Destinations

Summer has arrived, which means the weather is starting to get warmer, but until I can lay out in my yard in a bikini I don’t care very much. This is exactly why I feel myself especially tempted by some of the unbelievable deals to Mexico right now. Sun, sand and margaritas? I’m sold. Funjet Vacations Airline Fare Sales! Our Hot Deals sell out fast, so book now!. With spring break behind us and the busier summer travel season not yet upon us, now is actually the perfect time to score ... [read more]

As someone who tends to do most things at the last minute, it seems a little early to start thinking about Holiday shopping, but that doesn’t mean some people aren’t already brainstorming their Christmas gift lists (or at least making plans for a shopping vacation). That’s why I thought I’d share this deal on Travelocity I stumbled across, which is offering vacation deals to New York for Black Friday. Travel to New York on Black Friday to Complete Your Holiday Shopping! Click Here for Great Vacation Deals to ... [read more]

I am a fan of the following things: Free stuff, coupons, cocktails, great shows, and any city that incorporates “Sin” into its nickname. Lucky for me, all of these things have now combined into one great vacation package offer on Southwest right now. In fact, by booking your Vegas vacation by May 7, you can get $100 back (more money to spend on the blackjack tables). Save up to $100 when you book a flight + hotel of 4 nts or more at any Harrah’s properties. Use promo code: MAYHET. ... [read more]

I could easily sit down and make a list about all the reasons I would want to go to Hawaii. Discounted flights and hotel rooms would top the list, but the active volcanoes, fresh pineapple, beautiful beaches and aloha spirit certainly would also make the list. Add on top of that a great promotion over at United for savings of $200 and it looks like I’ll be packing up my favorite swimsuit and getting ready to get my tan on. Save up to $200 to Hawai‘i’s Big Island! Book a flight ... [read more]

I like to spend almost all of my disposable income on plane tickets and travel adventures, which is why ever since I got my tax refund in the mail it has been burning a hole in my pocket and I have been waiting to stimulate the economy with the money the government kindly returned to me and buy some plane tickets. Tax Refund = A Much Needed Vacation! Browse our many money saving deals to take that affordable getaway. Book by 4/15. Especially with such great deals on [read more]

Is love in the air this winter? If you are getting married this year, you may be in luck on being able to score a great deal on that romantically perfect honeymoon. With the economy struggling and fewer people booking vacations to the Caribbean, there are some amazing deals out there to be had. You could have the honeymoon of your dreams for a lot less money than you ever thought possible. Dream Honeymoons; Destination Weddings at Sandals Resorts! With so many great travel deals to be had, maybe a ... [read more]

In the cruise industry Carnival Cruise Lines are the 7-million pound monster. You can hardly go to a port of call in North America and the Caribbean without coming upon at least one Carnival cruise ship. They are everywhere.

The cruise monster has no intention of resting on its considerable laurels. Carnival Cruise Lines will begin sailing to South America in 2009. What this means to you, fair reader, is that you will have another cruising option to places like Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile. That option will inevitably include ... [read more]

If you are American you know that you are not allowed to travel to Cuba unless you get special permission for something like an educational tour or a Michael Moore documentary. If you are an American traveler, you know that plenty of people flaunt this law. They make their way to Cuba via a couple of undisclosed locations (cough* Mexico * cough * Canada).

Knowing full well that you are not intent on breaking any laws and that this is purely aimed at people who can legally travel to Cuba, BootsnAll does ... [read more]

In my vision of paradise cars don’t exist. I think my vision is not one shared by NASCAR drivers or those who like to get around by some other means than bike riding. Cars or no cars, Hawaii has been described on many an occasion as paradise on earth. It is hard to argue with a place that has beautiful white beaches, lush tropical forests, stunning mountains, and, yes, cars.

Some people choose to spend their Hawaiian vacation moving no further than the lounge chair by the swimming pool. Others ... [read more]

Among the many reasons why you shouldn’t move to Florida: alligators, mosquitos, sink holes, hurricanes, people who drive with their left turn signal constantly on, the preponderance of blue hair, OJ Simpson lives there, Don Johnson, the 2000 presidential election and drive-in liquor stores.

The argument in favor of moving to Florida: sunshine.

If you are someone who can live with the unpleasant other things, but can’t live without sunshine then Florida has your name written all over it. Perhaps you aren’t thinking about moving there, but a visit is what you have in ... [read more]

Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerta Vallarta. If most people were asked to name the best places to go on the Pacific coast of Mexico, those three cities would likely be at the top of the list.

Cabo San Lucas is a beautifully located town. Located at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula, Cabo has near perfect weather all year round. That is a good thing since it is located next to an ocean that is a virtual playground for fisherman and water sports enthusiasts.

Further down the ... [read more]

Traveling by yourself can be a unique and rewarding experience. It challenges you to figure out where you are going and how to get there. It can also inspire you to make new friends. Everyone loves a solo traveler. Group travelers, not so much.

While an individual trip can be special, sometimes an experience is best when you have someone else around. Someone else to help navigate through the airport customs. Someone else to be sympathetic when you stomach doesn’t appreciate the food it just ate. Someone ... [read more]

If you pay the least bit of news to what is going on in this world of ours you know that China is a country on the move. Its economy continues to surge, its cities continue to be rebuilt and its culture continues to change. These are exciting and dizzying times in China. It is an excellent time to see a historic transformation while it happens by visiting the world’s most populous nation.

A unique way to experience China is on a cruise ship. For whatever reason, there aren’t tons ... [read more]

There are two kinds of people. There are the kinds that like nothing more than to receive a big block of chocolate for their birthday and there are the kinds that like receive one of those boxes that have many flavors of candy. If you are in the sampler chocolate camp and think that variety is the spice of life, you probably will enjoy this 7-night Southern Europe cruise by Costa Cruises.

This is a fast moving cruise that will fill your tourist tummy with some delightful samples of Italy, Tunisia, Spain ... [read more]

It might be built on a swamp and it might be a political swamp, but the nation’s capital is still a great place for children to visit. I should know. Just about every year from third grade through eighth grade my class made a field trip to Washington, DC. It got to the point where I could give a tour of the city better than the tour guide and where I actually grew tired of the freeze dried ice cream at the National Air and Space Museum.

With its many monuments ... [read more]

As nice as he may be and as charming as the tradition is, spending another year watching a ball in New York drop while Dick Clark wishes you a happy new year is something that you should be actively seeking to avoid. Why let everyone else have the time of their life while you sit at home trying to stay up until midnight? This year, you can make it a New Year’s to remember by being aboard a cruise ship.

You don’t have to worry about drinking and driving – the captain ... [read more]

We’ve been hyping summer cruises to Alaska for some time now on this here little blog. Alaska is truly one of the best places to do on a cruise. The only real drawback is that it is far away from where most of us live and as a consequence the cruises that visit the Last Frontier are usually more expensive than those going to the Caribbean and Mexico. That is not necessarily the case at the moment.

As we officially celebrate the first day of summer today we see that prices ... [read more]

As far as countries go, Costa Rica has always marched to the beat of a different drum. Instead of spending the 1980s engaged in war like many parts of Central America, it abolished its military. Instead of chopping down all of its trees and wilderness, it protected it. More than a quarter of the country’s land has been set aside for protection. Indeed, Costa Rica is the exception to the rule and that is one reason why it is an exceptional place to visit.

With one of a kind rainforests, ... [read more]

Some people like to call Reno, Nevada a poor man’s Las Vegas. That isn’t exactly the label one wants to read when they are going to a city that is known for its gambling establishments. Perhaps a better endorsement would be to call Reno a luck man’s Las Vegas.

Poor or lucky, Reno is what it is, which is primarily a city of casinos. That means lots of large rooms with gaming tables where you never can tell what time of day it is. That means hotels that are ... [read more]

Did you know that this is The Year of a Million Dreams? If you have been paying attention to all the Disney commercials recently you couldn’t help but know this. Disney and dreams apparently go together like chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. One person’s dream can be another person’s nightmare, however. Disneyland and the other assorted properties are the happiest place on earth as long as you have enough money to pay through the nose.

Southwest Vacations to the rescue. The little airline that could is doing its ... [read more]

Whenever you come across a travel description of cruises to New England and Canada you are almost always going to see the word “charming”. Unlike cruises to the Caribbean it would not be accurate to describe a Canada/New England cruise as a “sun getaway”. It would also not be right to label it “exotic”. Charming, however, fits the bill.

There is a charm to the way the costal towns in New England and eastern Canada go about things. These are places that are rich in history and where people cling ... [read more]

Fireworks, family and fun. Those are the things that many of us associate with the Fourth of July holiday. It was so very kind of the founders of the United States to choose to do the whole independence thing during the summer months. The extra day off during the summer is always a welcomed thing.

There is no shortage of choices available to those who are looking to get away for Independence Day. Heading to the beach is always a popular option, camping out in the woods usually doesn’t disappoint, ... [read more]

If you have read any travel magazines over the years or visited any number of Web sites, you know by now that Negril, Jamaica has been named one of the top ten beaches in the world. Located in the westernmost part of Jamaica, Negril has grown from a sleepy isolated town into a thriving tourist destination replete with the high quality resorts you’d expect to find where there are beautiful sand and clear blue waters.

What makes Negril different than a lot of popular beach resort destinations is that it hasn’t been entirely ... [read more]

Everyone knows the legend of New York City. It is a great place to travel but it is expensive as heck. Everywhere you look there are hamburgers that cost $30 and beers that will run you $20. It is a place to go only if you share the same tax bracket as Donald Trump or if you have a couch to crash on in one of his apartment towers. You’ll need to cash in your 401K plan just so you can spend a night out on the town.

This is ... [read more]

It is almost impossible to believe that yet another generation of children is growing up with Mickey, Pluto and the Disney gang. With so many entertainment options available to children today, it speaks volumes that so many still enjoy Disney movies, cartoons and those big theme parks in Orland, Anaheim, Paris and Tokyo.

The Disney empire spreads its wings far and wide. That includes ruling the high seas, as well. Disney Cruise Line has a couple of boats that set sail on a regular basis from Cape Canaveral, Florida. As ... [read more]

They call Alaska America’s Final Frontier. The second to last state admitted into the union is certainly not last when it comes to beauty. Alaska’s vast natural resources are legendary and no matter how great you have heard that they are you will still be blown away when you see them in person.

Stunning mountains, gorgeous glaciers, marine and land wildlife…these are just a few of the attractions you will see while taking a cruise to Alaska. The famed inside passage is as beautiful a waterway as you will ... [read more]

Perhaps it will be the indelible legacy of the 21st Century. No, not the Internet or artificial sugar made from real sugar. What I am talking about is our modern custom of combing two disparate words into one. For example, did you know that you can combine crud and nuts to come up with “crust”? You can also do it with spiffy and terrific so that it is “spifirific”. But did you know that there is something now known as a “mancation’? Tis true. If you ... [read more]

Many a baseball fan has made a summer pilgrimage to Boston over the years. The city is, of course, home to Fenway Park, one of the true jewels of the American sporting world. You can’t call yourself a baseball fan or even a sports fan until you have watched a game from the historic stadium. Just be forewarned that it is home to something called the Green Monster. Kind of scary sounding, don’t you think?

If baseball is not your thing, there are myriad reasons to visit Boston in the ... [read more]

The samba, the beaches, the parties…Brazil is one of the most funnest places to visit on this planet. Imagine the time you will have aboard a 4-night Costa cruise! The Costa Victoria is your vessel on a journey that begins and ends in Santos, a city in Sao Paulo. In addition to being the entry point for the bubonic plague in Brazil in 1899 (no sign of it today!), Santos has the biggest seaport in Latin America, a Coffee Museum that will leave you buzzing and a soccer memorial ... [read more]

There is something indescribable about Italy that sucks you in and makes you one of her own. There is the beautiful countryside, of course, with its quaint towns, rolling hills and relaxed way of life. There are the cities, as well, with their hustle and bustle. There is the Riviera with its stunning cliffs that overhang deep blue waters. There are also the mountains. The Alps and the Dolemites redefine the reaches of land.

Some or all of these components of Italy will likely leave you enchanted, but ... [read more]

Why did they decide to call it New Mexico? It is not like they came up with a newer, better formula like New Coke. Why not just call it North Mexico instead? And while we are at it, why did they have to name the biggest city in the state Albuquerque? Didn’t they realize that name is very difficult for those of us who are spelling impaired?

Thos are the only complaints I have about New Mexico and its biggest city. It is a lovely state with awesome scenery. ... [read more]

One minute you rarely hear about a country, the next it is the darling of the travel world. If your take a bit of time looking at the various travel deals floating around the Web, the odds are good that you will quickly come across something to do with Belize. The Central American country is a hot travel destination this year and it is easy to understand why.

Just a two-hour flight from the continental United States, Belize is an easy-to-reach beach destination. It doesn’t hurt that the country has a ... [read more]

The Pacific Ocean in many parts of North America hardly lives up to its name “peaceful sea”. For large portions of the year the Pacific churns and turns and swells…and, well, you get the idea. It isn’t exactly the ideal place to be on a cruise. All of that changes in the summer when the seas become a bit more pacific and the costal scenery more visible.

Norwegian Cruise Line has an excellent six-night cruise along the Pacific Coast. Starting in Vancouver, British Columbia, the ship first makes its ... [read more]

Here is your trivial fact for the week. Saint Maarten is the smallest island in the world to ever be partitioned between two nations. The tiny Caribbean island is just 38 square miles and is split in half between the Dutch and the French (who call it Saint-Martin). The island is home to 71,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated places in the world. It also attracts more than 1 million tourists each year.

The reason that so many people are drawn to so small a place ... [read more]

The Dominican Republic is hot, both literally and figuratively. The summer temperatures are steamy and the island’s popularity is even hotter. The Caribbean island is quickly becoming a favorite destination of the jet set crowd (how does one apply to be a member of the jet set?) and it is also becoming a favorite destination for families looking for affordable vacations in paradise.

With its white sandy beaches, crystal clear blue waters, and verdant landscape, the Dominican Republic is a beautiful country. It also has some excellent resorts that won’t break ... [read more]

Dilemma time. You have limited vacation time and even more limited vacation money. You have some time off from work stored up and this summer seems like an ideal time to take it. You could stay at home and watch cartoons on the couch all day or you could go on a fun-filled trip that will include fabulous food, entertainment and weather. Is there really any choice? You’ve seen all the cartoons before anyway. The coyote is never going to catch that darned roadrunner.

Carnival Cruise Lines ... [read more]

There is something special about camping. Maybe it is the misquitos or the prospect of getting eating by a bear or eating burnt hot dogs over a campfire that attracts so many of us to campgrounds in the summer and all year round.

It is more likely that we enjoy camping because it is a chance to get away from the grind, it is an affordable vacation option, and it affords us the opportunity to spend time in spectacular parts of the United States. It also gives us all an ... [read more]

There are many places in this big old world that you can go and very few of them are more beautiful than British Columbia, Canada. With its stunning coastline, glorious mountains and relaxed way of life, British Columbia is an oft forgotten North American jewel. That won’t be the case after 2010 when Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics. Once the world sees how amazing it is you can bet that people will flock to B.C.

Now is the optimal time to visit. The summer months in British Columbia cannot be ... [read more]

If you have ever in your lifetime had an itch to visit Puerto Rico you will want to read on because I have the perfect scratch just for you. If you have no interest in Puerto Rico whatsoever but still like reading poorly written prose about vacation deals, keep on reading on too.

Cheap Caribbean has an outstanding deal on vacation packages to Puerto Rico. The only real catch is that you have to travel during the summer months sometime between June 14 and July 29, 2007. If you ... [read more]

It never ceases to amaze how different people in this country live in such different fashion. A person in New York City could go years without ever walking barefooted on grass. A person in a small town in the middle of nowhere could also go years without ordering sushi from a restaurant at 3am. Ours is a big and diverse country and we all go about living in it in our very own way.

AirTran has a deal that is being billed as a way to visit the big US ... [read more]

Pound-for-pound (I should say kilo-for-kilo) Canada is one of the most underrated tourist destinations in the world. The United States’ neighbor is often overlooked by Americans looking to go on holiday. The perception some have is that once you cross the border you will have to contend with polar bears and Mounties. The Mounties part is true. The polar bear part, not so much.

The very real fact is that Canada is a wonderful place to travel for Americans and for people from other countries. It is a large ... [read more]

If you are looking for a quick and easy escape, consider taking a holiday in Montego Bay, Jamaica. With its sheltered Doctor’s Cave beach, clear turquoise waters and pretty surrounding mountains, it is a beautiful place to relax for a few days, especially when you can get an outstanding deal on a flight and hotel vacation package.

When Christopher Columbus first visited the island in 1494 he named the bay Golfo de Buen Tiempo (Fair Weather Gulf). The weather nor the fairness haven’t changed since. Make no bones about it, ... [read more]

Unless you are a polar bear or a person who would like to be a polar bear, chances are you don’t think about traveling to Alaska much in the winter months. But once summer rolls around you might be like millions of people who dream about seeing the splendors of the Last Frontier.

It has reached the point where the Inside Passage between Vancouver and Juneau has become a veritable superhighway for summertime cruise ships. Everyone and their mother are yearning to see the glaciers and wildlife of Alaska and there is ... [read more]

There are many advantages to choosing to travel to Puerto Rico. For one thing it is super close to the mainland United States and relatively easy to travel to. For another thing it is a super interesting island with a unique history and culture. For another it is a place that is used to hosting English speakers from the US. For another it has beautiful beaches and stunning waters. And best of all it is a slice of the Caribbean that doesn’t necessarily come with the Caribbean prices.

Puerto ... [read more]

Portugal is frequently an overlooked European destination. It should not be. A country of beauty and charm, Portugal is an excellent place to visit. And what better way to visit a country that was once renowned for its ocean explorers than to visit it on a cruise ship?

I’ll admit that Holland America’s 10-day cruise to Lisbon from Ft. Lauderdale might seem dull to some people. When you look at the itinerary all you see is day after day of “At Sea”. If sailing on the high ocean is not your ... [read more]

The only thing more foolish than paying full price for a Las Vegas vacation is paying full price for a Las Vegas vacation and losing your mortgage while playing craps. As my grandfather used to tell me when I was a little boy, fly wisely and gamble even wiser. Or something like that. I don’t gamble. I hate making casinos go broke.

With all the Vegas offers out there how does one possibly choose which to take advantage of? That is an excellent question. You should take a ... [read more]

We’re diving head first into the travel season when it becomes expensive to travel to Europe. Everyone and their mother’s mother want to visit the Old Continent during the summer season and that means that the airlines can bend you over their knees and spank you until all of the money falls out of your pockets.

There is hope, however, if you are able to travel between now and the start of the summer crunch (late May). This is kind of the in between period where prices creep up but aren’t quite ... [read more]

Do you ever feel like the weight on the world is on your shoulders? No matter how strong you might be carrying the world’s weight can be a real drag after a while. Before things start getting so heavy that your back, head and appendix start to hurt, you should consider it time to take for a vacation. What better way to lose all responsibilities by allowing a cruise ship to carry your weight for a week?

Carnival is known for their affordable cruises. While they deliver the cheap prices, ... [read more]

Do you remember the months after Crocodile Dundee came out? Every person and their mother wanted to go to Australia. And then they looked at a map and realized that is was slightly further away than Alabama and slightly more expensive to travel to. Ah, the sound of travel plans shattered by money and distance. It is one that brings sadness to my ears. We’ve all experienced it.

The good news is that even without the Croc man on the big screen Australia is still a desirable place to ... [read more]

SE Asia is a culture that must be experienced at its own pace. While the cities are busy and frantic, the countryside is tranquil and decidedly slower. You will have plenty of time to experience this firsthand during an 18-day adventure trip that follows the Trail of the Khmer through Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

The trip begins and ends in Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling and unforgettable capital. From there you go off the beaten path and onto the Khmer Trail by visiting some of Cambodia’s most amazing spots. You’ll also ... [read more]

Is there a community in this world that does not have music? It would seem that music is one of the few common threads that bind humanity. We may not all like the Spice Girls, for example, but we all like something. This has always been the case. Even in ancient times people felt the need to make noise beyond the grunts and groans that come out of our mouths. Music is a universal phenomenon and it isn’t going anywhere soon.

Many people travel to listen to music in ... [read more]

It is hard to imagine that 42,807 people choose to live in the desert. That is the population of Palm Springs, California, a town with an average daytime high of 108 degrees in the summer. That is the population of a place that averages 354 days of sunshine per year and on average receives less than 6 inches of rain annually. How is a town that size able to sustain itself in a place that dry? Do the residents take their buckets and fill them up at the local ... [read more]

It is not every day that one comes across a cruise that makes a port of call in Haiti. The impoverished Caribbean nation once had a thriving tourism business but that has certainly not been the case for a number of years. Perhaps that is all about to change.

Royal Caribbean International offers up a 5-day cruise from Miami that goes to both Jamaica and Haiti. The ship stops in Labadie, Haiti which is described in the following fashion:

Labadie has the distinctive charm of delivering in just one place some ... [read more]

If you do a Google search for Rome the first thing that comes up is a television series on HBO by that very name. How did a show that has only been around for a couple of years beat out a city that has been inhabited since around the 8th Century BC? The whole thing about Rome not being built in a day doesn’t apply to the Internet apparently. A couple of years is equal to a day when you are talking about development over centuries.

The deal for today has ... [read more]

If you were in London this very second check out all the cool things you could be doing. If you are in London this very second, what the hell are you doing reading this blog? Go out and enjoy life already. You live in one of the coolest places on this planet. Go be cool.

For the rest of you, if you want to be cool too and hang out with all the cool kids in London, now is the time of year to get your cool on. ... [read more]

There might be lovelier places in spring than Paris but I can’t think of many. After the winter gloom departs and the flowers remember that they are supposed to be colorful, Paris comes alive in a way that doesn’t exist the rest of the year. Indeed, springtime is the time for Parisians to enjoy Paris. The tourists aren’t out in big numbers and the city’s many charms are on full display.

Many a person has fallen in love in Paris in the spring and many a couple have rekindled the flames ... [read more]

You can hardly go a click of mouse in your Internet travels these days without coming across some kind of deal on Caribbean vacation packages. In fact, you are likely to come across ads with blinking lights and dancing coconut shells or something equally absurd. I promise never to have blinking anythings on this site. Can’t promise I won’t be absurd though.

Now that the winter holiday rush is over and Spring Break is soon to be a hazy memory, the various resorts in the Caribbean are eager to ... [read more]

Mirrors on the ceiling and pink champagne on ice are not for everyone. I personally prefer mirrors on the floor and pink lemonade. There are, of course, more hotels in Los Angeles than just the Hotel California. The city and, in fact, all of Southern California has some excellent places to lay your head at night when you aren’t busy trying to make it big on the big screen.

Los Angeles area hotels are plentiful and as with most things involved with the city they range from truly memorable to truly ... [read more]

When I arrived in Fiji a few years back I had a backpack on my shoulder and a limited amount of money in my pockets. I was traveling by myself and merely had a travel guide to direct me. I had been on the road for weeks and was feeling completely worn down. I was lonely and tired of people. I had lost faith in humanity. All I wanted to do was go home, a sad thought considering I had just landed on an island that is close ... [read more]

Do you ever find it annoying when people use the word “aloha” when they are speaking English? I do. It is a pretty word and in Hawaiian it sounds great but when you sprinkle it in with English conversation it just sounds silly. That is my pet peeve for the week. You are forewarned. If I hear you saying aloha in an inappropriate setting I will scorn you and not share my delicious freshly sliced Hawaiian pineapple with you.

Now, if you are in Hawaii and you feel the ... [read more]

In our never-ending search to find unusual cruise itineraries we’ve come across this one. It is a 16-day voyage aboard Costa Cruise Lines‘ Costa Magica. Unlike those other boring old cruises that simply go from Florida to the Bahamas, this one is not content to just end there. No, this is a cruise for the adventurer. It is a cruise for people who like to spend time at sea. It is a cruise for the ocean-tested souls amongst us. It is a cruise to Copenhagen, Denmark ... [read more]

Greece is a very proud and patriotic country, as well it should be. Greek history is long and storied. It is little wonder that the country’s modern national anthem has no less than 158 verses. It might take you a full millennium just to sing them all.

Fortunately you will not be asked to sing it on Royal Caribbean’s 7-night cruise of the Greek Isles. You might be persuaded to do some karaoke, but that is par for the course on a cruise. This is a cruise that ... [read more]

Does the thought of wearing cucumbers on your eyes excite you? Does the mere mention of a mud bath get your juices flowing? Do you go to night dreaming about a deep tissue massage?

If you answered yes to those three questions than you are just like me; you are a health spa fiend. It doesn’t matter where the spa is located, I love them. My friend even convinced me to go to one in a strip mall next to a major interstate highway. It was heaven.

I ... [read more]

Here is a way to join the mile-high club without having to sneak off to a cramped airplane restroom while the rest of the cabin is watching a cheesy romantic comedy at 50,000 feet. Simply visit Denver, Colorado and enjoy the company of your significant other in the comfort of a bed, chair, swing, or whatever. After all, Denver is the Mile High City so by my calculations that means you will be in the club. Of course I am not president of the club so I don’t have the ... [read more]

The postcard had to be invented because of Vermont. Many years ago a person must have been traveling through the state without a camera only hoping to share the beauty with her friends and loved ones back home. The spectacular Green Mountains, the charming little villages, the clear blue lakes…mere words could not do the state justice. She must have convinced someone to take a picture for her and to post it in the mail.

That is always how I envision Vermont. Having spent a lot of time there I ... [read more]

Traveling to Europe in the summer is a bit akin to being a cow in a cattle drive. The herds of masses obligingly travel from one old church to another with the occasional stop at a famous landmark for a picture or two. Not that there is anything wrong with this. Europe is a wonderful continent with no shortages of beautiful sights, but to go there in the summer months is to know the true meaning of an overpopulated world.

One way around this is to travel during the off-season. ... [read more]

It wasn’t long ago that you couldn’t pay people to vacation in the Dominican Republic. Some peaceful times, a few shots of half-clothed celebrities lounging on the beaches there and a plethora of new resorts that are out of this world have changed all of that. The DR is hot, hot, hot as they like to say in the travel industry.

Because it is hot, hot, hot, prices are going up, up, up. Sure you can still fly to the island and find a fleabag hotel that isn’t very expensive, but ... [read more]

With its location on Lake Michigan and nearly constant air movement you would think that Chicago deserves to be called the Windy City. But did you know that there are a number of cities in the United States that have a higher average wind speed than Chicago’s 10.4 miles per hours?

Casper, Wyo. (12.9 m.p.h.), Boston (12.5), Buffalo (12), Milwaukee (11.6), and Honolulu (11.4) are all windier. Incidentally, America’s windiest city is Blue Hill, Mass., with an average velocity of 15.4 m.p.h. Now you know why people in Blue Hill live in ... [read more]

We’re a little over a year away from the 2008 Summer Olympics and by all accounts things are full steam ahead in Beijing, China. You better start training if you have any hope to win the speed walking competition. The Summer Games, along with the booming Chinese economy, is helping to transform Beijing each and every day. Gone are the small little alleys and side streets that were unique to Beijing. In are new, modern buildings, an improved infrastructure and an increasing number of residents living a middle class ... [read more]

Some people are Francophiles and others are Anglophiles. What about people who are lovers of lovers? Are we philephiles?

Word musings aside, if you are an Anglophile or simply have a desire to visit the British Isles I have found the perfect cruise for you. Celebrity Cruises have sunk a lot of money into renovating the Century and they want to show it off in style. They are offering a nine-day cruise of the British Isles.

You might be thinking that the British Isles are small and that it would ... [read more]

It happens every year at this time. It starts out with me watching a cycling race from Europe. I watch the riders going through historic cities, climbing spectacular mountains and pedaling through quaint towns that look like they are straight off of a postcard. I start caring less and less for the race and more and more for the scenery. The next thing you know I am booking a flight to Europe. I need to kill my television.

This week’s race is from Paris to Nice, France. ... [read more]

Forget Mardi Gras. The best party in New Orleans is Jazz Fest. It offers all the thrills and wonders of the other big party without the debauchery and annoyingness. Plus it features the best jazz music in the world. What could be better than that?

Just looking at this year’s scheduled artists makes my mouth water. There are not only the finest jazz musicians in the world, but also some great rock, blues and country performers. All of this takes place with the city of New Orleans ... [read more]

I’ve always been a bit curious about the name of Norway’s capital. Oslo rolls off the tongue. It is short, sweet and simple. In other words, it is not like Burkina Faso’s capital. It is no Ouagadougou (try saying that ten times or at least correctly once).

According to Wikipedia, the name Oslo is the subject of much debate. There are some that believe it comes from the name of a large farm during the time of settlement. There are others that say it refers to the ... [read more]

I’ll admit to being a little more than skeptical before I went to Florence, Italy. Everyone I have ever talked to who has been there has said that it is a special city. A place that is loved by so many, I thought, must be teeming with tourists and therefore a city that I won’t enjoy in the least. I was wrong.

I wasn’t wrong about the tourist part. There are more fanny packs per capita in Florence than there are anywhere else in the world. Every third vehicle ... [read more]

Founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1697, Loreto was the first Spanish town on the Baja California Peninsula. With 10,000 residents, it is mainly a town centered around tourism these days. There is a reason why many visitors from the United States and elsewhere travel to Loreto. It is absolutely lovely.

Located on the Sea of Cortes and with the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range nearby, Loreto is an ideal setting for those looking to do some fishing, kayaking golfing, boating and good old fashioned lounging in the sun. ... [read more]

It is almost impossible to believe that at one time Sesame Street was viewed as being a terrible thing. Back when the show first started many parents and educators believed that it was the beginning of the end. They thought it would warp children’s minds and lead to a society full of walking zombies. How wrong they were. The show has helped to teach millions of children to read, count and to believe in a talking giant bird.

If your children are at an age where Sesame Street fills them ... [read more]

Elation [Noun] - an exhilarating psychological state of pride and optimism; an absence of depression. A feeling of joy and pride.

If you were asked to close your eyes and to define the word “elation” chances are that you would have all kinds of images flash before you, but you still might have difficulty putting a definition into words. It is easy to remember times when you have felt elation but it is much more difficult to share what that elation feels like with others.

Travel is often a stimulus that triggers ... [read more]

You know that Easter is right around the corner when you start seeing Cadbury Creme Eggs in all of the food stores. For 11 months out of the year these tiny little innocent sugar bombs are stored in the back aisles somewhere near the little candy hearts people eat on Valentine’s Day and the Christmas-tree shaped marshmallow candy. These are all foods that have been designed to have a shelf life somewhere in the neighborhood of 7,000 years.

The return of the Cadbury Creme Eggs is a sure sign that spring is ... [read more]

For as long as I have been in the business of finding cheap cruise deals — seemingly an eternity — this one might be the one that offers the most value for the dollar. It is a 13-day cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norweigan Crown. The voyage goes from Valparaiso, Chile to Miami, Florida via the Panama Canal. The cost for an inside cabin? A mere $600. That is how much you might pay for a quick cruise through the Panama Canal, not one of this length ... [read more]

For a place that has been called paradise on more than one occasion, Hawaii sure goes to a lot of effort to attract tourists. You would think that the incredible beaches, warm waters, stunning mountains and world-class resorts would do enough to sell the state on its own, but apparently people need even more of an incentive to visit.

Every week I seemingly come across deals on Hawaiian vacations. I have come to the conclusion that the only excuse you should ever have for paying full price for a trip to Hawaii ... [read more]

A free night is a free night even if it means staying in a dump. The Hotel Carlton is far from a dump.

The 163-room Hotel Carlton is a lovely, historic hotel located in downtown San Francisco. Originally built in 1927 and completely renovated in 2004, the hotel is a relaxing, intimate haven located five blocks from Union Square. Guestrooms feature exotic and enchanting photographs of sights from around the globe, inviting you to virtually tour the world. Take a short two-block walk to the California Street cable car line and hop ... [read more]

Sometimes economics can make no sense. If you add up the costs of gasoline, food, ferry fees and a night or two at a hotel during a road trip from San Diego, California to Victoria, British Columbia, you likely would be very pleased if you could do it for $180 in a car.

That is the amount that Holland America is charging for a 3-night cruise aboard the Oosterdam. Instead of sitting behind the wheel of a car listening to bad AM talk radio and occasionally stopping to eat Doritos at ... [read more]

The spring season is usually an excellent time to travel to Europe and this year it is proving to be no exception. In addition to not having to deal with the summer crowds that can make even the nicest place not so nice, traveling in the spring offers travelers and opportunity to save money on flights and accommodations.

Case in point is a deal being offered by British Airways for flights before May 27, 2007. If you book one of their reasonably priced flights to London and other destinations around the ... [read more]

Some people are fascinated by globes and maps. I am one of those people. Every time I am in a room that has a map or a globe my eyes immediately wander towards it. There is something about reading the names of unknown places and then imagining what they are like that gets my juices going.

The Caribbean is a geographic area that is particularly interesting to me. The little dots on the map hold untold mysteries and histories that are rich once they are learned. The best way ... [read more]

What does a city that is defined by its waterways have in common with a city in the desert where water is piped in from hundreds of miles away? Absolutely nothing, but that is the essence of Las Vegas where things are so absurd that no one would ever question why there is a Venice hotel in the city.

As you likely know, The Venetian hotel has a reputation as being one of Las Vegas’ more upscale sleeping quarters. It hosts no less than 19 restaurants, it has the Guggenheim ... [read more]

Not that I would ever suggest that you should break the law (please people, stop jaywalking already!), but if hypothetically you were to break the law you should at least do so to benefit your travel plans. For example, you could – again this is just hypothetical – secure a fake ID for your children. No, I am not talking about one of those ones that will allow your 18-year-old to shotgun cheap beer in a college bar. Let him do this on his own. It is part of ... [read more]

We have Christopher Columbus to thank for the name Virgin Islands. The great explorer gave the Caribbean Islands their name on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, naming them for Saint Ursula and her virgin followers. It is a good thing she had those virgin followers. Calling a country the Slut Islands probably wouldn’t go over too well these days. Virginity is all the rage so the Virgin Islands are nicely positioned in the name department.

The Virgin Islands also happen to be nicely positioned if you ... [read more]

With a name like Conquest you can probably guess that this Carnival Cruise ship is slightly bigger and more intimidating than a puttering tugboat. The Conquest does indeed live up to its name. Weighing in at a cool 110,000 tons, the ship is one of the many Carnival mega cruise ships that are churning in seas throughout the world. Like its brethren, the Conquest offers affordable fun and can accommodate roughly the population of a small city – 2,974 passengers and more than 1,500 crew members. Sixty percent ... [read more]

Are there two more disparate places that are always linked together than Reno and Tahoe? Reno is all about city life. More precisely, it is more about gambling and enjoying the wonderfully wacky world of casinos. You could literally spend an entire weekend in Reno without ever breathing anything other than smoke-filled hotel air.

Tahoe is the exact opposite. It is all about nature and about being outdoors. Lake Tahoe is one of the country’s true treasures, its blue waters unlike any other. The mountains in Tahoe are ... [read more]

Sometimes I wish I could have been born in a different era. I wish that I could have been one of the early explorers in North America. Imagine the thrill it must have been for Lewis and Clark to turn the corner of a river and to come across a piece of scenery or an animal previously unknown to the rest of the world. Imagine the feeling that Davey Edward Jackson must have felt when he first settled in the valley that bares his name, Jackson Hole.

To have first ... [read more]

If you are looking for a quick little getaway to a destination that offers great history, food and nightlife, than look no further than Boston. Beantown is one of America’s great cities and it is ideal for a four-day weekend escape. Take a tour of where the country’s founders once walked, sit back and enjoy the eclectic scene in Harvard Square, and visit some of the best restaurants on this planet.

If culture is your thing, the city has several ornate theatres, including the Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston Opera House, The Wang ... [read more]

Here is an adventure for you. BootsnAll has designed an awesome 12-day summer trip to Turkey. Limited to just 12 people, this adventure tour has it all: horseback riding, rafting, trekking, cycling, and a 4-day cruise on an old world sailboat in the Mediterranean Sea, complete with swimming, snorkeling and seafood.

Beginning and ending in the one-of-a-kind city of Istanbul, the tour features a stop at the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site which has 1000-year-old cave churches decorated with frescoes. If you have never been ... [read more]

Did you know that Miami is a Spring Break hot spot this year? Neither did I until I received no less than four emails from various travel companies proclaiming it as the place to be during those crazy weeks of beer funnels, bikinis, and debauchery. Sounds thrilling, right?

Even if the college party scene isn’t your cup of tea, Miami is still a killer place to visit. It has easy access to some wonderful beaches, it is the epicenter of Latin culture in the United States, the Cuban restaurants are simply ... [read more]

As Europe continues to come closer and closer together through the evolution of the European Union it is becoming more and more obvious that there are many unique cultures on the continent. The borders might be blurred but the traditions and the history is not. Holland is different than Germany and Germany is different than Poland and on and on.

These differences are one of the great things about traveling through Europe. There is certainly a European way of life on the continent but that way of life changes from country ... [read more]

Here’s a great deal if you are looking for an affordable Spring Break getaway or to add another stamp to your child’s passport. Alaskan Airlines is offering up a deal where kids ages 2-11 can fly for free to Vancouver, B.C. when you purchase a flight and hotel stay package. A free vacation for the kids! Sign me up!

The offer is only valid on flights from Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego and it requires a minimum 3-night stay at one of the hotels in Vancouver. ... [read more]

Contrary to popular belief you need more than a surfboard to get around when you visit Hawaii. Those sharks can be nasty and sometimes you want to get away from the beach and head inland a bit to explore the mountains and to see how hot those volcanoes can really get.

Enter United Airlines vacations. They have a deal on free car rentals in Hawaii that is good for the entire year. All you have to do is book a holiday through them and they’ll give you to keys to ... [read more]

Going on a cruise alone is about as fun as watching paint dry. You need someone else to come along to help make fun of the other passengers, to be your partner for the funky chicken dance contest and to oooh and ahhh when there is a spectacular sunset. You need someone to tell you not to hit the buffet line for the third time at dinner and someone who you can share the sights with while you are having the vacation of a lifetime.

Yes, a cruise partner is in order ... [read more]

If all the trees that have been felled in order for people to write about the beauty of Paris were still around I am convinced that we wouldn’t have global climate change. I am also convinced that people would still know about the beauty of Paris. All you have to do is go there once and you will discover her charms for yourself.

Deciding what to see and what to do while you are in the City of Lights can be a challenge. Even with the best guidebooks and an understanding ... [read more]

You don’t need to take mind altering drugs, attend a rave and have random strangers hugging you all night long to experience ecstasy these days. Put away your pacifiers and pack your suntan lotion. Ecstasy awaits you aboard Carnival Cruise Lines’ Ecstasy.

Part of Caribbean’s “fun cruises” (as opposed to their “not so fun cruises”???), the Ecstasy features 3-, 4- and 5-night cruises through the Gulf of Mexico that depart from Galveston, Texas. The cruises visit tried and true ports like Cozumel, Mexico and Progreso on the Yucatan.

As is often ... [read more]

It is amazing what a little break away from home and work can do for the soul. Just when you are starting to feel like you have been punched in the gut by Mike Tyson only to have a piano fall from a third story window onto your back, a quick vacation can help you breathe normally again and it can help lift the weight of the world off of your shoulders.

As far as short little junkets go, this is a pretty tasty one. Priceline has a nifty deal on three-night ... [read more]