Adventure Vacation: White Water Rafting in Scotland

White water rafting is fun, exciting, dangerous and now Scotland has placed itself firmly on the map as the place to do it. Since the early 1970s white water rafting has become a sport that has grown rapidly year on year. Places such as River Tummel in Scotland are now home to thousands of tourists and experienced rafters alike who take to the water each year.

With white water rafting comes more than just adventure, there is the risk of injury as well. That is why anyone who is new to the sport must understand the risks that are involved every time you enter a raft. The fast-paced nature of the sport means literally anything can happen, and not just falling overboard. Steering in and out of obstacles also means that you run the risk of collisions, so it is imperative that you understand the importance of wearing a life jacket and as well as a safety helmet. It is usually the case that rapids are given a rating between 1-5 for how complicated they are, so remember and start low before working your way up. 1 is the lowest and would be suitable for young children and beginners, whilst a more experienced rafter may be able to take the challenge of a rapid classed as 5.

With the growth of rafting as a recreational activity and a sport, many improvements in the options that are open to people have become available. This means that lazy rafters looking for cheap frills without wasting energy can now look towards motorised rafts, rather than the traditional human-powered raft. This is also a great way for people to settle into the experience of riding a rapid, without the added worry of steering and powering the raft at the same time. It is also worthy of note that many say the motorised element can remove much of the fun associated with the sport.

Scotland and white water rafting now go hand in hand for a number of reasons, not least the great facilities. Scotland is home to highly skilled and qualified instructors in the area of white water rafting, but that is just the start. Places such as Grandtully, Dunkeld and Averfeldy have world class facilities for experienced rafters and beginners alike. Not only that, but Scotland is also home to dam induced rapids that mean rafters do not have to count on conditions to be sure they can have a great days sporting activity.

As Scotland continues to grow as the place to live the white water rafting experience, it is also becoming home to many sporting events in the international arena. This is not only raising the profile of white water rafting within Scotland, but also has a positive impact on the country as a whole. The areas in Scotland where rafting is most prominent are also tranquil and unspoiled, and therefore are suitable for holiday makers who want to enjoy the great sporting opportunities and the quiet country side at the same time.

Accomodations:
Hilton Dunkeld
Kinnaird Relais & Chateau Hotel
Hilton Dundee


by Peter Syme, of Splash White Water Rafting in Scotland

Top 5 Poker Rooms in Las Vegas

Top Five list provided by Jack Reider, professional gamer

If you want to experience live poker action at the gambling Mecca of the world, here is a guide to the top poker rooms in Las Vegas. You can read here updated info on each of the recommended Las Vegas poker rooms including their game variety, limits and tournaments.

1) Bellagio Casino and Hotel
If you want to experience Las Vegas poker action and hang out with pros, the Bellagio is the casino for you. It is one of the classiest poker rooms available in Las Vegas. It is so popular that you might find yourself spending over an hour at the waiting list and then find yourself stuck with a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs.

The games offered are Texas Holdem, Omaha and stud games, and you can also join one of the tournaments, but note that this involves playing No Limit Holdem. As for the table limits for the regular games, these are as follows:
a) Limit Holdem: 4/8, 8/16, 15/30, 30/60, 60/120, 75/150 dollars and up.
b) No Limit Holdem: 200 dollars buy ins with 2/5 dollars blinds.
c) Omaha: 6/12, 15/30, 20/40, 30/60, 50/100 dollars and up.
d) Stud Poker: 1/5, 4/8, 8/16, 30/60, 75/150 dollars and up.

2) Mirage Las Vegas
If you are tired of waiting for a table at Bellagio, the poker rooms at the Mirage can be an acceptable alternative. It resembles Bellagio's with its luxurious atmosphere, variety of games and its huge popularity among pros as well as tourists.

The games offered are Texas Holdem and Omaha, Stud and as the Bellagio, playing in a tournament means getting involved with No Limit Texas Holdem. As for the limits of each table in a regular game, they are:
a) Limit Holdem: 3/6, 6/12, 10/20, 20/40, 40/80 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: between 100 and 500 dollars buy ins with 2/5 dollars blinds.
c) Omaha: 5/10 dollars.
d) Stud Poker: 1/5, 5/10.

3) Excalibur Las Vegas
If you want to play in a less stressful environment, check out the poker room at the Excalibur casino. You can play spread limit Holdem with the lowest limits available on the Strip and enjoy beginners friendly rules such as limitation on three raises. The room has been renovated recently and the poker tables and seats are very comfortable.

At the Excalibur, you can play Texas Holdem or 7 Card Stud, and the limits are slightly lower:
a) Limit Holdem: 1/3, 2/6 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: 100 dollars buy ins with 1/3 dollars blinds.
c) 7 Card Stud: 1/5 dollars and up.

4) Binions' Horseshoe Hotel and Casino
If you want to play at the same room where the first WSOP took place, you must visit Binions' poker room. Although the casino has been renovated and went through many changes since the days of Nick the Greek, the ghosts of the past still haunt the place, but in a good way.

Here too you can play Texas Holdem, No Limit Holdem in their own tournament, Omaha and Stud games for the following limits:
a) Limit Holdem: 2/4, 4/8, 10/20 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: 100 dollars minimum buy ins with 1/2 dollars blinds.
c) Omaha: 4/8 dollars.
d) Stud Poker: 1/5.

5) Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
If you want to follow in the steps of the 2006 WSOP champions, check out the Rio poker room. You might be surprised from the size and the small variety of games, but the thought of sharing the same location with contemporary gaming legends adds a certain appeal to it.

Other than taking part in the tournament where you can participate in some No Limit Holdem, you can pick from Texas Holdem, 7 Card Stud, Omaha or a few other variations according to what players request. The limits are as follows:
a) Limit Holdem: 2/4, 3/6, 4/8 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: 100 dollars minimum buy ins with 2/5 dollars blinds.

Keep in mind that you are not by any means limited to only playing in the hotel where you stay. Strip shuttles are the key to hitting all the hot gaming spots. Think about how you plan to spend your days (or nights) and book at the hotel that best suits those plans - you can play cards anywhere you want.

For a weekend trip, you might want to book a hotel closer to the center of the strip, then spend one day going south and another day going north... and if your luck runs out, you can always take in the sights: the mesmerizing fountains outside the Bellagio, or the spectacular fountains and volcano outside the Mirage are well worth the price of (free) admission.

The ABC Islands of the Caribbean

Exploring The ABC Islands
by: Justin Burch


As a group, the ABC islands offer an incredibly distinctive Caribbean vacation. Consisting of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the ABC Islands were under the control of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles until 1986. In that year, Aruba gained independence, though the island is still aligned with the Dutch Kingdom. Today, the Willemstad, Curacao serves as the capital of the Netherlands Antilles, a colonial grouping which also governs Bonaire and the smaller islands of St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba. As a result of Dutch rule, each of the islands is dominated by Dutch colonial architecture and custom, though in most cases infused with colorful local flourishes. Yet, despite this European influence, the ABC islands are as exotically Caribbean as you can imagine. From the diverse sporting opportunities to the wonderfully rich history, these Caribbean resort islands definitely have much to offer any type of traveler.

Aruba, the most southwestern of the ABC Islands, is located 42 miles from Curacao and a mere 15 miles from the coast of Venezuela. The premier Caribbean resorts are located in Aruba, the most developed and glamorous of the ABC Islands. As a result, over one million visitors are attracted to the island each year. But Aruba has far more to offer than glitzy Caribbean resorts, casinos and restaurants. Nearly 20% of the island is devoted to Arikok National Park, home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire Caribbean. The island is also a popular destination for water sports, hosting an internationally recognized windsurfing competition each year. For many travelers, Aruba represents the ideal, picture book Caribbean vacation.

Bonaire, on the other hand, is the least developed of the ABC islands. The primary attractions here are the coral-filled waters off the coast and the laidback ambiance of the island. About 25 years ago, the local government designated much of the sea surrounding the island a marine park, preserving the reefs and beaches for the enjoyment of scuba divers and snorkelers. Expectantly, over half of the island’s annual visitors come to explore these waters. Beyond the 60 official dive sites, Bonaire is also known as a top bird watching destination. Inside the sprawling Washington-Slagbaai National Park and throughout the island, over 200 species of exotic birds can regularly be spotted. For a relaxing Caribbean vacation away from the crowds, Bonaire may be the perfect island.


Curacao, the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles, lies between Aruba and Bonaire in the Caribbean Sea. The island boasts an interesting history, visible in the museums and vibrantly painted buildings of the island’s capital, Willemstad. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is also home to the oldest operating Hebrew synagogue in the Western Hemisphere and several other historic sites. Walking the streets of this colonial treasure, you will hear residents speaking four distinct languages: Dutch, English, Spanish and the indigenous Papiamentu. This cultural diversity is also present in the island’s cuisine, some of the most unique fare in the Caribbean. Like the other ABC islands, the opportunities for fun in the water are limitless. There are also plenty of great options for families including the Curacao Seaquarium and plenty of quiet, unspoiled beaches. While Aruba is the most luxurious of the islands and Bonaire the most pristine, it could be said that Curacao rests somewhere in between.

~ editor's note ~
With daily flights departing from Miami to Curacao, it's well within the American vacationer's reach to plan an island hopping vacation that takes advantage of the unique characteristics of all three of these Caribbean gems. Many cruise lines also offer Caribbean cruise itineraries that include stops at Aruba and/or Curacao, giving the traveler yet another opportunity to see these tropical locations up close and personal. Visitors to Venezuela can also take advantage of the short boat trip across the water to see historic Willemstad, enjoy the ultimate dive locations in Bonaire, or even plan a wedding in romantic Aruba.

An Introduction To Tuscany Italy

by: Rob Carlton

Tuscany, Italy is the place that movies are filmed and fantasies run wild. Perhaps it is the cities of Florence, Pisa, or Livorno that invoke feelings of culture, art, or arouse the senses to the smells and taste of the Chianti region. The fact is that Tuscany is home to some of the most famous tourist destinations in Italy. It is here that budding artists come to learn from the masters. It is here that the world of fashion takes it cues. And it is in Tuscany that romantics rekindle the flame and celebrate their love.

The Cities of Tuscany
Florence is perhaps one of the most famous cities in the area known as Tuscany. The Uffizi museum after all is home to such masterpieces as “The Birth of Venus.” Originally built to house the Tuscan administrative offices, the top floor now houses masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. Each visitor to Florence must also stop in and gaze at Michelangelo’s “David,” on display at the oldest art academy, the Galleria dell’Accademia. The Ponte Vecchio is a landmark that literally translated means “old bridge.” It was built in the 1300s and has withstood floods and wars in order to continue to hawk some of the world’s most wonderful 18 and 24k gold products and leather goods.

Chianti is known for its wines which are famous around the world. Tourists to Tuscany can enjoy the world’s finest wines while enjoying the picturesque countryside.

Siena, also located in the Chianti region houses a gothic cathedral and paintings by medieval masters, Duccio and Simone Martini. The Renaissance and Etruscan history are evident in each landmark of the region.

Pisa is best known for the Leaning Tower whose construction began in the 12th century, but starting sinking into the ground after only 3 stories were completed. It stood this way for 90 years and was finally completed by the son of Andreo Pisano, Tommano Simone and Giovanni de Simone almost 200 years after it was started.

Hillsides and Waysides
Part of the beauty and mystique of Tuscany is its countryside. The rolling hills that slope down to the coast are dotted with vineyards and villas. There are working farms and vacation villas suitable for the most adventurous tourists or those who demand first class accommodations. Tuscany car rentals allow tourists to explore each tiny village at their own pace and on their own schedule.

The Heart of Commerce
Emerging as a real business centre, Tuscany is home to thriving businesses in the furniture, leather, fashion, and manufacturing industries. These businesses keep the region in the 21st century while the people and culture keep one foot in the past.

If romance, tradition and culture are your idea of an ideal vacation, then Tuscany is for you. On the other hand if shopping and the face pace of a thriving city are your style then you will also find it in the Tuscany region of Italy.

The Lazy Town of Loreto

It’s an idyllic 74 degrees in Baja California Sur and the tiny Loreto International Airport (LTO), which conceals more domestic and international flights than may appear possible for a thatched-roof structure, is bustling with people escaping the cold and coming home—or quite possibly, their second home. That’s because the bucolic hamlet of Loreto Bay, off the Sea of Cortez, is becoming a haven for people seeking the simpler life of a quiet Mexican town and the next “it” resort destination, one which not even superstars know about…yet.

The Inn at Loreto Bay is a getaway within a getaway whose Santa Fe architecture is perfectly— and unobtrusively—at home with its setting. Guests can spend their days enjoying a kayak ride or hiking Punta Nopolo, just a minute’s walk from the property. Rooms are spacious and orderly, also inspired by the region’s natural landscapes. Indeed, the hotel’s surroundings, including the nine proposed “villages” that will hug the property (the second has begun construction and follows key Loreto Bay principles such as adobe block-built courtyard homes with both ocean and mountain views), are being designed so that people can walk and bike around—a clearly novel concept in community planning design nowadays. In fact, the area is being “…designed for interaction with people,” says Peter Clark, Loreto Bay’s technical director of sustainability, explaining that each village will have a higher-density core and thus use less land.

Besides a loyal adherence to Loreto Bay’s elements of sustainability, the Inn at Loreto Bay has an added bonus in its dining offerings: the produce used here grow in Loreto Bay’s Agricultural Center and Organic Farm, where the freshest fruit and vegetables are cultivated and cared for—and later served to clients in the resort’s restaurants. One of the Inn at Loreto Bay’s trademark offers is its learning vacations—packages influenced by Baja California Sur’s wide range of educational possibilities. A Digital Photography Vacation, for instance (April 26-29), allows your clients to hone their digital photography skills with expert Frank Fennell while shooting photos of the region’s vistas and wildlife. Another vacation, Medicinal Plants of Baja, is scheduled for May 3-6.

The hotel currently has a 3-night Loreto Bay Fishing package available through May 15 that includes accommodations and meals as well as two days of a “Super Panga Boat Charter” with a captain for seven hours per day of fishing along with gear, bait and licenses. Also available is a Whale Watching package (through April) for a 4-day holiday that includes a visit to the waters now flush with grey whales and their brood. Furthermore, a number of homes in Loreto Bay will be available for nightly and weekly bookings at a future date, with a number of hotel services and amenities available to them; details are in the works.

The Town of Loreto is home to the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto, the first mission established in the Californias, this is an undiscovered gem years away from the hustle and bustle of Los Cabos. The region is ripe with opportunities for getting away from it all: snorkeling off Coronado Island (just eight miles away), biking along desert trails, even just enjoying a leisurely walk along Loreto’s boardwalk and watching the pelicans dive into the waters with glee. Some airlines flying into Loreto include Alaska Airlines, Delta, AeroMexico, and beginning in June, Continental Airlines, which will offer nonstop service from Houston twice a week.