The Jamaican government has announced its backing for gambling in casinos to be legalised, despite stiff opposition from religious groups.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding said he had already given the green light to a group of international investors planning the island’s first casino.

Casino deals would bring in money for areas like health and schools, he said.

Parliament will now consider the proposals which opponents say will bring no benefit to Jamaican society.

Slot machines and other gaming devices are found in bars and hotels across Jamaica but until now casinos have not been permitted.

Speaking during a budget debate on Tuesday, Mr Golding said he had already given approval for moves to set up the first casino.

“There are those who I know disagree with casino gambling. But the fact is that the horse bolted through the gate a long time ago with the granting of licences for hundreds of gaming machines,” Mr Golding told parliament.

He said studies had shown casino gambling would be a viable industry, and bring employment.

SANDALS RESORTS AND BEACHES RESORTS OFFER ROMANTIC ESCAPES FOR MOMS AND DADS

~Romance-Themed Packages Arrive Just In Time for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day~

Romance-Themed Packages Include Side-by-Side Couples Massages at Sandals Resorts’ and Beaches Resorts’ exclusive Red Lane® Spa

Whether you’re looking to get away as a couple, or reconnect while spending time with your family, this year it’s time to reward the ones that mean the most to you with an unforgettable escape to the Caribbean!  In anticipation of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts have crafted two, unique packages so couples can celebrate their respective special days unwinding on the picturesque shores of the Caribbean.

For Moms and Dads seeking to get away to remember when they truly were just two, Sandals Resorts’ Making Time for Romance package will help rekindle the flame. There’s no denying the romance through the resort’s carefully-selected amenities, including: a 50-minute “Scent of Love” couples massage at Sandals Resorts’ exclusive Red Lane® Spa; a private, four-course candlelit dinner complete with personalized menus and white-glove service; a keepsake 5 x 7 photograph; and an “In Room Escapade,” a mood-setting evening that includes chilled sparkling wine, sprinkled rose petals, flickering candles and a scented bubble bath. Rates start at $1,289 per couple over Mother’s Day and $1,509 per couple over Father’s Day.* 

For couples who want to get away with the entire gang but also need some private time for themselves, Beaches Resorts’ When We Were Two package is the perfect remedy.  This one-of-a-kind experience includes: a 50-minute couples massage at Beaches Resorts’ exclusive Red Lane® Spa; sparkling wine served alongside chocolate-dipped fruit while watching the sun set on the beach; and a private, four-course candlelit dinner complete with personalized menu, sparkling wine, keepsake photo and complimentary Ultra Nanny babysitting services for children 12 and under (up to three hours).  Rates start at $2,188 per family of four (two adults, two children under 15) over Mother’s Day and $2,496 per family over Father’s Day.*

To book your Sandals Resorts or Beaches Resorts vacation today, call Penny (888) 336-8133.  

*Minimum three-night stay is required.

SURPRISE MOM WITH A BEACHES RESORTS GETAWAY THIS MOTHER’S DAY

~Beaches Turks & Caicos’ Exclusive ‘Beaches Friends Forever’ Package Serves as Perfect Mother’s Day Gift~

Popular ‘Beaches Friends Forever’ Package Featuring Specially-Themed Activities for  

 Moms and Daughters Takes Place October 2- 6, 2008

This Mother’s Day, surprise Mom with the gift that keeps on giving, by celebrating how special she is during the vacation getaway of a lifetime at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa during October 2 – 6, 2008.

Moms will be thrilled for the opportunity to enjoy some sun, fun and camaraderie through the resort’s ‘Beaches Friends Forever’ (BFF) package, priced at $1,034 per person and featuring: a goodie-filled welcome basket; sunset Catamaran sail-away on the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea; beach yoga and seaside Pilates; “Wine”-ing allowed, a food & wine tasting session sponsored by Beringer Vineyards; ‘Spice It Up’ Caribbean cooking classes; a $200 Red Lane® Spa voucher at Beaches Resorts’ exclusive spa retreat; pajama parties by bonfire; complimentary 5 x 7 professional keepsake photo; and so much more!

Those still seeking the perfect Mother’s Day gift need look no further since Beaches Resorts’ BFF package is available for booking now through May 12, 2008. As part of the resort’s Luxury Included™ vacation experience, guests will also enjoy well-appointed accommodations, gourmet dining, wine and premium spirits, watersports, entertainment, transfers between the airport and hotel and more.

Beaches Resorts’ BFF package has truly taken care of it all so deserving moms can take a break and enjoy some extra bonding time with their most treasured girlfriends.

Remember, space is limited! To book your Beaches Resorts BFF getaway today, call Penny (888) 336-8133.

BEACHES RESORTS SALUTES SINGLE MOMS AND DADS WITH SINGLE PARENT FUN (SPF) MONTHS

~Annual Program Waives Single Supplement Fee of Up to $190 per Night for All Single Parents and Features Tailored Activities and Events~

Single Parent Fun (SPF) Months Take Place During May 1 – May 31, 2008 and August 17 – October 31, 2008  

 at All Four Resort Locations In Jamaica and Turks & Caicos

Beaches Resorts is rolling out its sixth annual Single Parent Fun (SPF) months to reward “super-moms” and “super-dads” everywhere with a much-deserved vacation with the kids as well as some downtime for themselves.

Available for travel between May 1 – May 31, 2008 and August 17 – October 31, 2008, the SPF program waives the single supplement fee (of up to $190 per night) for single parents at all four resort locations in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos.  Additionally, guests can enjoy tailored activities and events such as Single Parent Welcome Receptions, Social Cocktail Receptions, Kid’s Movie Nights and more.  Single parents will be thrilled to spend cherished one-on-one time with their children during the day but still partake in adult conversation at night.

Better yet, the second set of travel dates fall on Beaches Resorts’ highly-anticipated WonderFALL Celebration, a new annual season of events and activities designed expressly for parents with young children.

Taking place during the months of September and October at all four resort locations, highlights of the upcoming WonderFALL season include: exclusive savings of up to 45 percent off regular rack rates; a special welcome gift pack; new exclusive Sesame Street Stage Shows; parenting seminars hosted by Sesame Workshop; the arrival of new sensation, Abby Cadabby; nighttime dive-in movies; poolside dance parties; a live show with Gordon and Elmo (limited three-week run in September); and specially-themed arts and crafts activities!

For more information or to book your Beaches Resorts vacation today, Penny (888) 336-8133 

Effective immediately, Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and the Royal Plantation Collection, has introduced Grand Pineapple Beach, a new, value-oriented brand.

According to Adam Stewart, CEO of SRI, Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts will offer a quality all-inclusive resort experience, a great beachfront location and tremendous value. Two resorts, Grand Pineapple Beach Resort in Antigua and Negril Gardens in Jamaica, will be re-flagged with the new moniker to become Grand Pineapple Beach Antigua and Grand Pineapple Beach Negril, respectively. Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts will accept singles, couples, families and groups. All-inclusive rates include accommodations, all meals and snacks, unlimited premium-brand beverages, non-motorized watersports, and nightly entertainment. “Our intention was to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for guests to affordably enjoy the best beaches in the Caribbean,” Stewart said in a written release. “It’s a slice of paradise no matter your budget.”

WASHINGTON - American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights Wednesday, stranding about 100,000 people and adding to flights grounded a day earlier, as it inspected wiring on some of its jets that could cause a short or even a fire. Airline executives said the safety of passengers was never in jeopardy. It was American’s second bout with mass cancellations in less than two weeks for failing to meet rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Q: What prompted the FAA to issue the order on the MD-80 wiring bundles?

A: Reports of shorted wires, evidence of worn-down power cables, and fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer, Boeing Co. The airworthiness directive carried an effective date of Sept. 5, 2006, and airlines had 18 months to comply.

Q: What could happen if the wires shorted out?

A: Besides the loss of auxiliary hydraulic power, a fire in the wheel well of the airplane could be sparked by a short from the wires. The actions required by the government also are intended to reduce the possibility of fire or a fuel tank explosion that would destroy the plane, according to the FAA.

Q: Why were airlines given 18 months to comply?

A: Officials assessed the risks that the wires posed, and in the case of those that are near, but not inside a fuel tank, they determined that carriers would have 18 months, said FAA spokesman Les Dorr. Two things are required for an explosion — fire and the proper mix of fuel and air — and the wire bundles inspected in the MD-80s were not in a position where an explosion was likely, he added.

Q: Why didn’t the airlines comply by the deadline?

A: Assuming the airlines received and understood the FAA order, “the likely answer is they believed they didn’t have to,” said Daniel Petree, dean of the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. In general, businesses don’t like to take on extra costs “if there is no payoff for them in doing it.”

The carriers likely also assessed the risks to their fleet and weighed that against disrupting service on planes that already yield little revenue per seat.

Brian Stirm, director of aircraft maintenance at Purdue University’s aviation technology department, added that 18 months was “more than adequate time to do a visual inspection.” Even untrained mechanics and inspectors could identify chafing, which is the “wire bundle rubbing on something else,” he added.

Q: What did it cost to comply, and how many aircraft were affected?

A: More than 1,000 airplanes worldwide were affected, including an estimated 732 in the U.S. Based on the required parts and labor time, the FAA estimated the cost to U.S. operators would be up to $1,304 per airplane.

While that figure may seem small, the FAA did not factor in revenue lost to the airlines if the planes are taken out of service, Petree said — something the carriers likely did. Removing an aircraft for 12 hours could mean losing up to five trips, and having to compensate passengers for cancellations and missed connections with hotel rooms and other perks, he said.

Q: Didn’t wiring problems lead to the explosion and crash of TWA Flight 800 that killed all 230 people aboard in July 1996?

A: Yes, but the explosion in the fuel tank of that plane, a Boeing 747, most likely came through a different wiring system, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Air-conditioning units underneath the fuel tanks also are believed to have heated the vapors inside the tank, which made them more vulnerable to explosion.

Penny Sheldon Travel ~

Offering you the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and all locations in Paradise

 Penny ~ (888) 336-8133 ~ toll free

 www.PennySheldonTravel.com

My service cost’s you NOTHING ~ so why not let me do the work for you.

 SINGLE PARENTS MONTH

 To honor single parents everywhere, Beaches Resort is waiving the single supplement fee (up to $190 per night) at all our resorts when you stay 3 nights or longer. Come and enjoy a much-deserved vacation under the Caribbean sun during Single Parent Fun months: May 1 - May 31, 2008 and August 17 - October 31, 2008. Experience great activities such as Single Parent Welcome Receptions, Single Parent Social Cocktail Receptions, Kids movie night and more… 

CALL OR EMAIL Penny today

Beaches BFF Girls Getaway

The Beaches ‘Friends Forever’ (B.F.F) Getaway is available exclusively at Beaches Turks & Caicos for travel October 2 - 6, 2008. Whether single, married, or simply looking to get away with the girls, the B.F.F Getaway will be sure to deliver fun, sun and the ultimate girls bonding experience!

Details as follows:

Booking Window:          Now – September 30, 2008

Travel Window:             October 2 - 6, 2008

Resorts:                        Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa

Categories:                    Run of House

Cost:                             $1034 per person

Cocktail Party, Sunset Catamaran sail-away; beach yoga and seaside Pilates, chartered private snorkeling, island dance classes, ‘Spice It Up’ Caribbean cooking class – learn how, then enjoy; “Wine”-ing Allowed food & wine balance, ‘Escape with a good book’ bonfire night/pajama party and much, more!

Also as an added value we are tossing in a slew of goodies and welcome gifts (t-shirts, beach bags, etc.), a 10% discount at the gift shop ,a free 5 X 7 photograph, plus a $200 Red Lane^® Spa voucher. 

CALL OR EMAIL PENNY TODAY

HAWAII

PLUS ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS

FROM PENNY SHELDON TRAVEL

“Dreams Come True”

Hawaiian Honeymoons

5 nights from $409 with romantic bonuses

Package Prices are per person and include:
roundtrip airport/hotel transfers in Oahu, 6-day economy car rental in Maui, Hawaii’s Big Island and Kauai, 5-night hotel accommodations and hotel tax

Tours operated by Travel Impressions. Rate is land only, per person, based on double occupancy in specific room categories, and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers in Oahu, 6-day economy Alamo car rental in Maui, Hawaii’s Big Island and Kauai, hotel accommodations and hotel tax. Rates valid for travel 4/1/08-5/27/08 except Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa 4/13/08-6/5/08 and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa 4/15/08-12/15/08. Car rental is available to qualified renters only, does not include tax or insurance, and certain age and other restrictions apply. Blackout, weekend, holiday and peak season surcharges apply. Rates and promotions are accurate at time of publication and are subject to changes, exceptions, cancellation charges and restrictions. All advertised savings are reflected in price. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the publication of this ad. Additional higher priced packages available. Valid for new booki

Book 7 Nights and experience the Secrets Eternity Honeymoon package complimentary.
7 Unlimited-Luxury® Nights from $2139!*

Tours operated by Travel Impressions. Secrets Eternity Honeymoon package is complimentary when booking a Junior Suite Oceanview or Oceanview Junior Suite for a minimum stay of 7 nights. Not available during Christmas and New Years. Subject to availability. Double occupancy only. Can not be combined with the Secrets Wedding in Paradise Package. *Sample rate for Secrets Maroma Beach is land only, per person, based on double occupancy in Oceanview Junior Suite category, and includes roundtrip hotel transfers, 7 night hotel accommodations and hotel tax. Rates valid for travel 8/23/08- 10/31/08 and vary by hotel and departure date. Blackout, weekend, holiday peak season surcharges apply. Rates and promotions are accurate at time of printing and are subject to changes, exceptions, cancellation charges and restrictions. All advertised savings are reflected in price. Rates subject to change based on currency fluctuations. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the

Here are three tips for getting to your destination despite the recent wave of airline failures:

1. Get a plan ‘B’ … now. If you were planning to fly on an airline that’s grounded, call your travel agent immediately or try to make alternate arrangements with an airline that says it will accept your ticket. For example, Southwest Airlines, which had a codeshare agreement with ATA, says it will rebook its customers who were scheduled to fly on ATA, according to a statement on its Web site. However, that offer didn’t extend to ATA passengers who had been affected by their airline’s demise.

Here’s where having a good travel agent can help. “If a client has tickets on an airline that just ceased operations, I would be looking to get my client re-accommodated on another airline as quickly as possible without any poking from the client. Paasengers need to be patient, since it can take “hours of working with other airlines to get the client re-accommodated.”

2. Lean on a third party. No one is answering the phones at ATA right now, but if you bought a ticket through a tour operator or online agency, chances are there’s someone home. ( If you had used a travel agent - this problem wouldn’t exist.)

Remember, these are the agencies that took your money, so they shouldn’t leave you hanging.
Unfortunately, some are. Larry Kaplan booked a package through one of the major online travel agencies. When ATA folded, he phoned the agency. “After a one hour on hold they told me they could do nothing about the airline portion,” he says. “The call was being handled in India by someone whose English wasn’t very good. They claim they simply broker the money to others.” Kaplan is disputing the entire purchase on his credit card. But another option, if you have the time, is to ask the agency to reconsider a “you’re-on-your-own” attitude in writing.

3. Run a health check on your next itinerary … and act if necessary. Flying somewhere? Then you might want to check your airline for signs of imminent bankruptcy. Among the warnings: the recent removal of a top executive, a dramatic change or reduction in routes, staff cuts, and, of course, emphatic public statements by it top brass that things couldn’t be any better. By that measure, there are several airlines that could be on the precipice. Those include Sun Country Airlines, which recently laid off nearly 30 percent of its pilots and Skybus Airlines, which lost two key executives and has restructured its routes.

Determining if your vacation is at risk from an ailing airline is not easy. After all, struggling airlines sometimes recover. The advice of a good travel agent is helpful, but buying another ticket on a less unprofitable airline is a decision you’ll have to make after weighing all of the facts. If you decide to keep your plans, consider travel insurance. Some policies offer protection if your airline goes out of business.

The news is not all bad, when it comes to the recent airline failures. The current wave of bankruptcies is actually healthy for the airline industry in the long term. It’s weeding out the weakest air carriers and making room for new airlines with sustainable business models. This is part of a perfectly normal cycle we’ve seen many times before.

The trick, of course, is to not get stuck in the middle of the cycle.

Get ready to enjoy a taste of Italy in the Caribbean, and dive into one of the Caribbean’s largest and most comprehensive waterparks and playgrounds.

We are pleased to announce the opening of the new Italian Village & Waterpark

on December 15, 2008 at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa!

 Some highlights of the $125 million expansion are:

 ● 162 luxurious two bedroom family suites including concierge service with 18 Imperial

            Suites with an additional living and dining area and butler service

             ● 45,000 Sq Ft water park

            ● 4 Restaurants

            ● Shopping Village

            ● Club Liquid – teen nightclub

            ● Half acre swimming pool