TRAVEL BLOGS
TRAVEL BLOGS
category: travel
03 Sep 2009
related tags: Airplanes | Airport | how to | light | luggage | packing | tips | vacation |

With the fees of luggage rising for every airline it’s more important than ever before to master the art of packing lightly.

The best way to pack only what you will really need is to lay out everything you think you’ll need and then scrutinize every piece one by one before it makes it into your luggage.

Here are some rules on The Fine Art of Packing

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category: travel
15 Jan 2009

Here are some areas that you must visit when in Turkey!

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category: travel
07 Nov 2008

Check out this list of locations where you’ll get the best bang for your buck.

Stockholm, Sweden
Now: $1 buys 7.9 Sweden kronor (SEK)
June 2008:$1 bought 6 SEK
Increase in value of the dollar: 32%

Reykjavik, Iceland
Now: $1 buys 120 Icelandic kronur (ISK)
June 2008: $1 bought 74 ISK
Increase in value of the dollar: 52%

Bruges, Belgium
Now: $1 buys 0.79 euro (EUR)
June 2008: $1 bought 0.64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%

Madrid, Spain
Now: $1 buys 0.79 EUR
June 2008: $1 bought 0.64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%

Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Now: $1 buys 1.6 Australia dollars (AUD)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.05 AUD
Increase in value of the dollar: 52%

Rotorua, New Zealand
Now: $1 buys 1.8 New Zealand dollars (NZD)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.28 NZD
Increase in value of the dollar: 41%

Istanbul, Turkey
Now: $1 buys 1.7 new Turkish lira (TRY)
June 2008: $1 bought 1.2 TRY
Increase in value of the dollar: 42%

Montreal, Canada
Now:$1 buys 1.28 Canadian dollars (CAD)
June 2008: $1 bought 0.99 CAD
Increase in value of the dollar: 29%

Enniskerry, Ireland
Now: $1 buys 0.79 EUR
June 2008: $1 bought .64 EUR
Increase in value of the dollar: 23%

Read more…

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category: travel
08 Sep 2008

1.Southern Dawn II, British Columbia

2.Waves and Wine, Santa Barbara, California

3.Wine Camp, Long Island, New York

4.The Inn at Chateau Grand Traverse, Traverse City, Michigan

5.Ingleside Vineyards, Oak Grove, Virginia

6.Hotel Vintage Park, Seattle, Washington

7.Cottage Inn by the Sea, Pismo Beach, Central California

8.The Blue Hill Inn, Blue Hill, Maine

9.GullWing Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach, Florida

10.Estero Beach Hotel Resort, San Ysidro, Baja California

Continue reading to find out more and how to book your trip!

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category: travel
08 Feb 2008

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire - February 8, 2008) -

lastminute.com Survey Details

– Leading travel and lifestyle site lastminute.com put presidential candidates to the test by seeing
how they rate as travel companions.
– American respondents shared their viewpoints on which candidates they’d
most want to include in their personal vacation time.

Results

– 44 percent would like to have Senator Obama as a holiday buddy because
he seems like a downright “cool guy to hang out with.” Others said:
- He’s a great companion for everything from exploring historical
sites to partying the night away.
- He’s most likely to score discounts on the road.
- Because the guy has “personality and seems the most chilled out.”
- He’s “sexy, young, smart, energetic, fun, charming, witty, cultured
and a great talker.”

– Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton ranked second (with 23 percent) mostly
because of the belief that she truly needs a holiday. Others said it
was because:
- They believe she’s “intelligent and sensitive” with much to teach.
- And, they’d get the inside scoop on former president Clinton.

– Among Republican respondents, the favorite travel buddy is reassuring
“Grandpa” McCain (with 14 percent).

– Unfortunately for Huckabee, not many would consider vacationing with
him, unless of course he’d consider bringing Chuck Norris along!

– Where would people take the candidates on vacation? More than 45
percent think the Caribbean would be the ideal solution for a break.

lastminute.com Bonus Results

– Who could most use a vacation right now?
- 58 percent say Senator Hillary Clinton is most desperately in need.
- Runner up is Senator McCain with 18 percent of the votes.

– Who would respondents least want to get stuck next to on the plane
ride?
- More than 34 percent (the largest group of respondents) say Mrs.
Clinton.
- Mr. Romney came in second (32 percent).

– When asked who might look best in a bathing suit on the beach:
- Obama wins with 64 percent of the vote.
- Romney came in second with 21 percent.

– Which candidates are least likely to be seen in a swimming suit with a
French model?
- Respondents predict Senators Clinton and Huckabee would be nowhere
in sight.

Quotes

Attributed to Giovanna Garlati, communications manager for lastminute.com
– “The comments were the funniest part to read, and it’s amazing to see
how willing people were to respond,”
– “It is clear from their responses that the battle between Senator
Clinton and Obama seems to reach far beyond political topics.”

About lastminute.com

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category: travel
19 Dec 2007

BOTHELL, Wash., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Forget the flowers, chocolates, and jewelry this February. Take a lesson in romance from the birthplace of passion and make this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration one that you’ll remember forever. Air France Holidays is offering specially priced Valentine’s Day packages to Paris, Nice, Rome and Barcelona that are sure to inspire excitement in every relationship.

“These packages were created in some of the most romantic destinations in the world,” stated Martin Froggatt, Air France Holidays Vice President of Operations. “Air France Holidays will take care of all the trip planning details. You and your special someone will be able to simply enjoy the time together surrounded by all the passion that Europe is famous for.”

Air France Holidays’ Valentine’s travel packages are priced from $799 and include roundtrip airfare on Air France, 3-night hotel accommodations, half-day city tour, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and surcharges, and airline fuel surcharges. Prices do not include airport taxes and fees.

For more information about the Valentine’s travel packages and to make a reservation, please visit http://www.airfranceholidays.com or call a reservations specialist at 800-237-2623 (6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT Monday - Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Saturday and Sunday).

When traveling with Air France Holidays you can expect the very best. Our travel experts are trained to assist in every detail from the start of the booking process through the completion of the travel experience. Air France Holidays’ commitment to excellence has been recognized by the French Government Tourist Office in 2005, 2006, and 2007 as the recipient of their “Tour Operator of the Year” award.

About Air France Holidays:

Air France Holidays is the tour division of Air France, a private label vacation program operated by Europe Express First Choice since 2004. Air France Holidays offers exciting air-inclusive vacations to France, Tahiti, as well as popular cities in Europe and other international destinations. Customized itineraries, group vacations, and special interest activities provide flexibility and added trip personalization. Travelers can travel with Air France Holidays from 125 U.S. cities through code-share agreement with SkyTeam partners Delta, Continental and Northwest.

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category: travel
23 Nov 2007

MEXICO and DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ — It’s no secret that holiday shopping is a stressful task — especially when you’re searching for the perfect gift for the couple that has just about everything. With today’s frenetic pace of life, sometimes the best gift is an opportunity to slow down and get away.

The gift of travel, especially to a luxury all-inclusive property like Excellence Resorts, is the gift that all can appreciate. Excellence Resorts features numerous romantic travel packages that are a convenient and unique alternative to more traditional gifts, and that are perfect for the couple that has it all.

Excellence Resorts’ adults-only five-star properties harmonize luxury and convenience for vacationers, with amenities like exquisite diverse accommodations, enticing gourmet cuisine, world-class spas and meticulous service. Each resort features the ideal romantic ambiance, with lavish guest suites like two-story rooftop terraces equipped with expansive HydroSpa pools and a private second story room service entrance; and suites allowing guests to literally swim-up to their private verandas that are outfitted with hammocks fit for an afternoon siesta. In addition, the signature Miile Spa at Excellence Resorts properties provides guests with the most sophisticated beauty techniques and offers exclusive facilities to encourage retreat and rebirth; helping to ease the unavoidable holiday stress.

“Whether it’s a gift for a holiday, birthday, anniversary, wedding, honeymoon or ‘just because,’ our romance packages include unique elements to create an exclusive and luxurious getaway that satisfies the tastes of any guest,” said Ignacio Fernandez, vice president of sales and marketing. “We understand that people are faced with a lot of stress given today’s hectic society. And our easy-to-book romance packages are the perfect solution to ease that anxiety — whether it springs from gift-giving or the need to get away.”

Whether rekindling a romance, getting married or celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon, Excellence Resorts offers romance packages that suit the occasion. Onsite wedding specialists and staff personally coordinate wedding and romance celebrations customized to the desires of the couple and their budget. Excellence Resorts offers three deluxe wedding packages as well as two luxurious honeymoon and anniversary packages. Packages range in price and amenities, and can be easily booked by visiting www.excellence-resorts.com .

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category: travel
07 Nov 2007

FRESNO, Calif., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ — For those travelers planning their winter vacations, Gordon’s Guide (http://www.GordonsGuide.com), the leading publisher of adventure and active travel, has developed a host of recommendations to suit a wide range of interests. Whether travelers enjoy skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, surfing, yoga or a relaxing spa vacation, Gordon’s Guide has something for everyone.

The vacation recommendations below represent a selection of one-of-a-kind, experiential destinations featured at GordonsGuide.com, the largest online resource for adventure and active travel. These selections comprise just a few of the 10,000 trips to 3,000 destinations in 126 countries found on the Web site.

Costa Rica - Lucero Surf Retreat & Rain Forest Aerial Tram

Explore the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica and one of its most scenic locales, the beautiful Montezuma Waterfalls. Packages include surfing, deep sea fishing trip, themed dinners, accommodations on the beach and a massage or Reiki session.

http://surfing.gordonsguide.com/lucerosurfretreats/index.cfm

“December in Tuscany” - Music and Markets

From wine and olive oil estates, discover the unique tastes of Tuscany and take home samples to remember the journey. Explore the villages of Umbria and little-known corners of Florence, enjoying the region’s tempting cuisine at country inns and city trattorias along the way.

http://womens-travel.gordonsguide.com/musicandmarkets/index.cfm

Fiji - Taveuni Island Resort

Built by a couple who discovered the island on their honeymoon, this Fijian paradise enables travelers to discover the attractions of Taveuni’s cascading waterfalls, rare birds and a hidden lake in one of the world’s most pristine habitats. From sea level to cloud-shrouded mountain peaks, Taveuni is a utopia for nature lovers.


http://resorts.gordonsguide.com/taveuniislandresort/index.cfm

Finger Lakes, New York - Geneva on the Lake Resort

Experience European elegance and friendly hospitality in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine country. Vacation amidst an ambiance of Italian Renaissance architecture, classical sculptures and luxurious suites.

http://resorts.gordonsguide.com/genevaonthelakeresort/index.cfm

Yosemite National Park - Evergreen Lodge

This historic Yosemite resort, nestled in the woods bordering Yosemite National Park, offers a timeless experience, including fully furnished cabins, delicious food, a classic all-wood tavern, diverse recreational activities, expert advice and a warm, welcoming environment. Escape the crowds and enjoy the serenity and mountain charm of this Yosemite hideaway.

http://resorts.gordonsguide.com/evergreenlodge/index.cfm

Belize - St. George’s Caye Lodge

St. George’s Caye Lodge is a private island paradise in the tropics of Belize. This conveniently located island haven is just 20 minutes away from the mainland. Take a monkey nature walk, visit ancient Mayan ruins, or enjoy activities such as diving and fishing.

http://ecotourism.gordonsguide.com/stgeorgescayelodge/index.cfm

And for those travelers wanting high-octane adventure, GordonsGuide.com offers Racing Schools, http://racing-schools.gordonsguide.com/. Here travelers seeking thrills and excitement will find the top, year-round racing schools in the country: Skip Barber Racing School, American Racing Academy, and Spring Mountain Advanced Driving School.

About Gordon’s Guide

10,000 Trips, 3,000 Destinations, 126 Countries - 1 Web Site

Founded in 1997, Gordon’s Guide - Adventure & Active Travel Worldwide is a leading publishing company based in Fresno, California. The company publishes highly regarded magazine-style travel guides and an award-winning Web site, http://www.GordonsGuide.com

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