Posts Tagged ‘Vacations’

7 Classic American Vacations on the Cheap

7 Classic American Vacations on the Cheap
Follow these frugal travel tips and save money while visiting these national treasures.

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RV and Car Camping Vacations in Europe: RV and Car Camping Tours to Europe’s Top Vacation Destinations by Mike Church, Terri Church

RV and Car Camping Vacations in Europe: RV and Car Camping Tours to Europe’s Top Vacation Destinations by Mike Church, Terri Church

Unforgettable Pacific Northwest Camping Vacations

Unforgettable Pacific Northwest Camping Vacations

Five Family Friendly Vacations Ideas and How To Make Them Inexpensive

Does the cost of travel have you wondering whether or not you can afford to take your family on a vacation this year? Your much needed and well deserved vacation should be a priority in your life and we are providing ways to make your family vacation time more affordable and more enjoyable.

1. Kids and Cruises -Traveling by ship is a way for families to visit several places on one trip without constantly having to pack and unpack which is a big benefit for parents with young children. Additionally most cruise lines offer children’s programs and kids will love the freedom of life on board a cruise ship.

Way to save on cruising: Travel agents specializing in cruises and businesses that book blocks of cabins can offer quite a savings on rooms. Cruising prices are also dependent upon the season you choose to cruise. Look for off season specials or cruises that include airfare as part of the deal. Many of the cruise lines offer a kid sail free program.

2. All Inclusive Packages – Look for family friendly locations. Family package destinations will offer activities for both parents and children. Entertainment for everyone plus food, drink and activities are all in one place.

Ways to save on packages:  Mid week departure and arrivals will save you money on airfare. Also schedule your travels for off season.

3. Renting a House – Renting a house for your family vacation in the location you want to visit will provide the benefits of learning the local culture plus you get more for your vacation dollar. You can experience life with all its local flavors. If find out all the info about a location before the trip you will experience all the fun and excitement and not miss anything once you get there

Ways to save on rentals: The internet offers huge resources for finding a rental in the location you prefer. Local newspapers for the areas which are often published on line can help you find a great deal also. Look for coupons to save money on food and activities. It’s a great money-saving idea to split the cost of the house rental with another family whether it be family or friends.

4. Adventure Packages – Adventure vacations are designed to teach basic skills and how to respect the environment. Whether you choose white water rafting or hiking in the wilderness, your family’s safety will be a top priority with your nature guide. Most of the time all equipment is provided and often will include all meals for the day.

Ways to save on adventure trips: Book your trip with an adventure travel specialist. You will be sure to get the best price with the most features.

5. Camping Vacations – Outdoor vacations such as camping provide families ways to work together and play together. Campgrounds normally offer plenty of activities to keep children entertained. Camping can be either in a tent or many places even offer cabins. Additionally you can rent an RV to experience RV camping.

Ways to save on camping: Many national campground locations offer membership cards that offer benefits to its regular campers. Cooking your food at camp rather than eating out will help you save money.

Wherever you decide on the family vacation, whether it’s an airline ticket or a hotel room, never take the first price your quoted. Always attempt to negotiate for a better price. Ask about any available discounts.  Be a flexible traveler. If you’re willing to give up your seats on a flight for someone flying standby, you’ll be rewarded with free tickets. Set aside the dates you want to travel and then watch for last minute deals.  When on vacation skip the souvenirs and start a postcard or refrigerator magnet collection. If you plan properly you can be assured of your family having a fun and affordable family vacation.

RV and Car Camping Vacations in Europe: RV and Car Camping Tours to Europe’s Top Vacation Destinations

Product Description
Detailed routes and advice for traveling throughout Europe are provided in this guide for RV and tent campers. Listings for each of the 10 two-week trips include directions, maps, and informative advice on what to see and where to stay. Preparation specifics on renting or bringing an RV or car, budget planning, packing, and international border crossings are also covered. A complete listing of campgrounds throughout Europe is included with descriptions and contact information for each. Destinations include the Alps, the British Isles, central Europe, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

RV and Car Camping Vacations in Europe: RV and Car Camping Tours to Europe’s Top Vacation Destinations

Naturists and Naturalists – Vacations in Southern Crete

Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands, is sometimes described as a mass tourist resort. It is true that there are several north coast resorts on Crete that can be found in the brochures of practically every package tour company. But Crete is a very big island with many unspoilt holiday resorts for tourists who prefer a quieter vacation, enjoying beautiful scenery and glimpses of traditional Cretan culture.

Both of Crete’s international airports are situated on the north coast and two high mountain ranges running east-west, form a natural barrier to mass tourism reaching the south coast. In the southwest corner of the island, the highest mountains drop steeply to the coastal area, making any serious development of these remote communities impossible. Indeed, the mountains drop so steeply here that some of the villages can only be accessed by sea.

This area of Crete is known as the Sfakia region. It lays at the foot the White Mountain range. These mountains have more than a hundred peaks, with eighty reaching to over 6500 feet and the highest ones towering to nearly eight thousand feet. Europe’s longest gorge, the Samaria, can be found amongst them, along with several others that are less well known but are every bit as picturesque and dramatic to explore.

To get to the Sfakia region, most people fly to Chania airport and travel by road over a mountain pass to Chora Sfakion. However, my best travel tip is to check out the cost of flights to Nikos Kazantzakis Airport in Heraklion before deciding which airport to fly to. I have always found that it is possible to make substantial savings by flying there instead of to Chania and the road journey to Chora Sfakion is not really all that much further.

There are a couple of family run hotels, self catering apartments, studios and village rooms providing accommodations at competitive rates in and around Chora Sfakion but we have always stayed at the beautiful naturist hotel a mile to the east in Vritomartis. If you dare to bare this is one of the few places in Greece where nudity is officially allowed. The whole of the hotel grounds are clothes optional and the area around the pool is designated as naturist only. The nearest beach is only a five minute walk away and is also clothes optional. The area is so remote, that many guests don’t even bother dressing for the walk.

For naturalists the Sfakia region provides plenty of opportunities to spot unique Cretan flora and fauna which includes the Kri Kri, a species of wild goat, indigenous to and only found on Crete. Dolphins, whales and turtles can often be seen in the clear coastal waters whilst Bonelli’s Eagle and the Griffon Vulture may be seen circling in the blue skies above.

For walkers, the gorges and mountains provide challenges ranging from relaxing hikes to demanding treks. The most famous walk is of course the Samaria Gorge and although it is very much worth undertaking, you may be put off by the crowds of tourists that descend it nearly every day. They arrive by the coach-load from all over the island because the excursion is number one on every tour operators “must-sell” list. Its worth putting up with the crowds however because once you have hiked a few hundred metres from the start of the walk, you will find plenty of spaces between you and the other walkers for the remaining 16 kilometres. The scenery is magnificent all the way down to the shore of the Lybian sea at Agia Roumeli from where you get a boat back to Chora Sfakion.

The smaller gorges of Imbros and Aradena are much less likely to be afflicted by hoards of other tourists. Imbros is an easy half day hike and its finish is situated very near to Vritomartis, making it a good choice for naturists who want to put their shorts and hiking boots on just for a change. Aradena is more of a challenge but not much further away. A good head for heights is needed on one of the sections where a little scrambling is involved.

For history lovers, the region has much to reveal about the Battle for Crete during the second world war and it is definitely worth reading the book of this name by Nikos Kazantzakis as a prelude to your vacation. The mountain villages were famous for their fierce resistance fighters where you will find the occasional statue or monument erected in memory of a local hero.

So, if you are the sort of person who loves dramatic, picturesque scenery, secluded beaches with crystal clear waters, remote mountain villages where traditional culture still remains; this part of Crete is definitely for you. If you happen to be a naturist as well as a naturalist, my travel tip is to book your vacation at the Vritomartis hotel. If you prefer to hide some parts of your body from the hot Cretan sun, head for the accommodations in Chora Sfakion instead. If you want to stay somewhere that is even more remote, hop on a boat at Chora Sfakion to take you to the next coastal village which is called Loutro. Although there is no way of reaching Loutro by road, it does have some pretty holiday apartments, several secluded beaches that nestle in coves at the foot of cliffs and donkey tracks and paths that lead up into the mountains and along the coast.

Wherever you decide to stay in this region of southern Crete you will almost certainly enjoy good weather. However, a fierce wind, blowing from the north and known as the Meltemi, funnels down through the mountain gorges and hits the southern shores with some force. It is usually at its strongest from mid July to late August, making Europe’s most southerly sun seem a little cooler than it would otherwise be. If you don’t like being wind blasted, avoid this time of the year.

Plan Your Next Vacations In Dubrovnik

Croatia with its variety of physical features such as the large stretches of plains, the beautiful lakes and rolling hills welcomes all it’s tourist with numerous options for sightseeing and many other activities and allures people of all age and all moods. The mix of climate both temperate and subtropical, more than one thousand islands in varying size, the continental and the Mediterranean coast, the famous national parks invites tourism all year round.

If you are planning a vacation in Europe then Croatia is the ultimate destination with its charming and classy hotels. Located in between south central Europe and middle Europe, the presence of Adriatic and the Danube, the second largest sea in Europe which runs through the city of Vukovar brings in the beautiful sea life which has now become the part and parcel of the tourism industry in Croatia.

Zagreb being the capital city is where you start your journey from besides this Split and Dubrovnik are also two major cities which own international airports and various sites of interest which will allure you and your family members. Dubrovnik a major tourist hub founded in the 7th century and has since then fascinated visitors from all around the world with its exceptional beauty and imagination craved in stone.

Dubrovnik summer accommodation has various wonderful options for everyone be it a business man on some business trip or a complete family on a wonderful vacation. Called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, situated on the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik became an important Mediterranean sea power from the early 13th century onwards. Although it has been severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, the city has managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains of great tourist interest. Its is now listed as one of the world heritage sites along with other sites in Croatia such as Plitvice Lakes National Park and Historic City of Trogir etc.

The calmness and serenity of this country can be enjoyed easily in these hotels which serve according to the needs of the tourist. Various apartments can be also hired if you don’t want the hustle bustle of a hotel and want to enjoy the beauty of nature in complete inarticulateness.

The rigorous work routines and innumerable tension in your personal life often ask you to take some time out for your self and indulge in your thoughts by co-coordinating them in complete harmony with nature. Therefore at that time it’s important you choose the right place and environment to relax you and help you in your exercise. If you choose Croatia then opt for Dubrovnik summer accommodation which will surely aid in your plans.