Posts Tagged ‘America’

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Cuba Launch Tourism Initiative

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

Tourism levels are set to be boosted by the Cuban government in the next few year. It hasn’t been doing too badly recently but would like to re-attract tourists from Europe whose number have been decreasing for some reason. There was a jump in tourist levels last year from 2.15 million to 2.25million people, which likely came about through better financial investment in tourist areas. Cuba has also worked hard on its foreign diplomacy in recent years in attempts dispel outdated, potentially harmful impressions of the country that may put people off visiting on Cuba holidays

Deputy Tourism Minister, Maria Lopez Reyes has stated that ideally numbers will continue to increase.  One new initiative that is being actioned is the addition of around 3000 extra rooms in Cuban hotels. More tourists are hoped to visit the country if a better range of accommodation and higher quality facilities can be offered to them. There has been development also in the luxury holidays market, as Cuba attempts to pull in holiday with more expensive tastes. Further to this, Miss Lopez Reyes has announced hopes that the new US government administration will relax the current travel ban that prohibits US citizens visiting Cuba legally. Although around 45,000 Americans do make the trip to Cuba each year, it is likely this figure would increase dramatically if they felt they could travel comfortably within the law.

Cuba has also recently announced that it will be hosting the very first International Culinary Festival of the Caribbean. This event hosts experts in the field of food from countries across the region to talk about various topics including recipes, techniques and cooking methods. Teaching the importance of local food and maintaining cultural traditions is another intended goal of the festival. Cuba has said that is very happy to have been awarded the hosting of the festival and are hopeful that it will draw in large crowds of people who are interested in food and culture alike. The event will be held in the Eastern City of Santiago De Cuba in September.

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Tipping In The States - Key Advice

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

Tipping in the States is a way of life.It shouldn’t matter what the customs are in your home country, when on American soil your should respect the tipping culture. The following is a top 5 guide to tipping for anyone visiting the beautiful country on American holidays

1.    Have some dollars ready. $10 worth of $1 dollar notes should be carried in your wallet at any one time so make sure you ask for a little extra at the currency exchange.  This will make it easy to give whatever value of tip you want without having to ask for change. Although requesting change is quite commonplace also so don’t be shy about asking if you need to

2.    Bars. It is common to tip around a dollar a drink at the bar but if you are ordering three or more drinks then you don’t have to keep to the $1 per drink rule, just give a reasonable amount. If you are seated and your drinks are served to you by a member of staff at your table then look to add $10 on to the total at the end of the night

3.    Restaurants. This one is really determined by the version of eating joint you are at. The more formal eating places normally expect a tip of around 20-25% of the total, whilst take-aways and self service you should look to add around 15%.If the service goes beyond what you were expecting or the staff were particularly useful then do add a little on the tip to thank them for their efforts.

4.    Bags.A tip of $1 per bag is the standard for porters who bring your luggage up to your room. This quite a strong rule of thumb but you can always tip more if the service was great or there was a lot of effort involved for the porter. $3-$4 should be given the helpers who carry your luggage at the airport

5.    Poor service. If you are not happy with the standard of service then don’t feel you have to tip. Your choice should be explained to those in charge though. Most service providers want to hear where they can improve and won’t be offended. Florida holidays staff are particularly humble.

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Some Top Tips For A Great Las Vegas Vacation

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Las Vegas is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular places on earth and one of the best USA holidays you can go on. There is an undescripable amount going on and an atmosphere that is matched nowhere on earth.  It can be a little overwhelming however and you need to plan your Las Vegas holidays properly before you go in order to get the most out of them. Here are some tips that will help your experience all Vegas has to offer safely.

Get out of the city. It might sound odd, but getting out of the centre of Vegas at some point during your holiday is a must. Vegas lies in the stunning Nevada desert which can only be truly appreciated when you break free on the hustle and bustle and experience the landscape’s vast features. A point on your check list should certainly be the infamous Grand Canyon. To witness a sun-set that will stay in your memory for years to come, leave for the canyon couple of hours before sun down. If you can afford it, view the Canyon by helicopter for a whole new viewing experience

See some shows. Las Vegas boasts some of the top shows on earth. They attract some really big names and have the money to make spectacular productions. You may even want to check before you go and plan your trip around which shows are on at the time. Ask some people in your hotel or around down which are the best shows that are on at the time. Its always better to get some independent opinions and personal recommendations

Set a limit on your gambling. Gambling is not everyone’s idea of fun but you’d have to try pretty hard to stay away from the card games and slot machines for the whole holiday.If you have a little money to burn, make sure you budget is set in stone. Work out your budget before you start your betting and only bet what you can comfortably afford to lose.

Follow these tips and your holiday in Vegas will be one those American holidays that you won’t forget in a hurry

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