Vacation and Travel Advice
Vacation and Travel Suggestions and Advice from unbiased source. Read about other traveler’s reviews of different holiday locations, vacation spots and hotels. Find out what and where to avoid when going on Vacation.

Archive for June, 2006

Bring Your Kids on a Disney Cruise Vacation

Friday, June 30th, 2006

Your kids been whining, crying and sulking. They want to go to Disney World. They have been driving you crazy with their pleading. Meanwhile, you want to experience a warm, tropical island. Life has been pretty stressful and you want to spend some time relaxing on a sunny beach. How can you please everyone? It’s easy! Plan a Disney cruise vacation. Everyone is happy. The kids meet some of Disney’s most popular characters. You get to visit the Bahamas. Finally, everyone get to spend a few days at Disney World.

With a seven-day Disney cruise vacation, you begin your vacation by spending either three or four days at all of the Walt Disney World theme parks. Travelers get to experience the wonders of Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. Guests stay at one of the Walt Disney World popular resorts. This is only the first part of your Disney cruise vacation. The fun has only begun!

The remaining three or four days of your Disney cruise vacation is spent aboard one of Disney Cruise Line’s cruise ships. This portion of your Disney cruise vacation begins at Port Canaveral. You will board a Disney cruise ship where delicious buffets, live entertainment, fun activities, and plenty of other luxuries await. The cruise ship sails to Nassau in the Bahamas. You get to spend a full day in Nassau. You can sunbathe on the gorgeous beaches, partake in some water activities, go shopping, or do some sightseeing. That evening, you board the ship and set sail for Castaway Cay.

A Disney cruise vacation includes a trip to Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. Castaway Cay is modeled after Peter Pan’s Neverland. Children love the wide array of tidal pools. Teenagers love the teens only beach where they can sunbathe or do some snorkeling. Adults love the pristine beaches. All areas of Castaway Cay are supervised, so parents can have some alone time while their children go off and have fun!

To go on a Disney cruise vacation, effective in December 2006, travelers will be required to carry a valid passport. The passport must be shown when entering the Bahamas, boarding your ship, and reentering the United States.

Rates for a Disney cruise vacation are very reasonable and include your activities, meals, and accommodations. Airfare can be requested for an additional fee. Taxes and airport surcharges are not included. It’s an economical way to take your whole family on an unforgettable vacation.

When it comes to booking a cruise you can handle the details yourself by visiting one of the online travel sites. If you’d prefer to leave the details to someone else, a travel agent can handle everything so all you need to do is enjoy the cruise, the Sun and the sea.

Posted in Advice, Air Travel, Cruise, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Resorts, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Packages, Vacation Rental, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Short Trip to Cedar Key, Florida

Friday, June 30th, 2006

Cedar Key is list right on top of the vacation spots list for the nature lovers. If you are looking for a special hideaway for your next vacation, or even short day trip, look no farther than Cedar Key, Florida.

Cedar Key is off the Florida mainland, in the clear, rich waters of the Gulf. Time rather stands still when you are surrounded by nature as it was intended to be. The unique quality of the local coastal environment gives you the opportunity to take in this beautiful area, unspoiled by the commercialization and hassle of everyday life.

This is a special quiet place, a serene village set among the numerous tiny islands on the Gulf Coast of Florida. You might call it the Old Florida In fact, it is one of the oldest ports in the state and along the old railway line that connected the east and western parts of Florida. Over time, the island became a major supplier of both seafood and timber to the northeast. Today, artists and writers come to settle in Cedar Key for its tranquil lifestyle and easy ambiance.

Visitors come to the island to walk around its historic streets and savor the galleries and the world famous restaurants. Cedar Key is the USA’s top producer of farm raised Clams. However, there are many activities within the close area.

Because the Cedar Key area is a protected nature preserve, this is definitely the place for bird watching. No less than seven protected sites are in the area, allowing visitors pristine nature walks and excursions. This is what is said about the area; Federally protected sanctuaries around Cedar Key are ideally suited to a vast range of migratory and shore birds, including the elusive white pelican, roseate spoonbill, and bald eagle. The variety of natural habitats, from salt marshes to Indian shell mounds, makes this truly a nature lover’s paradise.

No location on the water would be complete without fishing and boating, and this place is no exception. You can charter boats for pleasure or fishing or take along an experienced guide to show you the local sights. Visitors to Cedar Key are always impressed with the hospitality of the local people who are eager to share the wonder of this location as well as their special lifestyle. Canoes, kayaks, motorboats, as well as bicycles are available. There are several golf courses in the immediate area also.

There are numerous places to stay in Cedar Key including motels, condominiums, bed-and-breakfast, cottages, and private homes. It is a vacation suitable for family with small kids.

FACTS:

Cedar Key is located 50 miles west of I-75 at Gainesville, Florida, via State Road 24, four miles out into the Gulf of Mexico, accessible by bridges and causeways. The average year-round temperature is 80 degrees and the population is approximately 1000.

Posted in Adventure Travel, Advice, Destination, Family Vacation, Florida, Holiday, Information, Nature Preserve, Short Vacation, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Packages, Vacation Rental, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Cancun Spring Break with Sun and Beaches

Thursday, June 29th, 2006

When I think of spring break, I think of travel to a warm destination, preferably with a beach, lots of sun, fun, food, and drink. Are you with me? Spring break usually occurs in the third or fourth week of March, and many of us, whether students or not, are ready for a break from our daily routines, and in some areas of the country, from the cold and snow. Why not a Cancun spring break? After all, it is one of, if not the most popular spring break destination for Americans. It’s close, affordable, warm, and fun, and it is surrounded by the clear blue waters of the Caribbean, could it get any better?

Cancun is definitely a tropical paradise surrounded in ancient Mayan culture, where the days are warm and bright, and the nights cool and airy. Fine cuisine and entertainment abounds in Cancun, hosting some of the most famous clubs in the world, such as Senor Frog’s. Cancun Mexico is located on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula with an abundance of white sandy beaches and warm beautiful blue ocean. A passport or birth certificate and photo identification are required to enter the country and all travelers must pass through customs when entering and leaving. Most of the service personnel are bilingual, so there is not an urgent requirement to become fluent in Spanish, though it does help. Dollars are accepted, as well as credit cards, and there are currency exchange locations throughout Cancun also, but keep in mind that rates may vary slightly from place to place. The mode of transportation most often used is bus and taxi, which are both very reasonable, and of course, you can always rent a car, though this is not usually required to go on even a long excursion.

Since spring break is a very popular time of the year to travel, and you can spend as much or as little as you’d like. Many online travel sites feature discount vacation specials well below regular prices so that your Cancun spring break won’t break your bank account. There is quite a large selection of hotels in different areas with various amenities as well. There is the Cancun party zone that caters more to singles and the younger crowd, reasonably priced hotels that offer family accommodations and activities, and more upscale lodging for those who want to vacation in tropical luxury. There is no doubt that you can plan your Cancun spring break just as you like, and within your budget. There are endless sight seeing opportunities also that are close by or within less than a day’s travel round trip, and can be booked as part of your Cancun spring break package or not, it’s up to you. If you have never been to Cancun, spring break is the time to see it at its liveliest; it is one of the most popular spring break destinations ever!

A very great vacation spot for family and young people. A lot of sun, beach and fun.

Posted in Advice, Beach, Family Vacation, Holiday, Information, Mexico, Short Vacation, Spring Break, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Packages, Vacation Rental, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Experience Arkansas Cabins for a Different Vacation

Thursday, June 29th, 2006

I never know what living in a cabin in some forgotten mountain is like. When my wife started looking at Arkansas cabins as a destination for our vacation, I thought she was crazy. We are both music aficionados, forced by our jobs to toil in the relative obscurity of suburban Detroit, so when we have the time to take a vacation, we like to go to a place where we can hear music, loud and live, and in plenty. Some place like New York City, or at least St. Louis. There is Little Rock in Arkansas. Ozark mountain cabins are not exactly the center of the club scene.

But looking at all of the pictures of Arkansas cabins on the internet, it got me thinking as wouldn’t you know it of my father, and of the fishing trips he used to take me on. When I was little, we used to fish on the Ohio river. Even then, I wasn’t what you would call much of an outdoorsman. While the other tykes ran around, doing boy scouts and little league, I sat inside reading. My dad, a professor at the local college, could hardly disapprove of my nascent intellectualism, but nonetheless, he thought that a boy my age should spend some time out of doors.

Without my father to force me outside, I must confess that I have somewhat lost track of what the squirrels and moose are up to since then, and I thought a vacation in one of those Arkansas cabins might be just what I needed. There were all kinds of cabins, from little mountain retreats in the Ozarks to generous, sprawling villas on the waterfront. Since it was my wife’s idea, I let her choose between the Arkansas cabins, and we were off.

She’s not much more decisive than I am, and by the time my wife could make up my mind, it was basically a matter of finding which of the Arkansas cabins were still open this late in the season. The one we picked was an Ozark mountain cabin, way off the beaten path, and with a breathtaking view of the whole region. Getting up there took us an extra three hours, and just to get to town to pick up some basic supplies was quite a hike. The electricity was bad, the water was cold, and the cabin was not all that well insulated, but it was worth it. My dad would be proud of me. Next time, will pick from the Arkansas cabins earlier in the year.

It’s a vacation I will never forget. The Arkansas cabin reminds me of my youth and that there are simple and quiet pleasures other then city and loud music.

Posted in Accommodation, Adventure Travel, Advice, Arkansas, Cabin, Information, Vacation, Vacation Destination, Vacation Packages, Vacation Rental, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »

Alaska Adventure Travel for Excitement Seekers

Wednesday, June 28th, 2006

Alaska is the largest and least-populated state in the union, encompassing thousands of square miles of wild tundra, forests, and mountains. Though Alaska exports raw goods like timber and oil, tourism has become one of its largest trades. Adventure travel has spread like wildfire over the past few years, and Alaska adventure travel is among the best in the world.

If you’re looking for something more in your vacation than lounging on a pretty beach or strolling the decks of a cruise ship, have a look at adventure travel. Though some areas like New Zealand or Thailand have started to get themselves into the adventure travel market, Alaska adventure travel remains the center of travelers looking for a little more excitement in their vacations.

Alaska is a vast, wild place, and if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush Alaska adventure travel serves it up in just about any sort of dish you’re looking for. Winter brings in snow, and with it thousands upon thousands of feet of vertical drop coated with fresh powder. Though there are some great lift-accessed ski areas in Alaska, the Alaskan backcountry is really a showcase for heli-skiiing. Imagine, waking up early on a beautiful sunny day, hoping into your helicopter with your friends and striking out over the mountains. You scout your runs by air, checking on attractive chutes and huge powder bowls. When you’ve sighted your target you’re dropped off, alone on the summit of a mountain that nobody has ever skied before. From there, surveying the mountains, there’s nowhere to go but down. When you reach the bottom, pumped with adrenaline and elated with the run, your helicopter is already there, waiting to ferry you to another great run.

Summer in Alaska brings long days and new adventures. When the salmon are running Alaska boasts some of the biggest and best salmon fishing in the world. Anglers (and bears) come in from all over to share in the wealth of the run, and some streams get so full of salmon that it looks like you can walk from shore to shore on the backs of fish. You can walk up many of the streams to fish or, if you want to get away from the crowds, charter a bush plane to get you into the middle of nowhere to bask in the solitude.

Kayaking is a fairly new addition to the Alaska adventure travel menu, but with so many un-run, remote rivers that can be accessed by bush plane or helicopter, more and more paddlers are shouldering their boats and heading to Alaska. The whitewater is literally out many paddlers back doors; the Eagle river, boasting grade III whitewater, is only ten minutes outside of Anchorage.

Alaska adventure travel is for the bold and adventure seeker. It’s rated five stars for anyone sick of the normal beach and resort.

Posted in Adventure Travel, Advice, Alaska, Holiday, Information, Travel, Vacation, Vacation Packages, Vacation Suggestion | No Comments »