Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Where to Find the Best Last Minute Vacation Bargains

When the day to day has closed in on you and you need a getaway right now, here are the best websites to turn to for the best last minute vacation deals. The internet is crowded with sites offering last minute deals, but many are just standard booking engines dressed up with lots of promotional graphics. Below are the top sites on the internet that actually deliver offers that have been discounted for quick sale. Have a peak at these:

Go Today.com - This company specializes in trips to Europe and offers super deals.

Last Minute.com - A great feature of this site is that you can search from your home town airport to 'any destination' when you don't know exactly where you want to go.

Sherman's Travel.com - This site offers the week's top deals as well as daily best of the moment deals.

Travel Zoo.com - Has a terrific newsletter listing 20 super deals every Wednesday as well as top deals daily.

Vacations To Go.com - This site has great "Hot Deals" as well as the 90 Day Ticker and Bargain Finder for cruises.

Also, pick up a copy of your local Sunday newspaper. The Sunday Travel Section is where charter operators, travel agencies and tour companies with departures from your area will advertise their current hot deals.

Before you book, keep these additional tips and cautions in mind:

1) When you compare tour prices be sure all taxes, fuel surcharges, and resort fees have been added in. A great sounding $599 package price can turn into a $1,000 expenditure when additional taxes and fees are added in.

2) If you see a deal that you like in the Travel Zoo or Sherman's weekly newsletter, act on it as quickly as possible - they often sell out completely on the first day they are advertised.

3) An extra bonus at the Vacations To Go site, is that most of the tour companies on this site belong to USTOA, (United States Tour Operator Association) which is an industry association whose members must post a million dollar bond to protect travelers in the event of tour company bankruptcy. It's nice to have that piece of mind.

Happy vacationing!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Best Pet Vacation Spots For Your Pet

As human beings love to go on a vacation so do the pets. Even the pets get bored by sitting in the same environment and atmosphere. But where to take your pets is a great question. The vacations must be pet friendly so that the pets can enjoy to a large extent.

So in this article I will tell you about some the most visited spots by the owners and their pets. Let us explore them one by one.

1. Paris

Paris is considered as the most pet friendly place where they can enjoy a lot. The best part is that your friend can dine with you in almost all the restaurants. There is no restriction for pets entering the restaurants. You will find many people carrying their pets with themselves. You can also go for morning walks along with the pet. As there are lots of mountains and landscape features you will find several artists that make paintings. So you also get a painting of your dog with yourself.

2. Switzerland

Switzerland is also an amazing destination where you can visit many places. All the places in Switzerland are closely connected so one can hire a car to visit them. Like the Lake Lucerne and Zurich are mostly explored by many of the tourist together with the pets. The pets can enjoy a lot as you will find many pets there. As the atmosphere is cool in Switzerland you need to have a coat for your pet.

3. Belgium

Belgium is a place full of parks where you can take your pet for walking as well as roaming around. Even the museums allow the pets. The most important thing that you need, in order to carry your pet to Belgium is that the pets are vaccinated and they have a 15 digit microchip. The health certificate is also necessary for verification purposes.

4. Madrid

Madrid is ranked among the top pet friendly destinations. Your pets can enjoy the view of the fabulous fountain along with the walk near the Plaza Mayor. You can also go for Costa del Sol which is known for exotic beach sides. Pets love to run near the sea side. So it is just a perfect place.

5. Costa Rice

Costa Rice is among the popular places which are pet friendly. While you can enjoy the dazzling nightlife you can leave the four legged friend with a sitter. You can also get many hotels which can accommodate pets of all kinds as pets are not allowed in the clubs.

So these were some of the exciting destinations where you can go along with them. Hope you have an enjoyable journey.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Best Countries for a Wonderful Family Vacation

Finding a destination which will suit all the members of the family can be extremely difficult. You probably know that there is quite hard to find a place where the men can go fishing or can practice extreme sports, where women can lay on the sun and go shopping or where your children can have a lot of fun and would not get bored in a minute. Also, if you are looking for a destination which will contain both educational attractions and entertainment, then things are getting even more complicated. For those who are still looking for the perfect getaway, here are some great ideas for spending your family vacation as agreeable as possible.

If you want a European experience, from which good food and wine, beautiful tradition, historical traces, civilization, but also wonderful beaches and wildlife, extreme sports and great nightlife, then Spain, Greece, Turkey, Italy and France will be great destinations which will keep you all busy and will surely make all of you want to come back for more.

If you are thinking about heading towards the American continent, then you will surely want to experience some of the best touristic attractions the United States of America has to offer. There are plenty places which can prove to be extremely great options for a family vacation and you will surely have an easy time to find out a place which all your family will enjoy. Canada is also a great place for family holidays, so make sure that you also take a trip there, as you will certainly have what to see and do.

If you want a more exotic experience you should visit Brazil and Argentina, two amazing countries which will make you extend your vacation in order to see more and more places and take your share of the South American passion for life.

Africa has also wonderful destinations for a family vacation. Just think how a safari in South Africa will tighten the bonds which unite you. Yet, if your children are too young it is not recommended to choose this alternative, as very young children can hardly cope with the harshness of the jungle.

Last, but not least, if you want an amazing experience for your entire family, then China and Thailand will be great places where you can spend your vacation. Choose to taste the local food and immerse yourself into a culture hidden to you. You will definitely enjoy the sensations you will get in an Asia vacation.

The world is full of wonderful vacation destinations which are waiting for you and your entire family to discover them. So, pick your favorite one and look for an attractive vacation package which will be able to offer you everything you want for your family. It will surely be one experience you will never forget.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Finding the Best Vacation Spots For Families

We all dream of visiting exotic locations and enjoying our time there with our families.

But are we all able to take time off from work and still afford to follow our dreams?

A great way to make family travel more affordable is to book accommodations with a full kitchen. These well-appointed rooms usually feature a dining table large enough to seat the entire family. Of course, simply having a kitchen does not mean that Mom has to cook every meal, just the ones she wants to.

Remember, any meal that is prepared in the room will be MUCH LESS Expensive than a meal at a restaurant or a theme park.

The convenience of a kitchen is priceless especially with the kids in tow.

A nice simple breakfast of juice, toast and the kids' favorite cereals is an easy and relaxed way to start off your day.

A midday break from the theme park is the perfect time for a nap and then a cold glass of milk and a quick sandwich to re-energize the little ones for the rest of their day. And did you know that the kitchens are fully stocked, including a coffee maker, toaster, pots, pans, bowls, dishes, glasses, utensils and sometimes even bake ware?.

Plus a dishwasher and laundry facilities are usually available!

Another wonderful thing about this type of accommodation is that they offer separate bedrooms for the parents and the children, even Daddy can appreciate some quiet time now and then. The type of accommodation described above is usually a weekly rental and more often than not, it is also a timeshare BUT........it is no longer necessary to pay $10,000 or more for the "privilege" of staying in the same room during the same week for just one week a year. And still pay annual maintenance fees for the rest of your life!

Family Vacation Cub memberships are much more affordable and they do not put any limit on the number of trips you can take or the number of different places you can go. After purchasing your initial membership plan, you can most likely stay anywhere you choose for either the same or even less than the annual maintenance fee that same resort charges its owners!

There are a lot of Family Vacation Clubs advertised through the internet and their membership fees and benefits are all very different. Some even offer discounts on airfare, car rentals, cruises and adventures to their members.

Before making any decision, I suggest that you check out several different websites to find the plan that is the most affordable and works the best for you and your family.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

California: Why It is the Best Place to Spend Your 2-Week Vacation

What makes California one of the best vacation spots in the world? Is it the beaches? Is it the weather? How about the many theme parks? Or maybe it is the beautiful scenery? Try all of the above! There is something for everyone in California. Whether you want a relaxing vacation with no cares or worries, or if you just want to have plain old fun, California has you covered!

One of the biggest Californian attractions is the beaches. Covering well over one thousand miles, these beaches are situated on California's western coastline. Hugging the Pacific Ocean, California's beaches vary from flat and sandy to rocky shores. Whether you want to take a nice swim or take a long walk in the sand, or if you would rather simply be amazed by the picturesque rocky beaches, California has it all!

If you are looking for more of a family-friendly vacation, you're still in the right place. California offers hundreds of different amusement parks, theme parks, water parks and zoos. The most famous one is of course Disneyland, situated in Anaheim. But there are up to a dozen different parks in each major city in California. Another popular park is Legoland California. Although it is geared towards younger children, adults will find themselves having fun as well. Legoland California is situated in Carslad, a few dozen miles from San Diego.

Sports fans will also have a blast in California. The state has 5 different Major League Baseball teams (the Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Angels, and Athletics). California is also called home by 3 National Football League teams (the Raiders, Chargers, and 49ers).

These are just some of the reasons why California is the perfect vacation spot! To learn more ask your nearest travel agent or make a search online!

Discover the Best Vacation Spots in Asia

Most tourists from around the world find Asia as their perfect haven and the best place to spend their long planned vacation. Aside from its rich cultural heritage and magnificent beaches, it is much cheaper to travel in Asian countries too. Here are top Asian destinations you would love.

Thailand

Even if Thailand is unstable politically right now but still it doesn't stop millions of tourists every year to come to Thailand and spend their vacation in one of their beautiful islands. Phuket and Bangkok is the most visited place in Thailand because of its magnificent beaches. Not only that, people who love to shop can shop their hearts out in Bangkok.

Visitors enjoy their vacation not just from the things they see and do but because of the food too. They just love Thai cuisine, it is delicious and cheap as they say. Anywhere you go in Thailand you will find a place to eat especially in Bangkok. The streets are just filled with different kinds of restaurant offering different Thai dishes. You can also find world class restaurants which serves Thai cuisine as well as other International cuisine. Food is definitely a big thing in Thailand.

Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest archipelago of the world which consists of 17,508 islands. If you want to see nature at its best then Indonesia is the best place to spend your holiday. They have various tourist attractions to boast couple with the best modern amenities to make your holiday a comfortable one.

Indonesia is world renowned tourist destinations for their beaches, museums and temples and of course for its magnificent scenic beauty. Travelers, historians and other visitors never miss to stop by and take pictures in their famous towering temples and grand pagodas.

But of course one can't possibly miss their beautiful beaches most specially the spectacular white ones of Bali. Bali has become a world class tourist destination. Famous Hollywood movie stars often spend their vacation here. Perfect place too for newly weds who are spending their honeymoon in the island.

Philippines

Known as the Pearl of the Orient, Philippines is indeed boated of its glory by showing lots of tourist attractions in their 7,107 islands. The country is popular for its beautiful islands, white beaches, diving spots and a lot more. That is why millions of people from all over the world are definitely enticed by it beauty. Fortunately it's not only the places that attract tourists to visit the Philippines but also with their people. Filipinos are certainly compassionate and very hospitable that even strangers will feel at home with the place.

It is home to the world famous white beach of Boracay Island. Other famous beaches are found in Panglao Island, Bohol, and Palawan. Famous diving spots are found in Cebu as well as Bohol. Other tourist spots like Taal Volcano and Taal Lake at Tagaytay will surely hold your breath away. Other places worth to see are Negros, Panay Island, Siquijor and more. The list is just endless and it will probably take your lifetime to discover all of the beauty of the Philippines.

It is probably the reason why most foreigners choose to relocate here in the Philippines especially those who are well beyond their golden days. They choose to spend their retirement days in this country.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Some of the Best Vacation Packages

Vacations are always the best ways of rejuvenating your mind, body and soul. It does a whole lot of wonders to you, as you feel fresh and revived returning from a tour with cherishing memories. There are a whole lot of packages available all over the world, but it is up to you to pick some of the best holiday packages. The packages are all quite extensive which may cover a whole lot about a place and sometimes you may get to stay at beach resorts too which is quite interesting! So let's have a look at some of the best packages.

This offers you some of the best vacation packages to Mauritius. The package duration is for 6 nights and 7 days and the total cost per person comes up to Rs 48,000. A return economy class airfare is also booked for your convenience. You get to stay at the Jalsa beach resorts which have world class spa and deluxe rooms. Daily breakfast and dinner is provided. A 3 day sightseeing tour by air conditioned coaches is arranged for. Get ready to discover the magical splendors of Mauritius and its picturesque surroundings!

This offers some of the best holiday packages to Singapore and Sentosa Island. The package is for 5 nights and 6 days and the total cost of the package comes up to Rs 36,000 per person. Return air tickets are booked for your convenience. You get to stay in 3 star hotels in Singapore and a 2 night's stay in a 4 star hotel at Sentosa. Daily breakfast is provided. A night safari is also arranged for. It is one of the best vacation packages to Singapore, if you want to wholly experience the wonders of this hi-tech country!

This offers some of the best vacation packages to the Far East. The highlights of the South East Asian countries are covered. The package duration is for 10 nights and 11 days and the cost of the package is Rs 56,000 per person. You get to stay for 4 nights at Kuala Lumpur and 2 nights at Bangkok, Pattaya and Singapore. Accommodation is provided in beach resorts when you are touring Bangkok and Pattaya. You will be traveling by flights to all these countries. It is truly a wholesome package to discover the splendid attractions in the Far East!