When you are planning for any high standards shipping to Spain, shipping to Italy there are certain facts which you have to keep in mind as Italy is surrounded by shallow water. Shipping to Italy is a difficult task to provide the customer satisfactory services when they require the goods delivery at appropriate time. But when you approach our organization you need not to worry as we make transportation possible with number of bays available at the western coast with all the flexibility and comfort.

Well Organized and Smooth Entry

Moving your house from one location to another is the most tiring work as it is a very problematic to settle some where else with all your belongings in the same condition you were using it earlier. Hiring our shipping services will help you in a smooth and efficient shipment process. Our highly coordinated services are organized in such a manner that it ease you and make your entry smooth. Whether you are shipping to Spain, shipping to New Zealand, shipping to Italy, America or Canada, we offer the same level of care and attention to all our shipping services.

Shipping and Moving Services

We are a complete solution for all shipping and moving services throughout the Europe, UK, Spain and Italy and to all worldwide destinations either by Sea, Air and Overland. We deliver the goods with our express dedicated transport services for shipping to Italy, shipping to Spain with the time sensitivity in our mind. We will not delay any of your consignment for commercial and household goods because of our miscommunication or fault.

Removals to Spain and Itlay

Our removals to Spain and Italy are delighted with the high standards to provide you care and attention as we treat removals to our deep sea markets such as Australia, UK, Europe, and USA. We believe in quality services in all the national routes, international routes and all the ports across the globe. Our professional team will assist you with their international shipping experience at all the ports.

True Value for Your Money

We want to satisfy our clients with our dedicated overseas shipping services because we understand what time matter to you. Shifting your goods can be trouble for you if you will not receive your goods at the appropriate time and if you pay the more prices for the speed that is not also justified. So, consult our team for shipping to Italy, shipping to Spain, UK, Europe or any corner of the world who really make your moving an unforgettable experience without delay and breakage. We will approach you with a difference in time, speed and money.

Polution, crime and long lines. A new guide book made by Peter Greenberg guides you away from the worst travel destinations on the earth.

Places you very well can avoid is listed up by Mr. Greenberg, and also lists up the airports you should avoid and at what times it is wise to visit sights around the world. A handy little guide, with some other perspective than other travel guides available to you.

Go there in the winter: According to Greenberg the lines at the Eiffeil tower in Paris is worst in the summer (big surprise?). He recommends of course to visit the sights in Paris in November and December months.

The internet is full of travel tips sites and guides that tells you were to go and what to see. An example of a travel guide is TripAdvisor

However, now there is a guide book available to you that tell you where you should not travel and make sure travelers stay away from these places.

The author calls his guide book; «Don’t go there!» And is listing up places not to go to and should avoid and at times you should avoid some places.

Here you will find a good overview of travel destinations that at first glance looks exotic and exiting, but be aware that some of these places can have surprises you would like to stay away from.

The guide book lists up the worst airports in the world and common tourist traps in addition to cover topics like pollution, crime and the worst environmental sinners.

Stinking beaches and hazardous roads have also been covered by the investigative traveler.

Several cruise ships are mentioned as not having acceptable sanitary conditions, lack of food hygiene and falsification of discharge logs.

You will in addition to advices get anecdotes about places you should avoid visiting.

For example the increased pollution in Delhi in India is caused by the increasing care sales amongst the normal people since a Indian car like Nano is sold for around 2500 USD which more people can afford in today’s India. The paradox is that some of the new cars pollute more than the older models according to what is written in the book.

The air in Calcutta is so bad that the police has to carry oxygen tanks with them., so you would not like to go for a walk and sightseeing there, unless you are a heavy smoker and do not mind to get some extra chemicals down your throat.New York is a splendid city to visit, but be aware that statistically there will be a hurricane in the Big Apple soon. According to the guide book from Greenberg, the geography tells that the east coast of U.S.A is vulnerable to hurricanes and big storms, and big storms come on a regular basis to these areas through the last 100 years. The last big event was back in 1938, so watch out now.

In Pattaya polluted sanitary water is dumped into the ocean from large apartment complexes. The authorities made a law that complexes larger than 60 units should clean up their waste water before dumping it into the ocean. However, the entrepreneurs just found out to save costs they build complexes with 59 units in them and can therefore continue to dump sewage into the beach waters.

In the U.S.A you can visit the garlic capital called Gilroy in California, which is Americas arm pit. Battle Mountain in Nevada and the largest hand made well in Greensburg in Kansas, or maybe not.

First of all, this is a guide book for the normal tourist, which needs some guidance to avoid the tourist traps, and not avoid places were your health is at risk.

Here is a summary of destinations that Greenberg categorize as the worst candidates within their category.

Worst airports

• Sheremetevo in Moscow – corruption, lines, lousy service, dirty and depressive. Make sure you have dollars and toilet paper with you before you arrive here. There are no alternatives as the other 3 airports in Moscow are equally bad.

• Ninoy Aquino in Manila – taxi-mafia, corruption and general incompetence, but there is an alternative in Clark International which is newer.

• Leopold in Dakar –Do not spend to long time here, it’s dangerous as criminals rule the area in and around the airport and usually luggage gets lost here. There are no alternatives.

• Charles de Gaulle in Paris – smell, arrogance, and long lines combined with lack of logistics which is deemed to be the worst. Alternatives would be Paris-Orly or Paris-Beauvais• Congonhas in São Paulo – is one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to safety of flights due to short runway and the state of it. There are no real alternatives as Guarulhos is to busy.

Pollution

• Tianying, China – an industrial city with lots of lead and heavy metals in the food. • Chongqing, China – crowded coal and steel city with an invisible sky line.

• Cairo, Egypt – 2,1 percent of the deaths are caused by air pollution and the city is full of industry.

• Delhi, India –the second largest polluted city in the world due to lots of traffic and lots of cheap cars which pollutes lots.

• Calcutta, India – 70 percent of the people there has asthmatic problems or lounge problems in one way or another. And the police use oxygen tanks.

 Windsor, Canada – is called North Americas most polluted city due to wind carried polluted air from Detroit.

• Mexico City, Mexico – lies in a pot with lots of ozone and particles in the air. The city is encapsulated by smog at all time.

 Polluted waters

• Pattaya, Thailand – once it was a beautiful beach, but now the growing population pumps out pure sewage into the beach waters.

• Aral lake, Uzbekistan – dehydration causing death of fishes, salt and pure drinking water causes lots of diseases.

• King-river, Australia – dumping ground for copper mines, and all animal life is gone in parts of the river.

• Bangladesh – salt water destroys the drinking water and agriculture along the coast line pollutes a lot. There is a high content of arsenic in the water further inland.

• Jakarta, Indonesia – The large drinking water source is polluted due to large activity of chemical treatment of textiles in the area.

• Sarno-elva, Italy – Heavy metal pollution which pollutes rivers running into the Naples bay. Toxins and radio activity

• Bhopal, India – A big accident in 1984 which still brings heavy smell close to the old factory there.

• Tsjernobyl, Ukraine – A known history of tragedy which is now used for extreme tourism as guided tours are given there. Do not risk this, stay away from there. • Dzerzjinsk, Russia – Fabrication of chemical weapons during the cold war and lots of remnants can be found in the region still.

• Kabwe, Zambia – lead exploitation up till 1994 and we can still find dangerous metals in the earth and waters.

• La Oroya, Peru – This place is full of heavy metals due to the industry in this area. • Linfen, China – is amongst the worst places in China and that tells you the most you need to know. Bring oxygen and water before you enter this area of the world.

Smelling places

• Taean, South-Korea – oil spill in 2007 makes the place smell terrible even today. • Rotorua, New Zealand – Geothermal activity makes the whole city smell sulfur, so do not plan to dress up in your finest clothes or taste good food and wine here.

• Naples, Italy – Very bad handling of garbage makes the trip to Vesuvius and the ruins not worth the trip.

• Dharavi-slum, Mumbai, India –a rapid growing slum with open sewage and terrible sanitary conditions.

 Most tourist traffic

• New York – worst before Christmas and new years eve as well as during Thanksgiving.  Expensive hotels and crowded city makes it a nightmare for most of us. Its best going there between January and March or when the locals have long weekends in the summer and escape the city.

• Disney World, Florida – endless lines in school holidays, Christmas, easter, spring break and 4th of July. An advice is to go there on a Tuesday and first go to Magic Kingdom, then Epcot followed by Hollywood Studios and last Animal Kingdom.

• Grand Canyon – worst to visit during the normal weekdays since excursions and tours makes up most of the traffic and are found to be on these days. Its best to go there in October or early in the spring.

• Eiffel tower, Paris – very bad in the period between May and September and longest lines in the summer months. Its best to go there in November and December as lines are better at that time. Try to go there in the weeks following Thanksgiving and New-year.

• Louvre, Paris –weekends are worst, especially in the summer and in vacations. It is best to go there in the middle of the week or late on Fridays, after 20:00 as its open till 22:00 in Fridays.

• Ayers Rock, Australia – Populated on the look out points at sun rise and sunset. Its best to go there in February, April or December.

• Great Barrier Reef, Australia – 1,8 million of visitors per year by boat, semi-subs or helicopters. Its best not to visit at all, rather try Lord Howe Island or Dunk Island which is more or less identical and much less people. • Pyramides in Giza, Egypt – most popular between October and April months and when its not hot. You should go there as early in the morning as possible at around 5:00 o clock and look at the pyramids in the sunrise. It makes the objects much more photogenic and less people around you as well. Rent a driver that collects you and ride into the sunrise in the morning.

• The Chinese Wall – Big crowds year around and the tourists comes around 09:00, come there before this, and you can be almost alone on the wall, and enjoy this architecture alone.

Crime and dangers

• Yemen – has a bad reputation with kidnapping of westerners, and do not ever drive a car there.

• Tijuana, Mexico – drug cartels dealing with kidnapping and shootouts; take care of your money.

• São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – violence and corruption combined with dangers of being robbed and shot at. • Johannesburg, South-Africa –not as bad as its reputation, but still lots of violence, robberies and rapes in the streets.

• Kingston, Jamaica – increasing crime in areas outside the tourist hotels.

• Port-au-Prince, Haiti – kidnapping and other types of crimes are common here. Foreign airliners personnel never leave the airport when they have to stay here.

As the founder of the German Green Party, Petra Kelly once said “If we don’t do the impossible, we shall be faced with the unthinkable.” It is time we answered Kelly’s call to action and set into motion the necessary steps to revitalize the earth, such as, integrating recycling programs within local communities. The simple practice of generating new uses for discarded materials conserves natural resources, reduces air pollution, saves energy and downsizes landfills. For example, if everyone in the country recycled a newspaper a week thirty-six million trees a year would be saved.

There are six steps involved with setting up a recycling program in recreational facilities:

This guide will outline each of these steps in detail and how to use them to implement a successful recycling program.

Step 1: Consult a Waste Collection Service

Before introducing a program determine what type of recycling is possible for the area. Contact local businesses and find out who collects waste and recyclables in the area. When contacting the companies evaluate their customer satisfaction and collection costs, as well as, determine if neighbouring businesses are interested in sharing recycling services.  If organizing a municipal recycling program contact the local government to establish who collects waste and recyclables for municipal recreation centers in the area.

Each community has a different procedure for collecting recyclables. Find out from the waste hauler what the collection requirements are in the area including:

Step 2: Determine What Is Needed

Determine how much and what type of waste is generated in the facility. Apply it to the specifications provided by the hauler and the anticipated level of traffic for the area. Together this information will provide what is needed for the recycling program to run. For example, a golf course may require large capacity containers placed randomly throughout the course or small containers placed at every tee-off. The type of recycling bin which will work best will depend on how often it will be emptied, the amount of people contributing to it, possible janitorial services and the size of the area.

A great way to determine what is needed for a recycling program is by seeking the input and approval of those in the space. Applying the advice of staff and visitors can encourage future program use. It can also ensure that an appropriate recycling program is selected by those who will be using it.

Step 3: Gather Recycling Equipment

Now that the specific needs of the program have been determined the equipment can be purchased. Consult a recycling bin manufacturer for program ideas and container solutions. Ensure that the bins selected are easy to use, efficient and environmentally sound.

Easy to use recycling containers should be versatile and custom designed to work with any environment. There are different bin features available which make participation in a recycling program easier such as:

Select the container which makes the most sense for the area it will be placed in.

Containers should feature the correct combination of visual indicators and sorting mechanisms to maximize the ease in use. Use clearly marked labels, shaped deposit slots and different color options.  These tools will allow staff and visitors to quickly identify what the bin is designed to collect.

Implementing plastic containers which are environmentally sound can assist a recycling program. Select containers which are 100% recyclable, made with a minimum of 35% recycled content and complimented by matching waste baskets. Containers meeting these requirements will maximize the results of a recreational recycling program as they have green solutions built right in.

North American made containers have a reduced impact on the environment. Local products will reduce air pollution resulting from overseas shipping and toxins from foreign containers. Also, if the recycling bins are within arm’s reach they will be easier to replace or distribute in the future should new containers be needed.

Product Recommendations

Busch Systems offers an extensive line of recycling and waste container solutions. The type of bin to select for a recreational facility will depend on how it will be used. There are four categories of use to consider when selecting bins: individual, shared, outdoor and temporary. Listed below are product recommendations for each category:

These are only a few of the recycling container solutions offered at Busch. To view the complete line of equally attractive alternatives please visit: www.buschsystems.com.

Step 4: Organize the Recycling Program

After a container is selected it must be incorporated into a well organized recycling program. The first step is assigning a program coordinator. This should be someone in the facility who is interested in taking charge of the program. Once the coordinator is made aware of their responsibilities they can ensure that the recycling program is always running smoothly.

The new candidate can begin their duties by selecting where the containers should go. When deciding where bins should be placed bear in mind other containers which may be in the environment, traffic, capacity and collection. The scheduling of container collection may be the deciding factor in determining where the bins should go. Placement options may be limited depending on the size of the collection vehicle and the accessibility of the area.

Suggested Green initiatives

Once the collection of recyclable material has been arranged other green initiatives can be considered. Listed below are a few suggestions for green practices which recreational facilities can perform:

Step 5: Roll Out Program

Following the development of a recycling program is the execution. In order for the program to run smoothly the end user must be educated on how it operates and understand what the goals are. Rolling out the initiative will get those sharing the space excited about the program and motivated to use it.

Organize a meeting to roll out the recycling program to staff. Educate them on how the program runs, what the goals are, who the program coordinator is and what everyone’s responsibilities are. At the meeting hand out pamphlets listing all information pertinent to the program and have staff distribute it to each room of the facility, as well as, to all current and future visitors.

Step 6: Maintain Program

Maintaining a recycling program is a critical component to ensuring its longevity and success. A large part of the upkeep process will be the responsibility of the program coordinator. They will need to constantly monitor the effectiveness of the program and find ways to improve it. The coordinator will also be responsible for keeping those in the facility enthused and new employees educated on the program procedures.

There are several ways in which a program coordinator can keep up enthusiasm at a recreational facility. For example, a record can be stored detailing the volume of recyclables leaving the facility. Statistics can be generated from the record of materials recovered and sent out to the media, from which coverage of the facility may fallow. This will produce positive recognition of staff efforts and will encourage them to keep it up.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the combined usage of the above six steps will enable a recreational facility to incorporate an effective recycling program. The program should work toward conserving our natural resources and safeguarding our environment. Ideally, a new recycling program will allow future generations to flourish in what we have instead of flounder in what we have left behind.

Sources:

Alon Tal, Speaking of Earth: Environmental Speeches That Moved The World (USA, 2006) 140.

Waste Reduction Week Canada. 23 Sep. 2009. Environment Canada. http://www.wrwcanada.com

Type HS PRVs reliably extract large volumes of hot gases and smoke regardless of building configuration, location and weather conditions. They withstand high temperatures for long periods of time.

A reliable ventilation system that can operate during a fire is both vital and essential. It prevents smoke logging, allows people to escape quickly, minimizes damages to property and contents and enables firemen to attack the fire without hindrance. These power roof ventilators have the added advantage of providing normal day to day ventilation and in many cases can also be fitted with duct work for use in multi storey buildings.

The concept of venting smoke and heat was first outlined by Industrial Risk Insurers (IRI). Use of powered ventilation could eliminate the problems experienced with gravity vents. Specially designed roof mounted exhaust fans would mechanically vent heat and smoke under emergency fire conditions.

In addition to the reliability and effectiveness of this powered ventilation concept, the use of HS PRVs to vent heat and smokes has these specific advantages:

* It is not dependent on air temperature differential or wind direction and velocity to create air movement.* It does not rely on heat itself to activate the system. Smoke detectros and water-flow devices also may be utilized.* It provides for normal ventilation needs of the building as well as for emergency use as a vital component of the fire protection system.* There is ususally a substantial cost saving in the purchase and installation of the dual purpose system.* Maintenance cost for building and equipment is frequently reduced.* The system can be effectively used in multi storied and below grade building areas.* Reliability of operations is assured because powered ventilators are in daily use and receive regular inspection and maintenance.

The unique Type HS power roof ventilators provide a solution for emergency heat and smoke venting that is dependable under the most extreme circumstances.

All critical components of HS PTV that exposed to the airstream are ferrous construction to withstand high temperature conditions. These heavy gauge materials prevent warping of fan parts and malfunction at high temperatures. This also insures years of trouble-free service in normal daily operation of the PRV.

The wind shroud is made of galvanized steel; an exterior finish coat of epoxy can be specified. Painted parts are coated with epoxy to provide a protective coating rated excellent for hardness, impact resistance,  adhesion and chemical resistance.

Belt and bearings are protected from the air stream by enclosing them in a ventilated tube. Design of HS fan incorporates a heat slinger/impeller. It isolates the fan bearings from damaging heat and draws cooler outside air through the motor compartment and over the belt and bearings. A spring loade, fusible link activated device automatically opens dampers when temperature at the fan reaches 165 F. Thei enables the fan to function as a gravity ventilator prior to powered operation.

A safety disconnect switch is mounted to the PRV housing. This feature protects maintenance personnel from an accidental fan start when the unit is being serviced.

Type HC Power Roof Ventilators have been tested to operate:

- conituously at 650 F;- 3 Hours at 800 F;- 1.5 Hours at 1000 F;- 1/2 Hour at 1,200 F.

Additional information can be found at the Canada Blower company web site http://canadianblower.com.

Oleg TchetchelCanadian Air Systems EngineerCanadian Blowerhttp://canadianblower.com/index.htmlhttp://canadianblower.com/oem/index.html

The Type CBRE recirculators are designed for use in commercial and industrial applications  where there is sufiicient ceiling height to create a temperature differential between the floor and the ceiling. These applications include factories, warehouses and large commercial buildings.

CBRE Roof Recirculators function as regular power roof ventilators in warmer weather and as an energy-saving recirculation air system in cold weather.  Each unit is equipped with a reversible fan that distributes warm ceiling air thoughout the plant and reduces the builing’s heating requirements. With a flip of a switch it can function as a conventional roof ventilator. There are two unit types: 1) for exhaust and recirculation; 2) for exhaust, supply and recirculation.

Available fan wheel sizes are from 24″ to 60″, performances: up to 50,000 CFM @ 1/2″ WG.

The reversible propeller incorporates specifically engineered airfoil sections and hub size for optimal efficiency and physical strength. Alternate adjustable pitch propeller blades are turned 180 degrees to one another and a double orifice is attached to the fan panel.

Type HS PRVs reliably extract large volumes of hot gases and smoke regardless of building configuration, location and weather conditions. They withstand high temperatures for long periods of time.

Another reliable ventilation system that can operate during a fire is Tenderall Fan Type HS Heat and Smoke Roof Ventilator. It prevents smoke logging, allows people to escape quickly, minimizes damages to property and contents and enables firemen to attack the fire without hindrance. These power roof ventilators have the added advantage of providing normal day to day ventilation and in many cases can also be fitted with duct work for use in multi storey buildings.

The concept of venting smoke and heat was first outlined by Industrial Risk Insurers (IRI). Use of powered ventilation could eliminate the problems experienced with gravity vents. Specially designed roof mounted exhaust fans would mechanically vent heat and smoke under emergency fire conditions.

The unique Type HS power roof ventilators provide a solution for emergency heat and smoke venting that is dependable under the most extreme circumstances.

All critical components of HS PTV that exposed to the airstream are ferrous construction to withstand high temperature conditions. These heavy gauge materials prevent warping of fan parts and malfunction at high temperatures. This also insures years of trouble-free service in normal daily operation of the PRV.

Belt and bearings are protected from the air stream by enclosing them in a ventilated tube. Design of HS fan incorporates a heat slinger/impeller. It isolates the fan bearings from damaging heat and draws cooler outside air through the motor compartment and over the belt and bearings. A spring loade, fusible link activated device automatically opens dampers when temperature at the fan reaches 165 F. Thei enables the fan to function as a gravity ventilator prior to powered operation.

Type HC Power Roof Ventilators have been tested to operate:

- conituously at 650 F;- 3 Hours at 800 F;- 1.5 Hours at 1000 F;- 1/2 Hour at 1,200 F.

Additional information can be found at the Canada Blower company web site http://www.tenderall.com/ventilator/index.html.

Oleg ChetchelIndustrial Process DesignerTenderall Fan Co.http://www.tenderall.com/contact/index.htmlhttp://www.tenderall.com/index.html

BARCLAY COTTAGE BED AND BREAKFAST CHOSEN

ONE OF THE TOP B&BS IN MID-ATLANTIC AMERICA IN THE BEST OF BEDANDBREAKFAST.COM AWARDS

Virginia Beach, Virginia

“We know how important independent reviews are. We’re pleased that inngoers concurred that Barclay Cottage is a favorite among those seeking the B&B experience,” explained BedandBreakfast.com’s Sandy Soule, one of the most highly recognized authors and a spokeswoman for the B&B industry. “It’s clear that Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast earned high marks from inngoers for their fine accommodations, breakfasts, amenities, and wonderful hospitality and service,” commented Soule.

“We are thrilled that we were chosen for a Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award, and are pleased that our guests posted reviews that resulted in this award,” stated Innkeeper, Marie-Louise LaFond. “It is gratifying that our attention to the details that make a difference to guests were recognized by inngoers who took the time to write reviews of our inn,” she continued.. Here’s an excerpt from one of our reviews: “Outstanding Property! Everything about Barclay cottage is top notch. Very clean, excellent breakfast, very comfortable, and great innkeepers. We felt very much at home as soon as we walked in and Steve and Marie Louise made sure that we had everything we needed…”

Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast was built in 1895, served as a private school for 50 years, and has been graciously welcoming guests since 1917, making it one of the oldest continuously operating lodging establishments in Virginia. Located on a quiet street in an historic neighborhood, it is only a three minute walk to the bustling activity of the boardwalk and beach. One of only two remaining Victorian era cottages in Virginia Beach, it has all modern conveniences including: central heat and air conditioning; a Guest Business Center with computer, printer and copier; property-wide WIFI and jetted tubs. The many antiques, hand-made quilts, and Victorian memorabilia take one back to days gone by. One constant is the outstanding service provided by the innkeepers. http://www.barclaycottage.com

The 2008-2009 award winners for the Mid-Atlantic United States region are:

Best of Mid-Atlantic (United States) My Fair Lady B&B, Crisfield, MDOstrander’s Bed & Breakfast, Canton, NY Los Gatos Bed & Breakfast, Penn Yan, NYThe John F. Craig House, Cape May, NJThe Columbian Bed & Breakfast. Columbia, PABrickhouse Inn, Gettysburg, PAThe Brafferton Inn, Gettysburg, PA Cordials B&B, New Hope, PABarclay Cottage, Virginia Beach, VACedars of Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA

Best of Mid-Atlantic (United States)

For a complete list of Best of BedandBreakfast.com winners, and thousands of perfect choices for your next B&B getaway visit http://www.BedandBreakfast.com , the leading online bed and breakfast directory and reservation network worldwide, listing nearly 7,000 B&Bs and inns. Travelers can make reservations online, purchase The Getaway Gift Card from BedandBreakfast.com, welcomed at nearly 4,000 B&Bs in the U.S. and Canada, and read up-to-date trip reports on the BedandBreakfast.com blog, read and write independent reviews, and post questions on expert-hosted message boards.

High resolution photos available upon request

Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast

400 16th Street

Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451

866-466-1895

http://www.barclaycottage.com

Contact: Stephen LaFond 757-422-1956

Upon arrival, newcomers find Cairo to be an exciting city bursting with energy, color and adventure. They also enjoy the immediate and overt friendliness of the locals. The official language in Cairo is Arabic. However, English and French are widely spoken. For visitors who are not familiar with Arabic or French, adjusting to the culture will be easier if they take the initiative to learn some of the common phrases.

There are some things to remember in order to avoid offending the other residents of this city. Pointing and using your index finger, showing the bottom of your feet, using the “thumbs up” sign, gesturing with your left hand (which is considered to be unclean), taking photographs without getting permission are all considered offensive and should be avoided. It is against the law to photograph bridges, railway stations, anything military, airports and other public works.

Tipping (called “baksheesh” in Egypt) is a common practice for most services, regardless of how inconsequential. In hotels and restaurants, a service charge of about 12% is added to the bill, but an extra 5% is customary. Taxi fares often include a tip, but if the driver has given especially good service, 10% is expected. Modest tips for porters and bellhops is also expected. Many people rely on tipping to supplement their incomes and it is part of the Cairo culture, so it is important to be aware of the practice and to remember to carry small change.

People who like dry weather will like Cairo. Cairo experiences dry weather year-round. Winter, spring and fall are fairly mild times of the year. However, in April, it is very hot and there are sandy “Khamsin” (hot, violent winds) desert winds, followed by scorching summers. The average summer temperature is 98° F (37° C) and the average winter temperature is 47° F (8° C). Most buildings and homes have air conditioning.

Cairo is as ancient as history itself, but also showcases a modern flare. Its uniqueness is unexplainable until seen with monuments dating back to four different historical periods: the Pharaonic, the Roman, the Christian and the Islamic. People who enjoy history will love Cairo!

In order to enter Egypt, citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States need to provide a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended length of stay, a visa, and a return or onward ticket are required. Nationals of Bahrain, Djibouti, Guinea, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days.

All other citizens of countries not referenced above need to provide a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended length of stay, a visa, and a return or onward ticket.

All visitors must register within seven days of arrival. This can be done at most hotels, any police station or at the Mugamma building in Cairo’s Tahrir Square—where they are very well prepared to deal with foreign tourists. Every visitor must bring a passport with them when they register. These requirements are always subject to change so checking with the embassy or consulate of the visitor’s home country is recommended.

There are two kinds of Visas available. A Tourist Visa is usually valid for a period not exceeding three months and granted on either a single or multiple entry basis. A Business Visa is required for any foreigner arriving in Egypt for purposes other than tourism, e.g. work, study, etc. The possession of a valid Entry Visa is needed to complete the residence procedure in Egypt.

Trailing spouses are permitted to work in Cairo, as long as all of the immigration steps and Visa processes are followed. To obtain an Egyptian Driver’s License, visitors must show proof that they are at least 18 years old, provide a certificate from an Egyptian ophthalmologist and/or physician to verify blood type, visual and physical health, provide the Traffic Department at Attaba Square in Cairo, or at Giza, with all certificates, a valid driver’s license from the home country, as well as two photographs, a completed LE 55 form and successful completion of both a verbal and a road test. All vehicles must carry a fire extinguisher and a red hazard triangle.

Alcohol, weapons of any sort, drugs, fireworks or explosives, pornographic material, any type of telephone, seeds, gold or silver (except tableware) are prohibited entry into the country. All animals must have a veterinary certificate stating that they are in good health and updated on all their shots, including rabies. Plants are handled on a case-by-case basis analyzed by type of plant and quantity.

The currency in Egypt is the Pound (EGP) abbreviated E£. In Arabic, the pound is called a guineh. The pound is divided into 100 piastres, and each piastre into 10 millims. Bills are available in denominations of E£ 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100, and 25 and 50 piastres. Coins are available in denominations of 5, 10 and 25 piastres. The best way to exchange currency is at banks and hotels. Also, for convenience, private exchange agencies are located at several areas downtown and in the suburbs.

Cash is the preferred method of payment for every day purchases such as groceries, but credit cards are slowly becoming a popular way to pay for items in hotels, restaurants and tourist type shops. You may also use traveler’s checks which can be exchanged at most banks and are accepted as a form of payment at many shops, hotels and restaurants. While in Egypt, one should always carry a small amount of cash, but be aware of pick pocketers in public places.

When it comes to opening a bank account, every bank has different requirements. Most banks offer services in English, Arabic and French and many banks can serve customers in many different languages. Having a colleague, friend or Crown representative, recommend a bank is suggested before setting up an appointment and meeting with a bank consultant. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are available around the clock in various locations throughout Cairo. It is helpful to know that there is a shortage of small change in Egypt so asking for small denominations while banking will be helpful.

When searching for a place to live, some important factors to consider are safety, location preference, individual proximity to school work, etc., and in Cairo, traffic is an important issue to consider. There are many nice places to live in Cairo. Downtown is more lively with the many tourists and a variety of restaurants and stores to choose from. Most expats tend to rent a home, which usually requires a deposit of three months rent in advance, along with a deposit equal to two month’s rent. Typically, utilities and connection charges are not included in the price of rent.

As with most cities, some areas are safer and more desirable than others. This is usually evident in the cost of the accommodation. Checking out local police reports before deciding on an area to live is recommended. These reports provide factual information on types of crimes and how often they occur and should be used in deciding which neighborhood to live in.

Expats that move to Cairo, tend to enlist their children in International (private) schools. A few schools in Cairo that are worth considering are the New Cairo British International School, The Modern English School, Maadi British International School, Schutz American School, American International School in Egypt, International School of Choueifat and Cairo American College.

There are a vast range of pre-schools in Cairo too. Most international and pre-schools have limited spaces available and have long waiting lists. It is important to begin the application process as soon as possible. Transport to and from school will vary widely, depending on the location of the school and the home. Most independent schools run their own bus systems and some parents elect to drive or walk younger children to school. The school year in Cairo typically begins in September and ends sometime in June.

No vaccinations are required, but all travelers coming into Egypt should be up-to-date on tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, polio and varicella immunizations. And, it is important to bring any medical certificates/records from the home country. It is also recommended that visitors check any other specific vaccination requirements carefully with their local Egypt consulate or embassy to confirm medical requirements.

Medical facilities in Cairo are adequate for non-emergency matters, but emergency and intensive care facilities are limited. Typically, most expatriates choose to leave the country if they incur any serious medical problems. Or, for regular check ups, they wait until they go back to their home country and see their regular doctor. However, there are many Western-trained medical professionals throughout Egypt and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo that can provide a list of local hospitals and English-speaking physicians. Do note however, that medical facilities outside Cairo, Alexandria, and Sharm El Sheikh fall short of U.S. standards.

Most insurance companies will provide a list of doctors and specialists in each area. Another alternative that is often helpful is asking a colleague or friend for a referral. The common phone numbers used for emergencies are: Police – 122; Ambulance – 123 and Fire Department – 125. If an emergency occurs in the middle of the night, one can either call one of the numbers referenced above and wait for an ambulance, or ride with a family member to the nearest major hospital.

In Arabic, the name for Pharmacy is Saydaliyya. Pharmacies are located all around the city and many are open 24 hours a day. In addition to selling medications, pharmacies also sell perfume and cosmetics during regular working hours. Drinking the tap water is not recommended. It is best to drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and avoid eating uncooked vegetables.

In Cairo, people drive on the left side of the road. Unless someone is used to driving around Cairo, it is highly recommended that they choose to take a taxi or the metro service rather than driving. The roads in Cairo are always crowded and during rush hour, many people drive aggressively. Parking is also very difficult. Egypt has one of the highest incidences of road fatalities per miles driven in the world. Driving in Cairo is a huge challenge even for seasoned residents. It is recommended that newcomers and visitors do not drive.

Taxis are a very efficient way to get around the city, but the price will have to be “negotiated” with the driver. The Metro is a breath of fresh air in the vast confusion of the city. Signs are in English and Arabic, and ticket purchases and route stops are straightforward. The first car of each train is reserved for women, but women can ride in any car. Only the north-south route is complete and the directions are named by the last stop on the route. El Marg travels North and Helwan travels South.

The most popular grocery stores amongst expats in Cairo are: The Metro Market, Carrefour and Spinneysand Alfa Market. Even though its prices are a little more expensive, the Metro Market is typically the grocery store that most expats choose when they first move to Cairo. It is set up very similar to what is found in the United States. The shops are very clean and organized; they have a deli which serves hot and cold foods, a nice meat market and a wonderful bread selection. And, they have items that are imported from abroad. It is a good grocery store to start out with because they have prices listed in both Arabic and English. Plus, most of the shops accept credit cards and ATM Cards.

The one thing that might take some getting used to is that there is no “one-stop shopping.” There are no stores in Cairo that carry everything under one roof, so one will need to shop at several different shops to get all of their necessities.

There are various newcomer groups that expats can join and there are all types of volunteer work available. Also, some cultures have established support groups. Joining local clubs or volunteering are excellent ways to meet people and make new friends. Families will often network through their children’s schools, getting involved in sports, fundraisers and other activities. Single professionals often socialize in bars and pubs after work hours. There are also several reputable singles networking associations that arrange evening and weekend activities such as dinners at restaurants, sightseeing and touring.

Cairo is not the most equipped place for raising infants or toddlers, but people make do. There are a few nice parks for parents to take their children and most malls have playgrounds as well. Finding a reliable childcare provider or nanny usually depends on the area. Neighbors and colleagues are great resources for recommendations. Cairo is a safe environment for children, but children should always be accompanied and supervised by an adult and should never talk to strangers.

Some fun and cool places that kids love to go to in Cairo are: Dream Park, Fagnoon Park, Aqua Par, Citi Stars, Giza Pyramids and Cairo Tower. Most schools offer after school activities, such as competitive sports teams and various special interest clubs. They also enjoy going to the movies, game arcades and shopping with friends. And, they like to just hang out with their friends at each others homes. Being a teenager in Cairo is similar to other places. As mentioned above, they love to go to spend time with their friends and do fun things.

Welcome to my Barbados naked series. Here I will provide you with details of things to see and do on the island and recommend restaurants, bars and excursions that I have either experienced myself or had guests tell me just how good they really are. I hope that you find the information useful for your trip or research of the island and would be very pleased if you feel you could add anything to my information. If you do please do drop me a line at Admin@VIPvillas.com and we’ll look to add it to our ‘Barbados Naked’ feature for future readers. Please enjoy reading the articles which I will be posting weekly. The series starts this week with an introduction to Barbados, the main tourist knowledge points, some history and facts and figures.

Next week we’ll find out about restaurants and food on the island. I’ll be supplying details of the best restaurants in each town and district and giving you a flavour (if you’ll pardon the pun!) of what they offer. I’ll also detail some of the local dishes that you should try and while there.

Then comes activites. Barbados really does make the most of it’s weather. There are lots of activities to get engaged in from relaxing on the beach to the more energetic pursuits such as diving, watersports and or course golf.

Excursions follows that with a guide on what to do and when. This guide gives you all you need to know to actually ‘do it yourself’, so standby for a full breakdown of the island with contact details for excursion providers and tour operators.

You really can’t go all the way to Barbados and not sample the nightlife now can you!! Well click through during week 5 of my Naked Barbados series to find out which are hot and which are not. From beach bars to the high life of the West Coast this instalment has it all. Barbados naked it most certainly is!!

I have previously completed the top ten beaches in Barbados. Tune in to week six for an indepth look at the best beaches. I’ll be reviewing nearly all of them on the island so you can feast your eyes on those that the tourists don’t know about.

Week seven provides a calendar of events for 2009. Make sure you don’t miss a thning with an indepth study of all that there is going on in 2009.

And we finish in week eight. A whistlestop tour of all that is Naked Barbados!! I’ll round off my series for those specialist trips, getting married? Then tune in, fancy a nature trail? Then click through… it’s all here in this last ‘round up’ week.

So with no time to waste here is my opening piece. Please enjoy!!

FLIGHTS/GETTING THERE

Barbados is well connected to Britain and North America, and currently has a limited service from Continental Europe. With so many incoming flights it acts as a hub to other islands within the South Eastern Caribbean. This makes the island an excellent island hopping base if you intend on visiting other islands. VIPvillas.com can organise separate stays in luxury villas on more than one Caribbean island for you.

The following airlines serve Barbados:

UK:

British Airways from Gatwick

Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick and Manchester

Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA) from Gatwick using British Airways codeshare

BMI from Manchester.

Europe:

Martinair from Amsterdam

Condor from Frankfurt

USA:

US Airways from Philadelphia

American Airlines from New York & Miami

Air Jamaica from New York (JFK)

Delta Air Lines from Atlanta.

Canada:

Air Canada from Toronto

Regional:

Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA), Air Jamaica, LIAT, and American Eagle, which have flights across the Caribbean. Flights to the Grenadines are served by SVG air, TIA 2000 and Mustique Airways – the three airlines also operate together as Grenadines Airways.

ISLAND HOPPING

One very useful fact to know is that there are a number of flights from Barbados to the Grenadines, both as day tours and as transfers, that are known as ‘shared charters’. Practically speaking they run every day, but because they are run by charter airlines, rather than scheduled companies, they are not listed on the international computer systems. See below for the airlines that offer shared charter to the Grenadines.

REGIONAL AIRLINES

LIAT

Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA)

Air Jamaica

SVG Air

Mustique Airways

Trans Island Air/TIA 2000

Day trips to other islands:

Grenadines Discoveries

Fly to Union Island and join a Catamaran for a day sail, with snorkelling and swimming stops in Mayreau, Tobago Keys and Palm Island. $640 including lunch and drinks.

One day air tours to the Grenadines, St Lucia, St Vincent and Young Island, and Grenada.

If you would like to charter a plane, then they are available through:

St Barth Commuter

A local airline based in St Barths, which offers scheduled flights from there to St Martin/St Maarten and Caribbean private aircraft charters to islands all over the Eastern Caribbean. They have a fleet of five twin-engine planes and five specially trained (STOL) pilots with permission to land in St Barths.

SVG Air

A local Caribbean airline that offers charters to the Grenadines from around the region, often from Barbados, but also from St Lucia and Grenada, even from as far as Puerto Rico. SVG Air has around a dozen 5-19-seater planes and also offers island hopping and air ambulance services.

AIRPORT

Grantley Adams International Airport (airport code BGI, after Bridgetown, the island’s capital) is located approximately 10 miles/16km south east of Bridgetown city centre. VIPvillas.com have luxury portfolio of West Coast Villas in Barbados for you to choose from; they really are sheer luxury!

The airport has recently undergone a multi-million dollar expansion with the major phase completed in 2007. This included the construction of a new, much larger arrivals terminal which now houses 22 immigration work stations, five large luggage carousels and two duty free shops. The old arrivals hall has become part of an extended departure lounge and houses a new airside food court and retail concourse. Other facilities include a bank and postal services. Approximately four air bridges are part of the next set of improvements and there has been talk of enclosing the check-in area and installing air-conditioning.

PASSPORTS & VISAS

As a visitor to Barbados you will require a passport which is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry, along with a valid return airline ticket. This now applies to all American and Canadian citizens, whilst British citizens are required to hold a full 10-year passport. American, Canadian, British and EU citizens do not require a visa for short stays. Other nationalities please check with the Barbados High Commission or with your travel organiser for entry requirements

LOCAL TRANSPORT

The bus system in Barbados is a good one and the fleet of blue and yellow buses (BM licence plate) reaches every corner throughout the island on a regular basis. You will need exact change for the buses and they stop only at official bus stops, which are marked either ‘To City’ or ‘Out of City’ in a red and white circle. The destination is displayed over the front windscreen.

The Government service is supplemented by privately operated mini-buses (B licence plate) that are painted yellow with a blue stripe down the side, and route taxis (ZR licence) which are white with a burgundy stripe. These buses do give change, and they also play local music (somewhat loud at times) and can be hailed down anywhere on route. Destinations are usually on a sign placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the windscreen, and routes normally painted on the sides of the buses. It should be noted that ZR vans are an adventure as well as a mode of transport. They tend to stop at the drop of a hat and travel at speeds which are not for the faint hearted. But then they’ll go out of their way to drop a granny with her shopping outside her house. Avoid travelling at peak times when buses are packed to the limit. The fare to any destination is Bds$1.50 one-way. Depending on the routes, during the week buses can operate from as early as 5.30am to as late as 12.30pm.

For more information on the Government Transport Service, telephone Barbados 436 6820

CAR HIRE

Hiring a car is an excellent addition to a visit to the Caribbean, but particularly so in Barbados because there is plenty to do and because the island is surprisingly good to explore. There are some delightful beaches cut into the cliffs of the south east, which make for an excellent day out and picnic, and the Atlantic coast is wonderfully dramatic. Getting lost in the canefields is almost par for the course, so don’t worry when you do. Just stop and ask and someone is bound to help. Finally, there are all the restaurants to visit in the evening. From an island perspective, cars are a vital aspect of local life. The Bajans would prefer to drive a few hundred yards to work than to walk and so there is actually a rush hour each morning and evening. There are a staggering 1719 kms of paved road network on the island.

A local driving permit is required to drive in Barbados. This costs Bds$10 and can be obtained from the car hire company when you hire the car, or at any police station. If you are visiting during the winter season and know that you will want a car then it is advisable to book it well in advance otherwise, due to demand, it will be impossible to get hold of one. VIP villas can secure excellent car hire rates for you; better than the main car hire companies. You must have held a licence for at least two years to hire a car in Barbados, and be at least 21 years of age and under 75 years of age.

Indicative prices can be found below.

2007-08 Stoutes Car Rentals Rate Guide in US$ per day/week:

Mini Moke Auto (4str) – 61/265

Jimny Jeep (Soft top) Auto (4str) – 69/320

Terios Jeep 1500cc (Hard top) A/C Auto (5str) – 85/420

Vitara Jeep 2000cc (Hard top) A/C Auto (5str) – 95/490

Rates are in US$, subject to 15% VAT and are valid 16 Dec 2007 to 15 December 2008.

Comprehensive insurance is included in the rental rate except for a deductible of US$1,500 in case of loss, accident or damage to the vehicles – regardless of fault.

A collision damage waiver (CDW) is offered to cover this deductible at a cost of US$49/week or US$10/day. Clients are charged for the petrol in the vehicles at the time of hire, and should return the vehicles empty. Child seats and booster seats are available for hire on request. Car hire rates, CDW, petrol, and extras such as child and booster seats are subject to 15% VAT. Payment is made for the hire at the time of delivery.

DRIVING & PARKING

Driving is on the left on Barbados, don’t forget your driving licence!

Generally speaking drivers are fairly courteous and, being quite conservative, they tend to abide by the Highway Code. However do be cautious going around roundabouts, as not all drivers know which lane they ought to be in. You will also need to keep an eye out for Z vans and minibuses which stop in the middle of the road at the drop of a hat. Try to avoid going anywhere during the rush hour, when all of the major roads heading into Bridgetown, Holetown and the South Coast tend to be back-to-back with traffic (the local radio stations have traffic reports during both the morning and evening rush hours). Almost every household on the island seems to own a car, and for those that do not there are plenty of families who have more than one. Some children still walk to school, so as there are very few pavements (sidewalks) you should drive with caution during the start/finish of the school day. Take special care when going around blind corners in rural areas.

Drink driving laws are being introduced so check for new regulations.

Seat belts are compulsory and failure to wear one attracts a fine of Bds$500. The speed limit in Barbados is 37 mph/60 kph except on the highways (55 mph/80 kph) and in Bridgetown (20 mph/32 kph).

PARKING

The parking fee for official car parks in Bridgetown, and at the airport, is currently Bds$1 per hour or part thereof, and $6 for the whole day. Tickets are issued on entering and payment is made on exit.

TAXIS

Taxis are widely available around Barbados (if you can’t find one just walk into the nearest hotel and they’ll find one for you), with taxi stands located at the airport, Bridgetown Harbour, and Bridgetown at Independence Square Lower, Broad Street and Heroes Square, South Coast at Accra Beach – Hastings Rocks, West Coast at Sunset Crest Shopping Centres 1 and 2.

Taxis are not metered. Instead the fares are fixed. However it is always a good idea to confirm the cost of your journey before setting off.

Rates by distance should not exceed Bds$2.50 per mile or Bds$1.50 per kilometre. The flat rate per hour is Bds$32, with waiting time Bds$7 per hour between 6am to 10pm, and Bds$8 per hour between 10pm and 6am.

MEDICAL

Generally the climate in Barbados is pretty benign and there are only a couple of issues that you can encounter here that are not in Europe or the States. Check that your coverage for polio and tetanus is up to date. There is no malaria in Barbados, but there are very occasional outbreaks of dengue fever – another mosquito-borne disease which happens after considerable rain. You should take normal precautions against mosquito bites. If you are susceptible then make sure to use insect repellent during daylight hours and after sunset.

Visitors’ prescriptions can be fulfilled by local pharmacies, following consultation with a local physician.

HOSPITALS

The medical facilities in Barbados are among the best in the Caribbean. There are eight polyclinics throughout the island and two hospitals.

The general hospital is Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Bridgetown which has 600 beds and operates a 24 hour A&E department.

There is also a modern private facility at the Bay View Hospital in St Michael which does not have an A&E Dept., however there is the FMH Emergency Medical Clinic in St Michael.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccinations are not required for entry into Barbados, though you may with to check with your GP prior to travelling. There is one exception, for travellers who have come from areas infected with of Yellow Fever, where a vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one (1) year of age.

ELECTRICITY

Domestic current will operate appliances designated for 115/230 volts AC, 50 Cycles, with 2-pin US style plugs and sockets.

TELEPHONE

Barbados has a pretty good telecommunications system and it has recently been deregulated so that mobile phones from abroad will work (though calls can still be pretty expensive). The networks are Cable & Wireless, Digicel and AT&T Wireless.

The international dialling code for Barbados is +1 246 followed by seven digits. When on-island simply dial the seven digits. If you are staying in a villa do check to see if the phone allows international calls, as some have debars, which will need to be lifted, and for which there is a deposit.

Internet services are available at most hotels, and some villas, plus a number of internet cafes have now opened. Cellular phones can be rented or a roaming feature can be added to your own mobile

Overseas phone calls can be made from any phone booth around the island, payment for which is by credit card or a local pre-paid calling card.

TIME ZONE

Barbados is 4 hours behind GMT and so during the winter it is four hours behind Britain and five behind the rest of Europe, and an hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the States. Barbados has no daylight saving time in the summer so the island is then five hours behind British Summer Time (six behind the rest of Europe) and on the same time as the eastern seaboard of the United States.

TOURIST INFORMATION

There are Barbados Tourism Authority information offices at the airport, between the arrivals hall before Immigration and the Departure Lounge, t 428 0937; at the Deep Water Harbour (where the cruise ships come in), t 426 1718; and at the BTA’s main office on Harbour Road, Bridgetown, t 427 2623.

Outside Barbados you will find BTA offices in the following places:

Britain: 263 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 P 7LA, t 020 7636 9448, btauk@barbados.org

Canada: 105 Adelaide St West, Suite 1010, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1P9, t (416) 214 9880, toll free 1800 268 9122, btapublic@globalserve.net

USA: 800 Second Ave, New York NY 10017, t (212) 986 6516, btany@worldnet.att.net; 3440 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1215, Los Angeles, CA 90010, t (213) 380 2198, btala@worldnet.att.net; 150 Alhambra Circle Suite 1000, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, t (305) 442 7471, btamiami@barbados.org

DEPARTURE TAX & TAXES

Departure tax is no longer payable at the airline check-in desk as it should be included in the cost of your airline ticket – please check your ticket to confirm this. This tax (passenger service charge) is payable by all passengers leaving the island (exempt for stays under 24 hours) and over the age of 12 years. The amount increased to Bds$55/US$27.50 on 1st February 2007.

Hotel and villa accommodation incurs a 7.5% government room tax and a service charge in Barbados, which is normally added to your bill (unless you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel). It can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct make sure you calculate it in when pricing up your trip.

A 15% VAT applies to most services including car hire, tourist attractions, restaurants, retail (apart from Duty Free items), excursions etc, but this is usually included in the published price, except for car hire rates, which are usually quoted excluding VAT so you’ll need to add it.

WEATHER

Barbados boasts that it has 3000 hours of sunshine each year. Certainly even within the Caribbean it has an excellent climate. Temperatures vary by just a few degrees across the year and because it is surrounded by sea the island rarely gets too hot, except occasionally in summer, particularly if it is still. Generally though, there is a breeze to take the edge off the heat. The best time to visit is in the winter, when the northern hemisphere is at its coldest in February, though this is of course the high season and the most expensive time.

The rainiest time of year is over the late summer months between August and late October. Often the sun comes back out after a shower, but occasionally a blanket of cloud will spin off a weather system in the northern hemisphere and may cover the island with cloud for a few days.

Barbados lies just on the edge of the hurricane belt, but has not been seriously affected in recent years.

WATER

Most of the water in Barbados is artesian water, rainwater that has soaked into the limestone structure of the land. Generally it is drinkable from the tap and tastes good, but in restaurants you will be offered a choice of bottled or local water. However, with so much pressure on existing groundwater supplies in recent years, a desalination (the largest in the Caribbean) facility is now in operation, which provides water for 20% of the island’s population, currently within the Spring Garden Highway area where the plant is located. Sandy Lane Hotel also has a desalination system.

Piped water was introduced to Bridgetown in 1861, and to commemorate the event an ornamental fountain, made in Britain, was erected in 1865 in what is now Heroes Square.

CHILDREN

In general children are well received in Barbados, but some of the smarter hotels have an age restriction policy at certain times of year, especially during February and March. Others offer special children’s programmes. Most villas are well geared up for children too. It is easy to find babysitters and they cost approximately Bds$20 per hour, plus transport home.

There is not an abundance of playgrounds in Barbados at the moment, however six of the Chefette fast food outlets now have Kids Zones (air-conditioned at Rockley) and each playground has slides, cars and rides and other activities and also cater for parties. Pizzaz pizza restaurant in Sunset Crest in Holetown on the West Coast also has its own playground.

Apart from frolicking in the sea and building sand castles, there are a number of child friendly activities available on island: the Barbados Museum has a dedicated children’s gallery with an exhibition called ‘yesterdays children’ in the Kidd Gallery, Folkstone Marine Park near Holetown is a recreational underwater park with a snorkelling trail, an interpretive centre and museum with marine displays and a saltwater aquarium, there is also a picnic area, tennis and basketball courts and a playground. The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is popular with children for the animals on view, as is Atlantis Submarine and Harrison’s Cave. The Barbados Golf Academy has an 18 hole mini course with special rates for 14yrs and under. There is a Drive-in Cinema near the Sheraton Centre, which also has an indoor cinema. Farley Hill National Park has a picnic and play area. See later instalments of Naked Barbados for further Child friendly activities in Barbados.

Adventure Beach at The Boatyard has kayaks, pedal boats, glass bottom boats, ocean trampolines, a floating rock climbing ice-berg, beach volley ball and snorkelling. Accra Beach in the Rockley area is another popular beach spot and is good for boogie boarding with boards for hire. Batts Rock on the West Coast (close to Calabaza Restaurant) has good swimming and snorkeling, plus a small children’s playground with slides, swings and see-saws. There is a parking area, picnic benches, shower and changing facilities, and drinks machine.

CORPORATE/INCENTIVES

Barbados has excellent facilities for corporate clients in all types of group, incentive and corporate travel and events. The island has good international and regional air links, making it easy to get to. Where accommodation is concerned, some of the VIPvillas larger villas can make ideal settings for smaller groups. Especially those that come staffed with chefs.

For meeting facilities outside of the featured properties note:

Sherbourne Conference Centre, St Michael, t 467 8200

www.bcslbarbados.com

Multi-level conference and event facility with 164,000sq ft of meeting and exhibition space, for trade shows, conferences and special events of up to 1200 persons, seated theatre style in the largest room. Eleven meeting rooms, five break-out rooms, two foyers and two dining rooms, mass media facilities and state of the art telecommunications equipment, infrared Simultaneous Interpretation System

Frank Collymore Hall, Central Bank Building, Bridgetown

The Grande Salle, at 61’x 29’, can be used for exhibitions, art showings and meetings, with five large & eleven small screens. The Meeting Room seats 70 and is equipped with presentation and projection equipment.

WHAT TO PACK

Consider the following items when packing for a trip to Barbados:

Adequate sun protection, high factor sun cream, sunglasses, hat/cap and a lightweight beach-shirt/blouse/t-shirt; suitable beach and walking shoes; mosquito repellent containing DEET suitable for use all day; cream for insect bites. Also consider and adapter plug, film and batteries for camera; toiletries; beach mat/towel; preferred brand of coffee/tea; small torch.

Clothes – lightweight cotton clothing, with elegant/casual attire for evenings. Note that most good restaurants and top hotels require that men wear long trousers and shirts in the evenings, not shorts, flip-flops or t-shirts. During the festive season people tend to dress up and a few of the more exclusive establishments may request jacket and tie. Women may wish to pack a lightweight wrap or jacket during the winter months, as the evenings (Jan/Feb) sometimes feel cool after the heat of the day.

You should be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing in Barbados. It is also an offence to bring in meat products from the UK.

BANKS

International and local commercial banks operating in Barbados include the Bank of Nova Scotia/Scotia Bank, Barbados National Bank, First Caribbean Bank, Caribbean Commercial Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and The Mutual Bank. The Central Bank of Barbados has been in operation since 1973. The island also offers offshore banking and insurance services.

Bank opening hours are Mon-Thurs 8am to 3pm and Fri 8am to 5pm. Most banks are closed on the weekend, but the Mutual Bank has two branches that open until 7pm on Fridays and until 2pm on Saturdays, and the Caribbean Commercial Bank opens from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. ATMs are located across the island, including the airport, harbour, some petrol stations and shopping malls. Note that ATMs will only give out Barbados Dollars (not US Dollars) and some charge for overseas cash transactions.

Banks require customers to show their passports when cashing traveller’s cheques. You will need to show a transaction slip as well if you wish to convert Barbadian dollars back to your home currency.

CURRENCY/CREDIT CARDS

The currency of Barbados is the Barbados dollar (Bds), which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$1.00 = Bds$1.98 (some street/beach vendors may do a straight 2 for 1). All prices on island are quoted in Barbados dollars, with the exception of hotel rates which are in US only, and duty free items where the local Bds$ price is shown alongside US dollar price. US dollars (notes only) are accepted throughout the island, however you will often find that the rate of exchange will not be as favourable in hotels, supermarkets and large stores as that in the bank.

CREDIT CARDS

Most of the major credit cards (including debit cards) are accepted anywhere that deals with tourists on a regular basis. Do not expect local bars or small local restaurants to accept them (if in doubt double check in advance), but you will find that the larger supermarkets often do. It is worth noting that certain credit cards may attract an additional charge.

Next week I’m covering restaurants and food on the island so make sure you click through to read it. I will detail specific restaurants and include contact details for them so put that together with the taxi numbers and you’re on your way!!

Going through such a process can undoubtedly be hellish for those who have time constraints. Following the below-mentioned steps can however save you a lot of trouble and speed up the process resulting in quick approval:Get your Canada passport application form – These application forms are now available online are interactive in nature. They guide the applicants through all the procedures very well to minimize the possibilities of errors and eliminate chances of omission. You can also get them at a Canada postal outlet or passport service location.Take passport size photos – You need to take a passport size photograph and its two identical copies, not more than a year old. Get your form and photo identity cards signed by a guarantor – Just take a print out of the form mentioned above and fill it accurately checking all your queries online. You need to have at least one proof of your identity that has your name and signature; the document must have been issued to you by the provincial, federal, or municipal government. One such document could be your provincial driver’s license. You must submit the originals of all the documents along with their photocopies. After the necessary verification, the original copies of all the documents submitted by you will be returned. In case, you are submitting only copies of all documents, your guarantor must sign them all.

Obtaining a guarantor’s signature on the Canadian passport application is a must. Generally, a guarantor is a person who knows you personally for not less than two years and can verify the accuracy of your statements and documents supporting your Canadian passport application. In fact, the guarantor must also sign one of your passport size photographs too along with the documents supporting your identity and citizenship.Obtain a proof of your valid Canadian citizenship – You need to have your birth certificate or that of your Canadian citizenship. In case you are born outside Canada, you may produce certificates of Canadian Citizenship, Naturalization, Retention of Canadian Citizenship, or Registration of Birth Abroad.Using a previous Canadian passport as supporting identification – A previous Canadian passport may be used a supporting identification provided that all of the following conditions are met: the passport is still valid or is year after its expiry date; the passport itself is submitted with the application form; the name on the passport is the same as the one on the application,

On average, the passport application process takes 10 days if you are applying in person and 20 days if you applied by mail. The Canadian government also provides urgent or express services for emergency or compassionate reasons on a case-by-case basis, applications must be in person and submitted with a proof of emergency.