Central America Travel

Belize, Central America - Travel and Tourism Information  You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Belize, Central America > Belize, Central America - Travel and Tourism Information Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors Image Courtesy of NURP Stay up to date! Image Courtesy of NURP Email to a friend Print this page Related Belize Resources Belize Online Resources Explore More of Belize Belize Accommodations Photos of Belize Maya Ruins in Belize Recent Discussions Travelling to Central/South America? Multi-Destination Flights Sport Fishing Charters Most Popular Mexican Music La Paz, Mexico Quinceanera Packing List Tijuana, Mexico What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Related Topics California for Visitors South America for Visitors Caribbean for Visitors Mexican Cuisine Belize, Central America From Apply Now , Your Guide to Mexico / Central America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Coral reefs, tropical cayes, Maya ruins, exotic wildlife and more Belize (formerly known as British Honduras) is located on Central America's Caribbean coast, bordering Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea ( see map ). Although it is a small country of only about 8,800 square miles (about the size of New Hampshire), the country has many beautiful natural venues and interesting historical sites. In particular, Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, a number of lush tropical rain forests, picturesque mountains fed by rivers and waterfalls, exotic wildlife, and many fascinating Maya archeological sites. Belize is unique among the countries of Central America, inasmuch as the official language is English, rather than Spanish. Further, Belize's principal ethnic group is black Creole, rather than Spanish or mestizo. The country has a population of just over 200,000 - making it the most sparsely populated country in Central America. The climate is subtropical, with an annual mean daily temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The breezes from the Caribbean Sea have a refreshing cooling effect, and help to offset the humidity - at least in the coastal areas. The following briefly describes some the main visitor attractions in Belize: Belize Barrier Reef The Belize Barrier Reef is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. This reef lies parallel to the coast of Belize, and stretches about 180 miles in a north to south direction. The Belize Barrier Reef is widely regarded as one of the world's best diving and snorkeling sites. The water on this reef is calm and clear with water visibility usually reaching about 100 feet. The water temperature remains at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the year. The reef is home to about 375 species of fish and about 60 types of coral. Just beyond the main reef are three "atolls" - very large oval shaped formations of coral. In close proximity to the reef can be found a number of marine reserves, including Laughing Bird Caye National Park and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve . These reserves are well worth a visit for those interested in marine ecology. In addition to diving and snorkeling, the reef is also a great location for water skiing, wind surfing, fishing or just plain swimming. Ambergris Caye Ambergris Caye , the largest of the more than 200 cayes (islands) located on Belize's northern coastline, lies just west of the Belize Barrier Reef . This narrow island is about 25 miles long and is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in Belize. Ambergris Caye , with its lush vegetation, pleasing climate and pristine white beaches, is the " Isla Bonit a" (Beautiful Island) referred to by Madonna in her popular song of the same name. Because it lies less than a mile from the barrier reef, Ambergris Caye attracts large numbers of scuba divers and snorkelers. However, many other activities are popular here, including windsurfing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, nature walks, visits to nearby Maya ruins, and more. The small town of San Pedro , located in the south part of Ambergris Caye , has numerous restaurants specializing in fresh seafood, as well as authentic Belizean cuisine. Street vendors serve inexpensive freshly made tacos and a variety of delicious grilled meats. San Pedro has several bars and discos, night beach parties (which are open to all), and a number of cultural festivals held on various days throughout the year. The town also has numerous small shops which sell a variety of handicrafts made by local artisans, including pottery, paintings and some truly beautiful coral and silver jewelry. Ambergris Caye has many deluxe resorts and condominiums available for visitors, but budget accommodation is not difficult to arrange. Photo image of coral barrier reef courtesy of OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP) - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 1 2 Next        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico

Air Travel May Double

Bloomberg.com: Latin America Updated: New York: Dec 28 17:46 London: Dec 28 22:46 Tokyo: Dec 29 07:46 US AU BZ FP GR HK IM JP LN SM IND : Regions Top Worldwide Regions Asia Australia & New Zealand Canada Europe Germany Japan Latin America U.K. U.S. Markets Economy/Politics Commentary Sports Culture Bloomberg RSS RESOURCES: Bloomberg TV Bloomberg Radio Markets Latin America E-Mail This Story Printer-Friendly Format Venezuelan Economy Grew 9.4 Percent in 2005, Fueled by Government Spending Codelco Union Workers Delay Strike at Chile Copper Mines for Wage Talks Brazilian Central Bank Expects 4 Percent Growth in 2006, Faster Inflation Mexican Air Travel May Double in 3 Years on Discounts (Update2) Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Mexico is preparing for domestic airtravel to double in as few as three years, predicting newdiscount airlines such as Interjet will pull 20 millionpassengers off the bus, the country's aviation chief said. Interjet, the first low-cost carrier to begin service fromthe Mexico City area, introduced fares this month that beatpremium bus travel. Almost 40 million people annually travel 400kilometers or more on buses equipped with televisions, airconditioning, and washrooms between cities served by airports,said Gilberto Lopez Meyer, Mexico's civil aviation director. ``We can double the number of domestic air passengers ifhalf these people begin flying,'' Lopez Meyer said in aninterview in Mexico City on Dec. 20. The first discount fares introduced in Mexico areencouraging, he said. Mexico City-based Interjet, one of fivestartup projects, began flying four routes on Dec. 5 with pricesthat are as little as a quarter of those charged by the nation'slargest airlines, Mexicana and Aeromexico. They can be cheaper than the bus, too. Traveling to thebeach resort of Cancun from Mexico City on a luxury bus run byAutobuses ADO costs 1,284 pesos ($120) and takes up to 23.5hours. Interjet's fares to Cancun from the Toluca airport, 69kilometers from downtown Mexico City, start at 1,205 pesos,including taxes. The flight is two hours long. A round-trip ticket to Guadalaraja from Toluca can be ascheap as 1,144 pesos on Interjet, compared with 5,145 pesoscharged by Mexicana or Aeromexico. ``I hope these prices are here to stay,'' Lopez Meyer said.``If the discount fares are on average 50 percent cheaper thanthe legacy carriers, we'll have achieved our goal.'' Temporary Subsidies Avolar Lineas Aereas SA began flying from the northern cityof Tijuana to four towns in September. Another two carriersprobably will start operations by June, Lopez Meyer said. One issponsored by Mexican billionaires Carlos Slim and EmilioAzcarraga and the other is backed by Brazil's Gol Lineas AereasInteligentes SA. Mexico is Latin America's second-largest aviation marketafter Brazil, with 20 million passengers a year. To help lower fares, the Mexican government is expandingairport capacity and giving the startup carriers temporarysubsidies on services such as fuel delivery that reduceoperating costs by about 10 percent, Lopez Meyer said.Passengers get 50 percent off on airport tax when flying fromsecondary airports. Competitor Reaction Interjet, owned by the son and grandson of former MexicanPresident Miguel Aleman, can break even in a year by maintainingthe current fare structure so long as the planes fly 65 percentfull, Chief Executive Officer Jose Luis Garza said in aninterview in Mexico City. The carrier has a five-class faresystem with a 50-peso difference between them, he said. The Alemans spent $230 million to buy seven Airbus SAS'sA320 from insolvent Italian airline Volare Group SpA and putdown $60 million in equity capital to start Interjet, Garzasaid. Interjet placed firm orders for 10 new Airbus planes andhas options to buy another 10, which would demand investments of$1.2 billion, he said. Interjet has no debt. Reacting to increasing competition, Mexicana and Aeromexicointroduced promotional fares and expanded service to Toluca.Government-owned Aeromexico began flying to the industrial cityof Monterrey from Toluca on Dec. 14 for as little as 822 pesos.At Interjet, fares to Monterrey start at 745 pesos. ``I can make money at this price, but they can't,'' saidGarza, who served as chief financial officer of Aeromexicobetween 1988 and 1990. Airline Sale Discount airlines reduce investor interest in theprivatization auction for Mexicana and Aeromexico last month.The government sold just Mexicana and rejected bids forAeromexico, saying they were too low. Grupo Posadas SA, Mexico'slargest hotel chain, bought Mexicana for $165.5 million plusassumption of $1.27 billion in debt. Shares of Cintra SA, the holding company for Mexicana andAeromexico, tumbled 20 percent the day after the bids wereplaced Nov. 21 and another 18 percent in the three daysfollowing the auction results were announced Nov. 30. Thegovernment plans to put Aeromexico on the block again in early2006. ``We couldn't artificially halt the entry of the low-costairlines because of the sale of Cintra,'' Lopez Meyer said. ``Ifthere's interest in new carriers and all the requirements aremet, we have to issue a license by law.'' To contact the reporter on this story:Adriana Arai at aarai1@bloomberg.net Last Updated: December 23, 2005 13:57 EST ©2005 Bloomberg L.P. All rights reserved. Terms of Service Privacy Policy Trademarks Site Map Help Feedback About Bloomberg Log In/Register Advertising ??????

Japan Travel

Japan Vacations & Tourism, Japan Hotels, Japan Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase Japan: Search Travel Travel > Guides > Asia > Japan Email this page Print Japan Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of Japan Top Cities in Japan Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Nagoya Yokohama Fukuoka Nagasaki Sapporo Hiroshima Okinawa Narita Chiba Kobe Hakone Nara Nikko See all cities in Japan View larger image At Tokyo station, waiting for the bullet train, we watched as everyone bought boxed lunches ( obento in Japanese). So we bought one too. It was inviting: The map on the cover suggested each of the foods inside had been harvested in a different part of Japan -- white radishes from the far west, salmon roe from the far northeast, eel from the south coast. We saw it … Read More Popular Japan Hotels Tokyo The Westin Tokyo ANA Hotel Tokyo Park Hyatt Tokyo Century Hyatt Tokyo Imperial Hotel Osaka Swissotel Nankai, Osaka The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka Hotel New Otani Osaka Miyako Hotel Tennoji Imperial Hotel Osaka Kyoto RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto The Westin Miyako Kyoto International Hotel Kyoto Hotel Granvia Kyoto Hiiragiya Ryokan Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel Nagoya Hilton Nagoya ANA Hotel Grand Court Nagoya Tokyu Inn Nagoya Sakae Nagoya Tokyu Hotel Yokohama Yokohama Royal Park Hotel Rose Hotel Yokohama Sheraton Yokohama Bay Hotel & Towers InterContinental The Grand Yokohama Hotel New Grand Fukuoka Grand Hyatt Fukuoka Nishitetsu Grand Hotel Sea Hawk Hotel & Resort Hyatt Regency Fukuoka ANA Hotel Hakata Nagasaki Best Western Premier Nagasaki Hotel Holiday Inn Nagasaki Hotel JAL City Nagasaki Hotel New Tanda Nagasaki Washington Hotel Sapporo Sapporo Grand Hotel ANA Hotel Sapporo Washington Hotel I Sheraton Sapporo Hotel Phoenician Plaza Hotel Related Information Popular Attractions in Japan Kiyomizudera Ueno Park Tokyo Tower Osaka Aquarium Odori Park Asakusa Shrine Maruyama Zoo National Museum of Modern Art- Crafts Gallery Shinjuku Gyoen Universal Studios Japan Popular Hotels in Japan The Westin Tokyo ANA Hotel Tokyo Park Hyatt Tokyo Century Hyatt Tokyo Imperial Hotel RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto Hotel Keio Plaza Tokyo Swissotel Nankai, Osaka Grand Hyatt Fukuoka Nishitetsu Grand Hotel Popular Cities in Japan Tokyo Osaka Kyoto Nagoya Yokohama Fukuoka Nagasaki Sapporo Hiroshima Okinawa Yahoo! Travel: Your best choice for cheap airline tickets and other great deals! Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .

Vacation Rentals: Location Search

Vacation Rentals - Vacation Homes, Villas, Condos by Owner Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Search Find Vacation Rentals: Location Search Amenities Search Advanced Search Search by Listing Number Show: Most Popular Rentals Newest Rental Listings Featured Vacation Rentals Property Owners: List Your Vacation Rental Owner Login Vacation Rentals World Wide Find your ideal vacation rental directly through the owner! We offer thousands of vacation homes for rent across the world directly from their owner or agent. VacationSpaces.com advertises accommodations in beach condos, villas, mountain cabins, and cottages to meet your vacation plans. Whether you are looking for a beach condo rental along the beautiful emerald beaches of Panama City Beach, a cabin rental in Gatlinburg, a ski chalet in South Lake Tahoe, or a villa rental near Orlando or Disney, VacationSpaces.com has the vacation home for you! Select a destination below, find the vacation home of your choice, and book it directly through the owner! Luxurious Condo Rental in Lely Resort Saratoga Golfer's Paradise! 2 BR/2 BA Luxury Alabama Idaho Minnesota North Dakota Utah Alaska Illinois Mississippi Ohio Vermont Arizona Indiana Missouri Oklahoma Virginia Arkansas Iowa Montana Oregon Washington California Kansas Nebraska Pennsylvania Washington DC Colorado Kentucky Nevada Puerto Rico West Virginia Connecticut Louisiana New Hampshire Rhode Island Wisconsin Delaware Maine New Jersey South Carolina Wyoming Florida Maryland New Mexico South Dakota Georgia Massachusetts New York Tennessee Hawaii Michigan North Carolina Texas Your listing includes: 3 MONTHS FREE WITH NEW ANNUAL PAID LISTING! * Guaranteed Results! ** Great Price: Starting at $39.95/quarter or $99/year. Toll free support and easy online management! More Photos: Up to 12 photos for a fraction of the cost of some other sites! No hidden fees! Unlimited updates to your listing and photos for no additional cost! List your vacation rental now! More Features... Customer Testimonials... Listing Fees... Frequently Asked Questions... LIST YOUR RENTAL NOW VacationSpaces.com can help you find your vacation rental in the U.S. and across the world. We have vacation homes, condos, villas, cabins, and cottages that are beach front, lake front, ski in/ski out, in your favorite city, and nestled in the mountains. Our vacation rentals are all over the US in locations such as Lake Tahoe and Disney/Orlando , and in countries such as Mexico , Canada , Spain , Costa Rica , and the Bahamas . Find your vacation home now! Kissimmee, Florida Florida Keys, Florida Orlando, Florida Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Walt Disney World Hilton Head Island, South Carolina North Lake Tahoe Panama City Beach, Florida South Lake Tahoe Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Lake Tahoe, California Cancun, Mexico San Diego, California Cozumel, Mexico Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania Barbados Costa Rica Honolulu, Hawaii St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Miami Beach, Florida Breckenridge, Colorado Destin, Florida Maui, Hawaii Anguilla Grenada St. Barthelemy Antigua Guadeloupe St. Eustatius Aruba Guyana St. Kitts and Nevis Bahamas Haiti St. Lucia Barbados Jamaica St. Maarten Bermuda Martinique St. Vincent/Grenadines Bonaire Montserrat Trinidad & Tobago Cayman Islands Netherlands Antilles Turks & Caicos Curacao Puerto Rico Venezuela Dominica Roatan/Bay Islands Virgin Islands Dominican Republic Saba All Vacation Rentals © 2003 Terms Privacy Web Partners Disclaimer VacationSpaces.com is one of the largest and easiest tools to find vacation lodging on the web.We hope to become the official source for vacation homes, villas, beach condos, and mountain cabins by owner for the independent traveler looking for low cost accommodations anywhere in the world. We'll help you find a vacation rental for your next trip today!

Hotel Travel

MobiSys 2004 - The Second International Conference on Mobile Systems, Applications, and Services, June, 2004 Conference Hotel Why should you stay in the headquarter hotel? We encourage you to stay in the conference hotel and when making your reservation to identify yourself as a MobiSys conference attendee. It is by contracting rooms for our attendees that we can significantly reduce hotel charges for meeting room rental. And, when the sleeping rooms are not utilized, we face significant financial penalties. As a result, these penalties force us to ultimately raise registration fees. We recognize, however, that not everyone can afford to stay in the conference hotel so we always try to book venues that have some low-cost alternatives available nearby the conference. With costs going higher and higher, we are working very hard to negotiate the very best hotel rates and keep other conference expenses down in order to keep registration fees as low as possible. We appreciate you helping us in this endeavor. Hyatt Harborside 101 Harborside Drive Boston, Massachusetts 02128 USA Tel: +1 617 568 1234 Fax: +1 617 567 8856 Please make your reservation as soon aspossible by contacting the hotel directly. You must mention ACMMobiSys'04 to get the special group rate. You may book your room online at the hotel Web site . Conference Rate over the conference dates: Single/Double : $149.00 Hyatt Harborside is located at the edge of Boston Harbor, on the grounds of Logan International Airport, overlooking the city's skyline and waterfront. Adjacent to the downtown Water Taxi dock, our Boston harbor hotel is just 7 minutes to downtown Boston's famous landmarks, including the financial and entertainment districts and historical areas. Other Nearby Hotels Hilton at Boston's Logan Airport: Selling for $189 over conference dates. Phone number : 617-568-6700. Embassy Suites at Boston's Logan Airport: Selling for$189 over conference dates. Phone number : 617-567-5000.