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Save Money on Holiday Travel

So many people travel for important holidays that you may be quite disappointed with the cost of it. There are great ways you can save money though whether you are traveling by plane, train, or bus to get to your destination for the holidays. It is essential that you book your travel arrangements early. You don’t want to be stuck without a way to get where you want to be for the holidays due to everything being sold out. You also want to take your time to compare prices.

You will find some travel dates should simply be avoided around the holidays. This will allow you to avoid crowds which often equal substantial delays. You will also be able to get the same travel arrangements at a lower price just by carefully calculating the best times to travel.

You may not think that Valentine’s Day is a top travel holiday but it is. It is very important for people to be able to spend this holiday together. Since Presidents Day is very close to Valentine’s Day many people are able to take a long weekend. Avoid traveling during this Monday holiday and you will save money. Instead fly out in the next few days and then stay for a couple of days after Valentine’s Day instead of before.

Spring break takes place for about three weeks in March depending on which schools people are attending. If you plan to travel for spring break you need to plan it very carefully to maximize your time and to get good prices. Many colleges allow people to complete their final exams early. Try to do this and travel on a Wednesday or Thursday. Avoid peak days such as Friday and Saturday. You also want to come back on week days as they will be lower volume dates for travel.

Many people fly to see their parents for Mother’s Day and for Father’s Day. These are important holidays that take place on a Sunday in May and then on a Sunday in June. Traveling on the actual day will save you money over flying out on the Friday or Saturday before. This way you can arrive on their special day and hang out for several days. Your return trip should be for one of the weekdays following the holiday instead of on the weekend.

Thanksgiving is a common holiday that people travel for. Since it always falls on a Thursday, most people get an extended weekend so they can go visit for a few days or take a vacation. The peak of this vacation for travel takes place on the day before Thanksgiving. However, if you are willing to travel on Thanksgiving Day you can avoid the crowds. You will also find you save up to 50% of the price of getting there just by waiting less than 24 hours.

Most people return from their Thanksgiving vacation on the Sunday following the holiday. Try to avoid this day as well and return on the following Monday. Most employers want some people to be in the office on the Wednesday before so offer to do it in exchange for having the following Monday off.

Christmas is another peak holiday travel occasion, and you will find the fares get much higher the closer it gets to the 25th of December. Try to travel before the 19th in order to take advantage of the best possible fares. If you won’t be able to stay through New Year’s that choose a day in the middle of the week after Christmas. These are often slower days than the weekends and you will get better prices.

Avoid travel on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day as they are two of the most popular travel dates of the year. Fares are often double what they normally would be so you will save yourself plenty of money and delays if you work around them when you travel for the holidays.

Hotel Safety Tips
Author: Lana Hampton

As is often the case, the more we travel, the less we think about our safety. It’s easy to become comfortable in a hotel when we spend so much time in it. Most people have caught themselves opening their hotel room door without asking who it is when they’ve ordered room service. And, quite frankly, you are usually so tired and desperate for the salad and glass of wine you ordered an hour earlier that you don’t even look closely at the person entering your room.

With more and more terrorist warnings about possible hotel attacks in addition to the usual bad guys out there, it’s important to keep safety as your number one priority. Room service and accessing your e-mail come in at a close second. Here are some tips from the American Hotel and Lodging Association to all of the road warriors out there. Stay safe!

Don’t answer the door in a hotel or motel room without verifying who is at the door. If a person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from the hotel staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.

When returning to your hotel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel.

Be observant and look around before entering hotel parking lots.

Close the door securely whenever you are in your hotel room and use all of the locking devices provided.

Don’t needlessly display guest room keys in public or carelessly leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be stolen.

Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.

Don’t invite strangers to your hotel room.

Place all valuables in the hotel’s safe deposit box.

Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

Check to see that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are locked.

If you see any suspicious activity, please report your observations to the hotel management.

Upon arrival, notify the Front Desk if you require special evacuation assistance in the event of an emergency.

About the Author

Lana Hampton makes it easy to find the hotel that meets your travel needs. Visit http://www.yowshotel.com today for the latest hotel information.
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South Africa Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves
Author: Bruce Whittaker

A South Africa safari is the ideal wildlife trip to go on because the infrastructure and accommodation is superb in all the wildlife parks there and it is still highly affordable in comparison to other African countries.

But given a choice some of the national parks and game reserves are better than others.

Here is a top five list ranking them according to travel reports received at the African Safari Journals website, my safari experience of twenty plus years, industry forums, magazines and the general consensus of the experts.

1. Kruger NP

The Kruger National Park has to rank as one of the best South Africa safari destinations, only slightly behind the Masai Mara and Serengeti when it comes to wildlife viewing because the vegetation in Kruger can be dense and sometimes mars the ability to see longer distances.

But the variety of animals, birds and ecosystems that you can experience here are unparalleled anywhere else in Africa and the accommodation, roads and facilities are top notch and all at a very affordable price.

It’s not unusual to see lion, leopard, cheetah, a pack of wild dog, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a whole host of antelope, crocodile and hippo in the course of a single trip including a variety of insects and reptiles.

On the bird front you will be spoiled with a seemingly never-ending supply of eagles, hawks, water birds and a host of migratory and indigenous species to the tune of about 510 different varieties.

You can easily do a self drive safari here and still see a decent amount of wildlife especially if you stick to the central and southern portions of this massive park (larger than Ireland). The north has fewer animals due to dryer conditions but also less tourists which makes for a more isolated and intimate wildlife experience.

If variety is the spice of life then a South Africa safari in the Kruger National Park is a rich dish indeed.

2. Sabi Sands GR

Sharing a fenceless border on the western side of the Kruger National Park is the Sabi Sands game reserve which has a number of world famous private concessions like Mala Mala, Sabi Sabi and Londelozi.

The removal of the fence between the two parks allows the animals to move around freely and the game viewing experience is just as in the Kruger National with one important difference. Because this reserve is privately held, off road game tracking is allowed which improves your chances of finding the elusive big cats, elephant, rhino, buffalo and wild dog to a large degree. They also make use of two way radios in each safari vehicle so that if one finds something noteworthy the others can be alerted.

The sand and sabi rivers which bisect the reserve provide the focal point which attracts the wildlife to the area especially in the dry season.

So viewing the big cats on a South Africa safari here is virtually guaranteed and the accommodation is some of the best in the world as illustrated by the Singita lodge which was the first and only accommodation in the history of the Conde Nast Gold List Reader Poll to get a perfect 100 score, an honour it has held for three years. There are about thirty different top class lodges situated in the reserve.

But this all comes at a price and unless you have reasonably deep pockets this fantastic reserve will be out of reach which is why it doesn’t get the Nr one ranking for South Africa safari national parks and reserves.

3. Hluhluwe Umfolozi NP

If you want to see the endangered black and white rhinos in the wild then this is the park to head for because this is where the inexorable tide to extinction for the white rhino in Southern Africa was stemmed.

It now boasts the largest population of white rhino in the world numbering over 1600 and also a slowly increasing population of black rhino at just over 400.

On a South Africa safari here you will also be able to see lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and cheetah in this park and more than 400 bird species have been recorded. Due to the large number of resident elephants you might have some close encounters with them on the roads as they cross in front of you.

You can go for a daily walk in the park in the company of an armed ranger or you can do a several day extended hike in the southern umfolozi portion.

4. Madikwe GR

This is a latter day Noah’s ark story because most of the wildlife contained in this park was relocated here from other areas in 1991.

Twenty seven different species amounting to over 10 000 head of game were re-introduced into this area where they once thrived but had disappeared because of hunting and habitat destruction.

A huge advantage of taking a South Africa safari in this park is that it is not situated in a malaria area so you don’t have to bother about taking malaria tablets as you do in most other reserves.

All of the big five are on view here as well as cheetah and the rare wild dog packs which are the stars of the show here being regularly sighted patrolling their huge territories. Your chances of seeing them seem to be better here than most other parks.

Rare antelope like the eland, gemsbok and sable put in an appearance here too and you will be able to enjoy your wildlife viewing in relative peace and isolation because not many tourists know about this excellent game reserve.

5. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

The locals know that this is an excellent game park and it falls into that “best kept secret” category that each country seems to have where for some unknown reason a reserve doesn’t get the notice from tourists and safari companies that it deserves.

Maybe it’s because this reserve is set in the Kalahari desert and people don’t normally associate deserts with lots of wildlife but there are always exceptions to the rule and this South Africa safari park qualifies.

You can see some pretty specialised and very interesting game here such as the gemsbok antelope which can go for months without water, springbok, blue wildebeest, eland and red hartebeest.

And wherever there is a good supply of antelope, the predators are never far away such as the black maned lions which this area has a disproportionate supply off, leopard and cheetah which can make full use of the wide open spaces to chase their prey at top speed.

The meerkat (suricate) is also regularly seen here and bat eared foxes contribute to the scavenging duties.

This South Africa park is famous for birds of prey such as the pygmy falcon and the sociable weaver which builds nests which are the bird equivalent of apartment blocks that are sometimes so big they break the branches they rest on.

About the Author

There are hundreds of companies offering safari trips to South Africa. This Top Three safari in South Africa operators list helps you choose effectively between them.

South Africa safari trip reports give you a great idea of what to expect from a trip like this.

Travel Insurance Bargains for Brits
Author: Steve Cogger

If you’re traveling in the UK, or a UK citizen traveling elsewhere, you have many options including full year travel insurance. While the occasional traveler such as a vacationer may not find full year travel insurance preferable to the one-trip options, business travelers or other frequent travelers may opt for full year travel insurance as the best time saving and money saving choice.

UK travel insurance options, in addition to full year UK travel insurance coverage, are numerous: one-trip or multiple-trip plans, extended stay, business travel plans, several designed especially for family travel, and even one that’s focused on the needs of backpacking travelers.

With just about every plan lost luggage coverage can be included or deleted a la carte, since travelers may find that this protection is included in their homeowners’ policy. Full year UK travel insurance, as well as one or multiple trip options, also includes medical coverage while participating in most sports, although you sometimes must choose this option for the coverage.

Instant quotes are available online. On one informative UK site your instant quote is given individually for your choice of single trip, annual (also known as multiple trip) or backpacker.

Let’s take a look at the full year UK travel insurance quote.

For this quote you are asked to register and then choose destinations. The destination choices for this full year UK travel insurance plan are for travel specific to the UK, travel within all of Europe, travel worldwide with the exception of the United States and the Caribbean, word travel that includes the U.S. and the Caribbean, or travel in Australia and/or New Zealand. We indicated that we are a couple - 45 and 43 years of age - with no children under 19 accompanying us, that we are traveling throughout all of Europe starting September 1st of 2005, and that we are going to participate in winter sports.

The quotes, converted from British pounds to U.S. dollars, ranged between $92 and $255, depending on the extent of coverage. At the low end of the full year UK travel insurance coverage we found lower ceilings on medical coverage. These quotes also excluded lost baggage coverage and some sports coverage. An accident during a round of golf, for example, was not included in this quote.

The highest premium full year UK travel insurance product, offered an amazingly high ceiling on medical coverage - over $17 million -included compensation for any loss of limbs, dental coverage, mountain search and rescue and repatriation for medical emergency.

Clearly, if you seek full year UK travel insurance, you’ll find many options and something that will fit your wallet.

About the Author

Steve Cogger is webmaster of the 1 Happy Traveller website. Visit the site today to receive all of the information on travel insurance you could possibly need.

Living and Retiring in Panama: The New Expatriate Haven
Author: Phillip Townsend

Inexpensive real estate, a low cost of living, breathtaking scenery and world-class perks should put Panama at the top of your list if you’re considering a life outside of your country.

Home to Central America’s most vibrant and attractive capital (Panama City), Panama is slightly larger than the state of Florida. Bordered by the Caribbean Seas and the Pacific Ocean, it is one of those places that can seduce you through its sheer natural beauty. The seemingly endless stretches of picturesque coastline, lush green valleys, near-perfect weather and friendly people make it one of the most livable places in the world. If you like Florida, the Caribbean and South America, you’ll love Panama.

Outside of its scenic charms, Panama is one of the best places anywhere for expatriate and retirees today, offering one of the world’s best discount programs for retirees. AARP rated Panama “the fourth best retirement place in the world.”

When stacked up against traditional retirement havens such as Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, Panama has more amenities, lower costs and less crime, red tape and government interference.

In addition, Panama has put together an impressive list of incentives to attract newcomers. For example:

Expatriates who buy or build a new home won’t be liable for any property taxes for 20 years.

Residents pay no taxes on foreign-earned income (including business proceeds, Social Security or pensions).

Investments in the tourism industry are exempt from import duties, construction materials and equipment costs, and income, real estate and other taxes for a period of 20 years.

The pensionado program
You don’t need to be retired to qualify for the program (anyone over 18 may apply for benefits). The only requirement is a guaranteed income of $500 per month ($600 for a couple). It must be a pension from a company or government agency (e.g. Social Security, disability, military pay, etc.).

After becoming a Panamanian resident “pensioner,” you are immediately eligible for the most comprehensive program of expatriate benefits in the world, including:

50% off entertainment anywhere in the country (movies, theaters, concerts, sporting events, etc.)

50% off hotel stays Monday through Thursday, 30% off Friday through Sunday

50% off closing costs for home mortgages

30% off public transportation (bus, boat, and train fares)

25% off airfare for domestic travel

25% off restaurant meals

20% off professional and technical services (home utilities, etc.)

20% off doctor’s visits

15% off hospital bills (if you don’t have insurance coverage)

15% off fast-food eateries

15% off dental and eye exams

10% off prescriptions

Other perks of life in Panama:

Panama City is only a 2½-hour flight from Miami.

The US dollar is the de facto official currency in Panama.

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood in major cities.

Right now, the three best places to purchase real estate in Panama are Panama City, the capital which boasts First-world infrastructure and is home to virtually every large American brand-name chain; Boquette, a scenic and growing expatriate hideaway in Panama’s mountainous region; and the Pearl Islands, a chain of over 90 islands and 130 islets in the Caribbean.

For more information about Panama, visit: www.thegloballife.net.

About the Author

Phillip Townsend is the author of Living & Retiring in Panama, an e-Report available at: www.thegloballife.net

World Cruise - a Relaxing Experience
by: Colin Hartness

Have you ever thought what it would be like to just relax quietly under the sun and at sea-no hustling or bustling, far away from the madding crowds in a casual attire and in clean air and just a small group of likeminded people as company? You are on a World Cruise- around the world, Australia and New Zealand, the Orient, South America, South Pacific, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean. The ships are equipped with spacious, well-furnished cabins with private facilities having a well-upholstered lounge, a library, good deck space and a small pool. The fares typically range from $70 to $130 a day and the world cruise is for duration from about four to ten weeks, but some are two to three weeks and some are longer.

With World Cruise, you cover 27 nations on five continents. You navigate through the French Polynesia, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, glacier carved fjords of New Zealand, enchanted China’s landscapes and the forbidden palaces. You pay a visit to bazaars in Hong Kong and the buddhas in Bangkok, the colonial and modern blend in Singapore. Enjoy exploring Delhi, Jaipur or the Taj Mahal at Agra and the tombs and temples under the ruling King times. The World Cruise even takes you to Antartica -the ultimate destination. It sure is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the grandeur of Rome, the glory of Rome through the warm waters of the equatorial Atlantic.

Taking the world cruise will be the most memorable vacation you have ever undertaken. You would cherish this experience for the rest of your life where you learn about history or diverse cultures the world over or simply unwind yourself. World cruises provide American customers a service of a lifetime-delicious meals, sightseeing, and entertainment combined with a relaxed friendly atmosphere-value for money as you may understand. Now you can sail in style and comfort- Volga river, Moscow canal, Volga/Baltic canal, the Svir River, the Rybinski Reservoir, Lake Ladoga, Lake Onega, and the Neva River. You will certainly be the envy of the Byzantine Emperors as you travel the legendary route between Scandinavia to Kiev and the Black Sea until you reach Dnieper River. Great works of art-’the Panorama of the Sevastopal Battle’ and you can also visit the room where Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin signed the Yalta Treaty in 1945.

Age is no constraint to take the World Cruise-whether you are 79 or reaching 80, you are welcome aboard. Of course, if you are under 13 the insurance companies might restrict your entry into the cruise. A month prior to departure, you will receive the boarding information along with the ticket package. You may receive a mailing list with port agent addresses with your ticket package-so you can be in touch with your family and friends while sailing. The only change you can expect is the change in the boarding date. However, you may not know the actual time of boarding until the day before or day of boarding.

Do not forget to carry cash, US currency only. Personal checks, traveler checks and credit cards are unacceptable. For you to undertake the world cruise emergency medical/evacuation is necessary. This covers you medically in foreign ports and allows you to avail medical treatment in case of illness. Mostly if you are over 65 years, it is obligatory to have a medical certificate within ninety days of sailing. You need not worry about canceling your trip due to covered reasons as you are covered for it too under trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

About The Author

Looking for information about cruises? Go to:
http://www.whatcruises.com
‘What Cruises’ is published by Colin Hartness
- An excellent resource for Cruises!

Vacation In Comfort With Kids

by: David Leonhardt

It takes a special person to travel with kids – a parent. Children have their own needs. Their idea of a vacation is more “adventurous” than a parent’s. They need constant stimulation and they can get as tired as they are tiring.

There are many top ten type lists of tips for traveling with children: how to ensure they eat well and drink enough, how to dress them for weather variances, how to provide the stimulation they need, how to make sure they don’t drive off with the family car and leave you stranded in the Mojave Desert, etc.

This list is how to travel in comfort – without tying the children to the roof rack – which hopefully will reduce your stress.

Make sure you have plenty of room while traveling.

This is easier said than done. On a plane, everybody is cramped. On a train, everybody is cramped, although a little less so. On a bicycle… don’t even try it.

If you are driving, get a mini-van. Sure, you might be more of a “car” type, and you might have resisted buying a mini-van so far. But pick up a rental van for the vacation just to give the kids a little more room for fighting. (Make sure it has a roof rack, just in case.)

Reality check: Cram enough people into a tiny space and watch everybody get stressed and enraged. See my humorous but true article on hippo rage: http://www.thehappyguy.com/hippo-rage.html .

Accommodations along the way can be tricky. Usually it involves a cramped motel for just long enough to sleep, then back in the cramped car (or somewhat cramped mini-van). This is not anybody’s idea of a home away from home.

An accommodation alternative is to camp. When not sleeping, you have all the space in the world (unless you have to huddle under the tarp while the storm passes through). I love camping, but not everyone enjoys a good early morning wake-up wrestle with a grizzly as much as I do, so a motel might be required.

Make sure you have plenty of room when you “get there".

My childhood vacations, often involved wandering around lost. Assuming you are actually heading for a destination, make sure to have lots of room when you get there. This part is easy. But it requires thinking outside the box. Forget hotels, motels, and inns. Look for private rental homes.

Probably the biggest destination for families is Walt Disney World in Florida. Good news – Orlando, Kissimmee and the surrounding area is just teeming with private vacation homes for rent. In Florida they call them vacation villas, and they offer all the space of home (without having to fix a leaky sink or oil the door hinges or mow the lawn.) Here are some examples of vacation home rentals in the Disney area: http://www.lastminutevillas.net/Disney-vacation.html.

Sharon Baillie is a private villa owner in the Kissimmee area outside Orlando, just a few miles from Disney World. “Our guests enjoy the spaciousness of our 6-bedroom home ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/new5beda1pg1.html ). They love the private pool and the private yard in which they can relax,” she says. “Parents love the space for children to run around outside, and we leave a box of toys in the garage. So while the parents rest, the children play – and let their parents rest!”

Be prepared for “children being children” events.

Sometimes, stress hits you from behind when the unexpected happens. Like a cut or a scrape … or a child getting sick. Sharon Baillie told me that is why she tells all her villa rental guests where the first aid kit can be found, and exactly where to go for medical attention. This is particularly helpful for her many guests from abroad who are unfamiliar with the US healthcare system.

She also makes sure her guests are informed about local pollen and viruses in Florida, so that parents can be prepared. Stress is so much more enjoyable when you are prepared for it, don’t you think?

Booking tickets to theme parks and making reservations for just about everything in advance, makes the trip less stressful. There is little more difficult than managing young children while trying to get into a theme park or show that requires prior booking.

And to prevent wandering around lost, pick up a AAA Triptik in advance – not that it ever helped us.

Try having your children baby-sat. This might mean bringing along a nanny, such as a grand parent (It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.). The car might be more crowded, but if you’ve rented a spacious home for the week, it could just be doable. The other option is to hire a local baby-sitter once or twice. Vacation Home owners can set this up for you, and some hotels might be willing to, too.

When you are single, you can go on adventure vacations. When you are a parent, you get vacation adventures. Here are three of mine: http://www.thehappyguy.com/family-vacation-adventure.html

So there you have it. Three ways to reduce the stress of traveling with kids, so you can actually relax on vacation. After all, isn’t that what vacations are supposed to be about?

About The Author

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist. Contact him at:
mailto:info@thehappyguy.com
or visit his website at:
http://www.thehappyguy.com
For Florida vacation villa rentals:
http://www.lastminutevillas.net
For Orlando vacation home rentals:
http://www.orlandovillaowners.com
Info@TheHappyGuy.com

Enjoying Your Vacation in an RV
by: Jim Schneider

Traveling in a Recreational Vehicle is, by most accounts, a fun, relaxing and enjoyable time to create some incredible stories that your grandchildren will someday enjoy. Here are few myths and truths about vacationing in a recreational vehicle.

Myth: Getting your own RV and using it for trips and vacations will save you money. Sorry, but by the time you buy/lease/rent your RV, you probably could have flown first class and stayed at 4-star hotels. There may be exceptions such as an inexpensive tent trailer or used slide in camper for your pickup, but for the most part the extra cost and expenses (gas, insurance, etc) usually are more than any savings which you may have.

Truth: RV’ing is fun! Getting the chance to see more of the country and being in a relaxed mode can make your trip or vacation way more enjoyable experience.

Truth: Your family bonds will strengthen. This certainly has been true for me. Since everyone should be involved in the decisions, a feeling of teamwork and togetherness is enhanced.

Myth: Your family bonds will strengthen. Unfortunately, discord can happen if not all traveling members are on the same page. Did one member of the family really just want to go to Disneyland and back while the others preferred the more leisure approach? It’s best to work these issues out in advance.

Myth: There’s no planning involved. Unless you have more time on your hands than most, RVing requires just as much planning as any other vacation would. There is nothing more frustrating than pulling into an RV park late in the day with no reservations only to find them full. There is a ‘freedom from worry’ idea that RV merchants will promote that is, to say the least, overstated.

Myth: Since you are on your own schedule, nothing can spoil the trip. Unfortunately, there are plenty of things that can go wrong. In addition to the possibility of vehicle problems (engine, transmission, etc), there are numerous systems that may cause delays or, worse, cancellations of your plans. These include your water, electrical, heating/cooling and other that may cause you problems. The best solution is to become familiar with your RV before you embark on a long trip. That investment in time will pay off handsomely.

Truth: You have more control over your trip. While things can go wrong, they usually don’t. The result is that your trip will probably go as expected and you aren’t subject to airline delays, lost hotel reservations and other things over which you have no control.

Truth: There is a certain comfort in knowing that the bed you sleep in tonight will be yours. Maybe it’s not the luxurious mattress you have at home, but it’s yours and you are familiar with it. Of course, the same things applies to other personal items as well. In many ways it’s like taking an abbreviated version of your own home with you. Personally, I sleep better in my RV than I ever have in a hotel.

Personally, I love travelling in an RV. If I had to state just one thing that makes it my favorite way to vacation, it’s knowing that, while I may be travelling to unfamiliar areas, I’ve got my ‘home’ with me.

About The Author

Jim Schneider is the newsletter editor for http://www.dudevacation.com which is the premier vacation resource on the internet. You can see all of the archived articles over at http://www.dudevacation.com/newsletters

Submit Your Article by going to: http://www.dudevacation.com/newsletters/

Vacation Homes Are Becoming A Reality For More Homeowners

by: W. Troy Swezey

Whether it’s a lakefront cottage or a log cabin in the woods, a vacation home often seems to be a dream that only the wealthy can afford. But these days, you don’t have to be a millionaire to own one.

A nationwide survey shows the median household income of second-home owners is $46,500. With today’s continued low interest rates, the tax advantages a second home can bring, and a wide selection of areas experiencing solid home price appreciation, this is an excellent time to consider purchasing a second home as an investment – and a great getaway place.

When searching for your second home, remember to investigate the area thoroughly. Ask a Realtor® and the local chamber of commerce to provide information packets, maps and brochures. Take time to visit the area several times – a few months prior to and during its peak season(s). Are the crowds unbearable? Is the weather unpredictable?

Speak with a local Realtor regarding current and past home prices. Knowing the area’s sales history will help determine the market value of the homes and effectively predict their appreciation potential.

Once you’ve settled on a community, work with a Realtor and lending institution to determine how much home you can afford. Drive around the town and its neighborhoods. Experience the day-to-day activity around potential properties. Keep in mind you may decide to retire to the area one day. Will the property serve two purposes – that of vacation and retirement home? More and more Americans are purchasing vacation properties in areas where they plan to eventually retire.

Remember, vacation homes remain a good investment and provide substantial deductions on yearly tax forms if they meet certain criteria. As the laws are ever-changing, complex and detailed, consult your real estate agent, who will usually work with a tax attorney or certified accountant, to calculate the tax benefits of owning a second home.

Relaxing in your own home in that dream vacation spot is not out of your reach. More and more Americans are realizing that owning a vacation home is do-able – not to mention a good investment and a peaceful retreat for years to come.

About The Author

W. Troy Swezey is the author of “VACATION HOMES ARE BECOMING A REALITY FOR MORE HOMEOWNERS.” As a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to download his free e-book, “REAL ESTATE SECRETS EXPOSED.” http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com or mail to: TroyC21@usa.net

Tropical Vacations Introduce You to Nature’s Glory

by: Lori Wilkerson

A tropical vacation usually evokes images of images of sultry summer days lounging on the beach and soft breezes caressing you in the evenings while you sip a drink in the evenings. There are so many wonderful tropical vacation packages that give you just that in Mexico, but if you’d like to take it to the next level, consider traveling to the interior as well and experience the full spectrum of nature’s glory. Tropical also means exotic plants, gorgeous birds and chattering monkeys, mountain cliffs and amazing wildlife!

Jungle and Tropical Rainforest Vacations

Ecotourism is one of the most incredible adventures you can embark on in Mexico and other tropical areas of the world. These eco adventures give you the opportunity to see and hear things you would never be able to experience outside of a zoo or museum. In tropical regions of the world there are jungles and rain forests that shelter an amazing array of plants and animals that are colorful, unique and exotic.

Traveling with an experienced guide through the interior of a rainforest or jungle will bring you into a world where time has stood still for thousands of years. Imagine trekking along a stretch of sandy beach your first day, then heading spending the next few days in a rainforest where brilliantly plumed parrots fly overhead, calling to one another and flashing feathers of emerald, ruby and gold. The chatter of monkeys as they swing overhead will delight your group as your guide explains the delicate balance of Mexico’s ecosystem.

There are coral reefs to explore, natural springs and underwater rivers with stunning rock formations and always the crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea.

In the evenings you’ll view glorious sunsets from atop majestic Mayan ruins or high natural ridges, all part of the protected heritage of the Mexican people. The warm breezes will sweep away the humidity of your jungle day as you relax with your small group of fellow travelers, suspended in time under a brilliant blanket of stars.

Challenge Yourself in the Tropics

If you’re up to something a bit more physical, tropical vacations offer a vast range of topographies for every activity from mountain biking to scuba diving. The mountains of the Yucatan Peninsula offer extremely challenging mountain biking trails and hiking opportunities for solo or group trekking.

Check out some of the stunning vistas you can see from various mountain locations, including views of several of the largest volcanoes in Mexico like Pico De Orizaba, Iztaccihuatl and the still active Popcateptl (which erupted spectacularly less then ten years ago, causing the evacuation of two villages). Near Mexico City you can visit the Pyramids of Teotihuacan, another spectacular example of early Mayan culture.

If you’re a fan of scuba diving, there’s nothing more exhilarating than a tropical vacation for scuba. Cancun offers a variety of packages for exceptional open water diving and cave or cavern diving. Even experienced scuba divers agree that there’s always something new to discover in the elaborate underwater caverns along the tropical beaches of the Mexican shore.

Did you know that the second largest coral reef in the world, the Great Belize Coral Reef, is in Mexico? This tropical reef system stretches from Playa del Carmen to the Gulf of Hondoras and is a paradise of stunning plants and fish that can be explored by scuba divers and snorkelers alike. Your whole family will be enchanted by the flashes of rainbow color darting through the diamond-clear waters of this vast expanse of one of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems.

Soaking Up the Atmosphere

Tropical means warm days, warm nights and plenty of sunshine, and on tropical vacations you expect plenty of both. In Mexico you’ll find them – the average temperature is 85º in the daytime and in the 70’s at night, with warm rains of short duration only occasionally interrupting the mornings. Warm breezes keep things comfortable year-round and the sunsets are always spectacular!

And tropical means atmosphere…it’s that special combination of warm weather, sandy beaches, exotic locale and that indefinable something extra that comes from the people. The Mexican people are friendly, generous and family oriented. You’ll discover that shops are closed for lunch breaks and that Friday afternoons are made for relaxing.

Don’t be afraid to strike up conversations and make new friends; the mood is relaxed when you take a tropical vacation. There’s no fussy dress code and you’ll never have to put on a necktie or suffer through an evening in stockings and high heels (unless you want to!). Casual is the standard when you’re on a tropical vacation – even for dinner, you’re fine in a polo shirt and sandals are encouraged. This is a vacation, after all! And kids are welcome everywhere!

It’s a tropical pace that encourages taking full advantage of the simple joys of walking on the beach, sampling fresh seafood, bartering in the local marketplace and sipping a Sea Breeze in the evening with your spouse while the sun goes down over the waves in a blaze of oranges, reds and golds.

The beaches stretch for miles with the finest white sands in the world and new and unusual sea shells washing ashore with every wave that gently laps the shore. Palm trees stir in the breeze, adding the quiet rustle of their leaves to the winds and providing shade for the many hammocks you’ll find strung between them.

Time loses meaning in the Tropics

The sound of pounding surf and the cry of seagulls overhead will lull you into a relaxing sense of peace as you realize there’s nowhere you have to be, nowhere to rush off to, because in tropical Mexico, no one operates by their watches. It’s free and easy, based purely on what you want to do and when you feel like doing it. Doesn’t that sound good for a change?

So for the ultimate in relaxation or adventure, a tropical vacation has it all – sunsets, warm breezes, natural beauty, adventure, friendship, and incredible, lush beauty. Go somewhere tropical for your next family vacation – you’ll never want to go anywhere else!

About The Author

Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about beach vacations, family vacations, and mexico vacations. Lori once led a Conga line to the tune, “Hot, Hot, Hot,” throughout an entire cruise ship sailing to Nassau.

www.beach-vacations-4u.com

(True story!)

cbmacgregor@shaw.ca

Dare to Dream: The Vacation of a Lifetime In A Timeshare

by: Dana Randolph

What are your chances of getting the vacation of a lifetime without having to save for a lifetime?

Renting a timeshare may be the answer to your dream vacation without having to make a long-term commitment. Many individuals are willing to rent their allotted timeshare week to you. Because of an inconvenient date or some other personal reasons, many times owners are unable to use their timeshare and are willing to sell their time period to you. With a little research either on the Internet, local newspapers or even visiting with realtors, you may be able to step into a dream vacation. Exotic places wait for you and your loved ones.

Timeshare companies and timeshare owners offer an alternative to the overpriced hotel and motel rooms. Virtually every year the costs of hotels go up. You can usually control the price tag of your vacations by utilizing timeshare resort rentals. Timeshare owners normally charge a set price for their rentals, and they do not need to increase prices to pay for labor and other usual expenses incurred by hotels. This keeps the price of a vacation rental on a more consistent level each time it is rented.

Timeshare resorts are located in incredible destinations around the world. Where have you always longed to go, but thought, “Wow, it would be too expensive to stay in a place like that!"? Mexico? Hawaii? How about Europe? Sure, those destinations can be expensive, but with a timeshare rental, you can get into incredible resorts for a fraction of the costs of a hotel vacation.

In most cases, hotel and motel rooms are undersized, have few amenities, and cost more than a timeshare rental. Typically when you rent a timeshare unit, prices are for seven nights, not per person. The units can sleep anywhere from 2 to 10 people. You choose the type of room and amenities you want! Studio, 1, or 2 Bedroom with kitchen, dining and living area units are all available.

No matter how nice the Hotel or Bed & Breakfast….. it still is just one small room! Why spend one or more weeks on vacation in a cramped hotel room and have the extra expense of eating out for every meal. Enjoy the spaciousness and freedom of a completely furnished resort condominium and save money all at the same time! And you will not be required to attend a timeshare sales presentation.

Put your vacation plans into motion and start your search for the ultimate spot you’ve been dreaming about. Whether you have dreamed about walking barefoot on an island or skiing down a mountain in another country, there is a timeshare available to you at a more than reasonable price. It takes only a little time to put the details together and make your dream vacation become a reality.

Timeshares are a proven concept for vacationers in many countries, and holiday planning is one of the top growing segments of the leisure time industry all over the world today. Why not begin your search today by perusing newspapers and travel magazines, or logging onto the Internet and searching for “timeshare rentals?” Dare to dream!

© Copyright 2004 by Dana Randolph. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Dana Randolph
Looking for information about timeshares? Go to http://www.atimesharesz.com. A Timeshares Z is a timeshares and vacation, resort and condo rentals and resales directory.

webmaster@atimesharesz.com

Avoid Information Overload When Searching For Airline Tickets

by: Auckland Alvin Semper Jr

No more information overload on travel!

The importance of avoiding information overload when searching for the cheapest airline tickets online cannot be stressed enough theses days. This article will explain how you should take your time and do your research to be able to cherry pick your way through.

What we Internet surfers don’t seem to understand is that there are millions of travel sites out there claiming they have access to the lowest airfares. When its time to book your travel plans the first thing we think about is our budget (for those of us who have a budget). Most travelers don’t want to pay more than they have to because they still need money when they get to where ever the destination is and the more the better..right!

We all want the cheap flights that are enjoyable, not too many stops, with food and entertainment, frequent flyer miles, plenty of leg and elbow room…all for the lowest and cheapest price you can afford….now that would be perfect dude! Well dream on, unless youre rich.

To avoid information overload and your bottom sticking to the chair, you start with online sites that not only give their prices but also let you compare with others. Narrow these sites down to sites that don’t waste your time by having access to just a few special airfares only when the airlines say they have deals. Everybody has a search engine for available published airfares, but the best sites consistently offer specially worked out deals available only to their customers….now thats what I am talking about maan…..

You have to find a small group of sites that can be searched on a regular basis…be persistent and start checking for deals at least a month in advance to be able to take advantage of 7-21 day advanced purchase requirements. How about sites that have done the research for you and also provide all the information you need for traveling….I call these sites “travel portals” and boy do they save you time, not to mention stress.

Some travel portals list too many sites and its like your starting all over again. They list any site that would pay commissions instead of researching and listing those that actually have low airfares consistently, so try and avoid these kinds of cluttered travel portals at all costs…they are still wasting your time.

Searching for cheap airfares does not have to be an adventure. Finding and using travel portals should get you what you need without the sales pitch. Most of us have a budget and don’t want to feel like we could have paid much less…if an airfare is out there, travel portals will help you find it……Happy Traveling!

About The Author

Auckland Semper is a syndicated travel expert and former travel agent. Visit his travel portal at http://www.thelowestpricelist.com/cheap-airfares.html –Free travel tips, advise and information on cheap airline tickets and vacations.

Planning Your Dream Vacation

by: Lindsey Storia

Planning a vacation is a very important part of any vacation. It ensures that a vacation can be successful and enjoyable, and hopefully goes a long way to avoiding snags and hang ups. Vacation organization is something that once you do it once, you can do it fore vacations to come. To begin I will point out some tips that will hopefully help you in your quest to organize your vacation and/or trip.

Being prepared will ideally save you time and save you money. Keeping a duplicate of your packing list on the computer should help reduce the time it takes you to rework one every time you go on a vacation. Buying things you might need on the trip ahead of time will save you big bucks that might otherwise be spent on the trip. In such situations, it almost always costs more. There should be no need to feel stressed in the airport if everything you need is arranged and prepared.

Setting up is a major issue in vacation organizing. Create a general of things you plan to do before setting out. Write out times, hotel check-in and check-out dates and times, and perhaps a list of actions for each day you travel. Ideally, this will help make sure that you have plenty of time to visit everywhere you desire. What’s a vacation if you have no time to relax?

Also, plan out routes. Check out your local ‘AAA’ store for maps and go online to a map site if it might help. The last thing you want is to be lost in a place you don’t know well or at all on your vacation.

When packing suitcases, set things you require first on the top. Items should be things such as shoes and cosmetics. When you are fatigued from a lengthy trip, you are likely not going to desire to have to go rooting through bags to locate your pajamas. Also when getting packed, try thinking of the activities you will be performing while on the trip. Planning on hiking? Probably bring some hiking shoes and matching apparel.

After packing, take an inventory and match it with the checklist you started with. After ensuring that you have everything and that it is all ready to go, give yourself an opportunity to relax. So travel safely and have a trip that you will remember for the rest of your life. Happy organizing!

About The Author

Lindsey Storia is the Webmaster of FieldTravel.com.

Visit her site at http://www.fieldtravel.com.

lindsey@fieldtravel.com

Top Ten Reasons To Pick A Vacation Rental

by: David Leonhardt

We are planning a family trip for just a few days. That is my family, my brother’s family, and my other brother’s family. Our mother will be joining us, too. That makes four households, seven adults and six children all under three years old. Praise to my brave (foolish?) wife who has somehow volunteered to coordinate the arrangements.

Even reserving months in advance, we were unable to get four rooms adjoining at the motel, all with the right view and on the right level. If we were going for longer, we would probably rent a house as we have done before. There are vacation rentals in almost every corner of the world, but they are particularly common in high-tourist areas like Florida, California and the Mediterranean countries.

Here is my top ten list of why a family should pick a vacation rental (and specifically a vacation rental home):

1. Not toiling to find ideal, adjoining rooms.

2. Everybody gets privacy, without having to worry about where the kids are.

3. You don’t have to share the common area with strangers, but you can still lounge around together.

4. More than one bathroom. Need I say more?

5. Lots and lots and lots of more room. This is usually the main selling feature.

6. Private pool, in most cases. “Great to swim with the sound of insects….fortunately outside the ‘cage’", wrote one visitor in the guestbook of Lesley & Gerry’s villa. http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/?villa_id=15&x=21&y=7

7. Usually cost less than hotels.

8. Store cold drinks, ice creams, fresh fruit or any other snacks you fancy, which is a huge cost saver, suggests villa owner Christine Creasy. And a great convenience, too. http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/?villa_id=65&x=26&y=7

9. Barbecue any time you want. You can still eat out, but you don’t HAVE to.

10. You don’t have to take home several weeks’ supply of dirty laundry.

There you have it. My top ten reasons to choose a vacation rental. I’ve written before on the benefits of renting private accommodations:

http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa-hotel.html

Of course, I still prefer a tent in a wilderness park, but I might have some difficulty convincing my mother to join us there.

About The Author

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer.
Visit his happiness website at:
http://www.thehappyguy.com
For Florida vacation villa rentals:
http://www.lastminutevillas.net .
For Orlando vacation home rentals:
http://www.orlandovillaowners.com
Info@thehappyguy.com

Mexico’s Riviera Maya: The New Caribbean Vacation Hotspot

by: Barry deCocq

Travelers who are looking for a fantastic all-inclusive resort destination that is priced far below most tropical destinations in and around the Caribbean should look into Mexico’s Riviera Maya. This area has fast become a very popular tropical vacation getaway for travelers from around the world. The Riviera Maya is located on the Caribbean side of Mexico and encompasses the stretch of coastline ranging from about 5 miles to 60 miles south of Cancun.

Don’t be misled into thinking that because you fly into Cancun to get to the Riviera Maya that it is anything like Cancun and its spring break, party-like atmosphere…it is far from it. The Riviera Maya has been set aside by the Mexican government as a semi-protected area, and as such it cannot become the touristy, high-rise resort type of destination you find in the Cancun hotel zone. Resorts can only be built 3-stories or less in height and they have to be constructed to embrace the surrounding vegetation, wildlife, and topography. It is a much more family-friendly and romantic vacation destination.

Resorts in the Riviera Maya are primarily all-inclusive properties. Because of the remote locations of many of the properties there are very few offsite dining areas. All-inclusive resorts give the traveler the benefit of having everything paid for prior to their arrival. All meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), non-motorized watersports, and other amenities are included in package prices. The more upscale all-inclusive resorts of 4-star and higher quality typically have many different restaurant options ranging from buffet to world-class a la carte cuisine….all-included! Some of the more popular resort chains in the Riviera Maya include Iberostar Resorts, Palace Resorts, and Secrets Resorts & Spas. Resorts run anywhere from more family-related types of properties or resorts for the budget-minded to very upscale adults-only spa resorts.

One of the best reasons to choose the Mexico Riviera Maya for your next vacation is not just for the superb quality resorts and great value, but also for the fantastic tours and excursions that are available in around the Yucatan Peninsula region. This area is teeming with Mayan ruins and ancient architecture that are very popular with tourists. The most majestic of the local Mayan ruins are the pyramids of Chichen Itza. These incredibly preserved pyramids date back to 400AD and this awe-inspiring tour will leave with you many wonderful memories. There are many other Mayan ruins tours you can take as well. In addition to ruins you can also experience many eco-based tours that take you to game and marine preserves where you will find amazing wildlife and snorkeling that is nothing short of amazing. Another popular day-trip for those staying in the Riviera Maya region is the island of Cozumel. You can reach this quaint island by ferry from the town of Playa del Carmen located in the heart of the Riviera Maya. It is a short 45 minute ferry ride and once there you will find duty-free shopping, great dining, and some of the world’s best SCUBA diving and snorkeling.

If you have taken tropical vacations in the Caribbean or Hawaii and are looking for a new destination to go to the Riviera Maya is an excellent choice that will definitely impress and have you ready to come back to again and again.

About The Author

Barry deCocq is a co-owner and managing director of Tropical Sands Vacations (http://www.tropicalSands.com), a discount Mexico and Caribbean travel brokerage specializing in all-inclusive resorts. Contact at info@tropicalsands.com.

Re-print rights:
Need content? You may use this article on your website, or in your newsletter. Include the following sentence: “Article by Barry deCocq of www.tropicalsands.com", with an active link to our web site at http://www.tropicalsands.com

Luxury Hotel Rooms At Lowest Prices For Top Holiday Destinations

by: Chloe Lim

Whether you like to spend your holidays in the snow, sand or seaside, you can find the best hotel deals in the most popular destinations of the world. Below are some of the most popular holiday destinations with links to book luxury hotel rooms at lowest prices.

Amsterdam

A confident mix of old and new, Amsterdam, capital city of The Netherlands, features beautiful 17th- and 18th-century buildings and boasts some world-class museums, most notably the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum, home to some of the world’s finest artworks, including those by famous Dutch artist Rembrandt. Nightlife in Amsterdam is as mixed as the city itself, with something for everyone’s tastes available. A trip to Amsterdam would not be complete without renting a bicycle (Holland has more bicycles than residents), or cruising down the canals by boat.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Amsterdam.htm

Barcelona

Barcelona is the Mediterranean metropolis of excellence and yet at the same time open to all cultural influences flowing in from beyond the Pyrenees. Its well-ordered and proportioned town grid has given it quarters of unrivalled beauty, such as the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and the modernist Paseo de Gracia.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Barcelona.htm

Brussels

The capital of Belgium, Brussels, is a cosmopolitan city, with liveliness and an appeal that are intimately related to its role as a crossroads for all of Europe. The many aspects of Brussels are expressed in the four quarters of the city. The Lower Town, which extends from Manneken Pis via the Grand Place to the Botanique. The Royal District in the Upper Town occupies the area between the Warande and the Palace of Justice. In the North of the city lies the Heizel with the Atomium and Bruparck. Just outside the city centre visitors will find the Cinquantenaire park and the European District facet.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Brussels.htm

Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, is perhaps the country’s most alluring city, it is a fascinating place with many historical and artistic treasures, a fantastic pub scene and scenery as beautiful as the Scottish highlands. Edinburgh Castle is a good place to start your exploration of the Scottish capital. The castle is beautiful, mysterious, romantic and a reminder of the city’s bloody past. Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is one of the world’s most captivating streets.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Edinburgh.htm

London

London, the capital city of England, is energetic, cosmopolitan, hectic, diverse and thrilling. It is the largest city in Europe, and is a mixture of wealth and poverty, of glitz and grime, of imposing buildings and elegant shops, of world-class theatre and incredible nightclubs. Sights not to be missed include the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Covent Garden.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/London.htm

Melbourne

Multicultural Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia behind Sydney. Located on the Yarra River at the mouth of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is a city of style, of Victorian architecture, of trams, of fashion, food, theatres, art galleries, and leafy gardens. It is a sport-mad city, which hosts events such as the Australian Tennis Open, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and the premier horse race, the race that ‘stops a nation,’ the Melbourne Cup. The “Great Ocean Road” is a popular drive for tourists and locals alike, acknowledged as one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives, visitors can view the spectacular site of the Twelve Apostles.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Melbourne.htm

Paris

Paris is the economic, artistic, historic, and cultural capital of France. It is also deeply traditional, almost village-like and in parts, a dilapidated metropolis, which houses around 2 million people. The river Seine bisects the city, the Right Bank is home to the grand boulevards and most monumental buildings, many dating from Haussmann’s nineteenth-century redevelopment. The Left Bank has a noticeably different feel, it has an atmosphere of Bohemian, dissident, intellectual connotations, and it shows in Paris’ best range of bars and restaurants. The Eiffel Tower is Paris’ most famous and instantly recognizable landmark. The Champs-Elysees is the city’s most well-known boulevard. Elegant and broad, it links Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Paris.htm

Prague

The capital Prague, largest city of the Czech Republic, and former capital of Czechoslovakia, is located on both banks of the Vltava River. Visitors are drawn to the ‘fairy tale’ characteristics of Prague, but this is only part of its lively blend of styles. Prague is unquestionably a city best explored on foot, the entire central area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city centre is like an enormous open-air museum with an interesting mix of architectural innovation including Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic, Romanesque, Cubist and Art Nouveau styles.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Prague.htm

Rome

Rome combines a sense of living history with a bustling, lively capital city. It is endlessly fascinating, utterly compelling and a feast for the eye with fountains, churches, palaces and ancient monuments at every turn. From the awesome splendour of the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica oozes romance and excitement.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Rome.htm

Stockholm

Visitors can experience the magic of age-old traditions, historical sites and breathtaking settings in practically every part of this unique country. The most popular tourist destination is the Swedish capital, Stockholm. The grand old city by the water is known for its unique wonders such as the Vasa Ship; its elegance and grandeur, typified by the Royal Palace and surrounds, and its wonderfully preserved Old Town, “Gamla Stan", with 13th-century roots, subterranean vaults, church spires and narrow, cobbled laneways.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Stockholm.htm

Sydney

Many visitors would be surprised to find that Sydney, it’s largest city, is not the capital of Australia. Built on the shores of the stunning Port Jackson, Sydney is one of the world’s landmark cities, and is also Australia’s oldest city. Sydney, the nation’s premier metropolis, mixes a flare for groundbreaking architecture, a love of the arts and high-powered commerce. The must-do’s on every visitors list include the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Centrepoint Tower, The Rocks, Bondi Beach, Olympic Park Homebush better known as the site of the 2000 Olympic Games, and Darling Harbour.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Sydney.htm

Vienna

Located on a plain bordered by the Wienerwald and the Carpathian foothills, the Austrian capital, Vienna, is a cultural, industrial, commercial, and transportation centre. Vienna owes its spectacular architectural heritage to the Habsburg dynasty that controlled much of Europe for 600 years. Of special interest are the Hofburg, or Imperial Palace, with it’s 14th century Augustinian church, Imperial Apartments and Royal Chapel where the Vienna Boy’s Choir sing. Many of the world’s most important composers including Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss and Mahler have lived and performed behind Vienna’s Baroque facades.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Vienna.htm

About The Author

Chloe Lim is a photographer and avid traveler. She travels extensively for work and family vacations. She is always on the lookout for bargain travel deals and discount luxury vacations.

This article is courtesy of http://www.hotelclub.net, you may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

chloelim1@yahoo.com.au

Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!

by: Lori Wilkerson

Finding the perfect gift for the woman you love can be difficult, especially when the occasion warrants something really special. May we suggest surprising her with something that’s sure to delight her, something that she’ll never guess? Book a last minute cruise and whisk her away for a weekend or a week of romance on the high seas! It’s the ultimate vacation for two, and one she’ll remember for a lifetime.

In fact, a last minute cruise is the height of romance – a grand gesture that has everything that a great romance needs – sunshine filled days, moonlit nights, fine dining, dancing, pampering, glamour and exotic locales. Doesn’t it sound like the perfect gift for her?

There’s nothing as romantic as a cruise for those special moments

A cruise vacation is a great way to tell her you’d marry her all over again with three or more days of luxury, relaxation and pampering. And with last minute deals, you’ll have plenty left over to buy her something special at one of the great shops at your destination, whether it’s the Caribbean, Mexico or the South Pacific.

Thinking of proposing? Check into booking a last minute cruise, tell her to pack for a long weekend, and then sail into the sunset with her on a luxury liner. After a day of sunning on golden sandy beaches, snorkeling in pristine coastal waters and fabulous seafood, you can pop the question on the deck while a million stars reflect off cool waters.

Last minute booking means savings that you can use to set the scene perfectly. Chilled champagne, soft music, roses…whatever you want to make the evening special. Cruise ships are considered the height of luxury living for good reason – they cater to the wishes of every passenger, so let the captain know when boarding that this is going to be a special trip – he’ll be sure to see that everything is perfect for you!

Silver and golden anniversaries are also wonderful reasons to book a last minute cruise. If you’ve raised the children and have an empty nest, it’s even easier to get away for a sea voyage, and with the great discounts you can get by booking a last minute cruise, you can extend your trip to by several days for the same price. In fact, for the cost of what would normally be a three to four day cruise, you may be able to whisk your darling away for a week to ten days of ocean breezes, scrumptious food and wines and fabulous scenery!

Last minute cruise bargains surround you in luxury

There’s something so romantic about not worrying about your wallet when you’re romancing your fiancée or wife, isn’t there? With so many things to do on a cruise, the two of you will certainly want to try lots of things, and having saved so much on the cruise itself, you can splurge on some great extras. Some of the wonderful vacation activities you can enjoy together on these ultimate vacations aboard ship are:

* Fine dining in world-class restaurants
* Las Vegas style shows
* Gambling in the ship’s casinos
* Dancing to live bands
* Moonlight strolls around the deck
* Luxurious day spa treatments

The romance of just the right destination

The cruise is a vacation in itself, but the romance starts all over again when your ship docks at your destination. Whether you choose the Caribbean, Mexico or the South Pacific, you will discover that discounts abound on shore as well. These popular vacation spots offer fabulous deals from local artisans and crafters for you to take home with you.

Seafood and tasty local fare are inexpensive, exotic indulgences for both of you to share. Spend the afternoon wrapped up together in a hammock swinging in a tropical breeze under palm trees and you’ll realize that a last minute cruise may be the greatest getaway you can give your loved one – what’s more romantic than an unexpected, grand gesture wrapped in warm, salt breezes and golden sunsets and delivered in ultimate luxury?

Trying something you’ve never done before can be a powerful bonding experience, and any cruise vacation provides the ultimate choice of new activities to try. Snorkeling, parasailing, windsurfing, rock climbing and scuba are just a few activities that you could try as a couple that will become cherished memories.

How do I pull off a last minute cruise surprise?

Check out the destinations, rates and departures for several different cruises, and then get ready to move quickly. Booking last minute cruises can net you big vacation discounts, but the spaces available fill up quickly, so you should get in the mindset that you need to make a decision fairly quickly if you spot the perfect trip.

There are a few things you’ll want to take care of before you spring your romantic surprise on her so that she won’t have to spend the few weeks leading up to her departure worrying. Once you have a few dates picked out, put them on hold if possible and start making some phone calls:

* Contact her boss and explain that you would like to arrange a few of her vacation days if possible. Explain that it is a surprise and ask him or her to keep the secret.
* Talk to her best friend to find out if any appointments are necessary. Will she want a pedicure a few days before leaving? Set one up.
* Let her parents in on the secret as well, but swear them to secrecy, too.
* Arrange for any pet care needed, including boarding of dogs or cats if necessary.
* If you have children, make the arrangements for them to stay with their grandparents or friends and swear them to secrecy. This will be the toughest sell – kids have trouble with big secrets, but try!
* Check her date book – if she has made any appointments or plans that will need to be rearranged, call and explain that you are planning a surprise trip, and that she may be calling later to cancel at the last minute. This will soften the news when she does call later to cancel her appointments.
* Get ready for some romantic days and nights on your last minute cruise that you won’t soon forget!

About The Author

Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about last minute cruise, cruise discounts, and cruise deals. Lori once led a Conga line to the tune, “Hot, Hot, Hot,” throughout an entire cruise ship sailing to Nassau. More cruise articles at www.discount-cruise.biz

(True story!)

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How To Navigate the Bewildering Array of Internet Cruise Deals

by: John Williams

Why do people love cruises ? Why do so many cruise vacationers swear they wouldn’t go back to hotel vacations? Cruise travel represents a pinnacle of luxury. You travel around the world, or your chosen area, in cosseted pleasure.

Every whim gets catered for. Every time you’re hungry, food awaits. You go ashore to sightsee a new place, but return to your own bed every night. A floating hotel, travelling to a new location every day.

But how do you choose your cruise deal ? How do you know what’s good or bad ? Firstly, let’s look at the different types of cruises.

* Size

Ships range from city size (’000s of people) right down to small sailing vessels holding less than 10 people.

* Location

Your choice of ship might depend on location. If you’re cruising the Caribbean, you could try a sailing ship. If you want a world tour, you probably should go for something bigger ?

Some of the newer ships from the major cruise operators allow you to cruise the world in luxury. Their high-tech stabilizers mean your wine barely ripples, even in rough seas.

So for smaller cruises in benign weather e.g Caribbean or Med, you can choose large or small. For longer cruises, such as an Atlantic crossing, Arctic visit etc., you need a big ship.

* Price

Prices vary dramatically. Only a few years ago, cruises were an expensive luxury. Now prices fall within any vacation budget. In fact, all inclusive special cruise deals can be much cheaper than land-based vacations. For less than a 5* hotel, you can get 7-days all inclusive in a luxury location.

* Internet

How do you find these great deals ? As always, use the Internet. Sure, call your local travel agent, or respond to newspaper ads, but you’ll find the best deals online.

There’s only a limited number of cruise ships. So you’ll find exactly the same cabin standard, exactly the same food deal, for widely varying prices.

Try to narrow down your preferred location before starting. How long do you want to go for ? Then start searching the web. Try ‘cheap cruises deals’ for a search term, and see what comes up. Immediately, you’ll be faced with a bewildering array of choices.

Click on a few of these search results sites. Read some advice and info. Get an idea of prices to your preferred location.

When you’ve seen some deals you like. When you’ve seen at least three different deals to your preferred location. When you’re tempted to book right there & then. Stop !

Before you book, you must seperate the wheat from the chaff. That bewildering array’s about to become clear. Put the cruise company name into your search engine. Put the destination into the search engine. You’re looking for reviews. You’re looking for feedback from other people who’ve been with that cruise company. You’re looking for reviews about your destination.

Do this for each of your cruise vacation shortlist. Check there’s no hidden catches. Check price fully includes everything, and you won’t be stung for lots of onboard extras.

Follow these simple guidelines, and you’ll soon be embarking on the cruise of your dreams.

Discover valuable cruise information, advice and great special deals. Go to ==> http://www.cheapcruisesdeals.com/

About The Author

John Williams
© DigiLectual Inc. 2004
http://www.cheapcruisesdeals.com/
john@cheapcruisesdeals.com