Tag: vacation

Call of the Wild: Best Safari Vacations

Tanzania. Deep into the heart of Africa, lies the great plains of the Serengeti, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. This is where herds of animals run free in an untamed wilderness and predators hunt for their prey. Serengeti comes from the Masai word “Siringit” meaning “the place where the land runs on forever.” The flat grassy plains which make up about a third of the park along with the savannahs, ensure that the area is jam-packed full with plains game.

The Serengeti is well known for the wildebeest migration. Every year two million animals move clockwise around this 14,763 sq km ecosystem in search of grazing and water, followed closely by predators.

Spend your days and nights among the lions, elephants, cheetahs, impala, hyena and warthogs in a land abundant with wildlife. Sit besides a campfire, under an African sky lit brightly with millions of stars. Experience Africa, a world left unchanged by time. Explore the exotic, historic and most beautiful places in world. Enjoy astounding sunsets, mystifying landscapes and the hospitable, open-hearted people.

Come to Kenya and begin your own great adventure. Travel as an observer or become an active participant with boundless opportunities to observe natural wonders and exotic wildlife. Explore celebrated archaeological sites and important antiquities and enjoy serene waterways and magnificent architecture.

Kenya has been described as having everything that is beautiful in Africa, from the scenic immensity of the rolling savannas to the desert regions of the north, the glaciated peaks of Mount Kenya to the white coral beaches and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Special holidays of all kinds are also catered for- from Camel Safaris in Samburu land, through walking safaris for ornithologists, to mountaineering on snow-capped Mt. Kenya; and from golfing to big game fishing.

Visit the Maasai Mara, widely recognized as the finest reserve in the country, where thousands of Zebra and Wildebeest migrate to during the months of July and August, thus providing an endless banquet for the larger predators. Maasai Mara is an unforgettable spectacle for visitors.
Throughout the country, distinctive environments are home to diverse ethnic groups and an equally broad range of wildlife. In the North, home of the Samburu people, the waters attract a plentiful array of wildlife.

Kenya’s coast offers tantalizing attractions. Lamu Island offers white sand beaches with archaeological sites that open a window on pre-colonial African history. While Malindi provides plenty of fishing, surfing and snorkeling.

Going on Safari doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to rough it under canvas tents, you can choose from hotels, game lodges, tree hotels, and self-catering chalets in the most dramatic surroundings. All of these selections also offer amenities such as rest rooms, clean beds and fine dining. Fast modern roads link one natural wonder to another. Most parks and reserves are easily accessible for big game viewing. Enjoy a cosmopolitan meal and Kenyan beers and wines, which have competed with the worlds best in winning gold medals for excellence.

Transportation is available for hire, cars, motor coaches and luxury minibuses, from scheduled air services with the most sophisticated charter network outside of North America. One of the worlds most romantic train journeys runs between Nairobi and Mombasa. On arrival and departure, visitors are welcome to avail themselves of the World of Kenya large duty-free shops at the international airports. There are regular daily flights from Mombasa and Nairobi to most European capitals, with onward connections to other parts of the world. Kenya overwhelms all who visit her. A holiday spent in Kenya is one of the most rewarding travel experiences of a lifetime.

East Africa is a great destination all year round. Each season has its advantages and each area has its best moments. If you have already decided to go on a safari, visit a travel agent specializing in safari vacations to plan an itinerary that will allow you to get the most out of your trip. You can benefit by having a travel agent custom design you vacation and find you the best deals on airfare, hotel accommodations and transportation, tour guides and more. Most importantly, you will have the peace of mind that your vacation will be planned out most efficiently and tailored to your needs.

France: Ultimate Travel Destination

You will certainly not be bored when you travel to France. Considered one of the most romantic countries in the world, France remains one of the ultimate travel destinations in the world, especially for people who love to go sightseeing.

There are a lot of places to travel to in France. One of which is the world-famous Louvre, which houses some of the most celebrated works of art in the world. Travel back to the time of such great artists like Leonardo Da Vinci. See for yourself the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the ancient Winged Victory. The Louvre is the largest and the most famous museum in the world, boasting an art and artifact collection that would make any traveler to France gasp in awe. Other museums that people who travel to France should look into are the Pompidou, the Musee Rodin and the Musee d’Orsay.

Another sight worth seeing when you travel to France is the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, which was built in the 17th century. The avenue has the Arc de Triomphe at one end and the Place de la Concorde on the other. Restaurants and boutiques can also be found along the stretch.

One’s travel to France will not be complete without visiting The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. A model for French Gothic Cathedrals in the Middle Ages, the structure still stands proud, rich in history and architecture. With its large glass surface area supported by carved stone tracery, the Notre Dame de Paris remains to be one of the greatest works produced in that era.

Children who travel to France will find the Disneyland Paris a great place to hang out. The 5000 acre resort is in itself a wonderland filled with the most exciting rides and games. Disneyland Paris in fact is one of Europe’s biggest tourist attraction.

The Bois de Boulogne will not disappoint any person who paid money to travel to France. Inspired by London’s Hyde Park and Regent Park, Bois de Boulogne is the favorite of Parisian walkers and tourists. Inside, France travelers can also find the Auteuil and Longchamp race courses. Another sight that any person who travels in France should go look for is the famous clay tennis court, Roland Garros, where the French Open is held. The court is all housed within the Bois de Boulogne.

Of course, you must see the beautiful and famous Eiffel Tower. Those who travel to France would not dare leave the country without seeing this wrought iron landmark made by French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair.

People who would love to travel in style will probably shop until they drop in some of France’s fashion squares. The Quartier Latin stretch and the St. Germain des Pres offer a wide variety of shops, from booksellers to antique shops to boutiques. The Printemps and Galeries Lafayette will also be a shopping haven for people traveling to France.

There are also great restaurants inside the QL. Try Parisian pizza, the Lebanese Mezze or just a plain croissant. Visit the bars and party on with the locals. The La Java, for instance, features live Latin bands that will entertain anyone who travels to France. The Moulin Rouge, thanks to the movie, has also attracted quite a number of following.

The Grand Canyon: 10 Things to Know Before You Go

The Grand Canyon is located in northwest Arizona and arguably the worlds most popular and natural tourist attraction. The massive Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and at its deepest point, is more than a mile from rim to river. Most of the Canyon lies within the Grand Canyon National Park and is managed by the National Park Service. It incorporates three geographically separated areas: the South Rim, the North Rim and the inner Canyon. As you plan your vacation to the Grand Canyon, be prepared for everything.

1. You must decide how you will get there. Will you drive across country as a family road trip or will you fly to save time and money? Taking in mind the rising gas prices across the nation, and decide which one will benefit you more, both physically and economically?

2. Self vs. Travel Agent. How much time do you have to properly research and plan a vacation? You must decide if you should find a travel agency to help plan out your vacation to the great wonders of the Grand Canyon. Travel agencies can save you both time and money, because planning the best vacations is what they do for a living.

3. Child friendly environments. Depending on the ages of your children, you need to know that your destination is suitable for children. With babies, find out if the hotel or resort where you will be staying offers cribs or childcare during your visit. Is a Grand Canyon vacation the right choice for your children?

4. Pets care. Many people enjoy taking their pets along with them on vacation. If you do, make sure your hotel or resort allows pets on the premises. Also be sure some of your destinations are pet friendly too so you aren’t leaving your pet locked up in a room all day while you are out having the time of your life. If you decide not to bring your pet, find a pet sitting service or boarding facilities with a good reputation. Most animal hospitals offer boarding, but if yours does not, then ask your veterinarian for a referral to a reputable pet care provider.

5. Protect your home. A visit to the Grand Canyon averages four to seven days. Those are days that you will be away from your home. Talk with your neighbors and ask them if they can keep an eye on your house while you are gone, or ask a family member or friend to check in on your house every now and then. You want to prevent your home from being targeted by burglars.

6. Pack appropriate clothing, such as: a bandanna or a hat (for sun and weather protection), cut off pants for hiking, gloves, jacket, pants (heavy duty), rain coat or poncho, shoes (suitable for hiking), socks (cotton or wool for hiking), sweat shirt or sweater.
7. First Aid Precautions. Accidents happen, when they do, you can be prepared by keeping a personal first aid kit at hand. What you should take with you to meet an emergency situation depends on your family, where you are going and how long you will be staying. The minimum items to be considered would be: Antiseptic, Ace bandage, Band-aids, Burn ointment, Chap stick, First aid tape, Foot blister pads/powder, Gauze compresses, salt tablets, sharp knife and sun tan lotion.

8.Miscellaneous items. Compass, maps, water, ear plugs, eye wash, fire starter, blanket, flashlight (with new batteries), waterproof matches, paper/pencil, sewing kit, antibacterial soap, sun glasses, toilet paper, moist wipes.

9. Sun screen. SPF 15 or higher. Protect yourself and your family from sun burns.

10. Toiletries. Laundry bag, mirror, sleep wear, sanitary supplies, shaving articles, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, wash cloth.

Never carry all of your credit cards with you or a large amount of cash. This can lead to excessive spending, theft or simply losing it. When traveling, your best bet would be travel checks or a travelers’ debit card, that will replace funds if lost or stolen. Losing all your money or having your funds stolen can end a great vacation in a heart beat. You should prepare yourself for anything, even if it requires over packing, and don’t forget to have a safe trip.

Top Tips for Booking a Flight

Booking a flight may seem like an overwhelming task, but it does not have to be. There are many things that a person can do to ensure that they are getting the most from booking a flight. There are many things that a person can do in order to ensure that booking their flight goes as smoothly as possible. In this article, we will look at some of the top tips for booking a flight.

One of the first things that you should do when booking a flight is to try to reserve your flight ahead of time. Once you have reserved your flight, you can easily change your reservations if the prices decrease or you see another special that you are interested in. You should always watch the prices of airfare because there will be many times when the prices decrease and you can take advantage of these times in order to receive the best deal possible.

When booking a flight, it is very important that you consider the days that you wish to fly on. There are a couple of days of the week that it is better to wait until another day to fly because they are busy. The busier the day of the week, the more it will cost to fly on that day. You should try to avoid traveling on Mondays and Friday when at all possible. Business people often travel on these days, therefore, making it an extremely busy time to fly. It is ideal to travel on Sundays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays. There is not as much air travel on these days and these are the days that airfare will be cheaper.

When traveling by air, it is important to try not to book flights on major holidays. If you choose to fly on major holidays, you will end up paying more for your airfare. If you are planning a trip around the times of the holidays, it is better to try to leave at least a week prior to the holidays, or wait until after the holidays to travel. This will ensure that you minimize your airfare costs.

When you are booking a flight, it is important that you research your options. You may want to consider researching various companies and websites that may offer you great deals on airfare and other travel accommodations. If you have a major credit card, you may want to see if they offer any types of savings or discounts if you use the credit card to book your travel accommodations. Many times, they will offer you package deals that you can pay back with no interest. This is a great way to travel for less.

The important thing that you should know about booking a flight is that it can be an easy process. With some research, you can find that you can save a lot of time and money by booking your own flight, on your own terms.

Air, Hotel & Rental Car: Best Buys in Travel

If you are looking to plan your vacation but are working with a tight budget, you might be surprised to find that cheap travel deals are easier to find than you may think. Many people must plan vacations with small amounts of money but that is no reason not to take a trip. Airlines, hotels and rental car companies have realized that many travelers can not afford certain perks, this is why there have been efforts made to make cheap travel options available to those who have limited budgets.

JetBlue Airlines is one airline built on the goal of creating affordable travel. JetBlue was created as a low-fare airline based out of John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City in 2000. Five years later the airline serves 32 cities throughout the United States including Boston, Las Vegas and Washington DC. Do not think that lower air fares translate into shoddy service. JetBlue only flies new, unused airplanes and the airlines’ planes actually are the newest overall in comparison to all other airlines. The airline focuses on quality service since it relies on faithful customers who value flying for low prices.

Another airline that may make it cheaper for you to fly to your vacation destination is Southwest Airlines. Serving 59 cities across the United States, Southwest Airlines offers a number of special sales and deals throughout the year. During special offers made by Southwest Airlines, passengers can find one-way tickets to destinations across the United States for as low as $39.

If you are looking for cheap lodging, look no further than Super 8 Motel. With over 2,000 locations in the United States, Canada and China, Super 8 is likely to be able to serve you. Not only does Super 8 offer some of the lowest hotel room rental rates in the world, but they also offer a Guaranteed Best Rate program. If you find a hotel that offers a similar room for a lower price, Super 8 will give you your first night’s stay for free. No other national hotel chain offers a program such as this.

Super 8 is confident in its low rates and high quality rooms and service. The chain guarantees you will be satisfied with your stay. Super 8 also offers a number of other discounts available such as a triple A member discount, a Trip Rewards program where frequent visitors can earn reward points, and special rates for large groups. Room rates typically begin at about $70-$75 without discounts. Other national hotel chains such as the Days Inn and the Holiday Inn often run specials as well so if you know the dates of your vacation it would be smart to look into any possible discounts that would be available to you at that time.

Once you arrive at your destination, you will have to find a method of transportation to get you to your hotel and to any nearby attractions you plan on visiting. A rental car is the easiest way to do so. Although public transportation may be cheaper, a rental car ensures that you are able to travel at your own pace without having to abide by a public transportation schedule. Rental cars can be expensive and typically run by the day. However, it is possible to find rental car companies that offer low rental prices. U-Save Auto Rental is one of these companies. U-Save Auto Rentals offers cars and SUVs for rent at prices lower than that of their competitors. Small economy cars can be rented for as little as $29.98 per day, one of the lowest rates you will be able to find anywhere. SUVs are slightly higher, with Lincoln Navigators renting at $103.98 per day, considerably lower than the rates of competing rental car companies.

Planning a cheap but quality vacation is more than possible if you do your research before traveling. The internet can be an extremely valuable tool for this. Compare prices from as many airlines, hotels, and car rental companies as possible to find the ones that will give you exactly what you are looking for at a low, bargain price. If you look around you will be able to put together a great vacation at a very low price.