On Tuesday night at 7pm, I finally returned to my apartment in Brooklyn from a nine-day excursion through the beautiful islands of Palau. Well, six days were spent in Palau, the rest were traveling. To be honest, I had never heard of Palau before I went, and now having been there, I can’t understand how it has remained such a hidden treasure for so long.

As part of Micronesia, this archipelago of islands is literally a paradise of wonder and full of history for such a nation of small, beautiful islands. Gaining its independence finally in 1994, Palau was explored by the Europeans, ruled by Spain, sold to Germany and invaded by Japan. Many artifacts from World War II remain, lying in decay and nestled within the beautiful tropical scenery. It is hard to imagine that such an atrocity took place in such a beautiful environment. Sunken war ships and rusted cannons quietly whisper stories of horror and despair while nature slowly chafes away at the evidence.

Palau is made up of only about 25,000 Palauans, as most have left to work or serve in the States. A big issue now with elections coming up is how to get Palauans to return or stay to help their own country. With a minimum wage of about $2.50 per hour and the influence of television and video games, it is hard to convince them to stay. However, the small population leaves a beautiful, naturally preserved cluster of islands filled with the most spectacular variety of fish, animals, coral and habitats.

Jellyfish Lake is a fresh/saltwater lake in the middle of a limestone island. Filled with nearly 11 million jellyfish, this lake once had an outlet to the ocean. Over time, the lake became closed off from the ocean, isolating the jellyfish from any predators or even prey. Having no need to defend themselves, the jellyfish slowly evolved, losing their stinging tentacles, leaving them completely harmless to human contact. The lake itself is more dangerous to tourists as it contains sulfide, and diving deeper than two minutes would result in suffocation. But a tourist can happily snorkel in this lake surrounded by 11 million pulsating organisms that approach you like curious little puppies (even though they have no brains). The jellyfish feed off of algae inside their membranes, leaving them completely dependent on the sun.

For scuba divers, Palau is a paradise. I had never been so close to so many sharks while scuba diving and snorkeling. One of my favorite dive sites was the Ulong Channel, filled with a variety of corals and marine life to observe as you drift along, following the current. Helmet Wreck was another favorite, as it is the remains of a Japanese ship. Helmets, bullets and saki bottles lay untouched, almost frozen in time.

Six days allowed me to get a taste of what these beautiful Pacific islands have to offer. I can only wait for another opportunity to return!

 Courtney Centeno, Account Executive

 *  Global Traveler remembers and honors all those who were affected by the attacks of 9/11 — those who lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon, the heroes on United Flight 93, the rescue workers,  the families who live with the losses of 9/11 every day, and many more. And for those who continue to fight for our freedom, thank you.

As I am writing this, it is 7 am on Thursday morning, and after 2 full days of traveling, I finally arrived at the Palau Royal Resort last night with my press group and received a complete, full night’s sleep in a real bed! On Monday, I flew from Newark Airport to LAX and had a very pleasant stay at the Sheraton Gateway Monday night. Since I had some time to relax before my 15-hour journey to Palau on Tuesday morning, I tried to stay up to alter my time clock, so I wouldn’t be so “off” when arriving in Palau. One thing I should have remembered from my journey to the Philippines is that it doesn’t matter how much you prepare or even sleep on the plane; after a 20-hour trip you will be EXHAUSTED no matter what!

Although arriving in Palau at night kept us from seeing the beautiful islands when we landed and the scenery while driving to our resort, I was happy to have nothing on my itinerary but SLEEP when I got to my hotel room. In the morning, I was greeted by the warm, humid tropical air and the sun rising just behind the palm trees. I could wake up like this every morning. The Palau Resort is beautiful and very accommodating, just as I had expected. I was very pleased with the amenities, as everything was provided so that one wouldn’t even need to bring toiletries, except deodorant. On top of that, there was two of everything! Toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, shaving cream, dental floss, toothpicks, lotion, shampoo, conditioner and hair comb.

While traveling, I will be reviewing everything from hotels, flights, restaurants, scuba diving, snorkeling and various tours. Our itineraries are jam-packed. Today is our dolphin tour! I am very happy to be here and review everything you global travelers will need to know about Palau! Who needs fall, winter or spring? Let summer prevail!!

-Courtney Centeno, account executive

Next week I will be traveling to Palau, Micronesia, for a week on a press trip. As an island lover and scuba diver, I am very excited! I will be staying at the Palau Royal Resort and also the Palau Pacific Resort. Put together by the Palau Visitor’s Authority, I will see dolphins, waterfalls, scuba dive, snorkel, kayak and even receive spa treatments! The first and last time I visited the Pacific Islands was three years ago when I traveled to the Philippines for three months. I am very excited to return to a place that hosts my favorite outdoor activities, has beautiful, white sandy beaches and tropical weather. I will keep you posted!

-Courtney Centeno, account executive

I read an article this morning at New York Times online about the benefits of traveling to the Caribbean this summer. Prices are substantially lower than the peak season (January-March) and although the months of June - August are slightly warmer, it’s still not as hot as some of the hottest days we have already experienced here in the States. Some hotels and resorts have cut their prices down by about 60%; and even with airfares rising, Caribbean packages are including cheaper airfare.

Even islands seem to be “on sale” as the Caribbean is becoming more aggressive with bringing more tourists in during the slower, off-peak season. Personally, I have always enjoyed the summertime for travel. Yes, as a former student, most of my travels took place during the summer because I was on break, however, seeing a touristy place minus all the tourists can make all the difference. Ok, maybe there are threats of hurricanes, but at least you won’t be sharing any white sand with Joe Schmoe and his family. And, if you enjoy water sports like scuba diving, you won’t have to wait for all the good dive spots! I personally don’t like ascending after a dive to find myself surrounded by dozens of outriggers. It makes the experience less personal and special.

I traveled last summer to Utila Island, an island off of Honduras in the Caribbean Sea - known as the “cheaper” and “more laid-back” version of its neighboring island, Roatan. Although the island seemed dominated by scuba diving instructors, the tourist level was at a low and I had this feeling as though the island were “mine”. While it’s great to meet other tourists and travelers, it’s also important to own your vacations and experiences.

-Courtney Centeno, account executive

My passion for travel began in college. As my budget solely depended on travel scholarships and financial aid, I always stuck to backpacking. Entering the luxury travel business now, I find myself at times awestruck at the world of spas, resorts and luxury hotels a college graduate like myself once only dreamed of!

My first experience at a resort wasn’t really at a resort at all. It was from the window of my room in a small motel for scuba divers on Mactan Island, Philippines, just off the coast of Cebu Island. The Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa could have been the tallest structure on Mactan Island. It stood as a tall, pink frosted building on the tip of the island, just basking there in the sun. While I was appreciating anything my $10-$20 a night budget could provide, I couldn’t help but stare at this isolated pink world with its own private beach every day. Their sand was whiter. Their water was clearer. Their palm trees were more lush and green. At night, I couldn’t ignore the long pier, illuminated with lanterns leading to a restaurant sitting on the water with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Luxury! The idea of it haunted me every night as I lay in my creaky cot, gazing out the window. My cousins, who traveled and dove with me in the Philippines, were also low-budget travelers who appreciated the local life of the islands and enjoyed supporting the smaller, locally run businesses. On this particular night, however, we could not resist. In the “finest” backpacking attire we could find, we strolled through the breathtaking fantasy of a lobby, calling each other by names we felt better resembled a luxury traveler than our own and taking pictures of ourselves posing in ways we felt looked “natural” in this setting. We didn’t fool anyone.

My view from the motel window did not lie to me. The sand was better. The water was clearer. Even the palm trees seemed happier. Fortunately, our budgets did allow one night of splurging at the restaurant on the pier. We sat on the balcony of the top floor of the restaurant, which mimicked the sensation of standing on the bow of a large ship. We could see our motel from the pier and we waved. To me, this was luxury: indulging in whatever we could afford, enjoying life and knowing exactly where we came from!

-Courtney Centeno, account executive