A Six Star Luxury Experience / Radisson Cruises- Best Cruise Value
Radisson cruises come under the flagship of six star luxury cruises offering an opportunity to explore and discover three hundred ports on 6 continents, including Antarctica. All the luxury liners share the same style of accommodation, service, dining and amenities. Radisson Cruise has been twice chosen as the World’s best small Cruise line.
The passenger guests aboard the Radisson Cruise experience high standards of excellence in cruising and exciting discovery experiences across the globe. You are able to get some improvements, benefits or special events on a complimentary basis or at a minimal charges and some ‘extras’ with the cruise fares such as gratuities, non-alcoholic beverage all along your trip, wines at lunch and dinner, a wide liquor selection in the suite bar or a welcome wine or champagne upon embarkation. World Cruise and Cruise Liner Society has awarded the ‘Best Cruise Value’ Radisson Cruise for eleven consecutive years.
You can visit online to get information on the various destinations offered by the Radisson Cruise. During the summers, it is extremely popular to cruise to Alaska to enjoy its majesty and its wilderness. With Radisson, you experience a difference in cruising with its Seven Seas Mariner and all-suite all-balcony vessel sailing through Alaska. If you are interested to explore quaint fishing villages, colorful markets and ancient cultures - where you go fishing for marlin in Mazatlan, play snorkel in Cabo San Lucas or visit the Puerto Vallarta beaches, the Radisson Mexican Cruises provide excellent service.
Perhaps you would like to explore the idyllic islands of Tahiti with the Paul Ganguin ultra luxury cruise vessel with 320 guests aboard. The Paul Ganguin is equipped with doors, balconies and airy windows, appealing the tropical breeze. You can step off the sea-level water sports platform to experience a coral lagoon. Aboard this luxury vessel and discover the bewitching islands in fascination.
About The Author
Colin Hartness
Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com
‘What Cruises’ is published by Colin Hartness
- An excellent resource for Cruises!
November 9th, 2006
A family cruise is a perfect getaway with loads of fun and excitement for everybody. Whenever you have kids bored with the usual stuff amusement parks, theater and all and your spouse needs a change, plan a cruise. You will get addicted to it. Family cruise is a sure shot way to drive away boredom.
A movie to watch, a relaxing massage, snooker game…anything, you just name it. You have many activities to choose from, actually that is the most difficult part- to decide what to do. Family cruise is one of the healthiest entertaining ways to enjoy your vacation with your family and cherish the memories forever. You will find selective activities and tailor made services for all of you. You just need some planning.
Start planning your family cruises, by defining your budget. Once you know your budget look for cruises that fit into your budget. After short listing, the cruises look for the facilities and services they are offering along with the nature and types of activities suitable for children. You of course want them to enjoy the cruise so there should be sufficient provision to keep them happily occupied. If you have very young children, make sure cribs and babysitting facilities are available. While for a bit older children loads of activities like dancing classes, escorted tours, parties, games and contests are planned. Every cruise has its own bag of goodies for children. Keep your children’s age in mind when you re going through these activities.
Some family cruises do not allow infants or pregnant women onboard. Check at the time of booking whether infant care and baby-sitting facilities are available or not. Keep ample stock of the things your baby might need like baby food, diapers, as you might not find them onboard.
While embarking on a family cruise, make sure there are proper medical facilities are available for emergencies. Also, make enquiries about fees for cancellation or changing dates for the trip, in case any such need arises. It is better to check latest information about the cruise schedule on the cruise’s website. A weeklong cruise is perfect for families and you are sure to find more families joining the fun.
One of the popular family cruises is a Disney cruise. With many special facilities and fun filled activities to occupy young and old alike, Disney cruise is a perfect setting for fun, fun and more fun. You have a club and lab for kids, Flounder’s reef nursery for your babies, a coffeehouse, specially designed programs in filmmaking and photography plus interesting teen outings along with live shows.
Another interesting family cruise is the carnival cruise with its special fun ships. The fun ships have special entertainers, Karaoke parties, teen makeovers and art & photography classes, water slides, ship tours for children etc. There are special camp carnivals for different age groups. There are specially designed virtual reality machines in the entertainment complex along with disco and video arcade. There is a playroom with loads of toys and electronic games.
Family cruises are joyous occasions for the family where they can spend some quality time with one another. Simply put, are great places to unwind and enjoy
About The Author
Colin Hartness
Looking for information about cruises?
Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com
‘What Cruises’ is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Cruises!
Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive
November 9th, 2006
Locating the best airline prices on discount airfare just got easier. It used to be a cumbersome, time consuming task to buy your airline tickets, but not anymore. The ball really has shifted into the court of the traveler. No need to contact a travel agent and wait for them to get back to you. Today, you decide where and when you want to go, enter a few keystrokes into your computer and, like magic, all the information on airline prices on discount airfare and decision-making tools are at your fingertips.
Do you want to find the best airline prices on discount airfare for travel to Las Vegas? No problem, a few minutes on the computer and you’ll be all set. Do you want to locate a company that offers streamlined airline prices on discount airfare to Cancun? Simply enter your destination, when you want to travel and your set.
All the information you need for cheap airline prices on discount airfare is on the internet.
These are amazing times we live in. Take advantage of the power of computers to find the best airline prices on discount airfare with offers far below what you could have found just a few years ago. Remember that when shopping for discount airline prices on discount airfare online you should know when you want to leave and how long you plan to be gone. Simply type in your time of travel and very quickly you’ll receive back the answer you need.
About The Author
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.a1-travel-4u.com/productpage/cheaptickets.html
November 6th, 2006
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences with family and friends. Here are a few suggestions to help you capture vacation memories you will treasure for years to come.
PLAN AHEAD
Make sure your digital camera is in good working order before you go, and keep it in a water- and shock-resistant case. Bring two sets of rechargeable batteries and don’t forget the charger and relevant cords. Make sure your camera has enough memory. Packing an extra memory card is wise, as there is nothing worse than running out of room for pictures halfway down the Grand Canyon. It may be tempting to lower the resolution so you can store more pictures, but you will regret this later as it may result in poorer quality prints, or you will be limited to smaller size prints. Set your camera at its highest quality JPEG setting and get more memory if you have to. You will appreciate this when you’re viewing and printing your photos after your trip.
TAKE LOTS AND LOTS OF PICTURES.
With a digital camera you can always erase the photos you don’t want. Take pictures of anything you find interesting and try to focus on some of the details such as an attractive doorway or a colorful market, not just panoramic scenes or major landmarks. Let your pictures tell a story by creating a visual diary of your trip. Include street scenes, interesting signs, people you see along the way. For variety take both vertical and horizontal pictures.
READY FOR YOUR CLOSE-UP?
When taking people shots, don’t make the mistake of standing too far away. You want to be able to recognize the people in your photos. Get close enough so you can see the expressions on your subjects faces. Zoom in on individuals or capture them from the waist up. Pictures are often more interesting when you can catch people at candid, un-posed moments. In posed photos, try to incorporate some of the background into your shot. Try snapping from interesting angles rather than simply head-on.
USE YOUR FLASH
When photographing in bright sunlight, setting your camera’s “fill” or “forced” flash is very helpful, particularly when photographing people. Brilliant sunlight often makes people’s faces look harsh, casting dark shadows under the eyes and accentuating wrinkles. The daytime fill-in flash will soften the lighting and make the images more flattering. Your family and friends in the photos will thank you!
EDIT AND ENHANCE YOUR FAVORITE SHOTS
When you get home you can edit, crop and enhance your favorites using photo editing software such as Foto Finish, Ulead or Photoshop Elements. Consider adding drama to your images by turning some of your color photos into black and white or sepia tones and then upload all your images to an online photo printing service like Ofoto or Shutterfly for fast and convenient prints. You can take your best snaps and use your photo editing software to create a photo calendar or make photo cards for personal notes, or to email your favorites to family and friends.
Most of all have fun with your camera!
About The Author
Valerie Goettsch publishes the digital photography website http://www.digitalphotos101.com featuring reviews of photo editing and album software and digital photo printing services.
November 5th, 2006
What to expect upon arriving in Jamaica and at your Sandals Resort
When your plane touches down at Sangster International Airport in Jamaica you will have to get your bags and then clear customs. Once through customs there will be many people wanting to help you with your bags etc. I’d suggest just getting your own stuff over to the Sandals Tour desk. Here you’ll find a Sandals rep who will put stickers on your bags so they know which Sandals resort they should go to. A skycap in the red had will then load your bags and take them to the bus. Keep in mind these are not Sandals employees and they will expect a tip. I believe $2.00 USD per bag is customary. If you don’t want to tip, I’d suggest being upfront that you’ll take your own bags. Being that Jamaicans are very good hosts they will likely tell you to not worry and try and carry your stuff anyway. My advice is go with it and enjoy your vacation.
Once at your bus you will likely have to wait a bit for others to board etc. I’d suggest wandering down the parking lot and getting a couple Red Stripes. Whether headed to Negril or Ocho Rios you’re in for a long ride and you’ll feel better if your refreshed. You can even drink your strips on the bus.
If your headed to Negril expect a total trip time of 1.5 hours. You’ll stop at the Apple bar for Red Stripes and a potty break. Again just go with it, don’t be that guy on the bus complaining because we stopped.
If your headed to Dunn’s River or Ocho Rios you have a longer ride. Because the road is still under construction expect a two hour ride with the customary stop for drinks and jerk chicken.
At the resort you’ll be seated in the lobby. Men will be instructed to hang back to ensure all bags are accounted for. I’d suggest in advance making sure your man knows what your bags look like. (I didn’t) I just expected my wife to watch hers and I’d watch mine. When all bags are accounted for your man will join you in the lobby. Sometimes you will receive a damp towel and most times a glass of champagne. In Negril I like to hit the bar and get a real drink as its just steps from the lobby.
Soon after a host will collect your travel papers and return with a bag full of aloe lotion and suntan lotion as well as you room key. From here a bell hop will take your bags and you to the room. If you have any objections to your room now is the time to voice them. In our case our bell hop called the desk and we had a new room immediately.
From here, I’d suggest a drink and a walk around the resort. If your in time for the orientation get right in there it will help you get adjusted to what happens when. If not then try to hit that the next day. I know it sounds dumb but we would have been up to speed immediately had we gone our first visit.
About The Author
John Gall is a full time IT Manager and IT Consultant in Minnesota. He runs several websites as a hobby featuring content similar to that in this article.
November 5th, 2006
by: Marcia Passos Duffy
I lived in the suburbs of New York City almost all my life and it was only when I was in my 20’s and working on 5th Avenue when I finally went to the top of the Empire State Building. It took me almost two decades as well to ice-skate at Rockefeller Center, browse the Museum of Natural History, and see a Broadway play.
Now living in New England I still tend to overlook the tourist attractions in my own backyard. It took us eight years after we moved to Keene, NH before we climbed the “most-climbed mountain in the world,” Mt. Monadnock, just a 15 minute drive from our house.
I once read a magazine article about a family that took a week-long vacation in their own hometown. They visited museums, ate out every night, and basically took in their surroundings with the new eyes of visitors. I didn’t have a week – but a few hours I did have. So when my neighbor suggested that we become tourists for a day in Keene I jumped at the chance. My neighbor and I planned a simple late morning excursion with our kids on the Keene trolley.
I have never been on the Keene trolley. I see it motoring around town every time I leave my house to run errands. It looks sweet, touristy, and fun. The windows are rolled all the way up in the warm weather. The seats are wood. The pick-up spot was a five minute walk from the house, so we all walked down to our local Hannaford’s to wait for the 11:35 a.m. trolley.
Why it seemed so exciting is beyond me. I knew where the trolley went and I’ve seen all those spots a thousand times. I knew our final destination was a mere one mile from our house. But somehow, shedding the car and climbing aboard the trolley made it all different. And the kids actually cheered (the younger ones) when the trolley made the turn into the parking lot.
I want to say it was a pleasant ride and wax philosophical about the wind blowing through my hair and seeing the familiar scenes through different eyes. And I would if my 6-year son had not had an intense attack of vertigo which made him exclaim (uh, shout) that the trolley was going to tip over with all of us in it with each turn the driver took. He insisted on sitting up front, where the windows were closed, with me glued to his side; I spent the entire 20 minutes of the ride trying reassure him that this was not a doomsday ride.
But hey, those are the chances you take traveling with children, even if it’s in your own backyard. The ride took us the “long way” past the hospital, toward downtown. “It takes a lot longer to get the Colony Mill on the trolley,” my son said when we finally got off, relieved to be on solid ground (the driver I’m sure was even more relieved).
The Colony Mill Marketplace is the Keene, NH version of a “mall,” – it is actually a renovated mill originally built in 1838 to produce wool garments, including uniforms for the Union troops during the Civil War and the Allied forces during the World World Wars I and II. And it housed scores of civilian companies and families until it closed its doors in 1953. It was completely transformed three decades later into a regional marketplace.
Today it houses quaint shops like Dilly’s for Kids, Mill Toy Works (my son’s favorite), Pocketful of Rye, Toadstool Bookshop (this is my favorite bookstore – no Borders for me!) and True Necessities (my daughter’s favorite). My kids, with their pockets jingling with birthday money from grandparents, made some modest but happy purchases – a few shorts and a shirt for my 12-year old daughter; a strap-to-the-head flashlight and a pull- back toy car for my son.
We had lunch at the mall’s atrium — unlike your typical “mall” setting in both food and atmosphere. Sometimes they even have live piano music. Homemade artichoke soup from Kristin’s Bakery, croissants stuffed with spinach and cheese; the other choice at the Marketplace is Chinese food and I ordered a plate of dumplings for us to share. It was good, satisfying; not a French fry or double cheeseburger to be seen yet all four kids ate heartily (maybe it was the thrilling trolley ride that made them so hungry.)
Our trip ended at another adjacent historic “mall” next door called The Center at Keene, originally a scenic railroad station in the 1800’s that now houses several retail shops and a really good ice cream shop, Rick’s Gourmet Ice Cream. We ate our ice cream outside (I had chocolate custard with chocolate sprinkles – yum!). While we were enjoying our ice cream, we suddenly saw the return trolley go by. “Oh well,” my son said, “we can walk.” And we did — bundles in hand — on the bicycle path.
My friend and I looked at each other, pleased with the day. It was already past 2 p.m. “It wouldn’t have been the same if we took our cars,” she said. And I agree. There is really something special about being a tourist in your own hometown.
About The Author
Marcia Passos Duffy is the publisher and editor of The Heart of New England online magazine and weekly newsletter, which celebrates the unique character of the northern New England states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. To subscribe to her free weekly newsletter send a blank email to heartofnewengland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
editor@theheartofnewengland.com
November 5th, 2006
So you’re headed to Orlando… but where to start? You’ll find such a wealth of fantastic resorts and restaurants it can be difficult to choose exactly what you wish to indulge in. How best can you plan a visit in which each day comes with the finest this marvelous vacation spot has to offer? In order to help you in making the overwhelming decisions of where to stay and what places to dine, here are what I believe to be Orlando’s best offerings:
Best Deluxe Resort
On Disney property it’s the Grand Floridian with its upscale Victorian atmosphere and lagoonside setting facing the Magic Kingdom. Off-property, hands-down, it’s the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes where you may never even feel the need to leave the property. At Universal, go for the Portofino Bay Hotel with its unsurpassed ambience of an Italian seaside resort.
Best Resort Pool
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay, a 3-acre mini water park
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin’s lush grotto-style lagoon pool
The Volcano Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort with its luxuriant waterfall, smoking peak, and perfect view of Cinderella’s Castle
The boulder-strewn wonderland at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with its very own erupting geyser
The lush fantasyland pool at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress cooled by twelve waterfalls
Best Home-Away-From-Home Property
The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with its Bay Lake frontage and national park character or Disney’s Beach Club Villas conveniently located next door to Epcot.
Best Resort Atmosphere
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge where hundreds of animals roam the savanna and the air is pulsating to the beat of African drums. Running a close second is Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel where guests are transported to a romantic, seaside Italian village.
Best Resort Lobby
How to choose? Three of Disney’s resorts make the cut: the Wilderness Lodge, the Grand Floridian, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge, all eye-popping in their grandeur.
Best Access To The Parks
The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian with monorail access to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Ticket and Transportation Center. At Universal, the Hard Rock Hotel is just a 5-minute walk or boat ride away to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk.
Best Resort For Romance
Disney’s Polynesian Resort whose lush tiki torch-lit grounds and white-sand beaches with views of Cinderella’s Castle are simply dreamy or Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel where an evening stroll along the bay with Italian arias playing in the distance can’t be beat.
Best Resort For Nature-Lovers
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a nature-lover’s dream of rushing waterfalls, spouting geysers, and bubbly creeks, all surrounded by stately pine trees and beautiful Bay Lake.
Best Resort Lounges
California Grill Lounge found on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort with unrivaled views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon, great for cocktails, sushi, and a view of the Wishes fireworks display.
Disney’s Grand Floridian’s lobby. Pick up a cocktail at Mizner’s, then head down to this magnificent oasis to relax in the cushy seating while listening to the sounds of a big band orchestra or live piano music.
Tambu Lounge at Disney’s Polynesian Resort’s Great Ceremonial House. Sip on tropical drinks amid lush foliage and views of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Territory Lounge, a rustic retreat in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
bluezoo’s bar at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, the coolest place around.
Velvet, the ultra-hip cocktail lounge at Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel.
Bar America, Portofino Bay Hotel’s sophisticated lounge overlooking the romantic piazza.
Top of the Palace Lounge, a sophisticated bar with the best views around high atop the Wyndham Palace Resort near Downtown Disney.
Best Italian
Palio at the Walt Disney World Swan where the Tortellini con Aragosta topped with enormous amounts of lobster is amazing, or Portobello Yacht Club at Downtown Disney for a fantastic, thin-crusted pizza followed by the Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, crimini mushrooms, plum tomatoes, black olives, and escarole.
Best Seafood
Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk for Potato Wrapped Red Snapper with creamy leek fondue and red wine reduction, or the newcomer on the block, Todd English’s bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, where seafood is taken to new heights. Off Disney property it’s got to be Roy’s on Sand Lake Road near Universal for Roy Yamaguchi’s remarkable Hawaiian Fusion cuisine.
Best Steaks
Shula’s at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, a standout for sensational Angus beef steaks cooked to perfection, or Vito’s Chop House on International Drive for the filet mignon stuffed with gorgonzola.
Best Restaurant For Romance
Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian, the only AAA 5-Diamond restaurant in Central Florida. Here you’ll savor a sumptuous six-course meal served on elegant fine china to the accompaniment of enchanting harp music. Or try Delfino Riviera at Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel whose breeze-swept terrace overlooks the resort’s picturesque bay and piazza. And I can’t forget Norman’s at the Ritz Carlton for fine dining in plush surroundings all enveloped in the grandeur of an amazing resort.
Best Restaurant For Kids
Children love the Rainforest Café at the Animal Kingdom or Downtown Disney where they’re bombarded with thunderstorms and noisy audio-animatronic wildlife. A close runner up is Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge; come prepared for plenty of hoopin’ and hollerin’ and please, whatever you do, don’t ask for the ketchup unless, that is, you like a lot of attention.
Best Character Meal
Cinderella’s Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom, a chance to feast in a fairytale castle with Cinderella, Jasmine, Aladdin, Belle, and Snow White. Or try the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom for a tasty, bountiful buffet hosted by Winnie the Pooh and his friends.
Best Hip Atmosphere
Todd English’s bluezoo at the Dolphin, the coolest spot this side of South Beach, or Tchoup Chop at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort, a knock-em-dead, Asian-inspired beauty.
Best Disney View
Arthur’s 27 at the Wyndham Palace whose drop-dead setting is only topped by its creative cuisine, or California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort with its picture-perfect views of the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and the Wishes fireworks presentation.
Best Disney Resort Restaurant
Tough call. My favorites are the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort (just about anything on their exceptional menu is fantastic), Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian (particularly the Chef’s Table where Chef Scott Hunnel oversees an 11-course meal designed especially for you), and Todd English’s bluezoo at the Dolphin (try the miso glazed Chilean sea bass with warm sesame spinach).
Best Universal Resort Restaurant
Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific Resort. Wonderful Asian and Polynesian-influenced cuisine in a stunning setting of bamboo, waterfalls, and a lotus-filled reflecting pool. Share the Crunchy Shrimp with butter lettuce leaves and hot & sour chili glaze, move on to the Firecracker Fresh Fish served with papaya-serrano salsa, Asian pesto drizzle, and coconut-lemongrass sauce, and finish with a slice of Banana Cream Pie topped with caramel sauce and chocolate shavings.
Best Downtown Disney Restaurant
Wolfgang Puck’s Upstairs Dining Room for dishes like Szechuan marinated “Chinois” lamb rack served with a spicy cilantro-mint sauce or the restaurant’s exceptionally great Wienerschnitzel.
Best Epcot Illuminations View
Rose and Crown in World Showcase’s United Kingdom. Set your priority seating for about one hour prior to show time and pray for a table with a good view.
Best Milkshake
Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort serves oh-so-delicious thick shakes and malts in a frosty fountain glass with the extras on the side in the stainless steel shaker.
Best Pizza
You can’t beat the pizzas at Downtown Disney’s Wolfgang Puck Cafe (choose the BLTA with applewood-smoked bacon, mozzarella, roma and sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, and chopped romaine), Downtown Disney’s Portobello Yacht Club (thin-crusted and smokey flavored), or Mama Melrose’s at Disney-MGM Studios (don’t miss the grilled chicken pizza with sun-dried tomato pesto, pancetta, and asiago cheese).
Best Breakfast
Spoodles at Disney’s Boardwalk. I love the Egg Rotollo, scrambled eggs with chorizo, onions, peppers, and cheddar cheese rolled in Lavosh (flatbread) and served with breakfast potatoes and marinated tomatoes.
I could go on and on but I’ll restrain myself and stop here. There’s a world of resorts and restaurants just waiting to be explored. And you’ll never even have to leave Orlando to find it!
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.com.
info@luxurydisney.com
November 5th, 2006
Can teens really have fun at a place like Walt Disney World? Absolutely! Actually, be prepared to have the time of your life. It’s a safe place to assert some independence from your parents, a place you’ll never forget. Here are some of the best experiences for teens at “The Most Magical Place on Earth”:
Have a Splashing Good Time at Disney’s Water Parks
For a blast of a time, head to one of Disney’s two water parks. Blizzard Beach has a melting alpine resort theme where chairlifts carry swimmers instead of skiers. It’s a place for daredevils to challenge wild, rushing water and death-defying slides including the Summit Plummet, a 120-foot slide reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour. Those a bit less adventuresome will love Typhoon Lagoon, a tropical fantasyland offering a wave pool with the tallest simulated waves in the world as well as a chance to snorkel among tropical fish, leopard and nurse sharks, and picturesque coral at Shark Reef.
Live it Up at Downtown Disney
After the parks close hop a bus from your Disney resort for a night on the town at Downtown Disney. Highlights include Disney Quest with five floors of interactive games, a 24-screen AMC Theater, a Cirque du Soleil show, and over 60 shops and restaurants. Favorite dining choices for the younger crowd are Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Café. And definitely consider House of Blues where teens are allowed to attend some of the almost daily concerts in their live music venue next-door.
Cool Off at One of Disney’s Resort Pools
When your parents are wondering which resort to book for your Disney vacation, be sure and put your two cents in and steer them toward one with a great pool. Disney’s very best uniquely themed pools include the Yacht and Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay, a 3-acre mini-water park, the Swan and Dolphin’s lush, grotto-style lagoon pool, the boulder-strewn wonderland at the Wilderness Lodge with its very own erupting geyser, and the Volcano Pool at the Polynesian Resort with its luxuriant waterfall, smoking peak, and perfect views of Cinderella’s Castle.
Plan Some Watersport Fun
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the place for water-ski, parasail, wakeboard, kneeboard, and jet-ski action under the guidance of a professional instructor. There’s nothing better than a bird’s-eye-view of the Magic Kingdom as you parasail high above the Seven Seas Lagoon. And the action down below on Bay Lake is a blast! For reservations call 407-WDW-PLAY up to 90 days in advance, and be sure to bring a parent along to sign a waiver to participate if you’re under age 18.
Pilot Your Own Boat
What could be more fun than renting a Sea Raycer, a 2-seater mini-power boat perfect for zipping around Disney’s waterways and lakes. It’s a great pastime for teens with a valid driver’s license (those under 18 must bring along a parent to sign a waiver). You’ll get the most bang for your buck at one of the resorts near the Magic Kingdom (the Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, or Wilderness Lodge) where you’ll find miles of recreation on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.
Scuba and Snorkel at Epcot’s Living Seas
Scuba dive or snorkel in The Living Seas 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium amid a variety of sharks, rays, fish, and turtles. Epcot’s DiveQuest Program along with the Seas Aqua Tour using a Scuba Assisted Snorkel unit (snorkelers swim on the surface with a built-in flotation device while breathing compressed air from a regulator attached to a small tank) are two of the most exciting behind-the-scenes tours offered in all of Walt Disney World. Dives include all equipment, but be sure to bring a bathing suit. DiveQuest is open to certified divers, but those ages 14 and under need to dive along with a parent or guardian. The Seas Aqua Tour is open to participants under age 18 as long as they are accompanied by a participating adult. Call 407-WDW-TOUR for reservations.
Surf’s Up at Typhoon Lagoon
“Hang 10″ before park opening hours in the 2.75-million-gallon wave pool (some waves as high as 6 feet tall!) under the guidance of professional instructors with surfboards provided. Guests must furnish their own transportation to the park since Disney buses are not up and running that early in the morning, and those under age 18 must have a signed waiver from their parents to participate. Call 407-WDW-PLAY for reservations up to 90 days in advance.
White-Knuckle Riding at Richard Petty Driving Experience
Lying next to the Magic Kingdom is this speedway where white-knuckle rides in a NASCAR Winston Cup–style race car are offered. If you are at least 16 you can participate in the Ride-Along Program where you’ll ride shotgun at speeds of up to 145 mph for three laps around the track with an experienced instructor (riders 16 or 17 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). Even more exciting, those ages 18 and older can drive the car themselves after an introductory class. If you just want to observe you can do so for no charge. Call 800-BE-PETTY for advance reservations.
Head for a Theme Parks
Last but certainly not least are the theme parks. If you’re staying on Disney property it’s a cinch to board a monorail or a Disney bus and head out to the parks on your own.
At the Magic Kingdom you’ll find all the old nostalgic favorites like Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. And don’t forget to head straight to Splash Mountain, an unforgettable ride that ends in a plunge over a 5-story waterfall! Epcot’s main attractions for fun-loving teens are Mission Space, a hair-raising rocket into space, and Test Track where you’ll speed through hairpin turns and then barrel outside onto a high-speed banking loop at over 60 mph. At Disney-MGM Studios you’ll be floored by Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, both a thrill a minute. Then there’s the Animal Kingdom where a trip around the African savanna at Kilimanjaro Safaris and back in time 65 million years at Dinosaur are quite the adventure.
Super thrill seekers should plan a day at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure where attractions like the Incredible Hulk Coaster, Dueling Dragons, and The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman will leave your heart pounding.
So do you still think Disney is just for kids? I bet you can’t wait to pack your bags. And don’t forget to thank your parents on your return home for taking you to one of the most exciting places on the planet.
About The Author
Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World: How to Get the Most Out of the Best Disney Has to Offer available at 800-247-6553, www.luxurydisneyguide.com, Amazon.com, or your local bookstore. Visit her at www.luxurydisneyguide.com.
info@luxurydisney.com
November 5th, 2006
Run Out Of Holiday Ideas?
Have a basic understanding of French?
Then plan a get-away to destinations you’d not normally consider and…
Go Where The French Go!
You’ll first need to get yourself to France, which is best done from where you are…
But why not start your holidays with a week visiting the vineyards of Bordeaux, the chateaux of the Loire or the hinterland of the Côte d’Azur. Staying in a “gîte rural”, a homestay.
But before leaving for France, use one of the principal French travel sites to book a package in the sun, or whatever you feel like… (you’ll need some French to do so…)
For flights, packages and everything else, the big three are:
Opodo, http://www.the-process-improver.com/OpodoVols
Anyway, http://www.the-process-improver.com/AnywaySejours
Promo-Vacances, http://www.the-process-improver.com/PromoVacances
Opodo is owned by nine of Europe’s leading airlines: Aer Lingus, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa and by GDS and travel technology provider, Amadeus. So they’re pretty solid.
Anyway is powered by Expedia, well known in the North American market, and owned by IAC Travel which also owns Interval International, TV Travel Shop, Hotels.com.
Both these will provide you with the usual 450-500 airlines, 40-50000 hotels, etc, etc. And tend to fly out of Paris Charles de Gaulle or Paris Orly Sud.
Promo-Vacances is the best for Séjours (packages). And they’re owned by Karavel, an interesting alternative to the large on-line agencies. They were started by 10 travel directors, have an office in Paris and their CEO is the past-CEO of Air France. So they too are solid…
Why French Travel Sites?
Consider this…
The French have a highly developed travel industry
To match their highly developed sense of vacation… Why?
Because they have time for affordable activities.
Why’s that?
From the UBS Prices and Earnings Survey, they have the lowest pay but the most paid holidays and work the shortest hours. How so? You ask…
Well, in Paris, the average worker works less than 1600 hours per year and has 28 paid days holiday. In Toronto, she works over 1950 hours per year and takes less than 12 days paid holidays.
In London, the figures are just over 1800 hours per year worked and 22 holiday days paid. In New York, your average worker puts in close to 1900 hours per year and takes just 13 days paid holidays for his efforts.
Using the Big Mac index (from UBS), a Parisian must work for 19 minutes to buy a Big Mac, a Torontan (or is that Torontonite?), 13. In London, it’s 18 minutes and New York, 12.
So, if you’re stuck for ideas for affordable holidays…
Go Where The French Go!
And the French holiday “en famille” so all their destinations are family friendly…
About The Author
Stephen Hay has lived in France for a few years and now lives in New Zealand with his French wife and children. He runs a business catering to home-based and small businesses but misses the French approach to holidays, though not necessarily in France. Hence the article, and the link: http://the-process-improver.com/GoWhereTheFrenchGo
November 5th, 2006
by: David Leonhardt
Ever since I began working for that Florida vacation rentals website, I have been plagued by recurring nightmares. I am haunted at night by the spirits of hotel rooms past.
There was a time when I traveled quite a bit on business. Thankfully, I don’t hotels hop any more. But at night I float off to a hotel room far away in time…
The day’s work done, I phoned home to check up on the kids. It seems there was a shouting match going on in my absence. It sounded like Pandemonium was winning, but Total Bedlam was making some noise, too.
“Can you just quiet down a bit,” I said into the phone.
“YOU shut up,” I heard the man in the next room growl.
I chose to ignore him. “Come on guys. Can’t you just stop fighting for a minute?”
“I’ll show you what fighting means” I heard through the wall.
“Geeze. I can’t even here myself think,” I complained into the phone.
“Hey! I’ve had just about enough of you,” the guy on the other side of the wall screamed.
Suddenly I got very scared. I pictured a burly, six-foot-two weightlifter smashing his fist through the wall. I hung up the phone, wondering how thin the walls were.
Nothing happened. No fist. No smashed wall. No burly, six-foot-two weightlifter.
I decided to go downstairs for a stress-relief stroll. As I was closing my door, the man from the next room emerged.
Fortunately, he was no weightlifter.
I was about to ask him why he had shouted at me through the wall while I was trying to discipline my kids, when he called to me, “Hey you. I was on the phone with my wife. Why did you have to heckle me?”
All of a sudden, I knew how thin the walls were.
In fact, I discovered that hotel walls come in two thicknesses:
If you’re lucky, you get “Turn down the volume on your TV!” walls. If you are less fortunate, you get “Turn down the brightness on your TV!” walls.
Fortunately, hotel rooms are immaculately clean. It’s true. The sign says so. Just as long as you don’t look under the mattress to find a 1976 copy of Businessweek Magazine and theatre tickets to a 1982 showing of The Music Man.
I don’t know why hotels pretend to be so spotless. All that junk under the bed could be used as a marketing tool. “Stay at the Hilltop Hilton and join in our under-mattress-scavenger-hunt.”
If the hotels don’t catch on, sooner or later the motels will. They can turn anything into a sales pitch. Like, for example, “Color TV” (Ooooooohh.). And “Outdoor Pool” (I think the “outdoor” feature is a nice added touch, don’t you?) And how about “Free Parking” (which is really a way of saying, “You don’t have to park your car in your room.”).
What worries me most about hotels is what they keep in the drawers. Did you ever notice there is always a bible in the drawer? Why?
When you buy a car, there is no bible in the glove compartment, although the road is where you need prayers the most.
When you dig for the prize at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box, it’s never a bible.
Even in hospitals, where a prayer might be all you have left, there is no bible in the drawer.
Only in hotels and on death row do bibles come as standard equipment.
And why just the Bible? I have had plenty of spare time to search for Torahs and Korans in hotel rooms, and I have never found any. Do Jews and Muslims not stay in hotels? What do they know that I don’t?
Fortunately, I don’t have to stay in hotels anymore. I don’t have to endure shadow-puppet shows from the guy on the other side of the wall. I don’t have to keep from reading over his shoulder. I don’t have worry about what he ate for dinner.
And I don’t have to listen to his snoring. I can enjoy my own nightmares in peace.
November 5th, 2006
Most people envision Las Vegas as one big casino. Admittedly I was one of them, until I undertook the ride of a lifetime. Imagine soaring hundreds of feet above canyons of red and orange, walking over rocks that been sculpted by mother nature herself and floating down a river of dreams. These are the images that I will carry with me forever when I think of Las Vegas, Nevada.
After taking a break from about twelve hours of straight gambling, my father and I looked at each other and thought there must be more to Vegas than jangling slot machines and endless booze. So we asked our friendly concierge, at the Mandalay Bay Resort, for some suggestions and he arranged for the champagne lunch helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon.
Wonderful we thought, it looked good in the movies, might as well give it a shot. Neither of us was prepared for the adventure that we were about to take.
The helicopter company sent a limo to pick us up at the hotel. The ride lasted about five minutes then we were dropped off at the helicopter launch. Fellow passengers from all over the world chatted and waited for our journey to begin.
Moments later we took off for one of the waiting helicopters, with our pilot leading the way. Attractive and intelligent, in a boy next door kind of way, he quickly showed us how father and I ended up in a helicopter of our own because several of the other passengers decided to just fly over the canyon. The tour we chose actually had us landing on the bottom.
We soared for about a half an hour over a canvas which included every color imaginable painted by dessert, mountains and the Colorado river. Within thirty minutes of smooth flying we were over the canyon and able to see the landing pad, set in the middle of tumbleweed, mountains and cacti. As we disembarked the pilot helped us climb down the stone and dirt pathway to a little boat dock, where we met a family from Britain that would be our companions on our champagne lunch down the Colorado river.
The boat captain was a tiny oriental man with sparkling eyes and a rich sense of humor. He handed out our picnic baskets and regaled us with stories of how the Grand Canyon was created. He also had the sense to stop periodically and help us get the most amazing shots of the canyon. He seemed to know every rock and ridge and was able to point out eagles and faces carved into the rock by millions of years of erosion.
At the end of our Las Vegas helicopter tour we flew back to the original launch and took our limo back to the hotel, content, awestruck and absolutely certain that we would return to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and our Las Vegas helicopter tour.
November 5th, 2006
All Inclusive Vacations and discount airfare can be your best choice for a pampered vacation.
Imagine choosing from several all inclusive vacations and discount airfare where everything is taken care of for you. Once you board the airplane you’ll be pampered and cared for as you start the most wonderful trip of your life. That’s because when you choose from one of many all inclusive vacations and discount airfare, you’ll find that to the staff and professionals who attend to your every need, you’re the most important person on that trip.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, a honeymoon or the perfect family vacation, you’ll find that choosing from the many all inclusive vacations and discount airfare that are available will be just what you need to settle down and relax.
all inclusive vacations and discount airfare can take you anywhere in the World.
Whether you’re looking for white, sandy beaches in Hawaii or warm, tropical breezes as you travel Mexico, you’ll find that purchasing a package that includes your airfare, hotel and sightseeing, is the easy, affordable, and fun way to forget about everything and simply enjoy.
With so many all inclusive vacations and discount airfare to choose from, it’s important that when planning your vacation you take the time to consider where and when you want to travel. Winter time can be especially dreary if you live in a cold, wet climate. Why not get away from it all for a few weeks and soak up some sun, surf and sand with a vacation that includes it all.
November 5th, 2006
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