Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Fun Places for Women to Travel - Group Travel for Women

Today's women have a lot going on and tend to lead extremely busy lives. Between work, family and trying to balance daily living, stress is generally an inevitable factor that arises. Taking a timeout is something most tend to ignore while in reality it is exactly what is needed to relieve our stressful lives and to come back refreshed alert and ready to take on the world! How about a timeout in a different part of the world with a group of women all looking to do the same?

Group travel for women is a growing industry and gaining popularity. There are so many fun places for women to travel to and many different, as well as unique travel options available. Whether you are looking for rest and relaxation, to being outdoors and active or to experience a life-changing cultural immersion, there is something for every woman.

Some of the best experiences within group travel for women come from small and specialized groups. Women often find that taking a trip with a group of women is a lot more fun and less stressful. It allows you to meet other travel companions with similar interests, who could very well become lifelong friends.

With so many fun places for women to travel together from high speed group adventures to relaxing scenic vacation getaways, why not try something that's a little off your beaten path and try group travel for women?

Here is a great website where you can find lists of organizations and travel clubs who offer group travel for women.

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/travel/women/
websiteswomenclubs.shtml

Whether you a single woman looking to get out and try something new, or a family woman living with the day to day pressures, I think that there is a tour for you. Take that much needed time for you and find a fun place for women to travel to!

Happy travels!

Friday, October 27, 2006

Eco Travel and Volunteer Vacations - Travel the World to Make a Difference

Eco travel and volunteer vacations can give you a unique way to not only see another part of our world but to be a part in making a difference. This is something that not a lot of people are aware of, but all over the world there are people helping companies with admirable missions help make a difference and to learn at the same time.

So many of us dream of visiting far-off and distant locales and experience the different cultures but how many of us ever realized that we could not only do this but actually be able to make a contribution that could impact the people and place in a positive manner?

Enter eco travel and volunteer vacations. If this is something that appeals to you, then there is a company and a trip that is right for you. All the while, you can be proud to know that the profits from your trip directly benefits the local economy.

From helping the elephants in Sri Lanka, to being a part of conservation in China, to assisting in the scientific research of dolphins in Belize - you can truly help to change the world one vacation at a time.

There are many companies who facilitate and orchestrate eco travel and volunteer vacations. One that I would reccommend you visit is that of the National Wildlife Federation who proivde numerous and varying expeditions year round. You can visit their website at http://www.nwf.org/expeditions/.

Happy travels!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

A Christmas Cruise - Sail Away With Disney on a Winter Wonderland!

Did you ever wish during the Christmas holidays that you could feel like a kid again? To be able to feel the magic and wonder that you once used to feel? Most of us have long lost those feelings for what used to be such an enchanting time and given way to the stress and headaches that are all too common when this time of year approaches.

While it is still a couple of months away, the Christmas holidays are fast approaching! I read about a true winter wonderland and thought I would share it. Each year throughout the month of December, Disney takes its' 1000 acre castaway island and transforms it into a truly magical celebration.

If there was ever a place to feel like a kid again and to Really share in your children's joy and wonderment, a Christmas cruise with Disney is it!

Disney goes all out at this time of year with carolers, a gingerbread house and of course, a cast of Disney characters but it doesn't stop there! The island's tram is decorated to resemble a reindeer, antlers and tail included! Goofy becomes Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive on both ships to read the classic 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.' While you have some fun on your own, your kids will be busy making candy-cane reindeer, paper plate angels and snowflake mobiles!

Let Disney take care of all the hard work for you, while you completely enjoy the thrill of the holidays aboard your Christmas cruise! Although, if Disney isn't quite your style but you're relishing the thought of a hassle free holiday, just have a look at the other cruise lines; most offer a truly spectacular holiday treat!

Happy travels!

Monday, October 23, 2006

Europe Travel Package - Getting There On a Budget

Exploring Europe is a very fun and exciting thing for anyone. Most people think travelling to Europe is VERY expensive and requires a lot of budget to visit. In fact, travelling to Europe can be very affordable if done correctly.

Here are a few tips to help you get a great deal on your next planned trip to
Europe.

1. Flying into London could potientionally give you a very cheap flight to any of
the surrounding areas. London is a huge hub for many european cities and flights to Berlin, Paris, Spain, and many more are very affordable. You could find a great europe travel package just by taking a quick detour through a London airport.

2. Contact a Europe Travel Agent. Sometimes they can find you the best deals right in their back yard. Online checking yourself is also quite helpful, but Europe Travel Agents actually do this for many people who travel throughout europe on a daily basis. They know all the best deals from country to country.

3. Try to be flexible. Sometimes when getting a Europe travel package, one day or time could save you hundred's of dollars. Know when the best time of the year to travel is, and make sure you check each day of the week to see the differences in flight costs. It makes a HUGE difference.

These three easy tips can really help you make an affortable and comfortable
europe travel package for your next holiday!

Until Next time!

Friday, October 20, 2006

Airline Travel Restrictions - Keep up to Date

Since the terrorist threat that happened in August, airline travel restrictions have increased. With more confused passengers, longer line-ups and general frustrations over this, you need to stay up to date on the continuous changes being made so as to ensure a hassle free trip.

Every day people are making mistakes with the airline travel restrictions and causing extremely long line ups. To avoid these mistakes, make sure that you are staying informed by visiting:

www.tsa.gov

Here you will find all the current restrictions and rules for carrying your possessions. Know exactly what you can pack and what you can't. Know what can and can't be brought carry-on and how it must be carried.

The more informed you are about airline travel restrictions, the faster our line-ups are going to be and comfort can once again be restored!

Happy travels!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Island Vacations to Great Destinations

Island vacations...as winter looms before us, it is the time of year to start planning that great escape. What better place to do it, than on an island vacation? Recently, yahoo did a travel survey on the 'top sun spots' so if you're wondering where the great destinations are, here are the yahoo readers' top island vacations destinations.

10. Cozumel, Mexico
9. Catalina Island, California
8. Vancouver Island, British Columbia
7. Jamaica
6. Kauai, Hawaii
5. Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
4. Hawaii, (Big Island) Hawaii
3. Key West, Florida
2. Oahu, Hawaii
1. Maui, Hawaii

There you have it, the great island vacations! For more tips on savings and how to achieve the ultimate great escape, make sure you're signed up to recieve our FREE newsletter!

Happy travels!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Best Travel by Air - The World's Best Airline Awards

Traveller's are always looking to have the most comfortable and painless travel experience as possible, so I wanted to have a look at the best travel by air. Just who are the world's best airlines to travel with?

Every year Skytrax, the ultimate website to find out anything and everything you want to know about airlines, airports and the quality of them; releases their World's Best Airline Awards.

With over 13 million people surveyed on over 35 different aspects of passenger satisfaction, product and service standards, it evaluates the 'typical' travel experience. If you're looking to find the best travel by air for you, this is the place to look.

Here's just a sample of what you'll find.

Airline of the Year: British Airways
Best Onboard Catering: Gulf Air
Best Inflight Entertainment: Emirates
Best Low-Cost Airline: Air Berlin

The awards cover every aspect that you could wonder about when it comes to air travel. They show world's best and also, best by region. It's a great resource to find the best travel by air and I found the results to be quite intersting! You can go and check it out for yourself at http://www.worldairlineawards.com/.

Happy travels!

Monday, October 16, 2006

Best Time to Visit Hawaii

When most of us are thinking about a trip to the Aloha state, we dream about going during the cold and blistering winter! As nice as it is to escape the winter blues, it's actually not the time that you will find the best weather or the bargains!

So when is the best time to visit Hawaii?

Here are some factors that you should know when you're trying to find the best time to visit Hawaii.

Hawaii's dry season runs from April to October and has a rainy season from November to March, although in recent years, the rainy season has actually been very dry.

Often, the best weather is found in April, May, September and October and they are also a great time to find good travel bargains!

The high season runs from mid-December to mid-April and you will find airfare and accommodations much more expensive during this time period. If you do plan on visiting at this time of year, you should plan to make your reservations early!

For most people, the summer is not going to be the best time to visit Hawaii as it's extremely hot and humid and with the kids out of school, the beaches tend to get quite crowded.

Also, if you're planning to go to Waikiki, you'll want to avoid the last week in April and the first week in May, as this is the peak time for visitors from Japan due to their 'Golden Week' holidays.

Here are the 2 main things to keep in mind when deciding the best time to visit Hawaii.

The weather there is consistently good most of the year but the prices are considerably more during the high season. Deciding what it is that you want to see and do while you're in Hawaii and then finding what the best time of year to do this, is your best bet!

Happy travels!

Thursday, October 05, 2006

The Top 10 US Beaches...

Wondering where the best US beaches are? Well according to Outside Magazine, here are their picks for the Top 10 Beach Getaways in the US and what they were rated for:

1. San Diego, Pacific - California
Beach/Surfing
2. Cape Hatteras National - North Carolina
Seashore/Kiteboarding
3. Poipu, Kauai - Hawaii
Snorkeling
4. Cape May - New Jersey
Bird Watching
5. Harbor Beach - Minnesota
North House Folk School
6. Francis Beach, Half Moon Bay - California
Sea Kayaking
7. Newport, South Beach State Park - Oregon
Kite Flying/Whale Watching
8. Sanibel and Captiva Islands - Florida
Finding Seashells
9. Mustang Island, Port Aransas - Texas
Fishing
10.Cape Cod, Wellfleet - Massachusetts
Swimming/Biking/Having Fun

From surfing to whale watching and plain just relaxing, you can find it all with these great US beaches getaways!

Happy travels!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Travel to New Zealand and Australia - How to Get There Without Breaking the Bank!

Travel to New Zealand and Australia...a lifelong dream for many! I myself have been extremely fortunate and was able to spend a year in Australia. It is without a doubt a spectacular destination and the Aussie's are such wonderful, friendly people. The problem most people have for getting there is not lack of wanting to go, it is the price that it costs to get there! Today I'm going to tell you how you can visit these beautiful countries without having to break the bank :)

The best time to travel to New Zealand and Australia is during the shoulder season. Spring, late summer and early Autumn are the best times to find the deals. Keep in mind that New Zealand and Australia's seasons are opposite to what ours are! So for example, late summer for them is not the end of August, it's the end of March and early April.

Not only will traveling during these times save you a lot of money on airfares and packages, but the weather is also absolutely fantastic at these times! Trust me, being in Australia at their summer peak is scorching for us! Hot to us is one thing, hot to the Aussie's in another!

If you've been dreaming of travel to New Zealand and Australia, it's a great time to start looking for those packages and now that you know the best times to actually book your trip, you're going to get the best of all worlds :) Here's one thing to keep in mind. When you book your package, you're actually going to fly to New Zealand and Australia 2 days after your departure (14+ hour flight plus crossing the international date line) so you might notice that you have a 12 day package but only 10 nights accommodation but don't worry about this! When you fly home, especially if you're flying to the west coast of the US, you're actually technically, going to land before you've even taken off! In short, fear not because it does balance out!

Happy travels!

Monday, October 02, 2006

The Best Cities in the World

Just what are the BEST cities in the world? Well according to the 2006 reader's poll conducted by Travel+Leisure, here are the world's Top 10 best cities:

10. San Francisco, US
9. Beirut, Lebanon
8. New York, US
7. Buenos Aires, Argentina
6. Cape Town, South Africa
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
4. Sydney, Australia
3. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Rome, Italy
1. Florence, Italy

And there you have it, the world's best cities according to the reader's of Travel+Leisure. Rome and Sydney are definitely at the top of my personal list and I think that this is giving me some travel ideas of my own, hopefully it does for you too!

Happy Travels!