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Since gaining independence from the British in the 1960s, Malta has become an exceptionally popular holidaying destination thanks to its superb beaches, fantastic weather and invitingly warm, crystal clear waters. It is an island which enjoys an extraordinarily fascinating heritage including an enthralling selection of baroque buildings and some of the oldest prehistoric stone structures in the entire world.

Although Malta is a remarkably small Mediterranean island, there is still plenty of excitement on offer for tourists, particularly in the busy capital city of Valletta. Here you will find a wonderful mixture of cultural influences which still remains from its unique history of past inhabitants including the French, Spanish, Italian, British and Arabic. This is particularly evident in the wonderful cuisine which the Maltese are renowned for.

Nowadays, Malta is equally famous for its street carnivals, fabulous nightlife and party atmosphere although the more discerning holidaymaker is also catered for as there are plenty of secluded beaches and bays where one can avoid the hustle and bustle of the more heavily built up areas.

The Islands hold a variety of attractions for the whole family, including the children, who can often get bored visiting cultural and historical sites.

For crafts, the Islands hold two main villages, one in Gozo and one in Malta. Visitors can see craftsmen making lace, silver filigree, pottery, fabrics, knitwear, baskets and clocks. Also fascinating to watch are the glass blowers; cased behind a sheet of glass, visitors are encouraged to witness the craftsmen making the unique Maltese blown glass by hand.

Besides the beaches and pools, there is a marine and water park available for water fun. Not to be missed by the kids is the Sweethaven Village – the film set of the 1980 Musical Production “Popeye”.

The combination of sheer cliffs, caves, wrecks, shelves and sandy and rocky sea beds, means there is a large variety of fauna and flora to see in the Maltese waters. Wrecks, as artificial reef habitats, have provided a home for a greater number of species in recent years and make excellent dive sites.

Species you are likely to see include groupers, amberjack, various bream, octopi, squid, flying fish, gurnard, stingrays, meagre, bogue, red mullet, parrot fish and the occasional moral eel.  Although the rocky structures and underwater coast seem ideal living conditions for eel, you tend to see them mostly during night dives.

The calmness of the sea makes for excellent visibility and the wildlife danger risk is extremely low, creating an ultimate location for first time divers and beginners. For the more experienced divers, there are various sites that include archaeological artefacts, some from WWII, some even dating back to the Roman era.

The depths of the dives vary, from the very shallow 12-metre Ghar Lapsi dive to Lantern Point, which takes divers to an underwater tunnel that leads down well over 50 metres.

Typical of the Mediterranean lifestyle, the Islanders’ approach to life is to enjoy and celebrate it as much as possible.  Nightlife on the Islands is always bustling. there are always scores of clubs to visit, excellent wine bars and first-rate restaurants to try.

The Islands have an effervescent calendar of cultural events to see, such as the Summer Malta Arts Festival, the Valletta Baroque Festival, the Opera Festival, the Choir Festival and the International Jazz Festival held in July.

If your dream is to vacation in Malta, here is another GRN Travel Membership, member benefit.  A weeks stay at the Pergola Club Hotel & Spa, two bedroom, for only $349. This is a savings of over $800. I love saving $$ every time we vacation. You can start saving today and travel the world for less with your own GRN Travel Membership.

Bonaire is known primarily as a spectacular dive site, ringed by a series of offshore reefs.  But Bonaire is also a landlubber’s destination, with a developing art and dining scene, and a slew of land-based activities. In the main town, Kralendijk, visit Cinnamon Art Gallery, founded by a trio of artists or any number of fine restaurants featuring French, Italian, Argentine and creative cuisines.  Still, Bonaire is a long way from becoming an urban mecca. Here, the flamingo population rivals the human one, building size is strictly limited, and the circumference of the island is a protected marine park.

Stones marked with the names of dive sites can be seen from the coastal roads and a two minutes’ swim (literally) will reveal a reef teeming with marine life. Drive-through dive stations allow divers to refill their tanks before heading out to other alluring spots.

Amazing as the diving is, there’s much more to do on Bonaire. Sign up with the Mangrove Info and Kayak Center for a kayaking session through the pristine mangrove system – one of the few left in the world. Drive north up the west coast past a prime flamingo-viewing lake called Goto Mere. Spend a day in Washington-Slagbaai National Park amidst more than 13,000 acres of flora and fauna. See rock formations like Seru Bentana (Sky Window), and spot any number of birds and beasts at the Pos Mangel watering hole. The park has many beaches, some of which are very small.

Heading south down the east coast, visit the tiny village of Rincon. Catch the panorama from Seru Largu, a hilltop viewpoint. Drive south to the salt pans, signs of the salt industry that still thrives here. Just below the white mountains of salt rising from purple “lakes,” you’ll find the Flamingo Refuge.  You can stand roadside and (very quietly) observe these elegant and shy creatures.  Park yourself close by on Pink Beach, and at sunset you can see them lighting up the sky as they wing their way on their nightly trip to Venezuela.

Bonaire is a tranquil, laid-back Dutch island in the southern Caribbean noted for marine conservation and some of the world’s best scuba diving.  Bonaire is said to be the Caribbean of twenty-years ago, with strictly protected park land and a charming capital with one main street.  Bonaire is a diver’s haven, and an ideal getaway for anyone in search of tranquility, both in the sea and out.

A membership benefit with your GRN Travel membership is a week in Bonaire at the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino for only $298. Savings like this for a live time of travel.  Get your membership today.

Known in legend as the home of Robinson Crusoe, Tobago remains an unspoiled paradise island of the Caribbean. It offers great snorkeling; scuba diving; dense rain forest trails to explore; and warm, friendly people to welcome you. For such a tiny island Tobago is wonderfully spoilt in having  two prestigious golf courses ; Tobago Plantations, and Mount Irvine, for you to test your golfing skills.
Hire a jeep and go to Speyside at the north end of the island.  From Speyside you can see  Goat Island and Little Tobago, a 450 acre bird sanctuary.  If you are a bird watcher you will want to visit this sanctuary.

The waters of Tobago are crystal clear and teeming with life. Whether you want to just relax and enjoy the view, or get physical with some fishing or sports action, Tobago has it all.  Sport Fishing in Tobago includes  Marlin up to 700 lbs, Sailfish, Swordfish, Long Bill Spearfish and Mako Shark or just take a Natural Mystic sailing trip or Glass bottom boat tour in the waters off Tobago.  For the diver, over 300 species of coral, including the world’s largest brain coral, fish galore – Glassy Sweepers and Spotted Drums. Fairy Basslets, Parrotfish, Barracuda, Triggerfish, Sergeant Majors, every species of Angel Fish. Southern Stingrays, Morays, Turtles, Nurse Sharks, as well as on the Northern Atlantic side of Speyside, drift diving with Manta Rays, and Tarpon.

Catch a ride

Located in the popular Crown Point area, Sandy Point Beach Club is comfortable and casual, offering long, lazy days and unforgettable sunsets.

Stay for a week at this beautiful Beach resort, just $298.  This is another GRN Travel Membership benefit. Get your travel membership today and save thousands for a lifetime.

Mazatlan, Mexico spreads for 15 sun splashed miles along a thumb of land that extends southward into the Pacific just below the Tropic of Cancer. Mazatlan thus marks the beginning of the Mexican tropics: a palmy land of perpetual summer and a refuge from winter cold for growing numbers of international vacationers. Mazatlan, Mexico’s beauty is renowned. Its coast is sprinkled with tropical islands and miles of beautiful golden bleaches and blue lagoons. With all that Mazatlan offers it is easy to understand why it has come to be known as Pearl of the Pacific.
Celebrate the Mexican Riviera and visit the quintessential Pacific Coast resort towns of Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta where legendary hospitality greets visitors along the Zona Dorada or Golden Zone and the cobble-stoned streets lined with chic boutiques and galleries.

Strolling street vendors display their hand-made crafts while sun-soaked beachgoers frolic under palapas, ride in pulmonias taxis and frolic in the inviting surf.

No visit would be complete without parasailing above the Pacific where mega-resorts mingle with fishing villages.
Sit back and enjoy a mango margarita at the palapa bar and plan your day’s adventure while you’re at the Torres Mazatlan.

Velvet sand beaches, miraculous sunsets and excellent nightlife in the Golden Zone await your arrival.

On-site swimming pool, beach volleyball and other lawn sports are spread across a ten-acre resort that offers spacious marble-floored suites with fishing, golf, restaurants and shopping nearby.

Torres Mazatlan is the perfect spot for families and singles alike.

A weeks stay in a two bedroom condo at the Torres Mazatlan for only $298.  This is another member benefit with a GRN Travel Membership.

What are you waiting for?  Start saving today with your own Travel Membership.

Summer is here.  Do you know where to spend your precious vacation time? Have you ever been to Colorado?  Colorado is often known for the mountains and the many activities that are associated with the great outdoors.

Pagosa Springs,is surrounded by the San Juan National Forest and Southern Ute Indian lands, both of which are rich in history and natural treasures. Many activities are available by the San Juan River, which flows through the heart of town. You can do just about anything on your vacation in Pagosa Springs including hiking, fishing, boarding, skiing, hunting, four wheeling, snowmobiling, and even just take a ride as you explore the mountains. 300 days of sunshine and four definitive seasons, Pagosa Springs is an extraordinary place to visit, to get away and relax for a while. Pagosa Springs is a gateway to numerous attractions within the Four Corners area.

The San Juan National Forest offers numerous hiking and biking trails for all ages and abilities. There are trails along crystal clear mountain rivers and lakes, steep cliffs, ice caves and 25 local water falls.

The Pagosa Springs Golf Club is a spectacular course with 27 championship holes surrounded with magnificent views of the San Juan Mountains. Ponderosa pines line the fairway making the course both beautiful and challenging.

Spring is a great time to enjoy an easy class 1-3 float down the San Juan river above Pagosa Springs and view the beauty of the river valley. All ages are welcome. For the not so timid there are class 3-5 rapids on numerous other rivers in the area. These trips range from half day to 2 day trips including the Upper Animas River rated as one of the top ten in the world for its unbeatable combination of rugged white-water, scenic beauty and captivating history.

There are few areas that can boast of the quantity and quality of fishing waters to equal those in Pagosa Country. Streams, rivers, beaver ponds and lakes are all easily accessible and offer excellent fishing opportunities.

So no matter what you or your family are looking for this summer, you will find it in Colorado.  With a Travel Membership you can enjoy a week in paradise at the Wydham Pagosa, 1 bedroom sleeps 4 for only $298.  This is another member benefit with a GRN Travel Membership.  You will save thousands on vacations for the rest of your life.  Get your membership today.

Pack up the family or get your golfing, fishing buddies together and spend a week in Texas.

The Landing at Seven Coves is located on a peninsula jutting out into 19-mile-long Lake Conroe. Every suite features a balcony that extends over the lake, where guests can fish or just sit over the water as the ripples and waves gently splash against the bulkhead beneath.

The Landing is a great place to recharge your batteries away from the hustle and bustle of big city life without abandoning the possibility to shop and be entertained in Houston.

Enjoy fishing on site from your own balcony, or take a short drive from the resort to reach a 27-hole golf course, as well as sailing, waterskiing, and other water sports.

Hiking and biking trails are a great way to explore nearby Sam Houston National Forest.

For big-city activities, plan a drive to Houston, about an hour away. Close by is Old Town Spring with many arts and crafts shops as well as the Conroe Outlet Mall.

Another member benefit from GRN is a week at this location for $425 2 bedroom condo sleeps 6.  I checked room rates and they start at $120 a night to $170 per night.  Another great saving vacation with a Global Resorts Network Travel Membership.

Amid the stunning natural beauty of Northern Idaho, surrounded by conifer forests and blue lakes, you’ll find StoneRidge, the ultimate destination, the perfect place to get away from it all.

We don’t have just 18 holes; we have 19 to wake up your best game and excite your senses. We toss in just enough in the way of watery adventures and white sand bunkers to make it a round to remember.

If you love beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation, if you’ve always wanted to see more of Idaho – then StoneRidge makes the ideal location for your next vacation. An all-seasons resort area with lots of activities year-round.

Your entire family will enjoy a stay at StoneRidge. Non-golfers can enjoy the abundant and diverse recreational, cultural and historic sites in the nearby area.

Here at the resort, you can also fish and canoe on Lake Sans Souci; walk, jog or bike on our two-mile path, play tennis or use our recreation and fitness center, including our indoor swimming pool.

For ardent shoppers, we offer you world-class shops, wineries and premium outlets, all located within 45 minutes from StoneRidge.

During summer months, take a spin over to Silverwood, the northwest’s largest theme park, just 20 minutes away. At Silverwood, you’ll find a re-created Victorian Town, complete with a steam train, amusement park rides, shows and an antique aircraft museum. The Boulder Beach water park at Silverwood offers four monster water slides, a gigantic wave pool and body slides.

This beautiful resort is available for only $298 for the week with a GRN Travel Membership.  Stop paying retail for your vacations. Get your Travel Membership today and save for a lifetime.