Vacation Road Blog

Luxury Cabins and RV's the Latest Vacation Trend

2009-04-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

Originally Vacationers had to deal with soaring gas prices. Since gas prices have gone down tremendously you would think Vacationers would get a break. Now the current financial dilemma Vacationers face is the failing economy. Regardless of what the financial state is, it still doesn’t hinder the desire to take a few days and get away from it all. Here are some the recent travel trends that travelers are doing to cope with the crunch:

Resort Campgrounds – that have luxury furnished cabins that have amenities such as: fitness centers, free Wi-Fi, arcade games, laundry service, hot showers, running electricity and beautiful landscaping.

Recreational Vehicles (RV’s) — these rolling homes on wheels come with complete showers, beds and kitchens for total comfort.

Mini Rolling Tent Campers - a smaller version of the RV that can be towed by an SUV or pickup truck. (a little less expensive than the traditional RV’s)

Many families are packing their clothes and enjoying the Cabin stays which are equipped with pools and other recreational activities and equipment. The cost of dining out on a vacation is cut in half by purchasing groceries ahead and preparing them in the campground’s communal kitchens. RV’s and Cabin type vacations have proven to be far cheaper than the traditional vacation that involves air flight, hotel stay along with other travel related expenses. Everything needed on these Resort Campgrounds for a fraction of the normal vacation cost.

Sedona Arizona

2009-03-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

We stayed at Cedars Resort for under $100 a night in Sedona. The Drive down 89-Alt (89A) from Flagstaff through the Coconino National Forest is just breathtaking, it is one of the most amazing and naturally beautiful places in the world. The red striped mountains push up through rows of pine forest and look simply amazing against the bright blue sky.

We hiked up Cathedral Rock, which is home to one of the four mythical energy "Vortexes" in the area. These Vortexes are points in the earth where the planets energy are supposedly more concentrated and spring form the earth. Sedona is home to four such areas and the spots have been revered for hundreds of years, first by the Native American (Apache, Hopi, and Navajoe) people and now by the thousands of new age types and nature lovers.

The hike up Cathedral rock is pretty strenuous, it varies from level trails to almost 70 degree angle climbing to reach the highest point. The view from the top is just amazing, we stayed up there for over an hour, met some interesting locals and took in the 360 degree views of Sedona. The pictures and video just can not even come close to being there, its defintily worth a stop if you are in Arizona.

Meteor Crater Arizona

2009-03-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Stop by and see the worlds first identified meteor crater just south of Holbrook, Arizona. The crater is about a mile wide and 600 feet deep! It's $15 to get into the museum and access to the crater, the one hour walking tour around part of the rim is excellent, in fact if your not going to do the guided tour, its probably not worth just going into the museum.

Aliens! in Roswell, New Mexico

2009-03-10T19:54:00.001-07:00

Roswell, New Mexico - UFO's and Aliens

Just spent a great day in Roswell, New Mexico - visited the UFO museum and a bunch of great shops. The best one was Alien Zone / Area 51 on 216 N. Main Street - just a block down from the UFO museum. It had great toys, and all the T-shirts are original artwork drawn by the Owner of the store. They have the best T-Shirts by far, and they are very resonably priced at $14 each. You can't get these designs at any of the other local shops.

The Alien Zone gift shop also have a real cool Area 51 room (modest $2 entry fee) where you can take photos posed with aliens in many cool settings. Our favorite was the anti-gravity room (see photo). You can see more of the photos on our Flicker Page. They don't have a website yet but they have the best prices of any of the many UFO gift shops around Central Ave.

Another really cool shop worth mentioning is Gifts from the Angles, (directions) which sell eclectic gifts and jewelry, lots of crystals, silver pentagrams, faries, and a great collection of collectible figures and farie gift cards. The owner is very cool and we had a great conversation. Lots of neat frogs and new age stuff. One cool thing was a The Guiding Light Angel board which is a Ouija board for Angels!

Roswell is a great little town and lots of fun. The UFO museum itself is fairly interesting, it has a lot of newspaper clippings, official US Government Documents about the protocal for dealing with EBE's (extreterestrial biological entities) and several other cool exhibits. Unless you are really interested in a lot of reading the avidavids of witnesses and several other documents related to the UFO crash that was reported in the Roswell newspaper in July of 1947, you probably wont want to spend too much time there, its very interesting but not real exciting and kids would probably get bored pretty quick - although a few of the children that were there were actually spending quite a bit of time reading the extensive exhibits from cover ups, to surgically removed implants! There are also some pretty neat photos of real UFO's and Hoaxes (by real I mean the photos have been examined and deemed authentic photos of objects that could not be identified, what they actually are is anyones guess...).

Lodging/Hotels in Roswell, NM
In Roswell we stayed at the Days Inn on Central Ave just a mile or so past the UFO museum. The Marriot was over $120/night and the Days Inn was only about $140 for two nights (with the AAA discount). The rooms are very nice and clean, free HBO, new appliances: microwave, fridge. Much newer and cleaner than the Carlsbad Inn. These rates probably increase during the summer and during the UFO conventions (One coming up on March 24th)

Carlsbad Caverns
Overall its a definite must stop for any cross country roadtrip and its only about an hour north of Carlsbad, NM which is the closest town to Carlsbad Caverns. The caverns and the National Park are incredibly beautiful. The mountins and sheer rock cliffs along the drive to the caverns enterance offer plenty of breathtaking photo opportunites. The Cavern itself is just plain awesome. We just caught the last self-guided tour at 2PM (so get there early) and the hike through the upper cavern is about an hour, deep down into the earth and is filled with countless amazing natural rock formations. The trail is paved, but it does get pretty steep (almost all downhill) and wet - you definitly need a flashlight as the cave has a lot of internal lighting but much of the path is very dark and the flashlight came in handy.

After the hour hike in through the cavern you reach the elevators and a underground giftshop and bathrooms. From there you can tour another hour long path through the "grat room" which has so many incredible formations and variety of stalagmites and stalagties, as well as other bizzare formations, plenty of great photo opportunities but you will need to use your cameras night-shot setting and use a tripod or find a steady place to allow for the long exposures required. Believe me its well worth it! we got some AMAZING photos in the great room which are on our carlsbad caverns flickr page.

Carlsbad, New Mexico Hotels

2009-03-09T11:06:00.001-07:00

We stayed at the Carlsbad Inn and got a great deal, only $55 and the rooms were a little older than the Best Western down the road ($100/night) but the staff was very friendly and helpful, and the rooms have microwaves and refridgerators as well as free HBO. The fixtures, furniture and appliances are pretty old but all in working condition and it's a decent room for the price.

Hot Springs Arkansas - The Arlington Hotel

2009-03-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Hot Springs, AR - The Arlington Hotel

We stayed two nights in The Arlington which is a grand old hotel situated in the heart of Hot Springs. The hotel has been there for over a hundred years and is a remarkable building that really transports you back to the elegance of pre world-war two lodging.

From the Arlingtons website:
"The colorful history of the three eras of Arlington hotels is not architectural beauty and uniqueness alone. Always the center of activities in Hot Springs, the Arlington has hosted hundreds of grand balls and social events since 1875. Politicians, dignitaries, actors, gangsters and entertainment and sports legends bathed in our bath house, danced to our music and enjoyed our splendor and charm. The Arlington has survived a devastating fire, economic downturns, changing social attitudes and much more. Steeped in history, The Arlington is truly a legend. "

We got a great rate, I think it was about $90 a night. Its situated right across the street from the Hot Springs Mountain (and essentially right in the middle of Hot Springs National Park, which carved out a path for the city).

Hot Springs Mountain and Observation Tower

The first morning we took the short hike up to the top of the mountain and checked out the viewing tower and the trails which have one of the only public natural hot spring fountains, the spring trickles out of the mountain about 20 feet up the mountain and ends in the park.

We checked in on Thursday, friday was a little more (maybe $10?) expensive, but well worth it. The same Saturday we hiked, we also explored Central Avenue and found some great resturants. The Loco Burrito and Angle's Italian Restaurant both of which are on Central Avenue and bot of which were excellent. Angle's was crowded for dinner but we only had about a 20 minute wait and the food was excellent. The Loco burrito serves a GIANT and delicious burrito that runs about $7 but is more than a meal, they also have some excellent huevos rancheros.

Al Capone, Gambling, Art
The town has some rich gangster heritage, as well as a pretty sordid past (which in some parts of town, like where Central turns into Park Ave - they still have some crime problems in that part of town, so avoid staying there if possible, even though the Frommers guide might recommend it for a cheap stay). The city has a great vibe in the evening with lots of live music and bars and restaurants. We were lucky enough to be there on a gallery night and there were several art galleries open, some of which featured some very cool young artists, along with the more main stream fare.

Hot Springs is a great stop for a cross country trip as its just about 4 hours southwest of Memphis, TN.

Walking in Memphis.. to Graceland!

We hit Memphis about 4:30 on thursday and just made the last (5PM) tour of Graceland, got to see where Elvis lived and about a million gold records. I recommend you get the entire package deal which lets you into Elvis's car museum and lets you see his private full size jet the Lisa Marie (pictured)!

Ok thats enough for now, we are about to crash - we drove into Carlsbad, New Mexico this evening all the way from Dallas. We are going to go spelunking tomorrow in Carlsbad Caverns - should be some amazing caves to explore.

Flickr photo space for Roadtrip photos

2009-03-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

We have created a flickr account to share our photos from the road - only a few up there today but we will be adding many more soon (hopefully tonight when we stop in Texas)

We are heading out of the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas this morning, will give a full review in our next post.

Road Trip 2009 The beginning!

2009-03-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

We have set off on a cross country road trip to explore the United States. Leaving from Atlanta we made our first stop in North Carolina right at the corner where NC meets TN and Georgia. There we visited our good friends Mickey and Michelle who live up in the mountains. We stayed with them for a night and enjoyed some good company, and some great food and very peaceful nights sleep. In the morning we headed on to Nashville Tenessee.

Ocoee Dam Deli and Diner
Highway 71 between Duck Tenessee and Nashville
Perfect place to stop for lunch, healthy options on the menu like veggie burgers and wraps, as well as excellent "dam" cheeseburgers. Breakfast ends at 11, and we stopped there on a Tuesday and they didnt open until after breakfast, weekends they open earlier, but its a great lunch spot thats just about 3 hours from Nashville. Lunch was about $15 with a tip.

We arrived at Nashville and are staying with our good friends Rebecca and Leighton Hosking, today we went and saw the NAshville Parthanon which is the only full-scale replica of the Parthanon in the world. There is a very cool art museum inside, as well as a recreated statue of Athena towering inside (which is why the orginial was built, to shelter the statue).

Tomorrow we head out to Memphis to see Graceland and maybe run into Elvis!

Heres a pick of Jessica approaching the rear entrance of the Nashville Parthanon

Lonely Planet Introduces New Trips Guidebook

2009-03-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

Lonely Planet recently released their new guidebooks called ‘Trips’. The launch of Lonely Planet's new guidebook series covers California, Pacific Northwest, Arizona, New Mexico & the Grand Canyon. Along with other regions such as New York, Washington DC & the Mid-Atlantic, The Carolina's, Georgia & New England. The Trips guide book comes in paperback for just $20. They are jam packed with over 68 itineraries of over 1,000 places to go and see. The itineraries are neatly arranged by themes and seasons such as Culture, Offbeat, History and City.

Cocooning....A New Travel Trend

2009-02-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

I found this article which expands on how the current state of the economy is affecting travel. Performics, a search engine firm did some research and their findings resulted in a new travel trend called”cocooning". Cocooning is where consumers choose to travel less and spend more time in the comfort of their own homes. In the past these travelers may have taken luxury style vacations. Now with constant budget cuts everywhere you turn, these same travelers are looking into making their home their new retreat. They are spending more by sprucing up their living space. They are doing so by making their homes the next best thing with great amenities. For example: creating a cabana style backyard, purchasing a state of the art grill, installing a flat screen TV or giving the bedroom a luxurious hotel suite like feel. If one can’t afford to travel for a few days why not enjoy the same amenities in the comfort of your own home.

A Cruise Travel Trend Update....

2009-01-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to mention that now is the time to book a cruise. There are amazing discounted deals due the the fact there are more cruise ships and less demand for them. This unbalance is a benefit for cruise travelers. Fares can now be booked as low as $25 per day. So make your travel arrangements now and happy sailing!

Atlanta Travel Update for 2009

2009-01-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! In Atlanta there are a few new things in store for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. There will be a series of over 70 new stores added between Jan. 1 and throughout the summer. This new addition is apart of Hartsfield-Jackson’s “Retail Renaissance.” Some of the new Stores to be added include Brooks Brothers, Lacoste and Sean Jean.

There will also be great news for International Travelers heading to International destinations. As early as this summer, Hartsfield-Jackson will have increased access to over 90 international destinations to 55 countries and non-stop service to cities in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin and South America. The city of Atlanta will have more access to Africa than any other U.S. airport.

The W Atlanta - Downtown is also opening a new location on January 27, 2009
at 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard · Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Map Phone: (404) 582-5800
That's all for now I will keep you posted on more travel news in future post.

Three New Travel Reported Trends

2008-12-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Travel 2009 Increase
The U.S. dollar value is making a comeback. Gas gas prices are at their lowest since the past four years. Hotels have seen such a dip in check-ins that rates are more affordable than ever. If a vacation is within your budget for 2009 then it is predicted that this be a year filled with travel deals.

Female Fever
Travel trends show that women are either traveling alone or with female companions such as best friends, sisters or mothers in increased numbers. More companies are offering female-friendly package deals and getaways. here are some of the title's used to attract women travelers: women's retreat,women & wine and cancer survivors and more.

European Travel
American traveling to Europe has gone down some 4.8% in 2008 compared to the same time period in 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Since prices are expected to decrease in 2009 you can expect to see more Americans traveling to European destinations. Two main reason being: A slow economy and the the dollar gaining on the Euro.

Paris Is An Incredible Destination To Spend A Wonderful Vacation

2008-12-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

Paris, acknowledged as the ‘City of Lights,’ is the largest as well as the capital city of France, located on the Seine River, in the heart of the Ile-de-France region. Also the capital of the France’s Ile-de-France region, Paris is regarded as the political and cultural center of the country. Paris is perhaps the greatest of all the cities that receive maximum number of tourists in Europe.

Some consider Paris as an artistic city while some consider it as a romantic destination. Since it attracts fashion firms from across the world to open fashion stores, Paris is also sometimes fondly referred to as the ‘Fashion House’ of the world. With great number of museums, nature parks, beautiful gardens, and squares, sightseeing options in Paris are truly endless. Hence, it is not a wonder why more than 30 million foreigners visit here per year.
Some of the must-see destinations in Paris are:

Eiffel Tower : Built on the Champ de Mars near the Seine River, this iron tower is unquestionably the greatest of all attractions in Paris, and in deed, stands as the city’s icon. Inaugurated on March 31, 1889, it is the tallest of its kind in Paris, and was once the tallest in the world until the erection of Chrysler Building in 1930. Rising up to a height of about 985 feet, Eiffel Tower’s top can be seen anywhere from Paris. As per the records of the Paris Office of Tourism, Eiffel Tower alone drew about six million tourists to Paris in 2002.
Louvre : Situated in the heart of Paris, Louvre is the one of the world’s largest museums, sprawling over an area of about 60,000 square foot expansive building. On display are more than 350000 pieces of art, covering Egyptian sculptures, 18th century furniture and books, engravings, paintings, and drawings.

Most popular among the collections in the museum are the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, such as Monolisa. Apart from its amazing collections, Louvre, once served as a royal residence, is also much famed for its mind blowing architectural style. The entry to the museum was earlier restricted to the royal visitors. But, after the French Revolution, the museum was opened to the public.

Notre Dame Cathedral : This Gothic cathedral would be the most famous of all cathedrals in the world. Located in the heart of the city on a small island, namely, Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame Cathedral serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Paris. The cathedral is regarded as a fine example of French Gothic architecture. Built during the 14th century, its interiors, sculptures, and gargoyles were destroyed during the revolution. Later, the cathedral was renovated by Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, a Persian architect.

Arc de Triomphe: One of the most visited attractions in the country, Arc de Triomphe is credited to the largest traffic roundabout in the world. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 in order to commemorate his military successes as well as the bravery of his armies, Arc de Triomphe was however completed in 1836, many years after the passing away of the emperor. The sides, front and back of the Arc De Triomphe are graced with beautiful sculptures as well as intricate designs. A specialty of this roundabout is that it is the meeting point of about 12 avenues.
Concorde Place : The largest public square in Paris, Concorde Place is situated between Champs Elysees and the Tuileries garden. Earlier known as Place Louis XV, the square’s focal point is a huge Egyptian obelisk beautified with hieroglyphics. The obelisk has been brought from the temple at Luxor, and was French king Charles X in 1829 by Mohammed Ali, the then Viceroy of Egypt.

Highlights in Paris also cover Avenue Champs-Elysees, a vibrant area packed with a plenty of shops and restaurants; Latin Quarter, boasting of some of the finest Roman as well as medieval monuments in the city; Rodin Museum, which exhibits the works of the renowned French sculptor, Auguste Rodin; D’Orsay Museum; and St.Chapelle and Conciergerie.
With these scores of attractions, Paris is a wonderful vacation whose memories last for a lifetime. Hence, the city has an array of accommodation choices to cater to every type of visitors. Mostly, they come with most sophisticated facilities and amenities.

The Accor Hotels offer the chance to fulfill that ultimate holiday experience at one of our fantastic Asian based hotels, as well as the chance to win our grand prize, an all inclusive trip for 2 to Paris.

Ten Things Not to Do While in the Friendly Sky’s

2008-12-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Traveling by plane can be a smooth experience or one irritating experience after the other. We all however can make a conscious effort by doing our part when it comes to the consideration of others. First off it is important to remember than an airplane is a public place. In fact, it perhaps is one of the tightest public places you will ever be. So with keeping this in mind there are a few essential things you need to keep in mind.

1. Continuously talking to your neighbor while they are working, reading or using their personal electronic device

2. Listening to headphones way to loud.

3. Grabbing the back of the seat as you get up or sit down. This can disturb others seated near you while they are resting, reading or eating.

4. Reclining your seat with great force without a cautionary look before proceeding.

5. Kicking the seat in front of you

6. Dominating additional seating or armrest.

7. Consistently getting up for the restroom when you have a window seat.

8. Blocking the screen while everyone is watching a movie.

9. Releasing personal bodily gases or spraying perfume or cologne.

10. Good hygiene is appreciated and not to skipped prior to your trip.

Feel free to contribute any more tips or pet peeves.

A Few Travel Trends For 2009

2008-11-11T15:05:00.001-08:00

Keen to be Green
Many U.S. Travelers plan to go green by visiting national parks. Americans plan to be more environmentally conscious in their travel decisions in 2009. They plan to do plenty of hiking, cycling, biking or engaging in some type of adventure activities. Many will choose more eco-friendly hotels and make more environmentally conscious in their travel for their stay in 2009.

Culture Conscious
Many U.S Travelers will choose to enrich their culture by enjoying more theater, museums, historic site and educational activities

Fuel Factor

Many will take more car trips or this year because of declining fuel prices. If fuel prices are to steer in the upward direction then they will engage in a “staycation” a stay at home vacation.

Fancy Fishing Huts for Fun

2008-10-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

If you’re avid Fishermen and love to fish, perhaps a fishing trip is long overdue. This time try something new. Why not try going away to the coast of Norway. I stumbled upon some interesting accommodations on http://www.trendhunter.com Norway has trendy looking wooden fishing huts “Cabin Vardehaugen”.

This chic black and white vacation home in Norway comes to us from architects Fantastic Norway. From the first look, Cabin Vardehaugen looks like it could be the most stylish fishing hut ever.
As you see more of the images, you can tell that Cabin Vardehaugen is indeed an ultra-modern wooden cottage, with plenty of space. The two-bedroom bungalow measures just under 830 square feet and has spectacular views of the neighboring sea and hills.
Nestled into the rocky landscape of the coast of Norway, the cabin looks right at home.

For a more in debt info feel free to check out:http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chic-norwegian-vacation-homes-cabin-vardehaugen-by-fantastic-norway

Air Travel Trends: Looking Ahead to 2010

2008-10-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

The year 2010 sounds so far away, but - face it - it’s really just around the corner.
I was thinking about this, after being asked to participate in a panel discussion on the future of air travel - a discussion hosted by Southwest Airlines.
So will the future be all that different? To an extent. What I’ve done is isolate some of the trends I expect will continue - so take a look - and add to the list if you like, in the comments section.

14 AIR TRAVEL TRENDS: 2010

1. Decline of Human Interaction: it started with Alaska Airline’s “virtual customer service agent Jenn” and kiosks galore

* Ticket and luggage barcodes sent directly to phones, handheld devices
* Retinal scans at TSA checkpoints
* Noise-canceling headphones — for relief from the cell phones on planes

I’ve got more - lots more - so please keep reading.

2. Airplane Cabins Resemble Subway Cars: the advertising age meets flying

* Ads on tray tables, overhead bins and boarding passes have already started
* Look for future ads on barf bags and on “free” blankets/pillows

3. Money Talks: as airfares go higher, spur-of-the-moment leisure travel declines

* Only the rich will continue to fly anytime they like
* Don’t look for fees and surcharges to drop anytime soon (oil has fallen, but airlines must make up for the “bad years”)
* Renewed talk about re-regulation and the government controlling prices

4. A la Carte Aviation: pay for what you use

* Look for the equivalent of a Sushi menu for trip costs, bags, legroom, food, beverages and more * Fuel surcharges index on the daily price of fuel

5. Airfare Deals - Harder to Find: meticulous trip-planning is key to savings

* Fliers must take advantage of all technology (including email alerts, historical data and more)
* Procrastination on ticket purchases will not be rewarded

for an extended list and source: Rick Seaney http://rickseaney.com/2008/10/01/air-travel-trends-looking-ahead-to-2010/

Resort Style Relaxation On the Sea

2008-10-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

A resort style oasis on water is what Royal Caribbean International plans to give us by Christmas time next year. We can expect to see larger 5,400 passenger cruise ships with 16 decks and 2,700 staterooms. These luxury ships are called “The Seven Neighborhoods” They are broken down into seven named categories:

-Central Park
-The Boardwalk
-Entertainment Place
-The Royal Promenade
-Pool and Sports Zone
-The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Centre
-(Number seven is yet to be disclosed)

for a more detailed story:http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/509885

Source: thestar.com http://oasisoftheseas.com/index.php

Travel Information You Can't Go Without

2008-10-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

With all the talk of travel whether it be local or another country, it is always a good idea to take necessary precautions when your away from your comfort zone. Things are different from your home town. I touched on this in a previous post. I came across cheapoair.com they have excellent information such as travel tips and links to avid travelers seeking a smooth and stress free experience. Here are some of the links listed:

Check the Visa status for the country you are traveling to. You may click on this link here for US passport holders. For Canadian Passport holders, click here.

Some countries may require vaccinations; check the requirements here for US passport holders. For Canadian passport holders, please click here.

Travel Warnings, US State department travel warnings to certain regions and countries is listed here. For Canadian passport holders travel warnings can be found here.

Consular Affairs for all foreign consular services and information visit this website.
Overseas Citizen Services, if you’re traveling abroad and you are a US citizen, you may call: 1-888-407-4747. Or, if you’re calling from abroad: 1-202-501-4444.

While traveling abroad you should register with the state department here.
Currency Converter, click here.
Language Translator, click here.
Weather reports, click here.
Country Customs and etiquette, click here.
Unaccompanied minors traveling alone, click here.
Traveling with Diabetes, click here.
Disabled Air Travel, click here and here.
Disabled Travel resources, click here.
Traveling with Pets, click here.
Travel for Adoption, click here.

For a more in debt list feel free to check out:
http://faq.cheapoair.com/safe-travel-tips.asp

Aquatic Feast Fantasy

2008-10-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

After thinking about a vacation like never before, I have not been able to stop thinking about all the neat places I would like to go or experience before my time here is up here on earth. This world is magnificent and truly amazing. When your stuck in the daily hustle and bustle of things you begin to loose site of the grandeur nature of things. I started looking for photos and footage of wonderful places I would like to go. I found a hot travel blog called "Hotel Club" that has interesting Geo-Travelers that travel around the world to bring interesting travel news. Check out this aquatic dining experience. This is on the top of my must do list if I am ever so fortunate.

Feeling Cool At Ice Hotel

2008-09-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

Came Across another travel wonder of my own that is surely a must do. This cool hotel website is below but i had to put a link to one of my favorite blogs. It has excellent photos of The Swedish Ice Hotel.

http://www.icehotel.com/Winter/Icehotel/

http://blog.hotelclub.com/swedish-ice-hotel/

Underwater Travel Craze

2008-09-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Imagine staying at hotel better known as a "Hydropalace" that has 70% to 80% of its structure underwater. This structure is projected to be five to seven levels high. As you bask in the Under the Sea entertainment you can enjoy the best amenities: over 250 to 300 suites, a luxurious spa, hydrotherapy facilities, elegant ballrooms that accommodates over 1,000 guests, plush restaurants and posh nightclubs. The architecture company’s website describes such dream accommodations as

“Perhaps the most sophisticated and entrancing living environments on Earth."

Latest Travel Craze: Underwater Tourism Destinations

Crescent Hydropolis Resorts PLC has a vision that will change the way people look at hotels forever. The company has proposed the first underwater tourism destination. The ocean, which has long since been a place of exploration and discovery, might possibly be a place for tourism, as well. http://www.architecturecrossing.com/article/index.php?id=600032

http://www.hydropolis.com/

A Vacation Like Never Before

2008-09-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel as if you’re in need of a real vacation? This real vacation would be like no other. The purpose of this vacation would be more of a mental vacation. It wouldn't be like the traditional time taken off that you are use to. Like when you take a day or two off from work. It wouldn’t be like when you take a week vacation to Canada or something like that.

Sometimes one just feels a need to take a trip somewhere where all life’s questions can be answered or all life’s problems can be solved. Just imagine, wouldn’t it be nice if such a place truly existed, A place where a guarantee of clarity would come as easy as the guarantee of two suites adjoining each other. The brochure would promise that after this vacation you would return with total clarity and peace of mind. You will return with the will and knowledge of how to make all your dreams and goals a reality. You will know just where your soul mate has been camping out. You would finally know exactly what Men or Women really want. Discover how to finally loose those last few pounds with ease. Finally figure how to solve financial woes and end world hunger, greed and hate. Everyone around you would want to know what you’re on and want some of it too. They would be dying to know how or where they can get their fist-class ticket as well.

Wow…hmm..if such a place truly could exist. Heck, I may stay indefinitely myself. But, of course I’m sure that one-way tickets wouldn’t be allowed or it would defeat the purpose. So I guess for now until such a place is discovered we will have to settle for the traditional vacations and make them our personal and mental oasis.

Local Travel With A Different Perspective

2008-08-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

The summer is almost coming to an end and I haven’t had a chance to get away and get that long overdue break from it all. Could be the changes in the Economy as why I am not sitting somewhere with my feet up and enjoying the breeze? The rising fees everywhere has caused me to dip into my vacation budget. Wait minute…I don’t have a vacation budget because, I never got a chance to save with all these accelerating gas pump and food prices glaring at me. I feel a vacation is needed now more than ever.

More than half of America has had to cut back or revise their vacation plans due to the slow economy and rising gas prices. I decided to consider traveling someplace local that I have heard about so much that in my mind, felt like I had already been. I figure I owe it to myself to get my own perspective and get all those other testimonies out of my head. It’s really all about making good use of the local resources that one has right? I figured there are some local attractions where I live that I never been to. It may be because I thought they would be less interesting. Perhaps due to my non existing travel budget it made me change my perspective and begin see my city like a newborn baby again. In my city alone there are some places that I have either never been or need to revisit like a tourist with time and appreciation. Some of the admission prices are not that inexpensive but what I would save on a flight or gas alone will even out in the end.
I plan to make it a grand event with even a theme perhaps. Make lunch or dinner centered on my venue of choice. If it’s all the arts today then after going to the High Museum I will be sure to have lunch in an artsy café and visit some outdoor craft markets. Perhaps after visiting the Aquarium I will go for a swim at Whitewater then top the night off at Bahama Breeze for dinner for that full tropic experience. Life is all in what you make it.

Exploring the Savvy International Traveler in You

2008-08-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

When traveling to a place that is foreign to you it is all about being open minded and being able to think outside of the box. You really have to have an International way of thinking to be the best Traveler you can be. Being cultured is truly the best characteristic or quality you can have.
One of the ways to not truly get the full International experience is to stay at a hotel that caters specifically to Americans or that are owned by Americans. Staying at such hotels does not give you the authentic native feel.
You must take time to travel to your given destination. You can’t see the world in a day. Be sure to stay at least a 4 day minimum. You can’t get all the culture, the history or the sheer feel of your destination in a course of two days. You will not get the full spectrum by only going on those pre-set, type cast tours. You really have to get out and see the natives and do as the natives do for a true experience. Check out the local markets as a starting point for a 101 on the locality happenings.
You have to be exploratory and try the native dishes in the manner of how the natives eat them. You have to leave that rental car at the hotel for a day and get out and take a local bus. You didn’t travel all this way to enjoy the four walls of your hotel room did you? You could have stayed right in the U.S.A and rented a hotel if that’s the case. In your plight to exercise your International exploratory skills always exercise caution and do your research prior to going on any given International destination. Be sure to take tons of photos to back up those profound memories that you’re going create and remember Bon voyage!

The Journey That Brings Out the Kid In You

2008-08-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

"I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything." - Bill Bryson
I especially love this quote because it best describes how one feels when one goes to a country they have never been to. It literally leaves you looking around in amazement, an expression that can be best compared to hearing a child go “wow” shortly after walking into a room filled with every toy or game or candy you can think of. I love to travel. I wish I had the lifestyle that would allow me travel the world and write about every unique or beautiful thing regarding each, region, each country, each city each place. I admire Travel Journalist, whose career is to travel where they do write-ups on their experiences in these regions. Sometimes when I’m unable to travel I choose to travel vicariously through meeting friends from other parts of the world. I love studying their, culture, their language, and traditional ways of doing things. As far as foreign, I have been to Europe and I have been to a few islands in the Caribbean. I would love to visit China, Africa and places that one has never heard of. If ever in a rut and one wants to get away, you can hang with friends from an exotic country and try some foods from a different region around the world and let your imagination allow you to be kid like and relax as it takes you there..

Helen the Home of a Lovely Getaway

2008-07-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Helen, Georgia is located in Northeast Georgia in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Chattahoochee River. It is a re-creation of a German Alpine Village that has Cobblestone Alleys and old-world towers. This village has rich history that is linked to the Cherokee Indians and early settlers who arrived in 1800 to mine for gold and cut timber for the lumber industry. This quaint mountain community has been around for well over thirty-five years. Its Bavarian feel makes you feel like you standing in Germany at that given moment. Our first stop was to get a bite to eat where we enjoyed a relaxing German meal at the Troll’s Tavern. For my meal I had the Knockwurst platter which consists of two beef sausages accompanied by sauerkraut and served with a tasty German style potato salad. I was told that the imported beer and wine was a must try. As I savored my meal, I joyfully watched many others engage in river tubing along side the Tavern. After leaving the tavern my friends and I decided to partake in a horse-drawn carriage ride. Molly (our horse’s name) took us around the village. After our carriage ride we decided to walk off our meal with a little shopping. There are more than 200 specialty and import shops that include everything from Artesian crafts to cheeses, fine chocolates, cakes, cuckoo clocks, precious stones and gems to mood rings and candle making. We tried to make to the Anna Ruby Falls but they were already closed. We had to finally bring our adventure to an end by sharing a funnel cake while sitting by the water fountains. We truly loved this Alpine Village located right here in Georgia. We look forward to coming back when we have more time and enjoy the other activities such as: horseback riding, golf, canoeing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and more. This trip was perfect for a quick getaway since were just an hour and half away. The locals told us to be sure to comeback during one of the many festivals the town host such as: Winefest, Volksmarch, Oktoberfest and Christmas parades, Fourth of July fireworks, and Bavarian Nights of Summer. The best time to visit is from mid-September through October, Helen hosts the longest Oktoberfest in the South. Alpenfest offers loads of fun for tourist during the Holiday season from Thanksgiving through December.

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2008-05-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

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Please the link below to see what Jessica and Wesley say about their vacation and the resort they stayed.

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