Thursday, October 4, 2007

Ideas for Winter Vacations

When it comes to winter vacations, you have many options from which to choose. Some love to partake in winter activities like skiing or snowboarding during the winter months, while others like to get away from it all and head off for sunnier climes. No matter what you want to do, there are packages available for all types of winter vacations and shorter getaways. All you have to do is decide where you want to go, and then shop around for the best price.

When winter comes, many people get the winter blues, and winter vacations are often a great cure for this. Some people like to take vacations exclusively in the winter months because they know this is when they need it the most. Christmas is a popular time. Some like to visit family and sneak in a vacation all at the same time. This is a great time to do it if your job will allow you to take off during this hectic time.

January is another great time to take winter vacations. Usually many businesses slow down during this time, and it's easier to get time off. This is also a great time of year for winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and tubing. You may find great deals on winter vacation packages to any number of ski resorts throughout the northern part of the US. For many, this is their peak season, and they will offer deals to get you to come and enjoy their facilities.

You may also find great deals on tropical getaways. For many, winter vacations are when they take the time to visit the warmer parts of the world. They may just take a short trip to Florida or California, or they may go to the Caribbean. When it is cold in the US, it is summer in Australia. If you ever wanted to go visit Australia, this may be the perfect time to do so. Australian Christmas is warm, sunny, and usually celebrated with a barbeque. That may be the most memorable of all of your winter vacations if you choose to go.

Lastly, another good spot for winter vacations might be Europe. It is still cold over there, but there are far less people traveling. This will give you smaller crowds when seeing sights, and in most cases, a chance to find great deals on airfare and hotel reservations. Look for package deals, and talk with a travel agent about winter vacations if you aren't sure which way to go.

About Author:
Hans Hasselfors is the founder of http://www.submityournewarticle.com. Find more winter vacations info in our article directory. Please visit at: http://www.submityournewarticle.com.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Airfare Deals - Be Cautious!

Ah, there's nothing better than taking a vacation. Daydreaming about an island breeze seducing you into an afternoon nap or planning your hiking adventure, any concept of an escape is always welcome. Unlike some people, I absolutely love planning my vacations. I love finding information on different destinations and looking for those great hotel and airfare deals. The best hotel and airfare deals are usually found when purchasing a vacation package, but once in a while, you can get great discounts when purchasing separately.

The internet has tons of sites that will gladly help you find the airfare deals you are seeking. I have found and been very impressed with several sites because of their accuracy. I booked an amazing airfare deal through Orbitz last year, and saved more money than I would have otherwise. I can't tell you which travel sites are the best because I've compared many of them before and found that most of them are pretty much offering the same exact deal, just perhaps a few dollars different. In all honesty, my travel agent wasn't charging me much more than those sites were. Sure, it was maybe $20 more, but maybe that's worth the convenience of having the agent take care of all the details for you. I suppose it depends on your budget and need for someone else to take care of all the details.

My absolute favorite vacation was a trip to California. I live on the east coast so a trip to the west coast was very exciting. I spent an entire week comparing hotel prices and costs of entertainment. Once I had my destinations planned, I spent a few days researching airfare deals. It actually amazed me at how different each airline was with its cost. I did manage to find some great airfare deals online and took advantage of them.

A lot of resorts, such as Sandals, allow you to purchase a package with includes airfare and hotel accommodations. I've never taken the time to break down all of the costs and see which purchase is the best way to go, but in my opinion, instead of searching for amazing airline deals and hotel rates, go for the package. Let someone else take care of all of the details for you. That makes vacation planning much less stressful.

Be cautious of those amazing airfare deals that have lots of restrictions in fine print. Read all of those tiny words and make sure you aren't purchasing something that you don't really want. Sometimes you can get airfare deals that require many layovers or late night flights. I am personally fine with taking a night flight but can't stand layovers. Once I'm on a plane, don't make me move until I'm at my destination. If those restrictions don't bother you, you may find yourself getting some great money saving airfare deals. Whatever hotel you stay at or airline you choose, just make sure you have a wonderful vacation!

About Author:
Hans Hasselfors is the owner of http://www.submityournewarticle.com. To find the best free content for your website, ezine and blog, visit our article directory.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Looking for a good airline travel deal?

If you are a bit free spirited and adventurous, the chances are that you will be able to travel to many exciting destinations that you would not otherwise be able to afford. You can get airline travel deals to all kinds of exotic destinations all over the world, provided that you are a little bit flexible. My schedule has always provided me with the luxury to pick up and go when I want, but at the expense of a great deal of disposable income. It is one of those paradoxes that everyone is bound to run in to at some point in their life: those who have lots of time, have little money, while those who have little money have lots of time. Not having a lot of money, however, should not stop you from going anywhere that you want to go provided that you keep a good eye out for airline travel deals, and are at ease with last minute travel every now and again.

I have taken advantage of many airline travel deals in my life, which have let me go to places which would normally be out of my price range. I have gotten air ticket deals to Argentina, Portugal, Spain, and even Sweden. The only problem with these great airline travel deals is that they tend to come at the expense of convenience. They are often last minute travel deals, are occasionally carried by second or third string airlines, and do not always allow you to chose the destination that is at the top of your list. But all of that suits me fine. I am quite flexible about where I go, if you want to know. What matters most to me is to have the freedom to travel abroad and check out new places which I have never seen before. And airline travel deals let me do that just fine.

If you are looking for good airline travel deals, here is the advice that I have for you. It is easer to find out about the destinations of air ticket deals which are being offered and see if they are right for you then it is to wait for that one particular destination or other which you had your heart set on. After all, lets face it: there are places all over the world which are fun to explore, so why hold yourself back just because you are unfamiliar with this or that destination.

About Author:
This article was published by Hans Hasselfors. I hope you enjoyed this article. You may find more airline travel deals articles at: http://www.submityournewarticle.com.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Have you ever wondered about the unfairness of airline fares?

Each time I get into a flight I make it a point to ask my co passengers, at least those within hearing distance, what airline fares they paid for the privilege of traveling together. And each time to their surprise, and my glee, they have all provided different amounts. In one memorable case, the difference in that a man and his co-passenger in the next seat paid was vast enough to straddle a couple of hundred dollars. Which led to a very amusing fight that the cabin crew was hard pressed to break up.

But anyways, coming back to the topic of airline fares, they really are atrocious. I mean, I have booked my tickets at various times. When time has been on my side, I have made my bookings well in advance. And especially when it comes to business travel, I have often been forced to make my bookings at the last minute. Believe it or not, there are times when I have paid more expensive airline fares for my bookings at leisure than the airline fares I paid for my last minute rush. How do you explain that?

A friend in the airline industry then told me about how the system actually works. Usually an airline operator has a basic cost that they need to cover in order to make their trip profitable. This (which is very different from the airline fares we pay) is a low figure that includes fuel charges, service charges and salaries and equipment cost etc. The airline fares we pay are this base component, plus the profit margin of the airlines, plus the taxes and surcharges imposed by the airport and finally, the commissions charged by various tourist operators or booking agents.

Now the affordability of your airline fares depends almost entirely on the premium that your agent is going to charge you for. If it is someone whom you deal with on a fairly regular basis, he may decrease the commission you have to pay out. If it is someone you are dealing with for the first time, be prepared to pay through your nose. Be that as it may, try to bargain with your travel agent. If the trip is international and entails hotel bookings as well, ask them if they will cover your visa charges. If the trip is domestic, ask them if they can provide you with vouchers of any sort. These travel agents are usually a well connected lot and depending on your destination, they just might have the right deal to sweeten your airline fares!

About Author:
Hans Hasselfors is the owner of http://www.submityournewarticle.com. To find the best free content for your website, ezine and blog, visit our article directory.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory

Make your travel Happy, Healthy and Safe

This article addresses some of the key issues regarding travel. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about travel.

The travel season is upon this year, in spite of the superior expenditure of fuel, and us a record number of people will be on the move. Travelers will be bearing out for vacations at resorts and parks or at pleasant or healthy places, where they can just calm down and get away from it all for a while. If you're traveling this winter season, you know it's not all about sun, sand and umbrella drinks. The crowded airports and terminals can take a toll on your understanding and your immune system. Because winter travel takes place at the height of cold and flue season, to help reduce your chances of catching a bug on your commute, stay well hydrated, rested and stock up on vitamins.

If your travel facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don't let important travel information slip by you.

Before hitting the open road, there are certain safety precautions you need to take to make sure your trip will be a happy, healthy and safe one. Here are some travel safety tips. Most people only take their cars in for a mechanical check-up before a lengthy drive, but it's just as important to make sure you car is in the best condition possible for trips around town, particularly in the wintertime.

Regular safeguarding and prompt attention to a car's troubling behavior can keep you moving no matter where you may be headed. Most people only take their cars in for a mechanical check-up before a lengthy drive, but it's just as important to make sure you car is in the best condition possible for trips around town, particularly in the wintertime.

Standard maintenance and prompt attention to a car's disconcerting behavior can keep you moving no matter where you may be headed. Not only is it important to have a useable auxiliary tire, but the proper tools to change that auxiliary. If you don't think you can handle the job yourself, a membership in an automobile club is essential. If your health benefits do not cover out-of-network services or if you take a prescription drug, you may want to consider purchasing a short-term supplemental plan to cover these essentials at your holiday destination. If you're traveling with children, take a close look at their health benefits coverage. Since kids have developing immune systems and may be more likely to get sick, ensure they are covered for medical care and prescription drugs under your current health benefits. Below is a travel checklist to review before packing your child's bags. Ask your pediatrician to make a referral for a pediatrician at your travel destination.

Find the name and location of a children's hospital at your destination, print directions and carry them with you. Bring a list of your child's health history including any allergies and current medications. Though rumored to be expensive, especially on a fixed income, there are many plans that enable you to purchase the phone and a certain number of minutes, all for one low prices. Make sure you keep your phone charged and have an adapter for your car's cigarette lighter that will allow you an alternate source of power for your phone, should the battery die. Nobody can predict or prevent breakdowns all the time, but with proper continuation, you will be able to cut those chances significantly.

Now you can understand why there's a growing interest in travel. When people start looking for more information about happy, healthy and safe travel, you'll be in a position to meet their needs.

About Author:
About the Author:
Hans Hasselfors is the founder of http://www.SubmitYourNewArticle.com. You may find varied travel articles in our article directory.

Source: Arkilite.com Travel Free Articles Directory