Most of the scuba operators launch their dive boats from the Kihei Boat Ramp near Maui condo rentals each morning. The ramp is on the South side of Kihei just North of Wailea. There is a public parking lot there that fills up pretty fast, so get there early. You'll see most dive boats getting setup to launch between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Some operators may want you to come to their dive shop first, while others will just meet you at the ramp. Most operators get back by noon or 1:00 p.m.

Choosing a Dive Operator:

Which operator you choose should depend mainly on your experience level. Some operators like "Mike Severns" and "Ed Robinson's" cater to the very experienced scuba diver. They typically take up to a dozen divers at a time, often diving in two groups (each led by a dive master.) dives are often the initial 130 ', and a dive computer is a must to maximize time-to-multi-level floor. Pauline Fiene, a marine biologist with over 20 years of experience diving off the coast of Maui is running, "Mike Severns. Their knowledge of the unique species, which is huge only in Hawaii, and you can wait to show it to you personally ( as Divemaster) on every other day. The rest of the team is great as well. They really understand customer service andagain, cater to the highly experienced divers. Note that dives along the back wall of Molokini are "drift dives" with a slight current.

Lesser experienced divers might want to choose operators like "Maui Dive Shop" or "Scuba Shack". These folks are more conservative and will make you feel more comfortable if you're a new diver or have been out of the water for a while. First dives often start inside the Molokini crater and follow a 50' to 70' profile.

What Does It Cost?

Scuba diving in Maui is generally more expensive than other places in the Caribbean (like everything else.) For a day and two dives person can run from $ 100 to $ 125 per person and three-tank "Adventure" dives to $ 160th Most of the operators have only small discounts, if applicable, for packages over several days. As usual, it is appropriate to tip the crew, as has been your delight.

When is the best time to travel?

End of January to March is the peak ofthe "high season" because of the Humpback Whale migration there. It's rare to see a whale while you're underwater, but every scuba trip is a whale watching trip as well. While diving, you can hear the whales singing very clearly. Water temperatures in the winter are about 74 degrees F, so a 5mm to 7mm wet suit is a must.

Vacation Tips:

If your trip to Maui is centered around scuba diving, stay at a Maui vacation rental on the south side of Kihei. There are lots of accommodations across the street and just north of the boat ramp - just get in touch with us for the latest information and best deals. If you're staying in Lahaina or further north, expect to get up at 4:30 a.m. to make it to Kihei on time. To relax after diving, drive south and check out McKenna Beach (aka "Big Beach") or the adjacent and infamous "Little Beach" (if you have the nerve.)

Holiday on the island of St. John

For vacationers who want to escape the pace of life is faster, there's snorkeling, diving and sailing on St. John. If not just absorb the rays of the sun, visitors can swim in shallow waters of the bay and snorkeling in the company of an occasional turtle and stingray among spectacular, colorful coral. Even north of Cruz Bay, tourists will find one of the nicest shopping streets in the Caribbean, Mongoose Junction.

May I at thissmall island for sunbathing, snorkeling or shopping place, tourists will find many ways to all three and enjoy more on St. John. The island offers fully furnished vacation homes and villas, all with sea view and the breeze, some with swimming pools, hot tubs, and air conditioning. I live near San Giovanni each style villas, holiday luxury and style in their own way, no other accommodations in the Virgin Islands can do what John has come. Whether in the sun on one of theits many beautiful beaches, shopping in downtown areas, tourism, historical sites, participating in local festivals to experience the adventure, enjoy music and sample the cuisine, they have too much free time to fill your days on the island.

There are great things to do, places to see, private beaches, mountain views, romantic top, trips to other islands, snorkeling, island bar, hiking trails, Sunset, and more points. St. John is known today recognized for its pristineBeaches and conservation-minded residents who are committed to preserving the natural and cultural resources of the island.

St.John 's most famous beaches are strung together and lined with palm trees and sea grapes. Visitors have the opportunity to beautiful beaches such as Trunk Bay and Hawks Nest experience. The island has many beautiful beaches, where you see for hours on a tourist can go further. The island is dotted with red roofs, in the gentle curves dashedgreen hill with splendid views of beautiful white sand beaches and crystalline turquoise water.

St. John villas are worthy of note are in Cruz Bay, a thriving city with a wide range of restaurants and bars. From luxury villas to affordable island homes, all with ocean views on offer. St. John villas are often hidden in the most beautiful island, so you feel that you can keep away to your private paradise. St. John's Villas are never tooaway from a good restaurant or a boutique. They are also practical - often the owner of the guardians of the villas you will find at the airport or port, and many also rent a car with a specific length of stay, which lets you explore the island of St. John villas, it feels like you right at home.

St. John is the ideal place for a romantic holiday. Among the most active in the relaxed, it will be hard to find a beautiful island,quiet, less crowded, or one inhabited by friendly people. The landscape is the most beautiful I've ever seen. San Giovanni is a jewel of 'island, and covered with steep mountains in tropical forests, surrounded by white sand beaches and turquoise sea surrounded by beautiful, it makes life very pleasant. San Giovanni in SU Virgin Islands, is by far one of the nicest, friendliest and most beautiful places in the world.