Angelyn Paradises

NEW YORK - Despite forecasts of a busy hurricane season, the idea of a summer vacation on a tropical beach appeals to many travelers. And there is one advantage: It costs less now than at other times of year.

"Many of these places - Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico - are warm-weather destinations and this time of year is their offseason, so deals are abundant," said Linda D'Arcy, a travel specialist with American Express Travel.

Here's what you need to know about making your vacation hurricane-proof.

THE FORECAST: The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 17 named storms in the Atlantic this season, with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five expected to be major. Last year forecasters also predicted a heavy hurricane season, but they were wrong. The El Nino weather phenomenon, which warms the Pacific and calms storms in the Atlantic, kicked in unexpectedly.

AIR TRAVEL: According to David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association, if a hurricane is headed for your vacation destination and you're not there yet, air carriers "will generally, under any severe weather conditions, provide some sort of a period of time in which you can use that ticket without paying the penalty for changing a nonrefundable ticket."

If you're at your destination and you need to leave because a hurricane is en route, "they'll just rebook you on whatever flights they have to get you out."

But it gets complicated when the forecast is imprecise. "They're not going to allow passengers to just change reservations because of a remote possibility that a hurricane could be near," Castelveter said.

Some passengers who tried to leave Cancun ahead of Hurricane Wilma in 2005 found airlines unwilling to rebook them without hundreds of dollars in additional fees. That's when it pays to have used a travel agent or tour company, or to have purchased insurance.

INSURANCE AND OTHER GUARANTEES: For 5 to 7 percent of the cost of your trip, you can buy trip-cancellation insurance that will refund tickets and reservations if your vacation is canceled, delayed or interrupted due to severe weather or other reasons. You'll also be covered for rebooking flights, extra days in a hotel, and other expenses, loss of belongings or damage to rental cars, and certain medical expenses, according to Jon Ansell, spokesman for the US Travel Insurance Association. A comprehensive policy also usually includes 24-hour hot line assistance.

You can buy trip insurance through travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines and even travel-booking Web sites. Or visit to see a list of member companies like AIG.

Trips booked through Expedia.com are automatically covered by the Web site's "hurricane guarantee," according to Expedia spokeswoman Katie Deines.

"If there is a major weather-related incident and someone is unable to travel to their destination or the trip is disrupted by a hurricane, we will refund their payment, and if they're in the middle of a trip, we'll reaccommodate them and work with airline and hotels to do that." She added that "there's nothing special the customer has to do to be eligible. Anyone holding tickets for affected areas is covered."

In addition, Expedia offers a package protection plan that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, not just weather. That costs $49 a person within the continental U.S., $69 to Europe and $89 elsewhere.

American Express Vacations also offers a "Cancel For Any Reason" plan. For trips $999 a person or less, the insurance costs $89 per adult, $109 for Europe. And you don't need an American Express card to use American Express Vacations - it's a travel company that sells to anyone.

Many hotels and resorts have hurricane guarantees, but details vary. Most refund unused days; some credit deposits toward a future trip.

Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic will refund 100 percent of your money if a hurricane watch or warning is issued for La Romana or your origination city or route, within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival, plus 5 percent of the refund will be credited to a future visit. Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts offer a "Blue Chip Hurricane Guarantee" that assures a free future vacation if a hurricane interrupts your stay. The Bahamas Hotel Association, which has about 75 members, has a long-standing "Hurricane Cancellation Policy" that gives travelers the choice of using deposits toward a future stay or getting a refund.

"The real question is what happens when there's a storm out there, and you're traveling within the bubble, which has a huge error margin within a five-day forecast," said Florida Keys & Key West tourism spokesman Andy Newman. "Each property is going to have its own policy on that. So ask the question in advance," especially if you're the type of person who'd rather stay home than take a chance on a storm that might or might not make landfall.

CRUISES: "Cruise lines can and do change their itineraries for many reasons, including to avoid bad weather," according to Douglas Stallings, editor of "Fodor's Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises" and "Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call." And passengers are not usually entitled to any sort of compensation.

But "you might get some sort of onboard credit, especially if you have to spend a day aboard ship" that you had expected to spend sightseeing or shopping on an island.

Policies vary by cruise line. Carnival provides a standard $20 per person credit for each missed port if other ports of call cannot be substituted. "If we know before a voyage starts that we cannot offer the scheduled itinerary for whatever reason, guests have the option to cancel without penalty," said Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz.

On the other hand, even if the itinerary changes, you'll still get a vacation on a cruise, whereas a land-based trip wouldn't be so easy to salvage.

"There are many worse things that could happen to your vacation than having to go to St. Thomas instead of San Juan because of a storm," Stallings said.

Last year, New Jersey's attorney general sued Royal Caribbean Cruises for diverting a Bermuda-bound cruise to Canada and refusing to issue refunds. The ship was headed into a tropical storm, and because it departed from New Jersey, the only alternative itinerary was to head north. Passengers were given a $42.50 credit as compensation and a 25 percent discount on a future Royal Caribbean trip.

Under the lawsuit settlement, all the passengers got was an increase in the discount on future trips to 35 percent, according to the attorney general's office.

FLORIDA: The state maintains an emergency hot line just for tourists, at 800-287-8598.

For meeting planners, Visit Florida, the state's tourism agency, has a program called "Cover Your Event," which provides free supplemental insurance that covers any costs directly related to rebooking a meeting should it be displaced due to a named hurricane, August-October. Coverage will pay for room rate differentials and rescheduling expenses such as reprinting program books, signs, etc. Details at

The Florida Keys & Key West tourism Web site at offers a downloadable brochure about hurricane safety information. The Web effort and a related storm safety communications program have won awards from the 2007 National Hurricane Conference and the 2007 Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference.

The major theme parks - SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove, Universal Orlando and Disney - all have hurricane guarantees, but details on credits, rescheduling and refunds vary. In general, you must book your trip through the theme parks' vacation companies to be eligible.

A visit to Florence is a must for any art lover. UNESCO estimates that 60% of the world's most important artworks are in Italy, with over half of them located in Florence. Situated in the northwest of Italy, surrounded by the wine-growing hills of Chianti, the city attracts rapture and awe altogether. It is also one of the most crowded cities in Europe, as once the visitor drops down to street level, the profusion of traffic, tourists and touts can remove all sense of tranquility. To ensure however, that your stay in Florence, either for tourism or corporate purposes, is a success, the easiest way is to go to online hotel booking. The offer is varied and provides the best money can buy.

Choose among Florence's cheaper and comfortable locations If you are looking for cheaper solutions for your stay in Florence, Hotel Giada may be one of the options. The district of St.Lorenzo, known all over the world for its lively market, is one of the most fascinating and typical market-places of Florence with the unfinished church of San Lorenzo, built in 393 and reconstructed by Brunelleschi. Just in front of the right side of the church you can see the picturesque location; a small hotel in the heart of Florence, but a real oasis of relax, with its particularly comfortable rooms, all equipped with modern amenities. The staff is always willing to help in the organization of your holidays, in the reservation of museums tickets, restaurants, car hire and sightseeing tours. Hotel Orcagna is located in one of the most distinguished and calm areas of central Florence, close to the Arno river and a short walk from Piazza S. Croce.

The hotel offers comfortable guestrooms, a small garden, where you can relax, bicycles for sport lovers and an internet point in the lobby. Another ideal place if you are in town on holiday or on a cheap business travel, choose the famous Hotel Semifonte, centrally located for all tourist flows and cultural itineraries to Viena-Florence-Pisa-S.Gimignano, between the Val d'Elsa and the Chianti territory. The hotel offers cozy rooms with all the modern amenities and with all the corporate comfort if you are on a business travel. The great period doorway of the three-star Hotel Donatello opens out onto the large garden of Piazza Indipendenza. Thanks to this central position, all of the principal monuments of the city are easily reachable on foot: Piazza San Marco, the Accademia delle Belle Arti, the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio. The rooms of the hotel, embellished with customized paintings, are all fully equipped. The bar and lounge overlook the internal garden where, during the summer, you can have a drink while relaxing at an open-air table.

Accommodation for bigger taste and pockets For corporate travel and for luxury tastes, Florence is the place to be. One of the best solutions, for surprisingly low rates is Hotel Croce di Malta, located only a few steps from both the Arno River and the Santa Maria Novella railway station. The location is perfect for those who wish to be close to the most prestigious boutiques, the banks of the Arno River and the main monuments. The rooms charm goes hand in hand with the comfort of the most modern, functional amenities. The Kraft Hotel is situated in a residential and romantic area of Florence, just a few steps away from the Opera House, the Arno river and the railway station, a symbol of style, elegance and Florentine hospitality. It is a refined and quiet first class hotel always preferred by artists. Athenaeum is a contemporary hotel in the heart of the historical centre of Florence. Personal attention to the needs and desires of each guest characterizes this completely new structure that presents an array of services that also include a Putting Green for golf enthusiasts, a modern free fitness room.

Luxury meets comfort in Florence's villas If you are however willing to spend more, some of the accommodation palaces stand at your disposal. Located opposite the Cascine Park and the famous Lugarni, the Starhotel Michelangelo is a deluxe hotel which occupies a privileged location, just minutes from historic buildings, museums and shops. The hotel has a restaurant that offers Tuscan cuisine in a contemporary setting. If you are more interested in a view, choose Villa La Vedetta. With a partial view of Florence, these intimate rooms are located on the ground and first floor of the Romantic Villa, besides the main building, facing the Italian beautifully furnished with a combination of real antiques and pieces of contemporary design. The rooms located in the Romantic Villa also dispose of a small private garden fully equipped, to enjoy the mild Florentine weather from Spring to Autumn. Original antiques are tastefully combined with elements of modern design. A warm welcome awaits you at the five-star Hotel Savoy in the heart of Florence. Located on the historic Piazza della Repubblica, close to the landmark Duomo and just steps away from the main fashion houses, museums and galleries, this is the ideal base from which to visit the key attractions of this beautiful and historic city. The hotel's elegant decor offers a chance to experience the best that Florence has to offer with the highest standards of accommodation, cuisine and personalized service.

No matter, however, what accommodation you may choose, keep in mind that it is best for visitors to avoid the peak summer months of July and August, when the weather can be unbearably sticky and the prospect of trailing around museums becomes unappealing. Early autumn, when the countryside glows with mellow fruitfulness, is the best time to visit.

The National Children's Day is celebrated every year on the second Saturday of January. However, initially it was celebrated on the first Monday of October. From 1955 to 1963, the children's day was celebrated in the month of October. Later in 1963, day was moved to January.

Children are the assets of any country. They are the future generation. Childhood is about innocence and playfulness, joy and freedom. But today's education system does not take care of all these aspects. The teachers concentrate mainly on the studies, and studies alone. Children are not at all permitted to play and studies are considered to be the most important part of any child's life. Children's Day is a day for children and on this day children are permitted to do whatever they like.

Children's Day is about giving children the right to enjoy and grow into healthy and educated citizens of the country who have an equal mix of studies and play. Thailand uses Children's Day as an opportunity to teach children about moral values so that they grow up into responsible adults.

On this day, children are allowed to enter any government office including those which are prohibited to visitors on the ordinary days. Many entertainment parks in Thailand allow children to enjoy themselves with a minimum fee and at times, they allow children to enter for free on Children's Day. Every year the King, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, and the Prime Minister of Thailand give speeches addressing the children.

On Children's Day, the Bangkok Bank in Thailand offers stationary to the children. Whenever a child enters the bank on Children's Day, he / she is given pens, pencils, and books. This is looked upon as a community service. The bank also takes this opportunity to educate children about saving money and the benefits it can reap.

Thailand has a unique celebration and most probably this type of Children's Day is not celebrated in any other country.

Themba GadebeDurban

The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) has unveiled the portal as part of its marketing strategy at the Tourism Indaba currently underway.

Speaking at the opening of the indaba Sunday, the Authority's Chief Executive Officer, Advocate Cawe Mahlati said venturing into cyberspace would trigger the demand to visit the province for business and leisure.

She said primarily, VisitGauteng.net portal is set to give the South African tourism market a packaging tool that is capable of converting the tourism demand.

"We need to activate the tourism demand and turn it into fulfilment. That's what this portal is designed to do, to convert a dream of visiting Gauteng, and South Africa into a reality," she said.

The advocate further noted that lack of packaging tools has in the past proved to be the barrier to tourism demand.

"VisitGauteng.net will help breach this gap," Ms Mahlati assured, adding that "it will provide solutions to all communities in the travel industry by automating the reservations process from supplier to end-user."

The package includes various services such as the accommodation and tours being made available on the system.

It will also rope in other services such as airline tickets, car rental and conferencing through strategic partners.

By accessing the portal, a travel agent, can for example, choose from various providers' web services in the online marketplace and create its own added value package of flights, ground transport, hotels, restaurants and entertainment.





Relevant Links

"This combined offering can then be put back into the market place to be accessed by all," Advocate Mahlati said.

More importantly, she said, it would also integrate emerging participants in the tourism industry, like the township based accommodation products, lodges, small convention centres and associated inventory that has no formal business relationship with the main tour operators and travel agents.

"With just the touch of a 'button', visitors will gain access to product information, company services, forms, vouchers and printouts for the bouquet of VisitGauteng.net services," she said.