Whether you've been on a dozen Caribbean cruises or are eagerly anticipating your very first cruise to the Caribbean or another destination, you may find yourself in a quandary: should you book your cruise directly with a specific cruise line or should you utilize the services of an online agency that specializes in cruises?
Choices and Prices
The short answer is that you'll get the most choices and the best prices through an Internet cruise specialist. With a few clicks of your mouse, you'll be able to peruse Caribbean cruises, Mediterranean cruises, Alaska cruises, and those to many other destinations. You'll learn which cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean Cruises or Carnival Cruises, travel to your desired destination. The best online cruise specialists offer an easy way to search for cruises: by cruise line, destination, duration, date, and port of departure. Being able to see a summary of all of your available choices will help you find the cruise line that's right for you.
Moreover, premiere online cruise specialists have access to the lowest rates available for all cruise lines. This is because they buy blocks of staterooms at a steep discount and can pass along the savings to you. For example, if you are interested in Alaska cruises, you could select Alaska as your destination and view the featured promotions available through the agency. You may find that bookings for seven-night Royal Caribbean cruises from Seattle to Alaska are priced as low as $599. On the other hand, if you're looking for perfect Mediterranean cruises, special cruise promotions allow you to enjoy 12 days on Carnival Cruises for an incredibly low price. The best online cruise specialists will even include a coupon book, worth at least $200, that you can use for drinks, casino chips, massages, and more.
Side-by-Side Comparisons, Reviews, and More
Online cruise specialists provide a number of other advantages you won't find by booking directly with a cruise line. The websites of many cruise lines are difficult to navigate and it's a chore to find the information you need. If you're trying to compare ship deck plans from, say, Royal Caribbean cruises and Carnival cruises, it involves opening up several browser windows and figuring out which ships to view. Premiere online cruise specialists make it easy to compare ship deck plans by listing every ship - across all cruise lines - on the same page.
Almost without exception, individual cruise lines will feature glowing testimonials on their websites. It's difficult to get a realistic sense of a specific cruise or a specific ship. Online cruise specialists take the guesswork out of the process by providing passengers with the opportunity to write reviews about their experiences. Knowing that you're getting the real story from real people helps to ease your mind about a given cruise or cruise line.
The bottom line is that a premiere online cruise specialist will provide you with personalized one-on-one service, terrific low prices, and a free cruise search engine that updates its rates every 24 hours and shows every cruise in the world! So whether you're dreaming of warming yourself in the sun on Caribbean cruises or witnessing the calving of glaciers on Alaska cruises, booking your cruise with an online cruise specialist is the way to go.
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Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Why Las Vegas Hotel Rooms For You?
Las Vegas has more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from. There is something for every budget, and enough entertainment within walking distance to keep anyone occupied for months, never mind the usual weekend stay or honeymoon. There are few cities which have as many luxury hotels as Las Vegas.
For travellers searching for top of the line accommodation, try the Four Seasons Las Vegas. It offers an oasis of tranquil elegance, comfort, luxury, and seclusion. Though it has no in-house casino, it is adjacent to Mandalay Bay Casino. Four Seasons Las Vegas is a tranquil retreat from the bustling city. This hotel offers 424 rooms are located on floors 35-39, and the views from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the famous Las Vegas Strip. The Business Center and Concierge service at this hotel have an extremely good reputation for meeting special needs of guests, such as arranging limousine services on a moment's notice.
The Bellagio, a Las Vegas landmark, is a five-star hotel located on the 122-acre site of the legendary Dunes Hotel and Golf Course at the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvds. It contains one of the most attractive casinos in Las Vegas as well as numerous shops and restaurants. Bellagio's world-famous fountains combine opera, classical and whimsical music with a breathtaking water and light show. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens holds rows of exotic plants and flowers with unique displays for every season and holiday. It's an inviting location for a honeymoon photo opportunity.
Caesars Palace is the long-standing epitome of Las Vegas luxury hotels. It holds the famous Forum Shops, Spago, an Imax theater, and a new shopping wing and tower. For those guests who want to relax and be pampered, this hotel offers the Spa at Caesars, Venus the Salon, and the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis.
Caesars also offers guests access to the exclusive Cascata Golf Club. It features mountain scenery, beautiful waterfalls and rivers, and panoramic views combined with challenging holes and velvety greens to produce a golfing experience unparalleled anywhere else in the world. No expense has been spared, from the opulent clubhouse and pro shop to the personal and attentive service personel. Cascata was named listed as #56 by Golfweek Magazine in its article "2004 America's Best Top 100 Modern Courses". Golfweek also listed Cascata as #2 in Nevada in their list of "America's Best State-by-State Public Access Courses". In addition to be being named in Golfweeks America’s Best Modern Courses, Gary Galyean at Golf Magazine named Cascata #19 in the "Top 45 Courses Since 1959".
Luxor is a Nile-theme hotel which features a sphinx and a large pyramid which has become a Las Vegas landmark. The Pyramid has 2,256 rooms with 236 Spa suites, two in each corner of every floor. The rooms are reached by inclinating elevators which travel sideways at a 39-degree angle up 30 stories. The Luxor features a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment.
Mandalay Bay is a tropical-theme new resort offering visitors the chance to walk inside a plexiglass tunnel through the Shark Reef Aquarium, which holds sharks and rays. The hotel has a 30,000 square foot world-class Spa Mandalay and the 11 acre Mandalay Beach pool complex. The House of Blues music theatre has a seating capacity of approximately 1,800, and plays host to an eclectic mix of live music.
The Mirage Hotel is has an exploding volcano and a 20,000 gallon aquarium the greet guests as they enter this luxury hotel. The large pool complex has a quarter mile of shoreline along two large pools and smaller lagoons, and features a grotto and waterslides. The 2.5-million-gallon Dolphin Habitat is home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
The Mirage Hotel Tiger Habitat is the open-air home of Siegfried & Roy's Royal White Tigers, available for viewing by the public during the day and evening. The tigers' environment features a swimming pool with fountains and simulated mountain terrain. Unlike conventional tigers, which have black and gold markings,
white tigers are white with black stripes, pink paws and ice-blue eyes.
Visitors can find French-themed shopping and dining at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. It has a replica of the Arc De Triomphe and a half-scale Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower Experience allows guests to ride 460 feet to the top to see a stunning, panoramic view of the valley.
Paris is not the only European city recreated in miniature. The Venetian, renowned for its spacious and luxurious rooms, has gondolas in the midst of Las Vegas, as well as the Grand Canal Shoppes, a 500,000 square foot shopping plaza complete with cobblestone streets and beautiful traditional venetian style storefronts. The Grand Canal Shoppes host Streetmosphere, a cast of Carnivale street performers and opera singers.
For bargain hunters, the Rio hotel is not the newest or most elaborate building in town, but this all-suite Las Vegas hotel just off the Strip was rated No. 1 in value by Condé Nast Traveler.
The Rio was voted to have the best slot club according to Casino Player 2004. The Rio has more than 100,000 square feet of casino floor, hosting around 1,200 state-of-the-art slot and video poker machines, more than 80 table games including blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker and Mini-Baccarat as well as a Keno Lounge and full-service Race and Sports Book.
The Rio offers a great variety of entertainment all under one roof, from afternoon programs to risque late-night adult revues and interactive theater such as Tina and Tony's Wedding.
The Rio has opened a new restaurant, the Mah Jong Chinese Noodle Bar, which offers authentic Cantonese and Chinese dishes such as Beef Brisket Noodle Soup, Preserved Egg and Pork Congee as well as seafood entrees like Salt & Pepper Seabass and Scallops with Asparagus. Asian inspired decor and a fluent Chinese staff make this restaurant a memorable place to dine.
This list is just a small sample of the luxurious theme hotels available in Las Vegas. This city has something unique for every taste and budget.
Read More..
For travellers searching for top of the line accommodation, try the Four Seasons Las Vegas. It offers an oasis of tranquil elegance, comfort, luxury, and seclusion. Though it has no in-house casino, it is adjacent to Mandalay Bay Casino. Four Seasons Las Vegas is a tranquil retreat from the bustling city. This hotel offers 424 rooms are located on floors 35-39, and the views from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the famous Las Vegas Strip. The Business Center and Concierge service at this hotel have an extremely good reputation for meeting special needs of guests, such as arranging limousine services on a moment's notice.
The Bellagio, a Las Vegas landmark, is a five-star hotel located on the 122-acre site of the legendary Dunes Hotel and Golf Course at the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvds. It contains one of the most attractive casinos in Las Vegas as well as numerous shops and restaurants. Bellagio's world-famous fountains combine opera, classical and whimsical music with a breathtaking water and light show. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens holds rows of exotic plants and flowers with unique displays for every season and holiday. It's an inviting location for a honeymoon photo opportunity.
Caesars Palace is the long-standing epitome of Las Vegas luxury hotels. It holds the famous Forum Shops, Spago, an Imax theater, and a new shopping wing and tower. For those guests who want to relax and be pampered, this hotel offers the Spa at Caesars, Venus the Salon, and the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis.
Caesars also offers guests access to the exclusive Cascata Golf Club. It features mountain scenery, beautiful waterfalls and rivers, and panoramic views combined with challenging holes and velvety greens to produce a golfing experience unparalleled anywhere else in the world. No expense has been spared, from the opulent clubhouse and pro shop to the personal and attentive service personel. Cascata was named listed as #56 by Golfweek Magazine in its article "2004 America's Best Top 100 Modern Courses". Golfweek also listed Cascata as #2 in Nevada in their list of "America's Best State-by-State Public Access Courses". In addition to be being named in Golfweeks America’s Best Modern Courses, Gary Galyean at Golf Magazine named Cascata #19 in the "Top 45 Courses Since 1959".
Luxor is a Nile-theme hotel which features a sphinx and a large pyramid which has become a Las Vegas landmark. The Pyramid has 2,256 rooms with 236 Spa suites, two in each corner of every floor. The rooms are reached by inclinating elevators which travel sideways at a 39-degree angle up 30 stories. The Luxor features a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment.
Mandalay Bay is a tropical-theme new resort offering visitors the chance to walk inside a plexiglass tunnel through the Shark Reef Aquarium, which holds sharks and rays. The hotel has a 30,000 square foot world-class Spa Mandalay and the 11 acre Mandalay Beach pool complex. The House of Blues music theatre has a seating capacity of approximately 1,800, and plays host to an eclectic mix of live music.
The Mirage Hotel is has an exploding volcano and a 20,000 gallon aquarium the greet guests as they enter this luxury hotel. The large pool complex has a quarter mile of shoreline along two large pools and smaller lagoons, and features a grotto and waterslides. The 2.5-million-gallon Dolphin Habitat is home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
The Mirage Hotel Tiger Habitat is the open-air home of Siegfried & Roy's Royal White Tigers, available for viewing by the public during the day and evening. The tigers' environment features a swimming pool with fountains and simulated mountain terrain. Unlike conventional tigers, which have black and gold markings,
white tigers are white with black stripes, pink paws and ice-blue eyes.
Visitors can find French-themed shopping and dining at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. It has a replica of the Arc De Triomphe and a half-scale Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower Experience allows guests to ride 460 feet to the top to see a stunning, panoramic view of the valley.
Paris is not the only European city recreated in miniature. The Venetian, renowned for its spacious and luxurious rooms, has gondolas in the midst of Las Vegas, as well as the Grand Canal Shoppes, a 500,000 square foot shopping plaza complete with cobblestone streets and beautiful traditional venetian style storefronts. The Grand Canal Shoppes host Streetmosphere, a cast of Carnivale street performers and opera singers.
For bargain hunters, the Rio hotel is not the newest or most elaborate building in town, but this all-suite Las Vegas hotel just off the Strip was rated No. 1 in value by Condé Nast Traveler.
The Rio was voted to have the best slot club according to Casino Player 2004. The Rio has more than 100,000 square feet of casino floor, hosting around 1,200 state-of-the-art slot and video poker machines, more than 80 table games including blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker and Mini-Baccarat as well as a Keno Lounge and full-service Race and Sports Book.
The Rio offers a great variety of entertainment all under one roof, from afternoon programs to risque late-night adult revues and interactive theater such as Tina and Tony's Wedding.
The Rio has opened a new restaurant, the Mah Jong Chinese Noodle Bar, which offers authentic Cantonese and Chinese dishes such as Beef Brisket Noodle Soup, Preserved Egg and Pork Congee as well as seafood entrees like Salt & Pepper Seabass and Scallops with Asparagus. Asian inspired decor and a fluent Chinese staff make this restaurant a memorable place to dine.
This list is just a small sample of the luxurious theme hotels available in Las Vegas. This city has something unique for every taste and budget.
Read More..
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Why You’ll Return To A Boutique Hotel
Any good hotel will attract return customers, but boutique hotels often have a higher return rate than others.
Once you’ve stayed in a boutique hotel, you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. For the same money as you can spend on a city-centre chain hotel, you can stay in an individual place where the design is intrinsic to the experience and where the service ensures that your stay is comfortable and relaxed. If you choose a boutique hotel once, the chances are you’ll book again for your next trip because:
You feel more relaxed – a small, quality hotel is full of charm and the owners and designers work hard to create an intimate atmosphere that helps you to relax before you’ve even checked in. The reduced number of rooms means that you don’t have to fight for tables in the dining room or a comfortable chair in the lounge, and staff are always on hand to help with any queries or requests you might have.
Quality counts – chic hotels pay attention to detail and that means that everything is of the highest quality. From bed linen to breakfast ingredients, the quality of furniture, fittings, materials, fabrics and produce is all designed to give you a true taste or luxury at an affordable price.
It costs less than you think – although some of the high-end boutique hotels are expensive, you can probably afford to stay in the majority of boutique hotels around the world. Whether it’s for a city weekend, or two weeks by the beach, you’ll be surprised at how affordable a good boutique hotel can be.
It’s as individual as you are – national and international chain hotels make up most of the overnight hospitality market, but there are people who like individuality and want to express it through the places they choose to stay. By staying at a boutique hotel, you are experiencing an individuality of style, design and service, and because each one’s different, you never get the feeling of duplication that can happen in big hotels across the world.
They’re where you want to be – location is an important factor for a boutique hotel. Whether it’s in the middle of the city, on a private stretch of beach or nestled in acres of tropical gardens, this type of hotel offers a hard-to-beat location advantage.
Read More..
Once you’ve stayed in a boutique hotel, you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. For the same money as you can spend on a city-centre chain hotel, you can stay in an individual place where the design is intrinsic to the experience and where the service ensures that your stay is comfortable and relaxed. If you choose a boutique hotel once, the chances are you’ll book again for your next trip because:
You feel more relaxed – a small, quality hotel is full of charm and the owners and designers work hard to create an intimate atmosphere that helps you to relax before you’ve even checked in. The reduced number of rooms means that you don’t have to fight for tables in the dining room or a comfortable chair in the lounge, and staff are always on hand to help with any queries or requests you might have.
Quality counts – chic hotels pay attention to detail and that means that everything is of the highest quality. From bed linen to breakfast ingredients, the quality of furniture, fittings, materials, fabrics and produce is all designed to give you a true taste or luxury at an affordable price.
It costs less than you think – although some of the high-end boutique hotels are expensive, you can probably afford to stay in the majority of boutique hotels around the world. Whether it’s for a city weekend, or two weeks by the beach, you’ll be surprised at how affordable a good boutique hotel can be.
It’s as individual as you are – national and international chain hotels make up most of the overnight hospitality market, but there are people who like individuality and want to express it through the places they choose to stay. By staying at a boutique hotel, you are experiencing an individuality of style, design and service, and because each one’s different, you never get the feeling of duplication that can happen in big hotels across the world.
They’re where you want to be – location is an important factor for a boutique hotel. Whether it’s in the middle of the city, on a private stretch of beach or nestled in acres of tropical gardens, this type of hotel offers a hard-to-beat location advantage.
Read More..
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wine Tours: La Dolce Vita
As you pour the first glass of your favorite Chianti or Chardonnay and settle into an intimate Friday evening, you wonder about the wine's origins. Look no further for the answer to your fleeting Friday night queries-Italy, land of romantics, heroic epics and passionately-written plays. In the countryside and cities where the Renaissance began it seems fitting to find a hedonistic exploration of the richest vineyards in the world to suit even the pickiest travelers. Best known for its world-renowned wines paired with decadent cuisine and intertwined with the rich culture of the people who produce it, it's not just another spot on the globe- it's a destination filled with memories to last a lifetime.
With La Dolce Vita the sky is the limit for destinations and experiences. They've thought of everything- from famous vineyards to elegant accommodations. The names are all familiar: Sicily, Tuscany, Venice, Verona-but these places are more than just a name on a fine bottle or a magical place in a Shakespearean play. With La Dolce Vita the countryside and cities become real as you taste "the good life" firsthand.
A relaxing walking tour of the Amalfi Coast in south Naples, home of outstanding wines from ancient Greek grapes, such as Aglianico, Greco di Tufo, and Fiano di Avellino, is just one amazing tour. Enjoy hillsides covered in lemon trees and umbrella pines, fresh seafood and the breathtaking sea that gave it life as Mt. Vesuvius rises behind you in majestic and ancient grace. If wheels and pedals are more to your liking you can coast through the countryside of Chianti Classico in Tuscany and see the dense forests and medieval castles that gave birth to wine of the same name. Enjoy authentic pasta fagioli prepared with handmade pasta and porcini mushrooms. A full glass of Chianti in your hand you watch the sun sets across the winding vineyards below you.
These tours are made for lovers and groups alike, as well as offering customized tours and additional single accommodations. Designed to dazzle the most inexperienced, as well as most elegant wine connoisseur, tours run May to November and are generally booked for five day and six nights stays.
Read More..
With La Dolce Vita the sky is the limit for destinations and experiences. They've thought of everything- from famous vineyards to elegant accommodations. The names are all familiar: Sicily, Tuscany, Venice, Verona-but these places are more than just a name on a fine bottle or a magical place in a Shakespearean play. With La Dolce Vita the countryside and cities become real as you taste "the good life" firsthand.
A relaxing walking tour of the Amalfi Coast in south Naples, home of outstanding wines from ancient Greek grapes, such as Aglianico, Greco di Tufo, and Fiano di Avellino, is just one amazing tour. Enjoy hillsides covered in lemon trees and umbrella pines, fresh seafood and the breathtaking sea that gave it life as Mt. Vesuvius rises behind you in majestic and ancient grace. If wheels and pedals are more to your liking you can coast through the countryside of Chianti Classico in Tuscany and see the dense forests and medieval castles that gave birth to wine of the same name. Enjoy authentic pasta fagioli prepared with handmade pasta and porcini mushrooms. A full glass of Chianti in your hand you watch the sun sets across the winding vineyards below you.
These tours are made for lovers and groups alike, as well as offering customized tours and additional single accommodations. Designed to dazzle the most inexperienced, as well as most elegant wine connoisseur, tours run May to November and are generally booked for five day and six nights stays.
Read More..
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wine travel
Wine has been an integral part of many civilizations since a long time. Wine formed an important part of the culture in many countries ever since the origin of mankind. Many of our wine making skills dates back to our ancestors who originally invented the process of producing the finest wines in the world. Although the methods for fermenting grapes to produce wine may have grown more refined today but their basics originate from the procedures laid down by our ancestors. Many of the craziest people in world hang about at different places to experience the finest wine quality produced throughout the globe. These trips for tasting wines are growing more and more popular each day. Exclusive visits to specific wine producing areas are planned for an exotic experience of tasting wine at a place where it originates.
Many of the countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Germany, California and those in the Mediterranean region are all known for producing wine. Yet the finest wines in the present day scenario are believed to come from France. France has lately emerged as most popular wine producing country offering too many varieties of wines available throughout the world.
Recreational trips are developing many new themes for travel each day and the tour operators are coming up with new idea’s to attract prospective customers. Due to the ever-growing popularity of wine in our community many wine tasting trips are organized either individually or by groups. Also many tour operators organize trips to wine producing regions where wine lovers can have great pleasurable moments. Trips can be to any local wine rearing area or somewhere far off where one can reach comfortably only through air. Some places are very famous for making finest wines and people are usually attracted to the popular spots that produce wines so that they can taste the best wines at their original place. Also many high profile companies that produce wine send invitations to their valued customers as a business promotion plan, so that the customers can have a taste of the recently launched flavors of wine. Whatever be the reason a wine tasting trip is always an exhilarating experience for a wine explorer.
Wine tasting trips can last for a day, a week or more than that depending on the available time and the choice of destination. Many tour organizers also combine wine trips with an exotic location for lodging and a lavish food style coupled along the trip so that the travelers have an experience of lifetime. Among all possible destinations France has emerged as the mast preferred spot for wine enthusiasts. It gives a feeling like experiencing heaven on earth when one is on any personalized wine exploration tour.
Wine exploration can be great for wine novices and wine experts as it makes them familiar with the most popular wines and also the best selected ones. Anyone serving wine for tasting needs to take care of every small details of the surrounding to create a perfect ambience for the occasion . The glasses used should be tapering towards the sides and the color of class should always be transparent. One must remember that visitors are here to taste wine and not to drink it hence the quantity poured must be very small around one-third the size of glass. Enthusiasts of wine always immensely cherish wine exploration trips.
Read More..
Many of the countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Germany, California and those in the Mediterranean region are all known for producing wine. Yet the finest wines in the present day scenario are believed to come from France. France has lately emerged as most popular wine producing country offering too many varieties of wines available throughout the world.
Recreational trips are developing many new themes for travel each day and the tour operators are coming up with new idea’s to attract prospective customers. Due to the ever-growing popularity of wine in our community many wine tasting trips are organized either individually or by groups. Also many tour operators organize trips to wine producing regions where wine lovers can have great pleasurable moments. Trips can be to any local wine rearing area or somewhere far off where one can reach comfortably only through air. Some places are very famous for making finest wines and people are usually attracted to the popular spots that produce wines so that they can taste the best wines at their original place. Also many high profile companies that produce wine send invitations to their valued customers as a business promotion plan, so that the customers can have a taste of the recently launched flavors of wine. Whatever be the reason a wine tasting trip is always an exhilarating experience for a wine explorer.
Wine tasting trips can last for a day, a week or more than that depending on the available time and the choice of destination. Many tour organizers also combine wine trips with an exotic location for lodging and a lavish food style coupled along the trip so that the travelers have an experience of lifetime. Among all possible destinations France has emerged as the mast preferred spot for wine enthusiasts. It gives a feeling like experiencing heaven on earth when one is on any personalized wine exploration tour.
Wine exploration can be great for wine novices and wine experts as it makes them familiar with the most popular wines and also the best selected ones. Anyone serving wine for tasting needs to take care of every small details of the surrounding to create a perfect ambience for the occasion . The glasses used should be tapering towards the sides and the color of class should always be transparent. One must remember that visitors are here to taste wine and not to drink it hence the quantity poured must be very small around one-third the size of glass. Enthusiasts of wine always immensely cherish wine exploration trips.
Read More..
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wisconsin Dells Is A Fun Family Vacation Destination
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin is a fun destination for a family vacation, and with a little research and advance planning the trip doesn’t have to make your wallet cry out in pain.
Wisconsin Dells (and the area is really two towns: Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton) has been a popular summer vacation destination for people who live in the Midwest since the late 1800’s. In recent years, several indoor water parks have been built making Wisconsin Dells a popular year around vacation destination, not only for people who live in the Midwest but for people from around the world.
What first drew tourists to the Wisconsin Dells area? It was the scenery. The Wisconsin River meanders through the Wisconsin Dells area and has beautiful sandstone rock formations. A trip to Wisconsin Dells wouldn’t be complete without a boat tour of those rock formations.
There are two basic choices of tours; either boat tour or a “duck” tour which also includes some sightseeing on the land. If you have small children, they’ll enjoy the “duck” tour the most.
If you take a boat tour, you’ll have a couple of options. You’ll be able to take an “upper Dells” tour, a “lower Dells” tour, or both. The upper Dells boat tour lasts about 2 hours and the lower Dells boat tour lasts about 1 hour. The upper Dells tour includes a few shore stops to look at some outstanding landmarks (http://www.wisconsindellstoday.com/dells/wisconsindellsboattours).
The “duck” tour is a combination land and water tour. It’s a really fun way to see some of the beautiful scenery on the land and water. And the tour is a big hit with kids of all ages! My family takes a trip to Wisconsin Dells nearly every year and we go on the Duck tour almost every trip because we find it so much fun. The “duck” vehicles used for the tours are amphibious vehicles used in WWII that have been revamped. The tour starts out on dry land. During the tour you’ll be taken down streets of Wisconsin Dells; through lovely wooded areas where wildlife is often seen (we usually see white-tail deer) and then it’s on to the really fun part of the trip.
The duck driver drives into the water with a big splash – well; usually with a big splash. The driver will ask the customers if they want to go into the water slow or fast because fast gets some of the people wet. On every tour I’ve been on the fast trip into the water has won the vote and it is fun! After the twists and turns of the wooded trails (some of them steep and narrow, but always safe) the water part of the trip is a nice change of pace. After being in the water for a while and seeing some of the breathtaking sandstone rock formations, your driver takes you back onto dry land and your fun tour is complete. During the entire tour your driver entertains you with a funny and informative narrative.
Even though our family loves going on the Duck tour when we go to Wisconsin Dells, if they have a choice of only one activity to do, going to a water park wins hands down. There are over 20 water parks in Wisconsin Dells. There are outdoor water parks; indoor water parks; and combination indoor/outdoor water parks. So no matter what time of the year you want to splash in the water and have fun you can do it in Wisconsin Dells.
Our family usually takes a summer trip to Wisconsin Dells. And with mid-summer temperatures in the 90’s, and even occasionally in the 100’s, splashing in the water is very refreshing. Our family’s favorite outdoor water park is Noah’s Ark. It’s currently the largest outdoor water park in Wisconsin Dells. You can easily spend an entire day there and not get bored. I have a few tips for you though if you do go to Noah’s Ark (or any of the water parks in Wisconsin Dells) to help keep your costs down and to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.
1) If at all possible, don’t buy your admission tickets at the front gate the day you want to go to the park. You’ll pay full price and there are lots of ways to find discounted tickets. If you live in the Midwest check with your local Parks and Recreation Department to see if they have discounted tickets available. Also check with your place of employment to see if they offer discounted tickets. An Internet search may also give you sources for discounted tickets. Another option is to go into downtown Wisconsin Dells or Lake Delton before you go to Noah’s Ark and stop at one of the ticket booths there. You can almost always purchase discounted tickets there, especially if you are planning to do more than one activity while you are in Wisconsin Dells. For example if you are planning to go to a water park, take a duck tour, go to a water show, and go to one of the amusement parks to ride on the roller coasters and go-karts you can get some pretty good discounts by buying all your tickets at the same time.
2) Take waterproof sunscreen. You’re going to be in and out of the water all day so make sure you have waterproof sunscreen in order to avoid having to constantly reapply your sunscreen throughout the day.
3) Take towels. It may seem like a silly item to list but it’s surprising how many people forget to take a towel. You can purchase beach towels inside the water parks but they are expensive.
3) Consider renting a locker in the park. There are locker rentals available in the park for a nominal fee. I always rent a locker and put dry clothes for my family in the locker along with the things I don’t want to carry around all day, such as my sunscreen. At the end of the day we retrieve those dry clothes and change into
4) Take plastic bags for your wet swimsuits and towels.
5) Take a small waterproof container for extra money. Get one that attaches to your wrist or hangs around your neck. If you don’t have one or don’t know where to buy one, you can purchase one inexpensively at one of the stores inside the water park.
6) Bring your own lunch. There are several covered picnic areas inside the water park available free of charge for your use although it’s likely some of them will be unavailable on any given day because they will be reserved for groups who are at the park. Even if you don’t want to pack a cooler at home, bring along the empty cooler and pick up your lunch items from a store the day before. Although there is good food available inside the water park, it is expensive and will quickly put a big dent in your pocketbook.
7) Bring water shoes. Sandals are okay too but you want ones that are water friendly which typically means flip-flops and those can easily fall off your feet when you’re on some of the rides. I don’t advise going barefoot. The park is paved and if it’s a sunny day the pavement gets very hot.
8) Go on rides early in the day and late in the day. That’s when the lines are the shortest. The lines are really long in the middle of the day. Have your picnic lunch at that time, do a little browsing in the water park stores, and take a short rest before heading back on the rides.
Going on the ducks or a boat tour and going to a water park aren’t the only activities to do in the Wisconsin Dells area. You could stay busy for weeks (if your pocketbook could handle it) doing all the activities available to you. You could go horseback riding; go-carting; riding on roller coasters; shopping; take in the Tommy Bartlet water show; play miniature golf; play regular golf on one of the golf courses; rent a boat and go fishing (you’ll need to purchase a Wisconsin fishing license); rent a canoe and go canoeing; enjoy a movie at the drive-in movie theater; rent a jet-ski; visit the railway museum; visit the history center; play paintball; or do any of the dozens of other available activities. You could even take a short drive to Baraboo and watch the Al Ringling circus. There are literally hundreds of things to do in the Wisconsin Dells area.
I have one more thing to keep in mind as you are planning your trip to Wisconsin Dells. August is the busiest month in Wisconsin Dells. How busy? Consider this: Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells have a combined year-round population of around 5,000 people. During the weekends in August, the population in the Lake Delton/Wisconsin Dells area can swell to more than 200,000 people. Lines at the attractions will be the longest in August and the hotels will be booked solid (I don’t mean to scare you though. Our family usually goes in August even though we know it’s going to be busy and we have a great time). Book your hotel early or consider going there at another time during the summer. June isn’t as busy but the weather may not be as warm either which means it could be a little chilly if you’re going to be visiting one of the outdoor water parks.
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Wisconsin Dells (and the area is really two towns: Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton) has been a popular summer vacation destination for people who live in the Midwest since the late 1800’s. In recent years, several indoor water parks have been built making Wisconsin Dells a popular year around vacation destination, not only for people who live in the Midwest but for people from around the world.
What first drew tourists to the Wisconsin Dells area? It was the scenery. The Wisconsin River meanders through the Wisconsin Dells area and has beautiful sandstone rock formations. A trip to Wisconsin Dells wouldn’t be complete without a boat tour of those rock formations.
There are two basic choices of tours; either boat tour or a “duck” tour which also includes some sightseeing on the land. If you have small children, they’ll enjoy the “duck” tour the most.
If you take a boat tour, you’ll have a couple of options. You’ll be able to take an “upper Dells” tour, a “lower Dells” tour, or both. The upper Dells boat tour lasts about 2 hours and the lower Dells boat tour lasts about 1 hour. The upper Dells tour includes a few shore stops to look at some outstanding landmarks (http://www.wisconsindellstoday.com/dells/wisconsindellsboattours).
The “duck” tour is a combination land and water tour. It’s a really fun way to see some of the beautiful scenery on the land and water. And the tour is a big hit with kids of all ages! My family takes a trip to Wisconsin Dells nearly every year and we go on the Duck tour almost every trip because we find it so much fun. The “duck” vehicles used for the tours are amphibious vehicles used in WWII that have been revamped. The tour starts out on dry land. During the tour you’ll be taken down streets of Wisconsin Dells; through lovely wooded areas where wildlife is often seen (we usually see white-tail deer) and then it’s on to the really fun part of the trip.
The duck driver drives into the water with a big splash – well; usually with a big splash. The driver will ask the customers if they want to go into the water slow or fast because fast gets some of the people wet. On every tour I’ve been on the fast trip into the water has won the vote and it is fun! After the twists and turns of the wooded trails (some of them steep and narrow, but always safe) the water part of the trip is a nice change of pace. After being in the water for a while and seeing some of the breathtaking sandstone rock formations, your driver takes you back onto dry land and your fun tour is complete. During the entire tour your driver entertains you with a funny and informative narrative.
Even though our family loves going on the Duck tour when we go to Wisconsin Dells, if they have a choice of only one activity to do, going to a water park wins hands down. There are over 20 water parks in Wisconsin Dells. There are outdoor water parks; indoor water parks; and combination indoor/outdoor water parks. So no matter what time of the year you want to splash in the water and have fun you can do it in Wisconsin Dells.
Our family usually takes a summer trip to Wisconsin Dells. And with mid-summer temperatures in the 90’s, and even occasionally in the 100’s, splashing in the water is very refreshing. Our family’s favorite outdoor water park is Noah’s Ark. It’s currently the largest outdoor water park in Wisconsin Dells. You can easily spend an entire day there and not get bored. I have a few tips for you though if you do go to Noah’s Ark (or any of the water parks in Wisconsin Dells) to help keep your costs down and to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.
1) If at all possible, don’t buy your admission tickets at the front gate the day you want to go to the park. You’ll pay full price and there are lots of ways to find discounted tickets. If you live in the Midwest check with your local Parks and Recreation Department to see if they have discounted tickets available. Also check with your place of employment to see if they offer discounted tickets. An Internet search may also give you sources for discounted tickets. Another option is to go into downtown Wisconsin Dells or Lake Delton before you go to Noah’s Ark and stop at one of the ticket booths there. You can almost always purchase discounted tickets there, especially if you are planning to do more than one activity while you are in Wisconsin Dells. For example if you are planning to go to a water park, take a duck tour, go to a water show, and go to one of the amusement parks to ride on the roller coasters and go-karts you can get some pretty good discounts by buying all your tickets at the same time.
2) Take waterproof sunscreen. You’re going to be in and out of the water all day so make sure you have waterproof sunscreen in order to avoid having to constantly reapply your sunscreen throughout the day.
3) Take towels. It may seem like a silly item to list but it’s surprising how many people forget to take a towel. You can purchase beach towels inside the water parks but they are expensive.
3) Consider renting a locker in the park. There are locker rentals available in the park for a nominal fee. I always rent a locker and put dry clothes for my family in the locker along with the things I don’t want to carry around all day, such as my sunscreen. At the end of the day we retrieve those dry clothes and change into
4) Take plastic bags for your wet swimsuits and towels.
5) Take a small waterproof container for extra money. Get one that attaches to your wrist or hangs around your neck. If you don’t have one or don’t know where to buy one, you can purchase one inexpensively at one of the stores inside the water park.
6) Bring your own lunch. There are several covered picnic areas inside the water park available free of charge for your use although it’s likely some of them will be unavailable on any given day because they will be reserved for groups who are at the park. Even if you don’t want to pack a cooler at home, bring along the empty cooler and pick up your lunch items from a store the day before. Although there is good food available inside the water park, it is expensive and will quickly put a big dent in your pocketbook.
7) Bring water shoes. Sandals are okay too but you want ones that are water friendly which typically means flip-flops and those can easily fall off your feet when you’re on some of the rides. I don’t advise going barefoot. The park is paved and if it’s a sunny day the pavement gets very hot.
8) Go on rides early in the day and late in the day. That’s when the lines are the shortest. The lines are really long in the middle of the day. Have your picnic lunch at that time, do a little browsing in the water park stores, and take a short rest before heading back on the rides.
Going on the ducks or a boat tour and going to a water park aren’t the only activities to do in the Wisconsin Dells area. You could stay busy for weeks (if your pocketbook could handle it) doing all the activities available to you. You could go horseback riding; go-carting; riding on roller coasters; shopping; take in the Tommy Bartlet water show; play miniature golf; play regular golf on one of the golf courses; rent a boat and go fishing (you’ll need to purchase a Wisconsin fishing license); rent a canoe and go canoeing; enjoy a movie at the drive-in movie theater; rent a jet-ski; visit the railway museum; visit the history center; play paintball; or do any of the dozens of other available activities. You could even take a short drive to Baraboo and watch the Al Ringling circus. There are literally hundreds of things to do in the Wisconsin Dells area.
I have one more thing to keep in mind as you are planning your trip to Wisconsin Dells. August is the busiest month in Wisconsin Dells. How busy? Consider this: Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells have a combined year-round population of around 5,000 people. During the weekends in August, the population in the Lake Delton/Wisconsin Dells area can swell to more than 200,000 people. Lines at the attractions will be the longest in August and the hotels will be booked solid (I don’t mean to scare you though. Our family usually goes in August even though we know it’s going to be busy and we have a great time). Book your hotel early or consider going there at another time during the summer. June isn’t as busy but the weather may not be as warm either which means it could be a little chilly if you’re going to be visiting one of the outdoor water parks.
Read More..
Sunday, January 25, 2009
With Cheap Airfare, Travel is Limited Only by Your Imagination
In his book, "The World is Flat," Thomas Friedman argues that the beginning of the twenty-first century can be characterized by one word: globalization. While the Digital Age may or may not become the great equalizer, it has certainly given us access to a worldview that was unavailable to our parents and grandparents. A natural extension of the immediacy we feel when we watch videos about, read the blogs of, and listen to people from other countries is the urge to experience their worlds. Indeed, in survey after survey, when people are asked what they would do if they had true financial freedom, the top response is, "Travel."
Let Your Imagination Take Flight
Unfortunately, because of perceptions about the cost of airfare and lodging, travel experiences remain elusive for many people. But what if you had access to cheap airfare? What if you could get cheap flights to India, cheap airfare to Europe, or cheap flights to Dubai? Wouldn't the world become, proverbially speaking, flatter? And wouldn't your life be exponentially richer?
Technology and Experience Open the Doors to Travel
At the heart of the Digital Age is the Internet, which makes it possible for ordinary individuals to have access to many of the resources that were previously only available to "insiders." Cheap airfare is a prime example of the flattening of the world through the power of the Internet. Typically, two types of airfares are available: published fares, which are the prices quoted by airlines; and consolidator airfares, which are offered to a small number of high-volume travel agencies and which are deeply discounted. Because these travel agencies now sell tickets online, anyone with Internet access can buy a cheap airfare.
Beyond Flying
These same high-volume travel agencies have access to other travel bargains as well. For example, by booking with an online travel agency, you can also find steeply discounted cruises, lodging accommodations, car rentals, and vacation packages. In a sense, these online sources provide you with one-stop shopping to plan the vacation of your dreams, whether it's for India travel, an exotic cruise, or a whirlwind trip through Europe.
Finding the Best Online Travel Bargains
Whether you're looking for a bargain trip to Orlando or cheap international airfare, be sure to select an online travel agency that is reputable. Look for an agency that was founded by experienced travel industry professionals, and that has been online for at least five years. The agency should be endorsed by the International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN), and should be experienced in helping both individuals and corporate customers book their vacations, trips, and group travel. In addition, make sure the agency offers you a variety of contact options, from an online quote form to a toll free number.
Don't let your preconceived notions of the costs of travel keep you from experiencing the world firsthand. With cheap airfare and a reputable online travel agency, your destination is limited only by your imagination.
Read More..
Let Your Imagination Take Flight
Unfortunately, because of perceptions about the cost of airfare and lodging, travel experiences remain elusive for many people. But what if you had access to cheap airfare? What if you could get cheap flights to India, cheap airfare to Europe, or cheap flights to Dubai? Wouldn't the world become, proverbially speaking, flatter? And wouldn't your life be exponentially richer?
Technology and Experience Open the Doors to Travel
At the heart of the Digital Age is the Internet, which makes it possible for ordinary individuals to have access to many of the resources that were previously only available to "insiders." Cheap airfare is a prime example of the flattening of the world through the power of the Internet. Typically, two types of airfares are available: published fares, which are the prices quoted by airlines; and consolidator airfares, which are offered to a small number of high-volume travel agencies and which are deeply discounted. Because these travel agencies now sell tickets online, anyone with Internet access can buy a cheap airfare.
Beyond Flying
These same high-volume travel agencies have access to other travel bargains as well. For example, by booking with an online travel agency, you can also find steeply discounted cruises, lodging accommodations, car rentals, and vacation packages. In a sense, these online sources provide you with one-stop shopping to plan the vacation of your dreams, whether it's for India travel, an exotic cruise, or a whirlwind trip through Europe.
Finding the Best Online Travel Bargains
Whether you're looking for a bargain trip to Orlando or cheap international airfare, be sure to select an online travel agency that is reputable. Look for an agency that was founded by experienced travel industry professionals, and that has been online for at least five years. The agency should be endorsed by the International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN), and should be experienced in helping both individuals and corporate customers book their vacations, trips, and group travel. In addition, make sure the agency offers you a variety of contact options, from an online quote form to a toll free number.
Don't let your preconceived notions of the costs of travel keep you from experiencing the world firsthand. With cheap airfare and a reputable online travel agency, your destination is limited only by your imagination.
Read More..
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