Best All Inclusive Resorts

Choosing an all-inclusive resort can be difficult, giving the prevalence and variety of these vacation destinations. Fortunately, many resorts tailor their facilities to a specific group or preference. For example, there are couples-only resorts. Another type of all-inclusive resort caters to families with children of virtually any age. But you need to think more deeply than just “couple” or “family” when planning your vacation. Resorts fall into many categories. Here are just a few “flavors” of resort for you to consider: beach, casino, diving, golf, honeymoon, meeting and convention, romantic, spa, wedding, family and budget.

The selection process can get complicated. Luckily, the Internet is a great resource. Many Web sites categorize and even rate the best all-inclusive resorts according to the features and amenities offered. Resorts like Sandals and Beaches are consistently rated high. For example, Beaches – Turks and Caicos is often rated as a top beach and diving resort, while the lesser-known Riu Bambu All-Inclusive – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is rated as a top casino all-inclusive resort.

If you’re looking for a golf-oriented resort, consider Sandals Ocho Rios Resort & Golf Club – Ocho Rios, Jamaica or Sandals St. Lucia Golf Resort & Spa – St. Lucia. For couples only, there’s Sandals Antigua Resort & Spa, Antigua or Couples Negril – Negril, Jamaica. You’ll even find nude and clothing optional resorts like Hedonism III – Runaway Bay, Jamaica.

The key to finding the best all-inclusive resort for your vacation is to do some research and find a resort that’s tailored to your interests and preferences. You’re more likely to enjoy your vacation at a golf-oriented resort if you’re an avid golfer. For that lavish, once-in-a-lifetime beachfront wedding, choose a resort that specializes in romantic weddings. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you should be able to find an all-inclusive resort that will accommodate you. With some thought and planning, you’ll be on your way to the vacation of a lifetime.

Best Acne Solutions

Most everybody has to deal with acne at one time or the other. Acne is especially noticeable during teen years when individuals are the most self-conscious about their looks and wish to make a favorable impression. The disfiguring effects of acne (especially on the face) are quite depressing and can greatly damage anyone’s self esteem.

Acne is caused by an imbalance in the skin’s physiology. Hormonal changes during adolescence trigger hyperactivity of oil producing glands in the skin. This oil and dead skin cells block hair follicles. Opportunistic skin bacteria then infect these follicles.

With so many commercial anti-acne medications to choose from, how does one know which medication suits him or her best? Different skin types react differently to medications. What works well for one person may not work for another. While it is always best to consult a dermatologist, below are a few popular medications used in the battle against acne. These drugs act on factors that cause acne — oil, dead skin and bacteria.

Accutane is an oral drug that acts on cells that produce oil and reduces their output by as much as 80%. However, Accutane affects all the cells in the body and could cause the mucosal lining in lips, mouth, eyes and vagina to bleed. It also causes significant birth defects and damages the liver.

Antibiotics help in controlling the infectious bacteria in an outbreak of acne. Erythromycin is widely used in topical applications. Continued use of antibiotics though results in the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Individual sensitivity to antibiotics should also be tested prior to use.

Retin A is a topical medication that is quite effective in reducing acne, but it does cause skin irritation, redness, itching and flaking.

Several masks that reduce the oil content of the skin are available. These include charcoal and oatmeal masks. One must be cautious in using these as they may cause over drying of skin.

Salicylic Acid, better known as aspirin, is an effective antidote. When used topically as a 1-2% solution, it promotes exfoliation of the epidermal layer of the skin, and minimizes plugging of follicles.

Precautions such as avoiding exposure to strong sunlight and intake of greasy food, controlling stress, personal hygiene and regular exercising go a long way in controlling the effects of acne.

Best Acne Medicine

There are many products on the market which are used to fight acne. The ten most popular acne-fighting products are as follows:

1) Astara Blue Flame Purification Mask

It has the gentle scent of lavender, which acts as an aromatherapy treatment for stress, and requires about 10-15 minutes of drying time.

2) Phyto Me Acne Gel

It soothes the skin, fights acne-related pain and effectively deals with pustules, whiteheads and blackheads.

3) Neutrogena Cooling Gel Mask

It clears pores and minimizes the appearance of pores, along with controlling the breakouts related to clogged pores.

4) Acne Dry Spot

It is intended to treat existing blemishes; it should not be applied to unaffected areas.

5) Biore Blemish Bomb

It is an overnight treatment, which works like an acne patch.

6) pHisoderm 4-Way Daily Acne Cleanser

It is a 4-in-1 cleaner, toner and acne fighter, and is used twice daily to cleanse the skin

7) DDF BP Gel 5% with Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Benzoyl peroxide removes blemishes and prevents new breakouts. The two, when combined, are very efficacious.
8) Derma Clear

A unique all-in-one skin care product that will clean, clear and rejuvenate the skin with less than a week of continued use. It is an “all you need” daily use product that promotes clearer skin, but is not used as a spot treatment for sudden flare-ups.

9) Clinique Acne Solutions Emergency Gel Lotion

This benzoyl-peroxide-based product helps clear stubborn, recurring blemishes, unclogs bacteria-filled pores, controls oil, and reduces redness, thus improving the overall appearance of acne-prone skin.

10) DDF Pumice Acne Scrub

It is a cleanser/exfoliant using benzoyl peroxide. It not only fights acne flare-ups, but can help eliminate razor bumps.

Bermuda

Bermuda evokes the sinister connotations associated with its much maligned and notorious triangle that gobbled down many a ship. A Spanish sailor-explorer Juan de Bermudez discovered this sequestered archipelago nearly five hundred years ago. Later on, this small 21-square-mile island became a rendezvous for mariners and navigators from many countries while they sailed through the Atlantic. Today, Bermuda is a tourist paradise, especially for vacationers from the United States and Canada.

Bermuda is known as a place where dreams come true. Bermuda offers a great variety of tourist attractions both on land and sea for adventure lovers. The place is a paradise for people who love to watch dolphins. You can touch them, feed them, play with them and even swim along with them by riding underwater scooters.

Bermuda is also an ideal location for people whose idea of relaxation is playing golf. The beautiful golf courses set among water falls, artificial lakes, and adjoining seashores provide a veritable feast for your eyes. The clean, crisp air is just what the doctor ordered for your health.

If you enjoy horse rides, there are lush green valleys and sand dunes to ride through. The horse trails can lead you to breathtaking destinations. The picturesque surroundings captivate the imagination, and you can take innumerable photographs to remind you of your unforgettable visit to Bermuda.

Bermuda is a great attraction for cruises and water sports. You can be escorted on sight seeing tours in different harbors and into their inlets, bays and other attractive areas. You can also get to visit a shipwreck where you can leisurely feed thousands of fish.

Bermuda offers a great variety of options to stay. You can have your pick that suits your budget. There are private homes, which offer you bed and breakfast among the lush green gardens and cottages and inns with spacious rooms, modern facilities and swimming pools. If you have a deep big pocket, there are small and big luxury hotels to welcome you in the midst of modern amenities.

Bermuda is a very popular destination for marriage seekers and honeymooners. After a happy wedding ceremony, you can kiss your bride riding on a horse-drawn carriage through the old world charm of the port town of St. George.

Bermuda Weather

Bermuda is a very popular island for tourists – mostly from the US, Canada, and many European countries. It is important for you to know the weather patterns of Bermuda if you are planning to visit the island.

Generally speaking, the climate of Bermuda remains mild throughout the year and it seldom experiences extreme weather conditions. The temperature during the winter months, which start in December and end in March, remains at an average of 70 degrees. The highest temperature during the hot weather between May to mid-October ranges from 75 degree to 85 degree F. Rain falls regularly throughout the year. The climate of Bermuda is sub-tropical, mild, and humid because of its being surrounded by ocean. Gales and strong winds are common during the winter season.

The warmth of the Gulf Stream passes near Bermuda. As such, there is no frost or snow even in winter. But the period between May to October can be very hot and humid. Due to proximity to the Gulf Stream, the humidity rises and thunderstorms occur. There is highest humidity during the months of July and August. The temperature rarely falls below 55 degrees F or rises above 90 degrees F.

Due to sufficient rainfall, Bermuda enjoys lush green vegetation. There is no monsoon or rainy season because Bermuda is outside the Caribbean. As said, the humidity levels some times rise to unbearable levels during June, July and August.

The Bermudans do not have any central heating systems in their homes to cope with the chill of the winter months. They use open fires or electric heaters. During the winter months severe hurricane storms blow with heavy rains. So you must carry some woolens with you if you plan to visit Bermuda during winters.

All buildings in Bermuda are built with Bermuda lime stone which is strong enough to resist the severe onslaught of hurricanes, rains and winds but the electricity and telephone lines easily give in to the forces of nature and you have to bear the inconvenience for longer spells.

Bermuda Triangle

You cannot think of Bermuda without thinking of the Bermuda Triangle, the so-called lethal area that devoured so many ships and planes with scores of human lives on them. A lot has been written convincingly about the facts and fiction regarding the disappearance of planes and wreckage of ships. The subject still continues to be debated.

The Bermuda Triangle is situated in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a stretch of Atlantic Ocean covered by an imaginary line connecting Florida to the islands of Bermuda, to Puerto Rico and then back to Florida. The actual triangle cannot be easily demarcated.

It was in fact one Vincent Gaddis who first coined the phrase “Bermuda Triangle” and gave an approximate idea of its location. Whether or not there is anything mysterious about this area, it has since become one of the greatest mysteries of our times and continues to evoke the interest of millions till today.

Many investigators have found that the causes of the disappearance of planes have been unnecessarily mystified. According to them the disappearing can be scientifically explained. For example, it was claimed that a plane had disappeared in the clam seas, but later on the investigations proved that there was fierce storm that caused the accident In fact most people believe that the Bermuda triangle is as dangerous or as safe as any other area in the Atlantic Ocean. The US Coast Guard have investigated and confirmed with statistics the veracity of this conclusion, which has not been refuted so far. It has also been established beyond a doubt, for example, that the explosion of Flight 19 was caused due to the fact that the plane’s non-pressurized cabin, with 22 men aboard, exploded with the single spark of a cigarette.

Despite all these scientific explanations, the Bermuda Triangle continues to be shrouded in mystery, evoking both charm and fear in the minds of the people.

Bermuda Cruises

Bermuda is a paradise destination for lovers of cruises. Most of the cruisers come from the United States. Fifty percent of them are repeaters, and that speaks eloquently of the spell that Bermuda casts on the tourists. The best time to visit Bermuda on your cruise is from April through October. The moment you land up in Bermuda, you can feast your eyes on the fascinating long pink sand beaches. The crystal clear waters under the blue skies and an abundance of lush green landscape along the winding roads dotted with cottages are simply mesmerizing. There are around 120 small islands, some of which so small that you can’t even think of building a single house there.

While on a cruise to Bermuda, do remember to bring your Bermuda shorts. There are six world-class golf courses in Bermuda, and so you need to bring along your clubs and golf shoes also. If golf is your idea of a perfect holiday, then you can spend many a comfortable day lying leisurely under the sun and getting the tan you’ve always wanted. You can enjoy your stay among nearly 65,000 residents spread over 21 square miles.

Bermuda is a choice destination for honeymooners and wedding seekers, as it offers numerous romantic spots you can visit by riding horse driven coaches. A four-day stay should be sufficient to see the whole of Bermuda.

There are around 150 different Bermuda cruise trips from four major companies. Celebrity runs two ships; Zenith and Horizon make around 50 trips, while Royal Caribbean and NCL run Empress of the Seas and Norwegian Majesty, each making around 25 trips. The three major ports visited by cruising ships are Hamilton, St. George and King’s Wharf.

Hamilton is Bermuda’s capital town. Most cruise ships stop at the Hamilton port. Therefore Hamilton attracts the highest number of visitors. The city also boasts of an old world-shopping charm with a host of shops and boutiques. You can just walk or bike to many places including the popular Bermuda Rail Trail. The second port to visit is St. George. It is a historical place with cobbled streets and alleys. You must visit the Old State House, which was built in 1620. The third important port is King’s Wharf, which is situated around the Royal Naval Dockyard, the most popular tourist destination here. It is a great cultural center.

Bermuda Cruise Ships

Most of the lines that provide cruise ships for Bermuda have their own independent schedules. But the combined information about all of them is provided by Marine and Ports division of Bermuda’s government, which publishes the schedules of all cruise ship calls for a particular year at the beginning of each year. This schedule is also available online.

Though the government has been trying to encourage more air travel to the island, most visitors prefer to reach the island on a cruise ship. The local government has put a cap on the maximum number of passengers per cruise ship and the total number of passengers that can visit each year. These limits are revised at regular intervals. These limits are to prevent the small island from being overrun at any given time, and also to prevent strain on the island’s resources.

The local shopkeepers, storeowners and other businessmen eagerly await the arrival of Bermuda cruise ships, whose passengers provide most of their income. While traveling on a Bermuda cruise ship, one must not forget that Bermuda has very strict drug laws. Any passenger caught with even the smallest amount of a narcotic substance could face serious consequences.

To abide by law, cruise ships sailing from US to Bermuda have to have certain fixed number of cabins and staterooms available for the disabled/physically handicapped. Some cruise ships may try to ignore the law by not checking or verifying the disability of the disabled passengers. A disabled person can use certain legal remedies in case he or she is denied a cabin, meant specifically for disabled, in one of these cruise ships

Benefits Of Vitamin E

Oxygen is one of the primary components of nature that supports life. The same oxygen, when inside the body, through certain molecules, becomes overly reactive and starts causing damage through the formation of free radicals. This is called oxidative stress. Vitamin E, as an antioxidant, helps prevent oxidative stress, thereby preventing cell damage and aging of the cells.

The body absorbs cholesterol, a fatty substance in foods, and this is transferred from the liver to different tissues to be stored as fats. They are carried in the bloodstream by a molecule called Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL). When LDL gets oxidized, they react with cholesterol and a waxy fat substance called plaque is deposited on the walls of the arteries, which results in the stopping of blood flow, high blood pressure and cardio-vascular diseases.

Vitamin E helps prevent the conversion of cholesterol into plaque, and this is done by alpha-tocopherol, not any other form of vitamin E, because liver places it preferentially in the bloodstream through a protein called alpha-tocopherol transfer protein.

The effect of vitamin E in preventing cancer has not conclusively been established. According to a study by The American Association of Cancer Research, reduced risk of cancer is associated with an intake of vitamin E-rich foods. Contradictorily, a study done by Iowa Women’s Health Study finds little evidence that vitamin E has protective effect against breast cancer in women after menopause. Hence, researchers have noted that not just vitamin E alone, but foods rich in antioxidants may be able to protect from cancer.

Numerous studies have established the effect of vitamin E in protecting the skin from ultraviolet radiation, whose harmful effects include photodermatitis, an allergic type reaction to the UV rays of the sun. Vitamin E, whether taken through foods or applied topically, has been shown to protect skin cell membranes.

Besides these benefits, vitamin E may protect from Alzheimer’s, cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eyes), and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Also, vitamin E may be beneficial in healing wounds and burns, reducing scars. The property of combating oxidative stress may be useful for athletes, as their oxygen utilization rate is higher than those not doing exercise, which results in increased generation of free radicals.

Without proper conclusions from studies, it would be premature to opt for supplements without the advice of medical practitioner. However, it is generally recommended to take several servings of vegetables and fruits that are rich in antioxidants.

Benefits Of Vitamin C

Vitamin C prevents many debilitating diseases and increases the body’s immunity. It is more popular as a cell protector, immunity booster and powerful antioxidant. Ligaments, tendons and collagen rely on Vitamin C to stay strong and healthy. It also helps in recycling other antioxidants. As per your health conditions, it might be more useful to take Vitamin C supplements along with other antioxidants such as vitamin E, flavonoids and carotendoids.

This particular vitamin also acts as an antidote for illnesses like cold and flu. It lessens the severity and duration of such diseases. Wounds are healed much more quickly due to the inflammation inhibitory characteristics of the vitamin. Gum tissues are protected by a regular dosage of Vitamin C. For these purposes, it is often taken with flavonoids. The body’s immunity against heart diseases is improved by improving cholesterol levels. Low levels of Vitamin C are indicative of greater risk for angina and heart attacks.

As an antioxidant, Vitamin C also prevents certain types of cancer by protecting healthy cells from free-radical damage. It reduces the risks of cancers of the stomach and esophagus by blocking the conversion of nitrates and nitrites into cancer-causing compounds. The vitamin is an excellent antidote against cataracts. It protects the eye against cigarette smoke and UV light, which usually cause cataracts. Vitamin C, when taken along with pantothenic acid, also protects patients against migraines. When used in combination with other antioxidants such as vitamin E and flavonoids, Vitamin C can act as an ant-wrinkle agent.

With its immune-boosting and antioxidant properties, Vitamin C is an excellent antidote for many other health related problems.