Monday 25 February 2008

Finding Better Prices For Expensive Travel Vacations

Lets face it we all love to escape from the pressure and demands of our busy daily lives here in the 21st century. Whether it is for two days or two months the chance to 'drop out' and venture away to an exotic location somewhere in the world is irresistible. And, what's more, you don't have to pay ridiculous prices to enjoy an expensive travel vacation.



In many parts of the country we are hunkered down in snow and rain dreaming of a vacation paradise. We envision places where we can be pampered by 'servants' catering to our every need. This includes everything from umbrella adorned exotic tropical concoctions to personal guides who take us scuba diving in crystal clear, tropic oceans. Picture a horseback ride on endless white sand beaches. Imagine that you can let the child out and laugh to the splash of turquoise water, as well as feel the temperate breezes in their faces and the warmth of tropical sun on bare backs.



Expensive vacation packages often seem out of our reach. In lieu, we try to locate a travel channel or golf resort magazine that can point us to a blissful destination. We only dream of places that can quench our desires for escape. When able to pursue such a vacation, we sadly often find blacked out dates, overbooked resorts, or exorbitant fees to pay just to have the privilege to get away from it all.



Consider obtaining a membership through travel destination clubs that can give you unrestricted access to many destinations around the world. Many of these travel membership plans have no blackout dates or restricted weeks. This puts you in complete control of your next vacation spot. Whether you want to go to Hawaii in peak season or Cabo in fishing season, these memberships offer a service like no other.



As a member to such places, you generally have access anytime to top resort destinations. You will find it easy to book accommodations at many luxury resort destinations. You can even enjoy discounts on all the major cruise lines as well, depending on which membership you join.



Your best bet is to look for memberships that offer no annual dues or exchange fees. Also look out for restricted weeks and blackout dates. Avoiding these traps means you can have year-round access to the worlds top resorts in peak season. With companies competing for your business, you can find just the deals you are looking for.



When you obtain a membership, you basically get to take advantage of having your own travel professionals. These professionals know how to fulfill your specific requests including exact dates, unit sizes, and the number of travelers. This gives you complete freedom and total control to travel when and where you want. This prestigious service will be yours for a lifetime, if you choose.



If you are ready to escape this is your vehicle and your portal to that bliss you so desperately seek. Joining a travel club definitely has its advantages. Complete packages have become quite affordable over time. What are you waiting for?




Brad Hodges is President of BRAD HODGES ENTERPRISES a Global Internet Marketing Company specializing in Travel, Health and home business e-commerce.



For more information on this article please go to http://www.YourWorldGateway.com



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Hodges
http://EzineArticles.com/?Finding-Better-Prices-For-Expensive-Travel-Vacations&id=1007913

Sunday 24 February 2008

4 Days, Kenya Wildlife Camping Safaris - Lake Nakuru Maasai Mara

Maasai Mara is Kenya's best game park, with the possibility of seeing all the big five and many other species of game. This is where the great wildebeest migration is a world spectacle.



DAY 1 - NAKURU



Pick up from your hotel by 0900hrs, we drive down the Escarpment via the floor of the Great Rift Valley, to the Lake Nakuru. Lunch followed by an extensive afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight camping.



DAY 2 - MAASAI MARA



Depart Lake Nakuru after breakfast and drive to Maasai Mara arriving by lunchtime. After lunch proceed on an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight camping.



DAY 3 - MAASAI MARA



From the camp, we explore the Mara region, packed with the elephant, zebra, rhino and all kinds of game through out the year with the spectacular wildebeest migration from Serengeti occurring mainly in July and August. Being at Maasai Mara is "as if you found yourself in the New York of the natural world according to some authorities". Indeed you have the best opportunity of seeing all the big five. Dinner and overnight camping.



DAY 4 - NAIROBI



Depart Camp and drive through the reserve viewing game as you proceed to the main Narok road. On reaching Narok, we halt to give you a chance to buy souvenirs, or just to have a cup of tea. Back to Nairobi by 5.00 p.m. Drop off at your hotel.



PRICE INCLUSIVE OF:



Transport in 7 seater Tour Van with pop up roof

Tour bus fitted with Hi-Fi radio

Accommodation at Camp

All park entrance fees

All Government taxes and levies

3 Meals a Day Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian

Game drives

One Litre Mineral water a day while on safari

Drivers Allowances

Cook Allowances

Airport Transfer




Mary Muchiri

Skyview of Africa Ltd

P.O. Box 872 - 00200

Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 20 3751672

Telfax +254 20 3751521

Email: safari@skyviewofafrica.com

Website: http://www.skyviewofafrica.com



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Muchiri
http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Days,-Kenya-Wildlife-Camping-Safaris---Lake-Nakuru-Maasai-Mara&id=996874

Friday 22 February 2008

Santorini Sailing - Luxury Sunset And Daytime Cruises

Greece is perfect for sailing holidays as with over 1,000 islands and many ports you have the opportunity to sail as long as you like and stop whenever you like. The weather is calm and the sea is safe therefore you need no much experience for the sailing holiday of your life. With sailing you can explore the most beautiful beaches, visit small uninhabited islands and stop for snorkelling in the most beautiful places.



While staying in Santorini you can plan an exciting day cruising with family or good friends to the volcanic islets of Nea and Palea Kameni or the island of Thirassia. Plan a romantic getaway for two to enjoy the amazing scenery of Santorini. Experience sailing services in Santorini and you will have an unforgettable holiday.



The brand new Caldera catamaran (lagoon 420) of Spiridakos sailing company will drive you towards the beautiful volcanic coast of Santorini and will satisfy your needs, as it provides all the facilities for the most demanding travellers. Caldera combines sailing performance with steadiness and security.



Escape from your daily routine and let your adventure begin on the luxury catamaran 'Caldera'. Enjoy a sailing vacation, a sunset cruise and a memorable holiday. Everyone from beginners to more experienced sailors can gain a positive experience from our services. The captain and the crew in the Caldera will make sure you have a safe and pleasant excursion.



Enjoy your Santorini sailing vacation with a selection of Greek delicious dishes from fresh seafood and meat to vegetables, fruit and local produced wine.




Plan your sailing vacation with Caldera catamaran and we promise you fantastic scenery, great laughs, unforgettable adventure and great food during your Santorini sunset cruises or your Santorini daytime cruises



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zenia_Porth
http://EzineArticles.com/?Santorini-Sailing---Luxury-Sunset-And-Daytime-Cruises&id=965606

Thursday 21 February 2008

Top Carnival Destinations

Carnival is a festival season that marks the beginning of lent featuring parades, masquerades, balls, and for lots of people, a beach vacation. This year, most countries celebrate Carnival during the first week of February. So pack your bags and head out to some of the best destinations to celebrate Carnival.



Brazil



Brazil is the number 1 Carnival destination in the world. The Carnival in Brazil dates back to the 1720's when Portuguese immigrants arrived. Today, the Brazilian carnival is celebrated with parades featuring samba schools composed of thousands of members who create unique themes for their floats. The main parade in Brazil takes place at the Sambodromo, a parade route in Rio de Janeiro complete with bleachers on both sides.



Trinidad and Tobago



In Trinidad & Tobago, Carnival is a holiday that lasts over a month and ends in large celebrations in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad, on the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago features costumes, dance, music, competitions, rum, and partying (also referred to as fete-ing).



Ecuador



Carnival in Ecuador lasts a couple of weeks and is usually celebrated with water balloons, crazy string, flowers, fruit and more water. People in the coastal regions tend to celebrate Carnival by going to the beach and throwing water balloons to friends and sometimes unsuspecting victims. Don't be surprised if a water balloon hits you. Don't feel offended; it's just a game. Ecuador is a country full of surprises!



Mexico



In Mexico, the biggest Carnival festivities occur in Veracruz and Mazatlan where parades, costumes, music and dancing take place. The Mexican Carnival starts with the burning of effigies (Quema del Mal Humor) that symbolizes the burning of ill humor and marks the beginning of carefree days.



New Orleans



Mardi Gras is known around the world as one of the most exciting festivities in the US. The Carnival in New Orleans starts the weekend before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) with parades, beads, parties, balls, hurricanes (the drinks, not the weather phenomenon) and more beads. The French Quarter becomes a big party center with people tossing beads left and right. The main streets become the destination for parade watchers who stand there to admire the beautifully crafted floats and receive beads in return.




Denisse Romero



For more amazing travel destinations and travel resources visit http://www.macquil.com . MacQuil.com is one of the leading study abroad and travel portals with free resources, advice, directories, videos and articles.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denisse_Romero
http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-Carnival-Destinations&id=996037

Tuesday 19 February 2008

Self Catering Cottages - Travellers Best Friend

One of the innovations of modern times that is gaining huge popularity around the globe are self catering cottages. Laced with all sorts of comforts that can make anyone's holiday extremely enjoyable and a sweet memory, they welcome the tourists with open arms and expose them to a few days of calm and unhurried life. The biggest advantage of such cottages is that they can be availed at an extremely cost effective rate which ensures that almost every section of society can avail such a glorious service. Second big attraction of these cottages is their setting. Set in the calm backdrop of countryside they expose people to a quiet holiday away from the rush and run of city life. A perfect place to recharge the batteries and fill oneself with energy and vigour to take on life.



Another attraction of these cottages is that they provide their guests to enjoy their holiday in any which way they like. So much so that people are also allowed to cook their own meals here. Such a provision goes a long way in making the cottages so well like by people. Particularly by families who have small kids.



Self catering cottages are also on top of the popularity list of business units who find them to be just perfect for arranging their team building drills and official functions. The stay here is also utilised by these units to facilitate their most deserving employees. It encourages employees and ignites in them the wish to go all guns blazing to win the coveted prize.



With the way life is getting hectic with every passing day it is not difficult to conclude that the popularity of such cottages are bound to increase. And if the popularity that the Self catering cottages enjoy today is anything to go by, one can easily say that the coming days would be extremely rosy for these cottages.




Terry is a globe-trotter specialising in travel writing. Having toured all over Britain, he has a fair idea of the best resorts, self catering cottages, hotels, and other places of accommodation and entertainment, including self catering services in the British Isles. He has been using his vast knowledge of geography and languages to guide tourists and holiday-makers to enjoy their touring time.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Pinto
http://EzineArticles.com/?Self-Catering-Cottages---Travellers-Best-Friend&id=994671

Monday 18 February 2008

Life in Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China, a country with more than 5000 years of ancient history, and now Beijing is home to more than 14 million people. Beijing is considered to be the political, educational and cultural centre of China. Beijing offers an infinite amount of things to see and experience, and it is never too late to visit.



Chinese Cuisines



Being China's capital city, you can imagine Beijing has a lot to offer, including every kind of Chinese cuisine you can imagine. In Beijing, you can even sample regional Chinese cuisine, including those from Shanghai, Sichuan, Dongbei, as well as specialty cuisines that the 56 minority cultures has to offer and more. One very notable cuisine type everyone must try in Beijing is the very impressive 12 course Imperial meal! The best restaurants are situated in the CBD, the financial district and on main streets close to the embassies. You can also go ahead and try out all different sorts of Chinese food at Ghost Street ("gui jie").



Beijing Nightlife



As for nightlife, every 2 months there is a new grand opening for another huge club. There are clubs throughout the first ring to the sixth ring of Beijing city. Most foreigners like to go to Vics or Mix, situated at the Workers' Stadium.



Living Standards



Living standards in Beijing compared to the rest of China is considered expensive. However, in comparison to America, it is almost minimal. If you are looking for accommodation, you can contact PRC Study as they can help you find accommodation across China. Finding a place in China to stay can be a total disaster, as most landlords do not speak any English. PRC Study offers many different types of accommodations, and all are suited at student rates.



Living Expense



An average foreign student spends about 60-80RMB (~8-11 USD) a day on food and transportation. An average Chinese student spends about 40RMB (~5 USD) a day. Depending on your tastes for luxuries, there can be a huge diversity. With decent restaurants averaging to around 50RMB (~7 USD) per person, and DVD's for as low as 6RMB (~0.85 USD), you can splash the extra cash towards traveling around China.



China and Opportunities



The rapid growth of China's economy is attracting more and more multinational companies to come and invest. In fact, China's rapid economic growth is no threat to other countries, but an open door to more opportunities. After China's globalization, a forever increasing amount of foreigners are coming to China to learn Mandarin, as well as to work. Fully experience Beijing with the assistance of PRC Study to let your 5 senses indulge into a never ending experience.




To find out more about learning Mandarin, accommodation in China, traveling in China and/or working in China you can contact PRC Study



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amit_Salkar
http://EzineArticles.com/?Life-in-Beijing&id=993657

Sunday 17 February 2008

Whitby's Nautical Heritage

Whitby's nautical heritage runs deep in the town's blood, and everywhere you go there are reminders of this affiliation - from the dark passageway leading to the old and evocatively-named Old Smuggler café, nestled unexpectedly between two modern shops on Baxtergate - to the more obvious reminders in and around the town's harbour.



Whitby's first and last link with the sea was fishing - ever since its foundation, fishing has been a means of supplying the settlement with food, but over the years fishing and ship-building were to grow from subsistence and small-scale businesses to become major sources of income for the town.



By 1706, Whitby was the sixth-largest shipbuilding port in the UK, building more than 130 cargo ships each year. The output of the local alum mines kept local merchant shipowners busy transporting alum for the textile and tanning industries, and the coastal trade in coal had a strong presence in Whitby.



Although the alum industry gradually closed down in the 19th century, rendered redundant by more modern dyeing technologies, by then the Industrial Revolution had led to an increase in demand for one of the fishing industry's most lucrative seasonal catches - herrings.



Once a year, in late summer, fishing boats from as far afield as Scotland and Cornwall would converge on Whitby, ready to take their share of the herring catch. Much of the fish was exported and for a time both supply and demand for the little silver fish seemed insatiable.



The period from 1753 until the middle of the 19th century also saw great wealth and success for Whitby's whalers, which although fewer in number could make huge profits from a single trip, creating a number of extremely wealthy men in the town. The whaling industry is commemorated by a huge whalebone arch, several times the height of a man, which stands at the top of the steps leading to West Cliff. Nearby stands an equally impressive statue of Captain James Cook, perhaps Yorkshire's most famous seafarer.



Today, fishing is conducted on a fairly small scale, with a mixture of a few deep sea trawlers, and rather more smaller boats which are used to catch the shellfish that Whitby is so popular for. Most of this freshly-caught produce will later grace the tables of luxury restaurants, both in the town and elsewhere in the UK. Its premium quality fetches strong prices and is one of the ways in which the fishing industry continues to survive in Whitby



Many of today's visitors to Whitby are content simply to see, smell and occasionally paddle in the sea, but for those of a more adventurous or hands-on nature, there are a range of seagoing activities available.



Lovers of deep-sea fishing will find ample opportunities to practice their craft, with both group charter services and scheduled excursions available, often with all equipment provided.



There are a range of boat trips available in season, appealing to the inner child within us all - Whitby's old lifeboat makes regular trips around the bay, and for the more adventurous rides on a jet-boat are on offer.




Alan Moore invites you to join his free email newsletter The Whitby Bite:
http://www.dracula-in-whitby.com/whitby-bite.html where you can learn more about the real Dracula and his connection to Whitby, Yorkshire's unique vampire town.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Moore
http://EzineArticles.com/?Whitbys-Nautical-Heritage&id=575274