So, we all know that there are Crocodiles in the sewers, Obama isn’t American, and women can’t have orgasms.

Whether or not you are a victim of any of these common myths, everyone can fall for a lie sometimes and swimming pool myths are no exception. In order for you to get your facts straight and hopefully relax a little more by the pool, I have collected up some of the most popular and prevalent myths about swimming pools, and most importantly – why you shouldn’t let them spoil your holiday.

Myth #1 – Chlorine makes swimming pools smell bad.

“We went to the pool today, and had to leave because the smell of chlorine was so strong. I even put in a complaint.”

Honestly, there is no reason why well-looked after swimming pools should smell at all. That familiar ‘swimming pool smell’ that seems to vary in intensity is not actually the chlorine itself, but things called combined chloramines that are created when chlorine does its job destroying bacteria & other ‘organic material’ (yup including THAT organic material). So the chances are that if you find the smell too much, the pool staff most likely need to use more chlorine and better swimming pool filters to clear up those nasty chloramines.

Quite simply, the dirtier the clientele & the less rigorous the cleaners, the more chloramines build up and the smell gets stronger. Sort it out please, hotel manager!

Myth #2 – Don’t swim for an hour after eating or you’ll get cramp and drown!

“Kids! NO!!!! You can’t swim for an hour you’ve just had your lunch.”

Well, whichever side of the fence you are on, we all know that parents’ main function is to worry about everything, know everything, and have the final word. But on this one, my mum, your mum, most people’s mums – were in the wrong. People get cramp because they are using their muscles more than their system can currently handle; it’s a simple case of blood flow, oxygenation and muscle health not living up to the demands placed on them. Of course, if you’ve just had a large meal, your body is diverting more blood to the digestive system, which could moderately increase your chances of getting a mild cramp. Even in this case, the chances are increased no more than jumping in the swimming pool and going wild after a whole morning lazing about.

So, send the kids in the pool whenever they want. The digestive, muscular & circulatory benefits of swimming far outweigh any truth in this ridiculous myth!

Myth #3 – They put chemicals in the water that turn purple if you wee!

“Listen kids – don’t wee in the pool. It will turn the water green, everyone will know, and you’ll have to go home.”

Call it the wee-finder, call it guilty water, call it a ‘most embarrassing’ childhood fear, call it what you want, but this myth is especially pervasive and seems to be accepted by children worldwide.
But thankfully here’s another terrifying myth we can safely put to rest. I for one remember being told this on some fun day out with all my mates at the Lido. We all looked in terror at one another, promised we wouldn’t wee and get ourselves kicked out, and spent the entire day running off to the toilets every time we sipped our drinks. It was late in the day when one of my friends whisperingly told me he had wee’d in the swimming pool… and there was no purple cloud.

Mmm… combining the answers to myths #1 and #3… we’ve uncovered the true purpose of this myth. To save money on chlorine! But seriously, don’t wee in the pool.

Myth #4 – Chlorine turns blonde hair a nasty bogey green!

“Tracy, don’t get in the pool… I spent hours in it yesterday and my hair turned green! It’s too much chlorine!”

This is another case of mistaken identity. Poor old chlorine is like the ‘usual suspect’ in the neighbourhood, always getting lined up to take the rap for any old crime that comes along. Quite simply, good old misunderstood chlorine is innocent, but someone else was at the scene of the crime – and left some irrefutable evidence. The real perpetrator of this swimming pool horror is a common mineral (get it? Huh-huh…) often found in swimming pools in safe levels. Copper, the vicious green hair-colouring blonde-thief, can be introduced by using mineral-based systems intended as alternatives to popular swimming pool chemicals.

Guess what you need to clear up excess minerals like copper? Our best mate – good old innocent chlorine!

Well, that’s it for this post. I’d be especially interested to know if anyone’s got any more swimming pool myths for me to debunk, and in the meantime – enjoy the pool!

Holidaying in Orlando can be expensive even at non-peak times due to the popular demand of tourists fighting for the accommodations nearest the big attractions like the ultra theme parks , this means hotels and resorts are forever bumping up the prices to an absurd amount because they know people are will pay.
A 10 minute drive from central Orlando and you’ll reach the suburbs, the suburbs in Orlando consist of row upon row or crystal white holiday housing, for the majority of the year these types of accommodation are up for rent and are especially aimed at tourists as a cheaper and more personalised alternative to the expensive hotels and resorts.
If you choose the wise option of staying in a villa you’ll be spoilt with your very own pool instead of having to listen to baby’s crying and little kids splashing you while you try and soak up a Floridian tan, most villas come with three double bedrooms as standard so if you wish to partner up with another family members or friends there’s more than enough room to go around and you could split the costs saving you EVEN MORE money.

The pricing of the villa’s are very reasonable in comparison to the hotels and resorts although there’s one drawback that you have to cater for yourself which isn’t always counted a negative in the eyes of some as the money you’ll save on staying in a villa you could treat yourself to eating out most nights.
So not only will you save money by booking you a villa you won’t have to share your facilities with other annoying guests, if you book with American Sky you’ll get your own complimentary hired transport as an added bonus instead of arranging taxis to take you to and throw the theme parks, you would be a fool to opt for a resort in hotel in Florida once you weigh up what you get for your money.

Costa Rica is a beautifully diverse country known all over the world for it’s abundance of wildlife. The most visited country in Central America Costa Rica truly is the jewel in the crown of the region. So if you are looking at Costa Rica Holidays then why not consider walking many of the trails available and seeing some of the most spectacular flora and fauna in the world.

Whilst the wildlife may bring you to the country there are of course many more attractions for you to see once you arrive. The luscious rainforests slowly fade out to reveal some of the more impressive white sand beaches you will ever see and you will soon realise why so many people apply the term tropical paradise to this land.

With two coasts you can’t really go wrong. You will find the Pacific Ocean to the West and Atlantic Ocean to the East. It is also not far to the neighbouring country of Panama in the South where you can soak in the wonders of the Panama Canal.

As far as walking holidays go Costa Rica is one of the prime locations due to its laid back atmosphere allowing you to take in the sights at your own leisure. Most people also find walking to be a much more enjoyable way to experience the country and get up close to the wildlife. Taking a guided tour of the jungle areas around the country will bring you into contact with many species of monkeys as well of a multitude of birds and other mammals. In some cases you may even be able to spot some big cats such as the Puma or Jaguar.

Overall walking has to be the optimum way to explore the beautiful country that is Costa Rica. Not only will you be causing less damage to the spectacular ecosystem you fin yourself within you will be rewarded by being able to access areas that vehicles or other modes of transport simply cannot reach.

This is from the Walt Disney World Beach Resort, the carousel display that they put up every year for the holidays.

Original post: 
Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel Display, Walt Disney World, November 2009

Do you want to go on your Caribbean holidays with your children, or is it a place for you to get away?

When you think of the Caribbean during the day, you think of cool sandy white beaches where you can enjoy some silence. When the sun sets, these holidays become a clubbing frenzy, and bars and clubs open up for business. So why would you take your kids here with you?

Barbados holidays were where you could go and party at night and chill out during the day. There are activities though, that the whole family can take part in, this lets you and the kids have a great time. The submarine trips by Atlantis Submarines are fun for you and your kids, and the beach provides fun for everybody.

The question is do you want to take your children out there so you can have fun together, or do you go on your own to have fun. After all you will want to go out and have a romantic night out with all the beautiful scenery surrounding you. If you have noisy kids are you going to enjoy yourself?

Well now it can work, in Barbados you can also get a baby-sitter with your hotel.You won’t need to worry when the babysitter is there, especially if its a hotel one, you will be reassured and can go out for the night.Now that this is available to you, you can have a day out with your children, go to the beach and have fun, then enjoy yourself in the evening? You will probably only need one or two nights to yourself and the rest you can spend as the whole family.

So you can take your children with you even if you do want a bit of alone time. St Lucia holidays also provide activities for all to take part in. When you take a trip with the kids it is important to remember that it is a holiday for all of you to enjoy.

It’s not selfish to want to go and enjoy yourself on holiday. These new resorts allow us to take our children to all the destinations around the world where we can feel confident they will have fun too.

Perth in Scotland, the ‘Fair City’, is also commonly referred to as the  ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Sited on the banks of the River Tay, the town of Perth was, for centuries, the capital of Scotland and during medieval times the busy small town was known by locals as St. John’s Toun or Saint Johnstoun. Perth’s name, or, in the Gaelic, Peairt, derives from a word of the Picts for a wood or copse. Today  this beautiful small town is a great place as a base for a vacation in Scotland with a large number of bed and breakfasts in Perth to choose from.

Whether you decide to stay for a single day or a couple of weeks you will quickly realise that there many things to keep you busy in  the immediate vicinity of Perth and the surrounding countryside. attractions range from; restaurants, sport and leisure pursuits, historical attractions and shopping and many other types of entertainment. It was not that long ago that the town was a highly busy port profiting from the export of bleached products, linen, leather and whisky. Today tourism provides much needed cash and much appreciated jobs for the young folk who keenly take up jobs in the many Perth hotels and guest houses and related companies.

One of the most visited places of interest, which is not a great distance from Perth, is Scone Palace, one of the nation of Scotland’s finest country homes. Here one can discover the highly interesting history of Scone Palace, the location where at one time, the kings of Scotland were crowned including, Robert The Bruce who was crowned here in 1306.

Around three miles away, from Perth, tourists will find the 16C Elcho Castle, which has the most spectacular vistas of the River Tay. The castle dates back to about the year 1570 when it’s building was commissioned by the Wemyss family who owned it until nineteen twenty nine. It is now owned by Historic Scotland.

Only a small distance west of Perth is the medieval structure of Huntingtower Castle. Built in amazing Huntingtower Castle has undergone numerous alterations and redevelopments over the centuries. Huntingtower was designed originally as a pair of clearly separate tower houses however situated closely together.

As well as the attractions discussed above the town of Perth has many many more, which makes it an excellent town for a vacation for the family. Other visitor attractions and places, worth visiting, to be found in Perth and the surrounding area include the following; Kinnoull Hill, Perth Ice Rink, Perthshire Visitor Centre, Branklyn Gardens and Bell’s Cherrybank Gardens.

If you are considering a short break in Perth you will discover a large amount of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a broad listing at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

The city of Bradford can be found in West Yorkshire, England, UK. Constructed at the foothills of the mountain range known as the Pennines the city of Bradford was perfectly placed to blossom during the period of history known as the industrial revolution. The fact is that, during the 19th century, the town of Bradford stood at the very forefront of the Industrial revolution and the city quickly became a major international centre of textile manufacture, especially in the wool industry and the city of Bradford gained the name of being the wool capital of the world. As a result of the ample supply of raw materials of soft water, coal and iron ore the city witnessed extremely quick growth of its manufacturing base and an equally quick growth in population. Unfortunately Bradford’s textile industry fell into decline in the middle of the 20th century. Since that time the city has developed into   a popular visitor destination with a respectable number guest houses and hotels offering Bradford bed and breakfast.

Bradford’s industrial past has left a legacy of fine Victorian buildings, including; the Wool Exchange, St. George’s Hall, old mills and the City Hall with it’s gothic extension to the rear. The most ancient building situated in the city of Bradford is the Cathedral, which dates back to medieval times, and was, for much of its life, a simple parish church. Regrettably few buildings survive from this time, except for Bolling Hall. Bolling Hall is now a museum, situated approximately 1 mile away from the city centre. Situated in a quiet, leafy garden, the museum takes you on a wonderful journey, to a period dating back 5 hundred years, through the lives of those who once refered to Bolling Hall as home.

The city of Bradford is the home of the National Media Museum, which is one of the most popular museums outside of London. Previously known as the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, the fabulous museum is free to enter which is suitable for people of all ages. It contains a total of 3 cinemas, one of which is the finest in the United Kingdom. One can explore television’s past, present and future in Experience TV, relive your favourite television moments in TV Heaven, muck about with lenses, light and colour in the Magic Factory and investigate the fascinating world of animation and watch a real animator working in the Animation Gallery. Every weekend and during holidays the Media Museum has a highly exciting tightly packed schedule of talks, activities and free tours.

If you are in the process of planning a short break in Bradford you will discover plenty of online hotels and guest houses offering Bradford bed and breakfast accommodation. You will find a comprehensive selection of Bradford hotels and guest houses at http://bradford.hotelreservationhelper.com/

We all know that the credit crunch is in full swing and with that comes unemployment and bank accounts going into minus. People are not spending as much as they used to simply because they do not have it. So a lot of people have abandoned their holidays overseas because they believe that staying in the UK will be a lot cheaper. But is this really the case?

Although the pound is simply not as powerful as it once used you be going to overseas destinations can still be a very viable option and in some ways it can work out a lot cheaper then staying in the UK for your vacation. The reason behind this is as follows:

People abroad have for a long time been increasing their prices year after year because they knew that the tourists had to pay for it. In some ways hotels abroad got a bit greedy and thought they could get away with charging a fortune and in all honesty they literally could. But now that the financial crisis has taken affect people still think that the costs abroad will be the same, but this is not the case because popular tourist destinations have begun to panic and lower their prices to a reasonable level.

So going overseas could infact be alot cheaper than it used to be. I recommend getting an all inclusive package so once you get there you do not have to worry about paying out any more money.

For great St Lucia Holidays, Barbados Holidays and Honeymoons in Barbados

Boats do sink. Granted, it thankfully happens a lot less these days but they do still happen all around the world, even on five star cruises. There are a lot more ships that head towards the bottom of the sea than say planes that fall to earth, so knowing what to do in the event of a sinking could serve you well. Remember these 5 points and you’ll stand a much better chance of getting out alive

Life jacket. If you do one thing to help save your life, make sure it is wearing a life jacket. more lives have been preserved by using them than by any piece of equipment on ships. The 2 top reasons are that a life jacket will keep you upright and let you know where the water’s surface is if you become disorientated. Secondly, you cannot swim for an indefinite amount of time and a lifejacket will keep you afloat without your effort

remain calm. A great deal of people who have made it off sinking boats suggest that they survived mainly due to staying settled and calm. You use up a great deal more energy when you become panicked and the choices you make are often not the best as you head is not clear. Sinking ships rarely go down rapidly, so just remind yourself to calm down and make clear choices and actions

Stay high.When a boat is on its way to join the fishes, you really do not want to be anywhere south of the deck. There are a lot more hazards below deck and you can easily get trapped in rooms or pockets of water. make your way up to the deck of the ship and do not move from there

Swim away from ship. There are have been tests that disprove the theory that a sinking ship will pull you down with it. However, there is no way of really knowing for sure as every sinking is different, but people how have escaped sinking ships have sometimes talked about being sucked down with it. Rather than take your chances, you should move away from a ship that is going down by at least fifty metres

Stick together. If there is no lifeboat to get into, ensure that everyone huddles in a group in the water. This will help keep everyone warm, will deter any predators as they rarely attack big objects and will help you to be spotted be passing ships or rescue parties.

If you’re looking for very safe cruises try a river cruise or if you’d like a cruise agent with high saftey records visit Peter Deilmann Cruises

The ‘Fair City’ of Perth in Scotland is also frequently referred to as being the  ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Built on the banks of the River Tay, the town of Perth was, for centuries, the capital of Scotland and in medieval times the bustling little town was locally known as St. John’s Toun or Saint Johnstoun. The name of Perth, or Peairt in the Gaelic language, derives from the word of the Picts for a copse. Nowadays  this idyllic little market town is an excellent location as a base for a vacation touring Scotland with a great deal of Perth bed and breakfast to choose from.

Whether you decide to stay for just a day or a couple of weeks you will discover that there are a large number of things to interest you in  the immediate vicinity of Perth and Perthshire. attractions range from; historical attractions, restaurants, sport and leisure pursuits and shopping and other entertainments. It was not that long ago that the town was an extremely successful port chiefly involved in the export of leather, linen, bleached products and whisky. In more modern times the tourist industry creates much needed cash and employment for the young of the area who gladly take employment in the increasing number of Perth hotels and other related companies.

Probably the most well known visitor attraction, not too far from Perth, is Scone Palace one of the nation of Scotland’s finest historical country homes. Here folk are able to learn about the fascinating past of the palace, where the early Scottish kings were crowned for example, Robert The Bruce who became king of Scotland in 1306.

Round about 3m away, from Perth, one can find the 16C Elcho Castle, which has the most spectacular views across the River Tay. Elcho Castle can be dated back to fifteen seventy when the Wemyss family commissioned it’s building who remained in possession until nineteen twenty nine. The Castle is now in the possession of Historic Scotland.

Just a short distance west of Perth can be found the medieval structure of Huntingtower Castle. Constructed in amazing it has undergone many alterations and redevelopments over the centuries. Huntingtower was first constructed as 2 distinctly separate tower houses but constructed closely together.

As well as the attractions introduced above the town of Perth has many more, which makes it a perfect town for a vacation for you and your family. Attractions and places, worth seeing, to be found in Perthshire include the following; Perthshire Visitor Centre, Kinnoull Hill, Perth Ice Rink, Perth Art Gallery & Museum and the Black Watch museum in Balhousie Castle.

If you are in the process of planning a city vacation in Perth you will find a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a comprehensive range at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/