In this travel video discover why the Turks and Caicos Islands have become a haven for celebrities .
No one is saying global warming is good, but there are a few places in the world that will benefit - at least in a tourism capacity - from slightly warmer climes. Here is a list of global warming’s “winners:”
Turks & Caicos constantly makes it onto lists of the world’s best beaches, romantic getaways, and even scuba spots. Check out WatchMojo’s travel profile of Turks & Caicos to see why:
Although the Portuguese archipelago called the Azores isn’t necessarily considered one of the country’s tourist hot spots, it can be a great destination for family vacations. With activities such as whale watching, checking out volcanic lakes, viewing a huge waterfall, and even eating food cooked by a volcano steam vent, the Azores sounds like a beautiful paradise for adventure-seekers and families alike.
What appeals to many about the Açores (Azores) is their isolation. This is not a place you stumble upon while driving the back roads. The archipelago of nine islands lies in the mid-Atlantic, about 900 miles from Lisbon and 2,330 miles from North America, and stretches over 370 miles of ocean. Beaches aren’t the lure either. The coast is often rocky, the waves rough, and the currents strong. Read more…
(According to away.com)
NASSAU, The Bahamas, May 22 /PRNewswire/ — Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon recently wed at a surprise ceremony on the picture-perfect island of Eleuthera, adding to the growing list of stars that have planned their perfect day in The Bahamas. With ideal weather year round, breathtaking beaches, lavish hotels and amenities, not to mention privacy, this tropical paradise has long been a favorite locale for celebrities to walk down the aisle in style.
Always the trend setter, supermodel Cindy Crawford said “I do” to hubby Rande Gerber in May 1998 at the swanky Ocean Club on Paradise Island. Since then, A-list couples have continued to flock to the 700 Islands Of The Bahamas including current NFL commentator Deion Sanders who was married on Nassau Paradise Island, Richard De Niro, son of Oscar winning actor Robert De Niro, who also said his vows on Nassau Paradise Island and Solange Knowles, younger sister of pop icon Beyonce, who wed on Grand Bahama Island. Also married in The Bahamas was Google co-founder Sergey Brin to bio-tech specialist Anne Wojcicki. The sweethearts said their nuptials in May of 2007 on Musha Cay Island on a private property owned by magician David Copperfield.
You don’t have to be rich and famous to get married in The Bahamas. Whether planning a large wedding with hundreds of guests or an intimate ceremony with just close friends and family in attendance, The Bahamas can fit the needs of all personalities, themes, and budgets. With endless hotel and resort options, restaurant choices and activities for the young and young at heart, this chic destination makes planning a wedding effortless. What’s more, possibly the most distinct feature of The Bahamas is the ability for newlyweds to cut the cake on one island and then leave their guests behind to escape to their honeymoon on yet another secluded island in The Bahamas!
Life in The Islands Of The Bahamas is as culturally diverse as it is vibrantly beautiful, from the carefree Out Islands to exciting Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island. With world-class diving and fishing, gorgeous turquoise water and miles of picture perfect beaches, the 700 islands of The Bahamas offer visitors the opportunity to do everything or nothing at all. To plan your own destination wedding in The Bahamas visit www.weddings.bahamas.com for all of your wedding planning needs. For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit www.Bahamas.com . To experience The Bahamas at home, visit www.EShopBahamas.com .
1- 
Tortuga, Haiti
2- 
Port Royal, Jamaica
3- 
Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
4- 
St.Croix
5- 
Virgin Gorda
6- 
La Blanquilla, Venezuela
7- 
Roatan, Honduras
8- 
St.Kitts
9- 
Guadeloupe
10- 
Cayman Islands
PALM ISLAND, The Grenadines, March 28 /PRNewswire/ — Palm Island, an exclusive 135-acre private island resort in the Caribbean’s pristine Grenadines island chain, provides vacationers with a special 25 percent summer savings off all-inclusive rack rates when reservations are booked by May 19, 2008 for five night minimum stays. This intimate hideaway is also giving guests a $250 resort credit to be used towards fascinating adventures such as a snorkel trip to the pristine reefs of the Tobago Cays, a Champagne Sunset Cruise, spa treatments, or a island-hopping day cruise-or towards an accommodations upgrade. The credit, along with the 25 percent savings off the all-inclusive rack rates, is valid for travel between June 1 and August 31, 2008.
Low season all-inclusive rack rates start at $690 per room, based on double occupancy; with the Summer Promotion savings, the starting rate drops to $518. The promotional rate cannot be combined with other special offers and applies only to new bookings.
“With only 43 rooms, Palm Island in the Grenadines offers the opportunity to truly escape and unwind. Palm Island features many complimentary activities, however, we hope that our guests will take advantage of the resort’s incredible summer savings and resort credit to experience a private island vacation for themselves that is filled with many exciting experiences like a Sunset Cruise or indulgent spa treatment,” said Steven E. Heydt, president of Elite Island Resorts, a distinctive Caribbean resort collection that includes Palm Island.
Ringed by five glorious beaches and traversed by nature trails, this casually elegant private island resort caters to discerning travelers with superb food, caring service and an unspoiled natural setting. The resort features a freeform freshwater swimming pool with a waterfall surrounded by boulders and sun terraces, as well as a spa, fitness center and tennis. Windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, Hobie cat sailing, bicycling and evening entertainment are among the complimentary activities. Spacious accommodations, delightfully free from TVs and telephones, allow guests to revel in the natural sounds of this rare tropical escape.
All-inclusive rates include meals, afternoon tea, weekly managers’ cocktail parties, top-shelf beverages, tips, taxes and service charges. For reservations, call 800-345-0356 or visit www.eliteislandresorts.com or www.palmislandresortgrenadines.com
“In October 1999 National Geographic Traveler showcased 50 of the world’s top destinations, places that every curious traveler should visit in a lifetime. Now we’re expanding our Places of a Lifetime franchise online, with personal essays on top destinations and the addition of a wealth of timely service information, from insiders’ tips on the best places to stay and eat, to great books and music, to recommended walking tours. In our online Places of a Lifetime you’ll find both inspiration and practical travel tips, and we plan to add more great cities on a regular basis.” - National Geographic
SAYULITA, Mexico 
— For some residents of this formerly secret surfers’ haven on the Pacific coast, the sure sign of gentrification came in December with the opening of the town’s first wine bar. Others cite the $18,000 life-size wooden horse displayed at a swank home décor shop north of town as evidence of the area’s seismic demographic shift. Still others point down the beach toward gated Punta Mita, where new villas start at $4 million.
Could celebrity sightings be far away?
“There’s one behind you now,” says Richard Zarkin, whose job is to market the image of what may well be Mexico’s Next Great Place. He motions to a hunky guy at the next table hunched over a laptop and a bowl of oatmeal.
Indeed, it’s grooming guru Kyan Douglas, one of the stars of the former Bravo TV reality show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and a new Sayulita homeowner. So what if he lacks the stature of, say, a Richard Burton, whose presence (along with Elizabeth Taylor, director John Huston and a cadre of other Hollywood greats) helped propel nearby Puerto Vallarta to fabulous status back in the 1960s? The horde of developers, hoteliers and marketers flocking in recent years to this 100-mile stretch now known as the Riviera Nayarit are seeing to it that the word gets out.
The beaches here range from secluded rocky coves to wide, palm-fringed expanses. The sea shimmers a dazzling Caribbean blue on some stretches, thanks to an abundance of coral reefs. And thick jungle foliage cloaks the slopes of the Sierra Madres that tumble toward the shore.
1- Phuket, Thailand
This Thai island is famous for its sandy beaches and posh resorts, but water shortages, partly attributed to climate change, have presented significant challenges for the local tourism industry. In recent years, tap water at hotels has been unavailable during the high tourist season. Chronic water shortages can call into question the long-term sustainability of tourism and create tension between the local population and the tourism industry.
2- Caribbean Islands 
The combination of climate change, development, chronic over-fishing, pollution and coral reef disease in the Caribbean creates a “synergy of threats,” says Mark Spalding, a senior marine scientist at the Nature Conservancy. The whitening of coral reefs, caused by more frequent tropical storms attributed to climate change, is a major concern for local tourist operators. The Caribbean is home to 7% of the world’s coral reef population.
3- Gulf Of Maine 
The rugged coastline of the Gulf of Maine is not only a haven for summer tourists, but it also supports a regional economy based on fishing and aqua-farming. The environmental impact of over-fishing combined with climate change was evident in a recent study in the journal Science, which determined that the adjacent waters had higher than normal risk factors. The changing environment means habitat degradation and rising sea level, according to the Nature Conservancy.
4- Mallorca, Spain 
Mallorca’s Mediterranean coasts draw tourists and celebrities in large numbers, but like Phuket, this island has struggled with water shortages attributed to climate change and increasing demand. In recent years, the Spanish government had to begin importing fresh water via tank ships. Chronic water shortage poses a significant threat to Mallorca’s tourism industry and has the potential to strain relations with the local population.
5- Central Chile 
The coastline of central Chile is populated with beach resorts that allow tourists to enjoy the region’s white sand beaches and Mediterranean climate. A recent study in Science, however, found that the region had significantly higher environmental threats than other South American coastlines. Scientists are still researching the impact of coastal pollution and development and fisheries, but the Nature Conservancy says habitat loss and changes to species populations are linked to these problems.
6- Pacific Northwest 
The Puget Trough/Georgia Basin region stretches from central Oregon to southern Canada. A recent study in Science found that the region had some of the highest environmental risks worldwide. According to Mark Powell, vice president for fish conservation at the Ocean Conservancy, high levels of pollution have caused low-oxygen zones in the water, fish population depletion and even the development of male fish with female sex characteristics.
7- Eastern Philippines 
The Eastern Philippine coastline, known for its turquoise water, registered high according to a recent study in Science. Mark Spalding, a senior marine scientist at the Nature Conservancy, says it’s largely due to over-fishing and the conversion of mangrove forests into aquaculture ponds with low productivity. Mangrove forests protect coastlines from storms, filter water and provide a nursery ground for fish.
8- North Sea 
“There are still some healthy areas and popular resorts, but this is truly a sea under siege,” says Mark Spalding, a senior marine scientist at the Nature Conservancy. Spalding blames the dense coastal population of neighboring countries and over-fishing. The North Sea has experienced declining fish populations and high levels of pollution.
PLAY
