I've been fortunate enough to set foot on Aruba three times. The very first thing I noticed was that droves of pushy taxi drivers trying to part you from your tourist dollars were nowhere to be seen. Unlike destinations like Jamaica or Columbia, to name just a few, where tourists are seen as nothing but cash cows. Jamaica has all but destroyed much of its tourist industry, because many travelers, such as myself choose to avoid it and go elsewhere. Not so in Aruba. They treat all visitors with respect and welcome them to their island with courtesy.

ABOUT ARUBA:

Aruba is centrally located in the Southern Caribbean and is only about 15 miles from the coast of Venezuela. The population borders on 100,000 and is made up of very friendly, well educated people. They are famous for their hospitality and most are generally of a mixed ancestry. Amazingly, this unique destination claims at least 40 different nationalities who reside on the island. So if you cannot find someone who speaks your language, wait 5 minutes.

ECONOMY:

The islands economy for the most part revolved around the building of an oil refinery that later became a subsidiary of EXXON OiL. The facility closed in 1985, however reopened in 1991 under new management. In March of 2004 it changed hands again and was sold to the Valero Oil Corp.

TOURISM:

Of course now, tourism has taken center stage. It is a stunning island surrounded by powder white sand beaches and incredible blue-green water. And the locals in Aruba sure no how to treat people. In all my traveling, they rank as the most welcoming I have ever come across. Cruise ships dock on a daily basis and very reasonable package stays are also available at dozens of top caliber resorts.

ACTIVITIES:

I don't even know where to start. As soon as you cross the first street you will find state of the art casinos and some of the worlds finest shopping.

I remember my first visit there when I asked a local how to get to the nicest beach. He said, "just cross the street and get on the city bus that will come along and tell the driver you want the best beach." Sure enough for just $1, I got on the bus with the locals and 20 minutes later was on a stunning beach. On the way I saw numerous huge hotels with casinos alongside.

Every water sport you can imagine is available with scuba diving and snorkeling some of the best in the Caribbean. Just ask the locals the best locations for these two activities and there is a myriad of beaches in different locations around the island.

DINING:

You have your choice of either local Caribbean fare or French, Italian, Spanish, American and Indian cuisine. Eat in a gorgeous, romantic terrace under the stars or you can find numerous more intimate hideaways if you prefer. The predominant currency is American dollars as is the case in most of the Caribbean.

For a cruise stop-over or a week or two stay you won't go far wrong with Aruba. A truly amazing, beautiful and friendly island.

It was called Megans Bay. My cruise ship was docked just about a 15 minute taxi ride away on the other side of a big hill. Megans Bay is often ranked as one of the top ten beaches in the world. From where I stood I could see a home nestled on the near hillside where President Clinton and family had once spent a vacation. It wasn't too far away from the red roofed house where Michael Jordan stayed when he was visiting the island.

WHERE IS MEGANs BAY?

Megans Bay is located in St. Thomas, a duty-free port and part of the U.S. vigin Islands. The island is centrally located in the Caribbean Sea and is a favorite stop-over for cruise ships. It is not unusual to see 4 or 5 gigantic cruise ships in port at the same time. St.Thomas is a stunning island surrounded by pristine beaches and inviting blue, green water that have welcomed travelers since the time of Christopher Columbus.

HOW IS THE SHOPPING?

Probably the best shopping in all of the Caribbean can be found in St. Thomas. Not only is it duty free, but the selection is truly remarkable. On any give day the town center of Charlotte Amalie is bustling with tourists ducking in and out of jewelery stores that line the main streets. The choices of diamond and emerald jewelery is simply amazing. Probably the best bargain of all however is to buy "loose" diamonds and have them made into jewelry of your choice when you arrive back home.

Jewels are not the only bargain one can find. I was travelling with a girlfriend from Switzerland and she found the prices on notebook computers so low I thought she was going buy three of them for a while there. However, calmer heads prevailed and she bought one that she would have cost her $1500 more in Switzerland. Liquor is also at rock bottom prices as well. It was not unusual to see fellow cruise ship passengers hauling 5 or 6 bottles of spirits back on board the ship.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

Needless to say, much like every Caribbean island, St.Thomas is surrounded by amazing white sand beaches. You can rent seadoos, try windsurfing or just bask in the hot tropical sun or sleep in the shade of a palm tree. For a change of pace, you can rent a moped and putter around the island. St. Thomas also has some quality restaurants, so there is no lack of interesting and top of the line cuisine. For the ultimate view of St. Thomas, there are plane excursions that will fly you over the island. I'm sure it would be pricey but I can only imagine how breath- taking it would be to see this jewel of the Caribbean from the air.

So if you are ever looking for somewhere to spend a week or two vacation, there are few more beautiful choices than St. Thomas. At the very least, if you are planning a cruise, make sure that this is one port that your ship will be stopping at.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK:

More and more destinations are catering to families and are viewing it as a way of increasing business. Now there are families who won't even consider a holiday spot unless it gives special consideration to the entire family. Its not often that a teenager will want to do everything his parents are interested in. That, in a nutshell, is the problem that can easily make for an unhappy holiday.

Be sure to pay particular attention to your holiday planning when kids are concerned. Be sure that whatever your destination, there will be something that appeals to every member of the family. Ask your travel agent lots of questions or better yet, make some phone calls on your own and ask the resort staff yourself.

CLUB MED:

Club Med has resorts all over the world. Some cater to mostly singles and some cater to families and some even have "kids camps." What each individual club location offers is clearly indicated in the Club Med travel brochures. In the locations that cater to kids, activities for the entire day are planned. So the parents can go off on their own and meet up with the kids at mealtime. Its a perfect way to travel together and yet keep everyone happy.

CRUISE SHIPS:

Cruise ships have entire areas on a designated deck fully equipped just for the young ones. They have arcades with a wide selecion of games and when its time to relax the kids can even get themselves some pizza, ice cream or soda at their own restaurant. If your children are "really" young most ships even provide a baby sitting service so the adults can spent time on their own.

HOTELS:

The Four Seasons hotel chain has taken a major step in the area of family holidays. Some of their locations including Whistler, London, New York, and Chicago actually have teenage concierges. This is especially the case during the Summer and major holidays. For instance, when a teen is travelling with his parents in New York, a teen concierge would suggest the best places to shop and can make recommendations as far as what activities are available in the area. For instance, rollerblading spots in Central Park and where to find the nearest desert bar.

There are lots of options out there for family vacations, so don't feel that you have to stay home because you have kids. Do your research, ask the kids what they think. Including the whole family in the holiday planning will help ensure a great time will be had by everyone.

For years Club Med has offered all inclusive vacations that are tailor-made for women choosing to travel on their own. They will have the option of paying extra for their own room or will be paired with another single woman. Should they choose to share, they will have an instant companion. The rooms are quite spacious and have all the ammenities. As far as safety, Club Med has its own security guards and its not necessary to ever leave the club property, as everything you could possibly want is right there.

Several restaurants and bars can be found on most propeties and there are countless other diversions as well. Tennis, scuba diving and numerous other sports and activities are just a few of the options. Not to mention that you will most likely be on one of the finest beaches in the world.

Cruises have been growing in popularity in recent years and are another great option for the solo female traveller. Again there is the option of your own cabin should you be willing to pay the 'single supplement,' or the cruise line will pair you with another single female. The one down side of sharing on a cruise is that the cabins are quite small. If for some reason you don't get along with new roommate, it could make for a slightly uncomfortable situation.

It would seem a wiser option on a cruise to just get your own room. Cruise ships will sit you at a table of six or eight and it is never a problem to meet new friends among the hundreds of other passengers. Cruises also feature day excursions and they are all guided and are perfect for the woman travelling alone.

Better yet, some cruise ships have male hosts as part of the ships crew. They are there to keep you company during your holiday. They will be your dance and dinner partners if you choose and will be more than happy to go ashore with you as an escort should you want to do some shopping. Be sure to check if male hosts will be avialable on the cruise you are looking at as they are not found on every cruise ship.

A third option for the single woman is to look into their local singles clubs. Often they will organize several vacations a year. You have the benefit of already knowing the people you will be travelling with. This is perfect, because when you are in a strange city it means you can always find someone to go exploring with.

There are lots of choices out there, so if you are a woman and single, don't be afraid to get out there and and enjoy a well deserved vacation. Being single just means planning ahead a little. It does not have to mean spending all your vacation time alone and at home.