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If you have never been to the colorful country of Mexico then you don't know what you are missing out on. There is so much to do there, and the country is steeped in rich culture and history with so many different settings to leave you in awe.

There are tropical beaches, ancient ruins, beautiful sunsets, thick jungles, colorful villages, and friendly people. If finances are holding you back then do not worry, as there are some cheap Mexico vacations that will be perfect for you and your whole family to experience this amazing place.

In your cheap Mexico vacation you may not choose to fly, although there are some super package deals with free flights for kids, or fly one way and get the flight back free. You can look around online and find plenty of special deals to take advantage of. If you want to save money you can also drive from the border after landing at San Diego.

This trip can be a great experience all on its own and you can see many wonderful sites, rock formations, and wildlife. If you are driving you must not get out of your car in the middle o f the desert, as there are dangerous scorpions and snakes.

Some Cheap Mexico Vacation Considerations

A cheap Mexico vacation could be easy as the shopping is relatively cheap if you go to the open flea market and barter with the vendors. You can find many great authentic restaurants too where they are not catering for the tourists.

If you want to take part in some activities at the beaches, you can find that some are expensive, like swimming with the dolphins, but you can snorkel, and still have fun swimming.

One of the most expensive parts of the vacation will be the accommodation, but you must think carefully before deciding where to stay. Along the coast during spring break like in Cancun, the cheaper places will be crowded with student who will be partying all night and it will not be fun for a family vacation.

There are usually cheap Mexico vacation offers at the beach resorts which can be secluded and often nicer then the fancy hotels. You must just look around online and check with your travel agent as to where there is a good place to stay that is not too expensive. One important thing to have is air conditioning as the summer can be scorching hot, so insist on that.

When dining out, try to go to places that are more authentic for your cheap Mexico vacation. The whole point of your trip is to experience Mexico so go somewhere up market but not commercial or Westernized in any way.

This will mean that you still get friendly service and great food but it will not cost too much. When site seeing, you should take the opportunity to have a cheap Mexico vacation by not being part of a tour. A tour guide will cost and you do not really need one.

The amazing ruins and temples speak for themselves. You can also attend the festivals which are held at different times through out the year for a true taste of Mexican culture and lifestyle.

A Cabo San Lucas Mexico vacation package will be a great escape from the real world because you will have stepped into a unique and interesting city with plenty of clubs, bars and restaurants. The area also features many great beaches with various golf resorts for those avid players.

On your Cabo San Lucas Mexico vacation you can spend time relaxing on the beaches soaking up the sun while snorkeling or swimming. You will find that some prices vary dramatically between various vendors and can be quite expensive.

This place is a great area for game fishing and is well known all over the world. There is also whale watching and an underwater preserve.

If you want to enjoy your Cabo San Lucas vacation even more you should take a long drive down from the border. You can rent a car at Tijuana and take three days to enjoy the sites and lovely scenery to Cabo. You should rent a closed car with air conditioning as the sun does get extremely hot.

Tips For Your Cabo San Lucas Vacation

Some tips that you should take note of are to not walk in the desert as there are scorpions and other dangerous creatures, do not eat at the roadside stands, try not to drive at night because of cows, goats and other animals, buy gas at every station even if the tank is three quarters full just to be safe, and when you get to the mountainous part, drive carefully because it can get very windy. Cell phones might also not work for most of the way down.

The beaches on your Cabo San Lucas vacation will be great for the whole family as the kids can have their own tours and they can swim with the fish. At Playa del Amor you must be sure to visit Land's End, the beautiful rock formation, as part of your Cabo San Lucas Mexico vacation. Most of the beaches are for snorkeling, diving, and swimming.

If you want to shop on your Cabo San Lucas Mexico vacation then you are in luck as there are various street vendors as well as quality stores in the city. You can purchase beautifully had crafted accessories, furniture, and ornaments at the El Callejon across from the famous night club, Cabo Wabo.

You can purchase clothing at another store from swimming gear to evening wear. There is a place to buy high quality jewelry at a discount and a gift store with tradition pewter items and small gift items.

Cabo offers the best party atmosphere in Mexico and the famous Cabo Wabo nightclub is where most tourists come on there Cabo San Lucas Mexico vacation. The owner is there on most nights and it has various dance floors and outdoor bar areas. The other nightclubs include Squid Roe and the Giggling Marlin.

If you look at various online travel sites you will be able to get great deals on Cabo San Lucas Mexico vacations which will include to accommodation, meals, and some activities. You must also find out when the best time of year is to visit Cabo from your agent.

Winters in Utah are pretty cold, so whatever you do you will want to stay warm. February is a great chance to check out the slopes and then warm up at a NBA game. The city is big and the options are endless. The winter is actually a great time to check out Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. The zoo has over 1100 animals and 250 species from around the world. Many of the animals like the cooler days and tend to be more active. The penguins are sure to be active with temperatures in the forties in February. The Snow Leopard is from the southern Himalayans and finds himself right at home during the winter months of Salt Lake. February is also mating season for many of the animals and the zoo offers a romantic dinner and evening of fun as the animals put on their best mating dances.

After a cool day at the zoo, hit a Utah Jazz game to warm-up. A basketball game in real life is a ton of fun and the Jazz have six home games this season and you are sure to be able to find one that fits your schedule. They often hold game night promotions and contests as well. The Jazz originally began in New Orleans, but was unsuccessful financially and was moved to Utah. They were very successful in the 80s and 90s and today they aren't too shabby. Karl Malone and John Stockton tore up the court in the 90s; today their stars are Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.

Bald Eagle Day is held every year in February. This day gives people the opportunity to see the Bald Eagle up close and learn about them. There are several areas that you can visit to see the Bald Eagles. The Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, the Split Mountain/Green River located north of Jensen and Cedar Valley will hold viewings one weekend. Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area at Compton's Knoll and Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area near Centerville will hold viewings the next weekend. Bald Eagle Day began in 1990 and many families go to see the Bald Eagles. It is one of Utah's most well attended wildlife viewing events. This is just a taste of what there is to do in Utah. The winter months are popular for skiing of course, but you are encouraged to look for things that are unique and out of the ordinary.

Paris. What more can be said about the beautiful City of Light? We all know about its romantic atmosphere and countless museums and galleries that will sweep you away to another time and place. But around every corner and along its grand boulevards, there is a Paris that is specifically tailored towards your interests, preferences, and curiosity; and all you need to do is wander its streets to discover what you have been missing all this time.

While you so desperately want to discover the hidden treasures of this city, if it is your first visit there are a couple of sights that absolutely have to be at the top of your itinerary. Of course, standing beneath the Eiffel Tower and riding up to its landings for the breathtaking, panoramic views is bound to be your first adventure, while the Louvre and its spectacular art collection, complete with the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, will probably be a close second. Other classic favorites that will definitely occupy your first couple of days in the city include Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.

After wandering the Louvre for hours or soaking in the unparalleled beauty of Notre-Dame, your senses are bound to be overloaded, downright exhausted, and in need of less demanding pursuits. Although this is most likely in complete contrast to what you imagined before arrival—trekking from one sight to another, checking off dozens of attractions from your must-see list seemed so reasonable back then—this weary feeling as actually for the best since now you can truly experience Paris instead of having it rush by as you hit up attraction after attraction. So what then should you do for the ultimate Paris vacation? Quite possibly less than you ever imagined…

Depending on your particular interests, there is a touristy Paris, a historical Paris, a laid-back Paris, and a fashionable Paris to ensure that you have the most memorable and enjoyable vacation possible. Shoppers and tourists alike will appreciate the elegance of one of the world's most famous promenades, the Champs-Élysées, where they can dine on exquisite cuisine, shop to their heart's content, and relax in a café and simply watch the endless parade of people down its cobblestone street. With the Arc de Triomphe at one end and historic restaurants such as Laurent and Ledoyen scattered throughout, you could easily lose an entire day enjoying the ambiance of this one-of-kind avenue.

Although history-buffs will be hard-pressed to find a city with more amazing museums (consider the Musée Jacquemart-André, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou after the Louvre) at its beck and call, there is more to Paris' past than strolling down a corridor and looking at your 180th oil painting. By resisting the pull of the French Impressionists and making time for the cobbled and historic streets of Montmarte and the picturesque Latin Quarter, which rests over the Seine, you can create a more personal and memorable experience than all of the museums combined. Exploring hidden alleyways and wandering without a final destination, you can discover history, beauty, and something special to only you, all while getting a little lost in the process.

While it is easy to only think of all of the excitement you plan to pursue during the day, the City of Light certainly lives up to its name when night falls on its charming streets. The first couple of days during your trip you may be exhausted from hitting up all the popular attractions, but after you have gotten into the groove of your own getaway, be sure to spend a few evenings living it up with the Parisians. With the high quality and quantity of bars, nightclubs, music halls, wine bars, jazz dives, and cabarets, there is bound to be at least a couple of places that suit your taste.

Now that you have your days and evenings stuffed to the gills with entertainment, you need to find somewhere to rest your weary head after a long day in Paris. Beyond your typical hotel, one excellent option that offers all the luxuries of home and proximity to all your favorite attractions is a Paris apartment rental. While other accommodations are simply a place where you can rejuvenate your body before another day in the city, Paris vacation rentals surround you with amazing views and feature a cozy, lived-in atmosphere that makes you feel welcome in the city the moment you arrive. Even if Paris isn't exactly off the beaten path, you can make this trip more personalized than you ever imagined by selecting a vacation rental that perfectly meets all of your individual needs.

Almost every European country currently has at least one no additions budget airline. Easy Jet and Ryan Air are becoming healthy known and well-liked in Great Britain and in Ireland. Germany has four or five low cost airlines and disgraceful airfare specialists.

Meanwhile, in Sweden, SAS have just launched their own budget offshoot called Snowflake. At initial look the fares that these airlines charge can seem incredibly low; Ryan Air have given their flights missing almost for free in the past - although you still have to pay the airport levy of around twenty UK pounds. But where's the catch? Is there a catch?

Can you really vacation Europe by air without spending a fortune? Here is the deal if you want to vacation Europe on a cheap budget:

Firstly, the low fares airlines in Europe nearly always use out of city provincial airports - often about forty or fifty miles from the respective city centers. This can add up to two hours of vacation time to your journey at each end. You also have to pay for the bus or train connection to get from your airport to the city center. Make sure you add this price in to the cost of your ticket when comparing prices among cheap airfare deals and the prices thrilling by the conventional airlines. In most cases the main airlines fly you into the city center airport and therefore cut your vacation time and the cost of any spare transport.

If you are unsuccessful sufficient to miss a trip then you could literally be stuck in a very rural airport during the night with all the food outlets closed down and no way to get back to the town or the city. Secondly, you only obtain what you disburse for. The European budget airlines can offer no in-flight service for foodstuff and drinks. Or, if they do, they will charge you for it at a premium rate. Coffee, sandwiches and beer may be very pricey indeed. To be fair, many of the flights are only of an hour or two's duration so snacks and drinks may not be such a big deal.

Is it the only way to get some color into your live? Are you sick of your everyday life and trying to escape it? Or you just wanna see everything worth seeing in this life, but who's that one who said it's worth it? Maybe you simply got too much money and other means of spending it are not funny anymore? Is that the only way to get excited because all the other things are already boring? Or you've had enough from the past life and think that traveling is some kind of earned prize for all what you've done? Is it a new challenge for you?

I think, such list of simple and otherwise complicated psychological reasons to travel can be continued for kilobytes of text. But every traveler has a little bit of many of them as a compound part of his own reason, motivation to drive, fly, walk, run, swim, sail...

Each one has it's own style of traveling and there are also people, who don't stand changes in their everyday life and are never traveling. Even holidays take place at home and without leaving the hometown. But I've already seen such people, who never traveled, changing their mind. And I am glad to say that there are several people of such a kind whom I've shown some beautiful locations around the place they live in. And they became real fans of those formerly far away and impossible to reach places. Moreover, they have become this virus, this desire to see more and more. If you get infected, you would never get healed, that is for sure. Only the cruel reality can stop the progression of this great "sickness" but your mind will never change and will strive to continue your search with wide-open eyes and always willingness to see more and more.

I am not sure when I was "infected" and when I realized that there is a huge list of places that I MUST visit, no matter when and what it takes. I think that came from a variety of reasons such like frequent flights in the childhood, because all the relatives of my family were spread across the whole Soviet Union. Or maybe from constant change of the place and country of living, that supposes a total change in the living environment and tolerance to changes in life.

Another thing that you get along with traveling is surely lots of contacts in each country you visit. Of course, it depends on your ability and willingness to communicate and the duration of stay. But if you get at least one acquaintance in a country or place you travel to – just imagine how wonderful is it to have friends in various locations of this planet.

There is one sad thing about traveling I've had to find out. It is time. This is the only factor that won't let you to visit all the places in this world. There are many books like "100 most beautiful cities of the world". Imagine you would want to visit all of them. But don't forget that 100 of cities – is only a 100 and there are hundreds of cities worth visiting. And these are only cities, but a place to visit can be also a waterfall, a mountain, a lake, seashore and many others. So, you decide from now to spend for example 5 days for every city, what is actually insufficient to see all the interesting places in it. These are 100 cities each 5 days, what makes 500 days! But you cannot travel 500 days without having a rest, a break in a place you live in. So let's say 5 cities per travel what makes 25 days and 25 days at home. So you need additional 500 days to relax and to settle up your impressions to get ready for new ones. This makes good 3 years that should be spent on cities only. And for that you should have a good amount of money for airline tickets, hotels and whatever. And you should have all the time yours, but not spending it working for someone to earn money.

So, this planet is small and huge at the same time and the time goes by. And if you are "infected" with the "travel-virus", you should probably set up your priorities, make up a list of places that you surely would visit according to your living situation... and visit them...

Have a nice trip.

I have written this article to help people who want to learn more about Kazakhstan. Whilst the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was funny, it did not paint anything like an accurate picture of this country. Some people want to learn more about Kazakhstan purely for their own education, others may be thinking of taking a vacation here. I moved to from Britain to Kazakhstan in April 2006, to Astana, where my wife's parents live. Since then, I've learnt a lot, and seen many of my mis-conceptions blown away.

Things that may grab your attention whilst you're over here:

Men nearly always shake hands upon meeting one another, even more so if it is the first time you've met. Women don't. If they are family, there may be a peck on the cheek, or a quick embrace. This area is still a little fuzzy to me, so I just stand back and accept whatever comes my way :>

If someone thinks you look a little different to the accepted norm for a Russian or Kazakh person, they will simply stare at you. This shouldn't be taken as an insult (or an invitation to get to know one another ;>). It is just if they want to get a good look, they won't be subtle.
People have different coping mechanisms for this behavioural trait. Some avert their eyes, others pretend not to notice. Still others will decide to turn it into a juvenile game. Whoever breaks the stare first loses, and you can keep a tally through the whole day you are out. Once you are up at the end of a day (18-3 for example), you can assume you're no longer feeling like such a wimpy foreigner. Ummm, or so my friends tell me ;>

Whilst we may all joke about British manners and overly polite social standards, standing in line for something over here is an experience you're not likely to forget very quickly. You'll also be likely to quickly re-appraise your understanding of the term 'line' or 'queue'. People will have no shame, nor should you, about pushing their way to the front of what could have been a perfectly civil and organized wait for the bus/ticket desk/shop assistant/train.
I still draw the line at elderly/young people, other than that, its every queue jumper for themselves, ultimately. (This does tend to mean most elderly/young people get served/on the bus before me, but I have this thing against trampling over brittle bones/people smaller than me.)

Upon arrival/exiting the country, be it 8.30pm, 3.45am or 3pm, you'll likely find yourselves being greeted with a small (OK, more likely a table laden with more stuff than you'd normally see for a 'light' meal) snack and some drinks, to celebrate your arrival/time in the country, if you are staying with people, rather than a hotel.
You might not feel exactly like wolfing the whole lot down, but if you take your time, with the food and the drink, you should do fine. DON'T feel obliged to down shots of Cognac/Vodka each toast. Unless that's your adjusting mechanism to the flights & time difference ;>

Bureaucracy - if you are on holiday, rather than emigrating, coming into and out of the country is the most likely area you'll possibly encounter any problems. To be fair, we've not been stopped in a couple of years, but if they decide you look like a likely person to have violated a rule, there isn't a great deal you can do about it. Coming into the country, they can decide not to let you in at all, and worse, leaving the country, they are only too well aware that you need to be available to get on a plane pretty soon.

Once you arrive in the country, you will need to register your presence, within 3 or 4 business days. There is nothing to worry about regarding this procedure; it is just so they can know who is officially registered where. Whilst this country is a lot 'freer' than it may have seemed to Westerners 15 or 20 years ago, you will have to remember that the approach taken by the government over here to maintain control of the population is not how we view 'best practice' in the West. Tough luck, their country, their rules, which, all in all, seems fair, if the roles were reversed, we'd not expect people to complain too excessively about our customs/social rules/laws.

Re. CDs/DVDs vs. portable hard drive. I've read around, and people have less difficulty taking hard drives out of the country than lots of discs, apparently. I couldn't find any info on importing. Personally, I've never had a problem in either direction. There is apparently a rule, on your way out of the country, that if Customs discover discs in your luggage, they must have been previously inspected and sealed by a dept. elsewhere in Astana. You'll need to do this four or five days before the flight. Some people stock up on cheap Software, Music and other media, though don't forget your home country may not allow you to keep these items if they search your luggage on your return.

When in the country, you will see some people walking around in army camo fatigues, most of these people are manual labourers, who use them as hard-wearing clothes to work in. If, however, you see a group of 2-6 young men wandering in 'urban' colour camos (blue/purple), these are some sort of street patrollers. No idea on their legal/military/civilian status, I just make sure I'm not littering/jay-walking when I see them around :>

Then you have the regular police force, who you will see in cars (often using their PA systems as public education systems ('Drivers! Do not park here' or 'Move out the way NOW')), on foot, or in little kiosks at key strategic civic points. The worst you can expect from them is a request to see your ID and/or passport.

There is also a traffic police force, who occasionally turn off the traffic lights, and get out their little wands to manually direct the traffic. Unless you intend to drive over here (don't forget to apply for an International Driving License in the UK, if so), you can safely ignore them.
Finally, you'll occasionally see the Army guys marching round in unison, but they seem to stay off the streets for the majority of the time.

"So how much money should I bring?"

Well, not sure on total, but if I give you an idea of how much stuff costs here, you'll be better informed to guess a holiday total I suppose... (All prices are approximate and sampled in Early 2007)

20 fags (Parliament) - $1.50

20 fags (Marlboro) - $1.00

20 fags (Russian smokable stuff) - $0.40

Bottle of coke in a shop - $0.50

Bottle of vodka in a shop - $1.60 to $8, depending on the brand (from drinkable to nice & smooth), whilst you can pay more, what's the point?

Bottle of beer in a shop - $0.45 to $1.60 (Russian to European brands)

In a restaurant/cafe, fags, coke and beer maybe double the price, or there abouts, vodka costs approximately $4 for 200ml

PC Games/Applications/MP3 collections - $4 to $10, depending on the amount of discs in the box, and how obvious the copy is! Music CDs - About the same as American prices, normally

Taxi ride (real taxi) - $3 to $6 pounds for a 15 minute ride
Taxi ride (flagging down a random car off the street) - haggle on the price, normally around 30% to 60% cheaper than a real taxi

Meal in a cafe (salad, meat dish, french fries, coke, vodka) - Between $8 and $15 per person, depending on the type of place you go to

Meal in a restaurant (same menu as above) - Between $12 and $30 pounds tops, per person. Again, you can spend more if you go high class

Obviously, if you want to get drunk, rather than merely relaxed, add more money for the extra vodka/soft drink/beer in the prices quoted above

Entrance fee to a club - $5 to $20 - basically, the more 'exclusive' an activity or brand is, the higher the price soars, prices for drinks in clubs are a little higher than elsewhere.

Kazakhstan is next door to China, so disposable electronic trinkets, that might last 5 years, or 5 days, are to be found in plenty of shops.
If you want any 'Kazakh' souvenirs - cultural stuff, definitely bring along a little bit extra cash.

Re. Money - bring at least 100 euros or a little more in dollars, the rest is up to you - there are ATMs over here (don't forget to budget for bank's commission/charges for this service), and there are at least two places that we know of that will exchange English pounds sterling for Kazakh Tenge, and all currency exchanges obviously accept dollars.

I hope some of the above will give you an idea of what you can expect from Kazakhstan. If you want to read more, or ask a question, please feel free to visit my blog at http://www.chrismerriman.com

In a day and age where vacations are frequently built around sporting hobbies of every kind, it stands to reason that there would be the opportunity to design a scuba diving trip. For scuba enthusiasts, the chance to dive in exotic locations can not be missed. It's no wonder that the scuba diving trip is one of the most popular themed vacations of recent years.

Building the perfect scuba diving trip begins with your level of experience. If you are a beginner it is essential that you first receive comprehensive scuba instruction so that you can become certified for diving. While you can complete this training before you leave home, you also have the opportunity to participate in instruction during your vacation. However, keep in mind that instruction and certification can be a lengthy process, and if you are looking to dive right away during your scuba diving trip, you will be required to wait.

If you've already received your certification – or are an experienced scuba diver – planning a scuba diving trip is only limited by your imagination. Plan your trip around a particular location that you've always wanted to explore and reserve accordingly. There are places worldwide that are conducive to scuba diving year round and easily accommodate a longer scuba diving trip. Most of these locations offer such amenities as scuba professionals who will guide you through particular dives, equipment rental when needed, and a variety of accommodations and leisure activities.

The style of your scuba diving trip really comes down to your personal preferences including length of time you are visiting, amount of instruction – if any – you need, traveling companions that may need special scuba accommodations, other amenities you require, and price. The Internet can quickly and efficiently give you comparisons and reviews so that you can best determine the trip that's right for you.

Planning a scuba diving trip can be the realization of a scuba enthusiast's dream. What you make of it is completely up to you and the reward will be memories you will have for a lifetime.