photo credit: Ivan C

It’s hard to believe that as recently as the 1980s Ayia Napa in Cyprus was just a sleepy fishing village. I can only imagine what the local inhabitants who were born here make of their town today. It’s not that I have a problem with thriving holiday resorts or that I object to young people having a good time, I was a young myself once and really appreciated the cheap package flights to party destinations. But it must just be completely bizarre to have grown up in a sleepy village with hardly anyone around, where you know all the inhabitants by name, and then to see your village grow into many winding streets of bars and nightclubs where the music plays at full volume from eight in the evening well into the early hours. I wonder how a village evolves into such a different beast?

The funny thing about exotic tropical vacations is that, more than any other type of vacation they seem to be completely polarizing. A trip that could reinvigorate one man and send him back to his job with new found purpose and a stack of photos could just as easily spell doom for another man who actually believes he can hear the sound of his soul being sucked out as he’s forced to sit and endure relaxation. I tend to fall squarely in the second category but I think this may also be an age thing. As I’ve grown older (ever so slowly and always against my will) and continued to travel at every given opportunity I’ve notice that occasionally sitting down and listening to the waves gently lap against the white sand while watching the sun set beyond the infinite horizon isn’t always a bad thing…in fact, every once in a while it’s actually kind of pleasant. It will be interesting to see if twenty or thirty years from now when I’m in my early thirties (I age slowly) if I’ll be playing for the other team.

I’m sitting here right now in California in the middle of a heat wave/thunderstorm trying to relive my all time favorite vacations when suddenly my thoughts turn more specifically to the best tropical islands…and then that morphs into something completely different. Now I can’t stop thinking about how much itineraries are awful. How does that relate to tropical islands? I’ve had my fair share of tropical vacations and nothing ruins a trip to paradise faster than a well laid plan. I don’t want to spend my lunch hour at some trendy chain restaurant if I’m already sitting by the beach enjoying the unbeatable scenery in perfect serenity, and I sure as hell don’t want to waste my time in a car driving from one appointment after another when I could just as easily be eating a fresh papaya beneath a waterfall in a rainforest lagoon. Color me crazy but if I’m going out of my way to find a place to relax then that’s what I’m going to do and no calendar of events is going to be able to stop me.

A multi centre holiday or twin centre holiday as it is sometimes known allows the traveller to take in two or more destinations on the one trip. Thes types of holidays can be booked in advance with your travel agent (usually a luxury holiday specialist).

photo credit: origine1

A multi centre holiday really lets you see more of a country while taking the uncertainty out of arriving in a new place with no hotel booked. Everything to do with accommodation and travel is arranged prior to the beginning of the holiday. Trips or excursions can also be booked in advance to ensure your holiday is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

Popular multi centre destinations are Egypt, Italy, the USA, Dubai and Thailand to name a few. If you can afford it, this type of holiday can be truly sensational.

Oberammergau is a quaint town with many murals. The Oberammergau hotels are located close to many of the cities murals. The religious murals are on exterior and interior walls of many homes, restaurants, and buildings in this picturesque community. I spend hours walking the city with my camera. Oberammergau is famous for the Passion Plays that are enacted every ten years. The whole community looks like it has stopped in time, both the residents and the scenery is very reminiscent of years gone past. Many of the artistic renditions are religious. The biblical interpretations express designs depicting many of the bible stories we recognize immediately. The murals have bold and vibrant colors that make the viewer look at the whole image. Walking the community gives the walker the feeling that they know each of the 5,000 inhabitants.

The honeymoon is a great time where you get to connect one on one with your new spouse. You are away from normal life and get to relax and simply enjoy one another. Tahiti is a popular honeymoon location because of its beautiful and exotic location, the warm sunshine and beautiful beaches, the relaxing atmosphere, and the activities and sights that Tahiti is famous for. So, when it comes to choosing a Tahiti honeymoon package where do you begin?

Start with how long you can be away and how much you can afford. Both of these questions should be answered before you begin searching for a package that you will enjoy. If you have both of these down in firm numbers it will also be easier for you to look at packages that are realistic to you and you are less likely to fall in love with the “perfect” honeymoon that you just can’t afford.

All inclusive packages are going to be easiest to work with. However you will want to make sure that you read all the fine print and you prepare for anything that might not be included (many packages offer breakfast and dinner, but not lunch). Next look for where you would stay, what you would eat, and the activities that might be included. Many packages include activities such as snorkeling, spa treatments, shows, and boat trips.

Choosing your Tahiti honeymoon package isn’t going to be easy. With so many wonderful things to do and so little time to get it all done you may feel overwhelmed. But choose how much time you can spend, how much money you can spend, and what you want to do most.