Located in Southeastern Spain, the Mediterranean borders this city that is the second largest city in the region.

The climate is considered one of the finest in the world with an average temperature of 26 degrees C year round. While many visitors come for the festivals and cultural events that are a big attraction to tourists, the mountains, lagoons and animal species are a delightful part of this Spanish area. Islands and beaches are beautiful and worth checking out and not far from the activities inside the city walls.

Archeological sites are also amazing with a past that comes alive with remains from 227 BC still prevalent and well preserved. The Roman Theatre of Cartagena is one such example of how the Romans lived centuries ago. Modern day structures are also appealing with artistic flairs for design and detail. Museums that give an inside view of living during Roman times lets one compare the drastic changes from today.

With so much to see and enjoy in Cartagena, a comfortable place to call home is in order. The holiday apartments and villas that are found throughout the region are a good way to save money on hotel rooms that are small and designed for only sleep. After a long day of sightseeing, swimming or festival activities, the comforting view of a living room, fully equipped kitchen and private bedroom is just what a tired tourist needs. Bring home some fresh vegetables and pastries and kick up your heels in front of a flat screened TV or read your emails while planning out the next day’s adventures.

Modern and contemporary, a holiday apartment will one feel content and safe with surroundings of home. Different types and sizes are available by going online and searching for holiday accommodations that best suit your needs. Enjoy a view of the sea or overlook the grand old city with its landmarks that seem like a dream. Many units have Jacuzzis to enjoy privately and others can accommodate 6-8 people is traveling with a group.

The International Film Festival of Cartagena is a popular event and the oldest in the region where Latin America shows off its cultural heritage to the world. Held in late February or early March each year, this is a perfect time to book your trip. The weather is also awesome during this springtime of year with great daytime weather and not so hot evenings.

If you are looking for variety with culture, history, natural beauty, beaches and fantastic weather, look no further than Cartagena for your next vacation. Decide what area you are most interested in and book your holiday apartment for your length of stay. The setting of a home away from home will make your visit even more special.

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Cheap international flights are not necessarily an easy commodity to come by. While there appear to be frequent sales on domestic routes that will help you to save a great deal of money when traveling domestically, international airfares appear to stay pretty high most of the time. There are, however, things that you can do to save hundreds of dollars on your fare. Consider these tips and you may walk away without having done so much damage to your bank account.

Purchasing a combination deal is always a good idea. Once you have found a suitable flight you should find out if you can get cheap accommodation through your airline. The same goes for if you need to hire a vehicle. If you ended up hiring a vehicle or paying for your combination through your airline you would reduce the total cost of your trip.

It is always a good idea to schedule your trip as loosely as you possibly can. If you are extremely rigid with your departure and return dates then this is going to reduce your chances of saving money. Flexibility is certainly very helpful because it will give you more options.

There are couple of ways in which you can save money by being flexible. First off, there are certain days of the week that are cheaper to travel on. For example, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are cheaper than Saturdays and Sundays. If you choose to travel in the middle of the week, something which necessitates flexibility, you will most likely save money.

In addition to this, you can save money by choosing the right time of your flights as well. If you chose to travel during anti-social hours then such flights would most likely be a lot cheaper. By being flexible you would be able to play around with your flight options and will certainly give yourself a much better chance of saving money.

It is also a good idea to book your flight between 30 days and six weeks in advance. If you book your flight more than six weeks in advance then you will not usually get cheaper options because the airline won’t be worried about unsold seats. If you purchased your ticket less than 30 days before departure then the airline will usually raise prices because they know that travelers will be desperate. Looking for tickets within this zone, therefore, will help you to find the cheapest options available.

Always consider exactly where you’re traveling to. Sometimes you don’t have to travel exactly to your final destination, but could instead travel to a different airport and then make alternative arrangements for the final leg of your trip. For example, if you are traveling to Europe then it is usually a good idea to travel straight to London first.

A final tip is to use coupon codes and to search for discounts and sales. Sometimes airlines run sales, or provide customers with the opportunity to get much cheaper options if they use a coupon. Stay up-to-date with price wars in the airline industry to take advantage of such situations.

One of Canada’s leading sources to find cheap international flights to destinations around the world!

Anchored 300 miles off Africa lies the world’s fourth largest island. It is called “Island of a thousand faces” for its astounding biodiversity with rainforests to barren steppes. Half of the land, protected by national parks, is home to 5% of the world’s plant and animal species. 80%, which are unique only to Madagascar! I’m here to see the emblematic lemurs found no where else on the planet and my favorite tree, the baobab, which looks as if planted upside down with tangles roots high in the air.

I landed to no runway lights to an antiquated airport. Waiting an hour in line for my free visa, I a spotted a pile of moldy luggage that will never see it’s owners. The bank ran out of money to change my dollars. Begging orphans surrounded me and I pondered, half my clients would hate this, the other half would revel in the Third World challenges ahead. I met my team of 7 global tour operators, the grateful “chosen ones” selected for this familiarization trip. I’m the only American and sense they’ve sussed me up to be a diva evident by my bulging bags. I want to shout, “its shoes people and enough tangled IT cords to reach a Starbucks in Cape Town.” We’re all Mada-virgins anxious to squeeze the countries sites into 10 days.

The beginning was totally wasted in the capital Antanarivo, a ghetto of 3 million that looks like little advancement since it’s founding in 1610. No traffic or street lights with Cairo style chaos. Tourism only began in 1984 and is still in its infancy. Only 146 hotels in the country. We were made to inspect about 40 properties this trip which is always as dull as paint by number, but we know it’s a necessary task before we send groups to any unseen destination. Some “no tell motels” were minus stars where “rustic charm” means having no pillows or sharing one towel.

Others up north were truly deluxe, new resorts that made me want to linger. In Antanarivo, each time we stopped, our van was surrounded with hungry children. A teenage boy tried to sell me a puppy through the window for a dollar. I then had reservations about selling this destination, until we headed into the lush interior.

We drove 5 hours past duck farms and rice paddies into the highlands. Everything bloomed in the vanilla scented air. There are 19,000 flora species and 1100 orchid varieties here. It presents an artist’s palate of nature with an explosion of color. Poinsettias were so red they looked inflamed. We made a surprise visit to a school with no roof (all I could give was dollars which the children disappointingly looked at as Monopoly money.)

After lunch of fresh fried frog legs, we visited a reptile sanctuary of crocs, snakes, bats, geckos and other endemic species. This is the land of giant chameleons. Hundreds of them camouflaged themselves from dull brown to brilliant neon colors. I love these herbivores. My inner child so wanted to take one as a pet.

We overnighted in Andasibe National Park, a primary rainforest famous for birding. Our thatched huts were about as lux as a Girl Scout Camp. The verdant jungle setting however was breathtaking. We did a guided night hike in search of nocturnal creatures. My headlamp only revealed frogs, a biblical plague of frogs. What was way-cool was the noise, a cacophony of eerie calls that sounded like Muslim women wailing at a funeral, in surround sound. These were the Indri Indri, largest of lemur species.

For once, I enjoyed being a group member where I could leave my brain neatly packed in my carry-on and simply follow. And I was assigned a roommate named Louise, a young tour operator from Windhoek. She loved that I called her Miss Namibia. Each night was a slumber party with maps spread over our beds. We boasted passport stamps, swapped stories and planned killer itineraries. Together we dreamed. To share and share alike was a great life lesson for me in tolerance, open mindedness and loving kindness. We grew to adore each other and plan to meet in Mozambique 2012.

At 7am, I opened one eye to find a turquoise lizard on my pillow. It was a God-shot of gratitude that prompted me to realign my sour attitude of those past few days.

Time for another hike. I asked my guide if I’d see a baobab. He replied, “No but it will be lemur mania.” We learned about medicinal plants and then canoed over to Lemur Island. What a delight this refuge is. Countless happy lemurs leapt from tree to tree and gently jumped on our shoulders. Unlike greedy baboons, these are timid trusting animals with fur as soft as mink.

Most were abandoned as pets and have names. Vincent (Van Gough) was missing an ear. When I revealed a banana, it was like kids at a pinata party. King Julian wrapped his body around my neck. His huge eyeballs looked longingly into mine saying please. Delicately, he peeled this banana with 5 dexterous fingers. I looked over at Deb smiling with 4 lemurs on her. With a one arm swish, they scattered (unlike our spider monkeys in the Amazon.) Adorable babies clung to mother’s bellies.

There are 55 species. Some live 90 years. Sadly poaching for pets still continues on the black market. These primates rarely survive in captivity. I was profoundly moved by this place and will bring groups. Tourism is vital to support the conservation of lemurs.

We flew north to Diego, charming seaport town that lies on the second largest bay in the world. It’s prettier than Rio. Here I saw twisted baobab trees. A boat tour over to Amber Mountain was stunning. Volcanic mountain ranges burst from the sea, covered in verdant forests and crawling with wildlife.

Our final flight was to the archipelago of Nosy Be with 36 islands scattered over the warm Indian Ocean. It’s a marine haven with thousands of miles of coastline and hundreds of miles of coral reefs. Lined with white powder beaches, this was paradise. No wonder it’s the favored spot for tourists to Madagascar. Our days were spent inspecting hotels and island hopping by speedboats.

Each day we overnighted on a different fun-filled island. First, Nosy Komba where 5000 lemurs roam. We hiked the forest to visit a group of habituated Black Lemurs Wild yet tame, these were even more friendly than the past ones. This is the place to bargain shop for fine handicrafts. On Nosy Be, we reveled in the amenities at Vanilla Resort where I’ll send my groups. Evenings are wicked fun with dancing, grilled lobster and champagne.

We stayed on Sakatia Island, marine reserve carpeted in orchids (no roads, cars, population 300.) An hour boat ride deposited us on Nosy Iranja, a turtle breeding reserve. Here we swam with football-sized Hawksbill turtles and did sea kayaking. Lokobie Island is a protected rainforest reserve crawling with creepy things like chameleons and boa constrictors.

My guide Cannibal wrapped a boa around my neck saying snakes here are handled so much, they are tame. My favorite isle was deserted Tanikely Island known for world class diving. As others dived, it was snorkeling heaven for me. The calm crystal blue water was warm as a bath yet provided shocking visibility. Below was an ocean symphony of corals in vivid living colors and every fish imaginable. I feared the eels. From Sept-Dec here, you can swim with Whale Sharks 35′ to 60′ long!

The last night my roomie and I meticulously planned an escape to defect from hotel visits on our last day. At 7am, we surreptitiously hauled our luggage down a cliff to the bay where our hired dhow awaited. (This traditional wooden vessel with huge sail cost a whopping $25.) Our toothless captain spoke no English, but gave me an assuring smile when I told him “Amarina Ora resort.” Well, he got lost.

This half day adventure turned out to be nothing less than the Amazing Race with insane challenges too countless to list here. 2pm, we finally arrived to our 5 star resort looking like seas urchins. The group would arrive by dinner. Louise and I had our own villa on a private beach. The guests assumed she and I were on our honeymoon which lended great laughs. She got an algae wrap. I splurged on “4 hand massage.”

This trip was what I call a - “Ferrari Safari” as we moved so much my head is still spinning. One could spend a year exploring this big land. Now I know what’s hot, what’s not. With lack of infrastructure in the south (no roads), I designed tours in the lush north and its tropical islands. And I could write pages on facts and scenic beauty, but you can Google this.

I miss Louise who is now designing a perfect Namibia vacation for Adventures For Singles. I also miss the friendly Malagasy people who were grateful to receive us. Broken by poverty, they are generous and possess a spirit of gentility like I’ve never witnessed before, just like lemurs. Wild, untouched Madagascar is like a living time capsule where clocks tick slowly and nature shines her majesty. It’s a perfect escape for relaxation and adventure.

Suzy Davis President, and tour leader of
http://www.adventuresforsingles.com has traveled
the world for nearly 30 years initially as a flight attendant and now with
her company Adventures For Singles.

If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” - James Herriot

Joao was abandoned by a Mozambique circus when he was only 3 years old. He spent the next 44 years poorly caged in a war torn zoo. Here today at age 65, he enjoys being “grandpa” to the infant chimps. He can still do the circus tricks he learned 50 years earlier.

Zac was chained for decades in an Angola bar where he was given alcohol, cigarettes and drugs for laughs. On arrival to Eden, integrating him brought many challenges. He had serious withdrawal symptoms form detoxing cold turkey.

Deep in the heart of South Africa, Jane Goodall’s Chimp Eden is a sanctuary of rebirth for 33 chimps that suffered horrible lives in captivity. After an hour flight from Jo’burg, Terry and I were transferred to Chimp Eden Boutique Lodge set among mango trees in the lush Lebombo Hills. There are only 13 rooms. At off-season, we were the only guests and in a week we never locked our door. The balcony of our luxury suite overlooked the magnificent Drakensburg Mountains.

We are so grateful for this invitation by owner and director Eugene Cussons. He has traveled throughout Africa at a great personal risk to give abused chimps a chance for a meaningful life. He’s convinced that with proper rehabilitation, they can learn the skills necessary to survive in the wild. The success is evident at every turn. Chimps isolated for years in cramped cages now thrive in stable family groups. He moves closer to his goal of returning them to the rainforest where they belong, but there are always setbacks.

Some chimps have been so humanized, they resist their natural instincts. Niki was such a pet. He was totally shaved, forced to wear jeans (and a Rolex) and made to dine at the table with cutlery. As he grew and the owner couldn’t handle him, he spent 10 years in a deplorable zoo. Now at 16, he is the resident “Casanova”, showing interest to females of all species!

Eden lies in Umholti Nature Reserve. Outside the chimp enclosures, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, baboons and other animals roam the grounds. In 2006, the Cussons’ family teamed up with Jane Goodall to create South Africa’s first and only chimp sanctuary. You can watch Animal Planets video drama “Escape to Chimp Eden.”

It presents a powerful saga of one man’s bond with our closets primate cousin. Chimps share 98.8% of our genes. Two hundred years ago, there were over 2 million. Estimates now are 70,000. In Gambia, Benin and Tonga, chimpanzees are extinct.

On arrival, we heard the unmistakable pant-hoots of the residents. The next day at precisely 7am, a cacophony of screeching and grunts began. I wish I could have recorded the noise at breakfast time. We were told the problem is Mogi. Being starved for years, he always steals 90% of the food. Minutes later, he reluctantly shares it with others.

Our days here spent viewing the chimps in semi-wild surroundings and educational lectures. It’s fascinating to watch their social interactions. In foraging areas, berries are hidden in eucalyptus trees to provide them with enriching challenges. They have longed for exercise and dream of trees.

Marc, assistant sanctuary manager, begins with a morning feeding tour for group 1, the young’uns. They clap their little hands for fruit. Like children, they’d rather starve than eat their veggies. We learn about the problems they face. First is the illegal bushmeat trade.

I always believed poor villagers killed chimps to feed their starving children. Nowadays, this high dollar illegal meat is found in black markets in London, Tokyo, San Francisco and Cape Town. Marc says the meat is so genetically close to us, it’s like cannibalism.

Second is logging which destroys their forest habitat. Finally, the pet trade. The mother is butchered for meat and the baby chimp is sold for $50. Most die from the trauma. I feel however the worst abuse of all comes from traveling circus companies.

Jessica arrived here starved, with bones protruding, cigarette burns and fingers cut off. Charles was held down while his teeth were pulled out with pliers because he bit someone. And then there are poor zoos.

In group 2, we met Martha who was kept 12 years in a small concrete cage in a Ghana zoo. At Eden they had to teach what grass was. Now she’s a happy big sister to all. My favorite was “wild child Suzy.” The staff said she’s full of nonsense and does summersaults for hours. Group 3 included 3 alpha males. Amadeus, now 180 lbs., was kept caged in an Angola gas station.

Cozy was a research chimp for years n the US. Somehow, he ended up with gypsies who castrated and beat him in a vein attempt to control him. We learned what efforts are put into the rescues. Owners rarely give up abused chimps. Bribes and sometimes military assistance is necessary to take them.

At night, the chimps enter their “5 star hotel” with heated floors, protein bars and fresh straw for nesting. Sometimes room service provides strawberry yogurt. The staff once noticed Charles had developed a cold. Marc entered the sanctuary with a bottle of Benadryl. Immediately all the chimps started coughing. Monkey see, monkey do.

They have the intelligence of a 6 year old. At dinner one evening, we heard great commotion. Josephine, the escape artist got out again. She bent tree branches over the electric fence and had
Jinga hold them down so she could climb over. She has the intelligence of a 10 year old. She once used coconut shells to dig a hole under the fence. She piled rocks to hide the hole from guards and a week later she fled. She always returns to her peaceful paradise.

We befriended Philip, the sanctuary manager. He coordinates the rescues and has 30 years of primate experience. I ask of his favorite chimp. His proper parental response was that he loves them all equally.

I noticed he’s missing a finger. You cannot touch the chimps here because humans transmit diseases and they can bite. Most important, they want to bring back the chimp’s instincts for survival.

We are hosted by Jenni here, a top travel consultant who arranges travel for the rescues and media. She’s also a qualified ranger. The three of us left Eden to spend two nights at Nkabeni Tented Camp at iconic Krueger National Game Park.

After a game drive there with many lions sighted, we did a Bush Walk, which is a rare treat in Africa. Two armed rangers led us. We didn’t encounter any of the Big 5, but it does help one appreciate the smaller animals close up.

Next day we visited a place I adore called Elephant Whispers to feed and ride African elephants. Six ton Tembo was still there who I knew from years past. Back at camp, a delicious dinner was served Boma style in the bush.

Our last day was back at JG Chimp Eden. Jenni and I worked on designing itineraries for future groups that will include three days here as well as rafting, bush walks, Kruger, elephant rides and more. After hours over laptops, we came up with a thrilling 9 day Adventures For Singles vacation experience that no American has yet conceived, (I must keep it top secret as competitors copy my detailed ideas. For now, I can only hint that it involves the World Wildlife Federation, a neighboring country, stunning beaches, giant turtles and affordable price!)

My time and work here made a most worthy site inspection. This is my 13th visit to SA. The more amazing diversity I discover, the more I fall in love with this country.

Before departure, I sat by the fence to say goodbye to Joao. He was sucking his thumb. As we stared into each others eyes, time seemed suspended. There was knowledge and wisdom in those eyes.

I felt a primal connection more powerful than my words can convey. Without being too anthropomorphic, we seemed to be conversing - silently. I “hear” that he has found it in his heart to forgive humans. The moment is both chilling and humbling. Goodbye dear Joao, Charlene, Tommy, Claudette, Mimi and all my other new African friends. Chimp Eden is an escape for your senses and a journey for your soul.

Donations are greatly needed for vet bills, security and maintenance. Most important is more space as countless suffering chimps need rescue. You can also Adopt a Chimp and watch it daily via live web cam. If you do, tell our friends at Chimp Eden that AFS referred you. Adventures For Singles is empowering primates with a better life. Together, we all can make a difference!”

Suzy Davis President and tour leader of
http://www.adventuresforsingles.com. She has traveled
the world for over 30 years initially as a flight attendant and now with
her 20 year old company, Adventures For Singles.

When on tour, the tendency for people is to book in a hotel or motel. These people should try the bed and breakfast accommodation in the locality. There are so many good experiences a B&B can provide to a traveler.

Whether you are in business or pleasure trip, hotels should not be your only accommodation in mind. Many people have shifted to interest on the B&B because of the solace and homey ambiance it provides to the guests. This is of course if you prefer to get-away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In this place, very few guests roam around - an exact opposite in hotels where you find lots of people in the corridor, lounge or dining area.

Usually, a bed and breakfast inn is operated by the same owner of the building. Perhaps, the very limited staff and crew are family members. The rooms in these inns are usually never generic - each has its own design and uniqueness. But whichever room is taken, you will be afforded a homely experience. This is why some people call these places “home away from home” It is the feeling of being home. It is the feeling of security and comfort, not to mention the less expensive price for a kingly treatment. How would you feel waking up in the morning with a sumptuous breakfast prepared for you?

You are advised that should you go to a place search the internet for the different B&B available in the place. You will find these establishments away from the business districts. But with the amenities provided by these, you will have no regrets for staying therein.

Here are common amenities you might find in many bed and breakfast inns. In Arizona, you will find a B&B complete with these amenities that can enhance your experience extraordinaire. You can book ahead of time and you can be given complimentary airport transfer. If you are driving, to the inn, you will find that there are free off street parking. Though your car is not parked in an enclosed parking area, you are sure that your car is secured. Like hotels and motels, there can be concierge service to attend to your needs. And your breakfast will be ready upon waking up.

What are the amenities inside your room? With the internet being a way of life now, many of these establishments already are Wi-Fi enabled to allow the guest access to the web. The room can have cable TV and fridge. There is a private bathroom inside the room, closets and luggage racks. Depending on the room rate complimentary snacks are provided and are found inside the fridge. The bed is covered with fresh linens. Inside the room, you may even conjure the idea that you are booked in a hotel. There may be no difference in amenities. But once you get out of your room, the surroundings spell the difference.

Therefore if you have not yet sampled the services of a B&B, it is time for you to try. You will not only save some bucks because of the inexpensive room rates. You will also encounter a new experience - service-wise and ambiance-wise.

The Acacia is your number one source for Tucson Arizona bed and breakfast.

Tucson Bed And Breakfast