Although the Maldives is not a destination which attracts surfers by the thousands, these tropical waters generate friendly waves which are ideal for novice surfers who just want to have a good time out among the waves. While many of the resorts located on the Maldivian Islands offer good quality surfing equipment at reasonable prizes, you do not have to worry about travelling with your own surf board. Windsurfing is another activity visitors could engage in while in the Maldives. As reasonable winds are on offer during most hours of the day, a trip to one of the wind surfing schools will give you the training you need to handle yourself well on the water.

Among the variety of water sports on offer, perhaps the most popular activity among visitors to the Maldives is snorkeling. While only certified divers are allowed to explore the farthest depths of the Maldivian seas, anyone can put on a pair of goggles and float over the shallow reefs where you can find all sorts of corals, starfish, crabs and other sea creatures that call these shallow waters their home. The level of visibility is simply amazing which enables visitors to see what lies beneath the waves with great detail. Most resorts located on these islands have their own reef where you can spend hours in the water admiring its beauty.

If you want to try your hand at something really challenging, water skiing is what you’re looking for. You will be able to book a water skiing trip from a local resort where you will get the chance glide on the water at break neck speeds which will give you a rush that is beyond words. Para-sailing, catamaran sailing and big game fishing are some of the other water related activities which you can also try your hand at while in Maldives.

John Keells Hotels Group is the proud owner of several Maldives hotels which are known to offer comfortable accommodation along with excellent service. These hotels also provide superb dining options and a host of modern amenities which is sure to make your Maldives travel experience a memorable one.

Almost all kinds of travel become damn expensive during school holidays, especially flights. Ah! If you have got children, are you planning to leave them behind? Well, we suggest you to not to hurt your children’s feelings. With all such tough competition among various airline companies, you can still avail those dreamy cheap airfares which were almost impossible some times ago and give your family a splendid holiday laden with thorough fun and love.

The best period to use consolidators is during high peak times of the travel. Apart from peak travel times consolidators won’t offer much cheap airfares than those given in the lowest advertised fares. Still, you can avail 20-30% off when you plan to travel during Christmas, for example.

Try using credit cards with consolidators. Some consolidators can charge really high fees if you make any kind of change in your travel plans and even cancel your flight. So make a point to go through their policy on cancellations and refunds beforehand. Though the per seat charges of such a flight would be comparatively lower than the actual competition, there are still some few cost savings possibilities in a quite long journey, therefore long journey cheap operator would find it quite difficult to differentiate itself from some conventional airline. You can take membership of certain clubs and associations and avail discounts for selected destinations from them. The best could be that in this whole process you may end grabbing flat discount of some denomination to certain destinations. Well, without all these efforts too, you can still get cheap airfares if you decide to plan your vacation a little earlier.

Yes, the most important aspects here are to compare prices with flight dates and schedules while shopping for cheap airfares and inexpensive airline tickets online. One thing that can highly be turmoil and affect travel budget is the seasonal variations. You will disclose that finding and buying airline tickets is fun and quite easy. Traveling during mid week is an awesome option if looking for cheap airfares. Traveling during these days will leave you with relatively much cheaper airline tickets than flying during weekend times that is Saturday or Sunday.

Because of the tremendous growth in inexpensive carriers, these airlines have started to fight and compete with each other in addition to the traditional air carriers. More the flexibility you possess in your plans, better are the chances of getting low-cost airfares. Try different options through different departure and return dates if possible. Also, midnight flights can help you save some good amount of money for later fun at vacation. Shop around; this is because every travel related website has a different relationship with airline companies. So, it’s better to check more than one website before purchasing cheap airfare.

Disney World is one of the few locations that people will save and save to visit.  However, with the price of a Disney World vacation increasing, daily, people also want to find every possible way to save money on a Disney World vacation. 
There are many ways to save money on a Disney vacation, but we’d like to offer our top ten.  Some of these will not be the ways you would expect to save money on your Disney vacation!

1. Stay on property at a value resort.  Many people believe they will save more money by staying on an off-property resort or hotel, but by the time you add in gas for driving, parking costs, dining costs (provided you follow tip number two), transfers from the airport, and all the other costs associated with not staying on property, you will come out on the losing end, in the long run.
2. Get the Disney Dining Plan.  You cannot purchase food at the parks for less than the cost of the dining plan.
3. Purchase sundries prior to entering the Disney World Resort.  Batteries, sunscreen, ponchos, sunglasses, diapers, water, swimmies, snacks all cost a small fortune inside the Disney World complex and you can buy them for a fraction of the cost at any major retailer, located minutes from the parks.
4. Buy the Disney resort re-fillable mug.  This is by far the best deal Disney has going.  Not only do you get a cool Disney souvenir, you get unlimited drinks at your resort.  With the air conditioning blasting away in the Florida heat, you will drink much more than normal, so you need the free refills.
5. Purchase souvenirs at the Character Warehouse.  Character Warehouse has all the same stuff you will find in the parks (for the most part) at about half the cost.  It’s located in the Festival Bay mall on International Drive.  Just minutes from the Disney World Resort.
6. Purchase Disney gift cards for each of the kids.  This provides a way to limit spending by them and by you on their behalf.
7. Book with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, also known as Earmarked agencies.  These are the true Disney specialists that keep a look out for your best interests, including changing your reservation to a better rate, if it becomes available before your Disney vacation.
8. Pre-order your tickets.  You won’t save a ton of money, but you will save a few bucks per ticket if you pre-order and you will save a lot of hassle once you arrive at the Disney parks.  Whatever you do, don’t go through a timeshare sales pitch to get cheap tickets, unless you plan waste an entire afternoon and buy a timeshare.
9. Go in the off-season.  Of course, this one’s difficult if you have children, because the off-season is in the middle of the school year.  However, Disney drops their rates to the lowest levels of the year during the off-season.
10. Take advantage of every discount available to you.  AAA, military, airline points, hotel points, rental car loyalty programs, and so on.

Just use a couple of these tips and you could save hundreds on your Disney World vacation.  Use all ten and you could save thousands!

What are some of the hottest events in Sanibel and Captiva Island?  This “Shelling Capital of the Western World” certainly has plenty of outdoor fun in its beaches and wildlife attractions.  However, residents of the area may find some of the following events exciting enough to lure them from the relaxing Florida island beaches.
For starters, there’s the Everglade Island Boat Tours and Everglades Excursion.  These eco-tours put you inside an airboat as you tour the jungles area of the Everglades region.  Residents always look forward to the 24th Annual BaileyFest, which features family carnival fun, including games, live music, prizes and entertainment.
Sanibel also welcomes locals and tourists to the Art Walk in Downtown Fort Myers as well as cultural show called “80s to the Max.”  The 23rd Annual 2D 3D All Florida Juried Exhibit is another exhibit in the springtime, while Miracle vs. Bradenton is a sports and recreation event held in Six Mile Cypress Pkwy.  The PBR Professional Bull Riders group put on a great show in the Germain Arena on Everblades Parkway.
In the summer, Sanibel has the 2010 Islands Night with games, contests, and activities for youngsters.  This show benefits charities.  Some of the past charities played for include the Sanibel School, the Children’s Hospital, Sanibel Captiva Cares and Hope Hospice.  The July 4th Fireworks Show at the Embassy Suites Fort Myers (one of the best Sanibel Island hotels to rent) is sure to delight people of all ages, while the Happy Birthday Henry Ford event at Edison and  Ford Winter Estates is sure to please historians.
In November, Sanibel Island, Florida welcomes the 22nd Annual American Sandsculpting Championship Festival.  This competition brings in the best sand sculptors throughout the country.  The Sanibel Luminary Festival is also held in November and will hold locals over until the Captiva Luminary Festival in December.  These festivals both contain wondrous holiday lights and refreshments.  
As far as traveling acts in Sanibel events (and in Captiva, FL), don’t miss Tutankhamun: Wonderful Things from the Pharaoh’s Tomb throughout the summer.  For more relaxed celebrations, look for the Quilt Show at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in October and for live musical performances at the Broadway Palm Theatre, which welcomes famous shows like Cinderella.  
While this city is known for its beach and wildlife refuges, there is plenty of local culture to experience in Sanibel Island!  Come get involved in the community!

There seems to be something about the summer that just calls out for family activity. The kids are home from school, you have vacation time accrued. Why not take a few days to spend some fun time with the whole family? In fact, you do not even have to travel out of town to find family activities. In fact, every summer, Great Falls, MT is the home of the Lions Family FunFest, which will be a day to remember for you and your children alike.

Taking place on Saturday, July 10, the FunFest happens on a day when the whole family can take part. There are no worries of missing work or other responsibilities. The event lasts from eleven in the morning to three in the afternoon, so it can provide a whole day’s worth of entertainment. If you are wondering where to go to enjoy the activities, the whole FunFest will take place in the Lions Park, which is located on 10th Avenue South.

What can you expect from the FunFest? First, there will be plenty of concessions and food. No one wants to go to a festival without being able to enjoy some tasty treats. As the day wears on, you will need to stay hydrated, so beverages are offered as well.

For small children, a penny carnival will take place. This carnival will include a variety of fun games aimed at entertaining little ones. Activities all cost a penny, and every time you little one plays, they are guaranteed to win a prize! There will be no tears here. Keep in mind that this event is for toddlers and children in primary school.

In addition to the penny carnival, kids will be able to enjoy the moonwalker called the Jolly Jumper, where they can play for hours. There is also a full playground on-site for children’s entertainment.

At the Great Falls event, there is entertainment for the adults as well. Throughout the day, live music will be performed on stage. While you little one plays on the playground, you can enjoy the sounds of local musical talent. In addition, there will be various displays of military regalia and paraphernalia for interesting exhibits.

The Lions Family FunFest is certainly a July event for the whole family. Kids will enjoy games and play and parents will enjoy live music. When you are there, do not forget to check out the sand castle building competition!

Collective Names:

Antelope – herd, cluster, tribe
Apes – shrewdness, troop
Badgers – cete, colony
Cats (Wild) – destruction, dowt, dout
Cheetah – coalition
Elephant – parade, herd
Giraffe – tower, corps, journey, group
Hedgehogs – array, prickle
Hippo – raft, pod, bloat, thunder, school
Hyaena – clan
Impala – rank
Jackal – skulk
Leopard – leap, lepe
Lion – pride, sault, sowse
Monkeys – shrewdness, cartload, troop, troup
Mongoose – business
Pigs (Wild) – sounder
Rhino – crash, stubbornness, herd
Wild Dog – pack
Wildebeest – implausibility, herd
Zebra – dazzle, zeal, cohort

Name Origins:

Aardvark: Afrikaans word translation “earth pig” as ears and nose resemble those of a pig, also burrows a lot.
Bat-eared fox: Refers to the big ears resembling those of egyptian slit-faced bat
Blesbok: Afrikaans word translation “bald buck” referring to the white blaze on the face
Bushbaby: Lives in the “bush” and their call sounds like that of a crying baby
Caracal: From the Turkish name “garah-gulak” meaning black ear, with reference to the black ear tufts
Cheetah: Hindu word “chita” meaning “spotted one”
Duiker: Afrikaans meaning “diver” from the action of the antelope when running away
Eland: Dutch word for elk, thought to be related or similar
Elephant: Greek word “elphas” and latin word “elephantus” for the species
Gemsbok: Dutch word “gems” meaning chamois in reference to colour
Genet: Name of area in Spain the species inhabited in the 18th century
Giraffe: Arabic word “xirapha” meaning “one who walks swiftly”
Hartebeest: Afrikaans word translation “heart cow” with reference to the shape of the horns
Hippopotamus: Greek “(h)ippo” meaning horse, and “pot-amus” meaning flowing river ? a river horse
Honey Badger: Eats honey, badger from French word “becheur” meaning digger
Impala: Zulu name “imphala” and Tswana name “phala” for the species
Jackal: Persian name “sagal” for the golden jackal
Klipspringer: Afrikaans word translation “stone jumper” with reference to the bounding action in rocky habitat
Kudu: Khoikhoi name for the species
Leopard: Greek words “pardus” for panther and “leo” for lion, shortened to leopard from leopardus
Lion: Greek word “leon” for the species
Mongoose: Indian name “mangus” for the species
Nyala: Zulu name “iNxala” for the species
Pangolin: Malay name for “peng-goling” for the species, which means “the roller” from their habit of rolling into a ball for protection
Porcupine: Greek word “porcus” meaning pig and “spina” meaning species, direct translation “spined pig”
Rhinoceros: Greek word “rhis” meaning nose and “keras” meaning horn, direct translation “nose horn”
Springbok: Afrikaans meaning “jumping back” in reference to their unique jumping action called “pronking”
Warthog: Refers to the outgrowths or warts on the face
Zebra: Portuguese or Italian name of the species in the Congo region

Want family holidays that are sure to build precious memories of your time together? Want something a little more active than the average beach holiday that are popular among those seeking Greek island holidays? Then look no further. Cheap holiday deals to Neos Marmaras give you the perfect opportunity to get a little physical while enjoying the beautiful waters that bring people to the islands in the first place. In other words, you really can have the best of both worlds with package holidays to Neos Marmaras. Find out for yourself just how thrilling a little time on the water can be.

Neos Marmaras is famous for its beaches. For this reason it is often thought of as little more than a beach holiday. There is more to this resort than meets the eye though as long as you plan your family holidays during the normal holiday season which lasts from May through October when everything is open and operational waiting for your business.

Some of the great activities you can enjoy just beyond the beach while taking Greek island holidays to Neos Marmaras are fishing and sailing. There are few adventures to enjoy while on holiday to the islands than learning to sail. Be sure to check out sailing schools in the area. This may be a little expensive but is well worth the effort and quite doable when you consider the money you’ll save by booking cheap holiday deals to Neos Marmaras instead of paying full price. Learn to sail the high seas and create a few grand adventures of your own. You’ll definitely have something great to talk about in years to come and have a lot of fun in the process.

Fishing is another way to enjoy the water a little ways away from the beach. Check out charter services that allow you to enjoy the best and biggest fish these waters have to offer. It’s a great way to commune with nature, enjoy these beautiful waters, and test out the strength of your sun screen. Be sure to bring plenty and be prepared to record these fabulous fish stories for the world to see. In other words bring a waterproof camera of some sort along.

Cheap holiday deals to Neos Marmaras are a great way to get away from it all and have the beaches and the other water adventures available to you. Whether your package holidays include golf, tennis, or a day of surfing be sure that your family holidays get you off the beach for a little while. Greek island holidays have so much more to offer than a mere day at the beach.