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Saint Croix is the largest of the US Virgin Islands, which lie 1730 miles east south east of Miami and 93 miles west of Puerto Rico. This sector of the Virgin Islands has belonged to the United States since 1917 when they were purchased from the Danish government for $25m in gold to safeguard American coasts from German U-boat attack.

At the time, it was feared that Germany would subjugate the islands and construct submarine pens there in order to attack American supply shipping, which was essential to the allies in Europe during the First World War.

The US Virgin islands is a group of about 60 largely uninhabited islands, the four biggest of which are called St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island. (By the way, ‘Saint’ is spoken in the English manner). The Islands’ inhabitants, however, have other names for these four which are Twin City, Rock City, Love City and Small City respectively.

Christopher Columbus landed there on November 14th, 1493, but there is proof of human habitation on the island going back to 5000 BC. In fact, the Arawaks and the Caribs made up the islands’ populace, before the Europeans got there.

Possession of St Croix and the other Virgin Islands changed a lot over the following centuries, but it became infamous to many people as Santa Cruz, which is its Spanish name. As Santa Cruz, St Croix featured prominently in 17th and 18th century stories of pirates and buccaneers on the Spanish Main.

In fact, after Spain initially took control of the island, it changed hands seven times; having been Spanish, British, French, Maltese, Dutch, Danish and now American. The residents of the US Virgin Islands are now US citizens and carry US passports. They also use the US dollar and US laws.

St Croix was an agricultural powerhouse in the Caribbean until the 1960’s when the local government determined it was time to industrialize. The island is now home to HOVENSA, one of the largest oil refineries in the world.

There is also a large distillery, the Cruzan Rum Distillery, which used to produce rum from sugar cane grown on the island. Sugar cane, or its extract, molasses are now imported from the Dominican Republic to manufacture Southern Comfort and Cruzan Rum. Diageo is arranging to build a distillery there too in order to produce Captain Morgan Rum.

Residents of the island call themselves Crucians. However, there is a great deal of debate about what constitutes a ‘real Crucian’. Many say that a Crucian is someone who was born and raised on St Croix, while others claim that descendants of the slaves that the Danes took over in 16th and 17th Centuries are the only true Crucians.

Many Crucians can trace their ancestry back to Puerto Rico or other Virgin islands as the sugar cane industry attracted a lot of migrant workers in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. There was also an influx of down-islanders (ie from other Caribbean islands), as the locals say, after the industrialization of St Croix in the US Virgin Islands in the 1960’s and 1970’s as tourism and petrol became more important to the economy.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with St Croix Virgin Islands. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.

With the recent improvement in the economy, travelers’ willingness to spend their hard-earned money on vacations is on the rise. Those, however, who are looking for the fabulous hotel deals of 2009 are likely to be disappointed. According to recent respected travel publications, hotels aren’t willing to offer rock-bottom deals now that rooms are no longer empty. Travelers, however, who are willing to take some time and effort, can still find good deals. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Marriott is one of many hotels now advertising their lowest rates to customers booking online at their Website. They offer a guarantee that can’t be beat by other online travel brokers: an extra 25% off if within 24 hours of making a reservation a customer finds a lower rate for comparable room type, dates, etc. Marriott calls it their “Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee.” Call or visit them online for details. Rules and restrictions may apply.

Most vactioners are looking for the same type of trip: warm weather in the winter, cool weather in the summer. But that may not describe you. Perhaps you would enjoy just the opposite? If you book travel dates in the off-season, or during the week, you are likely to save money. Another perk? Traveling during off-times means less crowded hotels, restaurants, beaches, attractions, etc. If you are open-minded, you may be able to save a bundle.

Most people don’t equate a city’s financial district with a vacation spot. Let’s face it…there are no beaches or cruise ships! Just buildings and business people. During the weekends, however, it’s a different story altogether. Things are slower, and that’s when you may find yourself a great travel deal. The best of the best can often be found in a city’s finacial district–great hotels, fine restaurants, clubs, museums, etc. And all can often be less busy on the weekends.

If you are thinking you can’t afford to stay in a metropolitan area such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, or New York, you may be pleasantly surprised. Many hotels in large cities have upgraded to include many more rooms. You don’t necessarily have to stay on the outskirts of town where hotel options can be few.

Almost all hotels now offer a “Romantic Getaway” package if you book online at the hotel’s Website. They often include such special offers as spa treatments, discounts on dining, and golf deals. Even if you aren’t looking for romance, sometimes these packages can still save you money! It’s always a good idea to check a hotel’s online specials.

You can get 40% off a hotel, that is what we call Cheap Hotel Rates, it’s easy just visit Chris Linch’s homeshophotels.com.

When many people, singles and families alike, think about booking a holiday, many of them would only consider going to the beach for a two week’s lounging on the beach under the sun and swimming in warm, azure sea.

However, many of the best, most famous beach locations are magnets for crowds of people. It seems that most people like the sand, the sea and the sun. Now some people go to these destinations precisely because they are busy. They like the crowds and the night clubs that appeal to them. Mainly singles go to these kinds of destinations and a holiday affair is not far from many peoples’ minds.

Couples and older people may prefer a little less noise, pollution and commotion. However, there are beaches which meet these demands too. Often they are private beaches. Some have hotels on them but some do not. Those that do not frequently have inland beach cottage rental properties instead. These are virtually always self-catering.

When most people think of a beach it is automatically connected with the sea. However, this need not inevitably be so. There are also inland beaches on lakes and rivers. These beaches are usually referred to as inland beaches. Somewhere to stay can be a problem with even some of the best inland beaches.

Many of these inland beaches are simply not well-known enough to make a hotel commercially feasible, but some of them have cottage rentals as an alternative. These cottages, or cabins sometimes, can be hard to find if you do not reserve early enough. They are frequently complete homes, fully equipped with all the household facilities you have grown used to: a fully furnished living room, multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and a contemporary kitchen.

Inland beach cottage rentals are popular because they are usually located right on the water’s edge. This makes the bit of beach right before your cottage your private beach. You can sleep on it at night if it’s hot, lie there all day or set up a few fishing lines.

In the evenings, you can hitch up with neighbours to have a party or keep yourself to yourself. For this reason, it is a good idea to check photos of the cottage before you make a reservation.

If an inland beach cottage rental sounds just up your street, there are thousands to choose from in the United States and Canada. The Great Lakes are a particularly fine place to go. There are excellent locations in the Finger Lakes region of New York state and along Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

You will not be disappointed about going on holiday to an inland beach cottage rental property. There are so many variations that there is certainly something for every pocket and every family size. Singles are not so well catered for, but if you want a quiet holiday alone. maybe to study, then this might right be for you too.

You can fly into some of these resorts by seaplane, but it is more likely that you will take your own car or a rental car, if you want to get out and do some exploring further afield. Personally, I would rather rent a dinghy.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the rental of Welsh coastal cottages. If you are interested in a cottage or Wales in general, please go to our website at Welsh Products Online

There are lots of destinations for people interested in sailing and if you are tired of the Virgin Islands then try the rest of the Caribbean.

The Caribbean islands are part of an island chain stretching 2,500 miles. Given the vast distance, it is no surprise that tourists spend weeks out there in order to enjoy the splendour that it has to offer.

Just like in the Virgin Islands, there are lots of charter companies you can try for various hobbies. These companies come in different sizes, but perhaps the best is the yacht charter.

When you charter a yacht, apart from the yacht, the other elements and benefits that come with it are meals, separate guest rooms, a galley, toilet and shower.

Since you are the paying guest aboard the boat, you can modify the menu by telling the cook before the voyage what you want to eat. You can help out by buying the provisions yourself, having someone from the crew do it for an additional fee or choose a set menu from one of their pre-composed packages.

Since most of the islands in the Caribbean are small and uninhabited, you are certain to see places that not many have seen. But if you can’t afford to rent a chartered yacht, don’t worry because you can probably get one that will cost as little as $50 if you are able to book a pre-arranged trip with several other guests to share the bill.

One thing you ought to be ready for during you sailing holiday is the possibility of a storm. These generally occurs in the months from June to November. If you are not sure that this is the best time, book the trip on another date.

But if you are adamant about going on your dates, there are some online tools you can utilize to check if the area you will be sailing in has ever been hit by a storm before.

The other option is to plan your itinerary to the Caribbean islands further south because they are less likely to be affected by a storm. These places include the islands of Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, and Turks and Caicos.

If you like the idea of going sailing around the Caribbean there are ample choices. You could do a lot worse than start in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands and travel south or west. If you start in St Croix, which the pirates of old used to call Santa Cruz, you will not need a passpert and can take your pets with you, but you will need more ID if you call into foreign islands.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with St Croix Hotels. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.

Traveling to a foreign place comes with some challenges. For example, it is important to make sure that even cheap hotels are clean, comfortable and provide all the necessary facilities. It is likely that any hotel with one or more stars will have at least some of these qualities.

Affordable doesn’t have to mean settling for poor service. Budget hotels are often very inexpensive and provide decent service. Cheap hotel rates that are family fun often provide the best service. Some well known three-star hotels provide modern, clean bedrooms but also provide minimal service.

Four-star hotels in Sydney or Melbourne usually have good facilities. These hotels have been evaluated and provide a good level or service and comfort. In addition, four-star hotels generally have a good level of security. The only downside is that you may not find enough leisure facilities in these hotels to suit you.

If you are looking to save a lot of money, a two-star hotel is the way to go. However, be forewarned that these hotels usually provide very basic service. Not much can be expected from these hotels and they are usually only advisable for backpackers or students.

Good hotels will advertise with lots of pictures on their website. If you find a hotel that sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Ample pictures are a good indicator of a hotel that is confident in their facilities. Pictures should provide you with a good idea of the rooms, interior facilities, and ambiance.

The bedroom is where you spend most of your time when you stay at a hotel. So, make sure you know what it looks like. Verify that the descriptions or pictures are accurate by looking for reviews of the hotel. If you have any questions about the hotel that aren’t answered on their website, a quick phone call is all it takes to give you peace of mind.

Chris Linch has a website that has Cheap Hotel Rates. If you want to save a lot of money on your booking, follow the tips above and visit his website. They have the low price guarantee and all rooms are prepaid, save 40%!