<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680</id><updated>2011-11-27T16:57:08.777-08:00</updated><category term='mexican destinations'/><category term='mexican tourism'/><category term='visit mexico'/><category term='priceline'/><category term='shoe string travel'/><category term='travel health insurance'/><category term='vacation'/><category term='top honeymoon destination'/><category term='discount travel'/><category term='straw market tips'/><category term='travel savings'/><category term='cruise hopping'/><category term='travel insider'/><category term='honeymoon planning'/><category term='travel planning'/><category term='cruising'/><category term='budget travel'/><category term='bidding for travel'/><category term='buying jewelry on cruises'/><category term='honeymoon cruises'/><category term='honeymoon'/><category term='discount travel sites'/><category term='hotwire'/><category term='travel secrets'/><category term='travel industry secrets'/><category term='cruising shops'/><category term='ski resort ideas'/><category term='insider travel tips'/><category term='shopping tips for cruisers'/><category term='affordable hotels'/><category term='cruise planning'/><category term='travel insurance'/><category term='port shopping'/><category term='mayan riviera'/><category term='travel accident insurance'/><category term='cheap vacation ideas'/><category term='vacation tips'/><category term='travel mexico'/><category term='ski vacation'/><category term='affordable vacations'/><title type='text'>The Travel Insider</title><subtitle type='html'>Your Resource for Insider Information:
Tips, Tricks and Secrets of the Pros!</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>10</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-7106289443135157212</id><published>2009-07-25T12:26:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-25T12:50:47.812-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='cheap vacation ideas'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='hotwire'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='affordable hotels'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='priceline'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='budget travel'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='shoe string travel'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='discount travel'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='affordable vacations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='discount travel sites'/><title type='text'>Travel on a Budget</title><content type='html'>With all the worry about finances and jobs these days, we find many people are cutting back on luxuries and non-necessary items. Many times, this includes the family vacation, and this isn't necessarily a good thing. Vacations offer a respite from everyday life, and are good for the heart and soul. To take this essential 'down time' away from yourself may not be healthy, and can in fact be detrimental.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SmthtVYjLLI/AAAAAAAAArs/RrYYq7jIC84/s1600-h/vacation.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362487212776828082" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SmthtVYjLLI/AAAAAAAAArs/RrYYq7jIC84/s320/vacation.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With this in mind, following are a few tips on taking affordable trips, so you can ensure you get enough balance and time away to handle your work stresses well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Make a list of what's important to you in a vacation and why. You may find that you can achieve the essence of your ideal holiday with a lot less travel and expense - maybe just for this year. For instance, if you're dreaming of Caribbean beaches and lounging in the sun, perhaps you can grab a cheap flight (or even choose to drive) to Miami and down into the Florida Keys, staying at a B&amp;amp;B and enjoying the many very private and beautiful beaches along the way. The Keys tourism industry, in fact, has been hit hard by these economic times, and on our last trip just under a year ago we found the local merchants and hoteliers practically begging for business. They'll be super-happy to see you, and you can enjoy turquoise waters and palm trees that just might fulfill your craving - for now. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Use websites such as Priceline and Hotwire to find affordable options. These consolidators (&lt;a title="deep travel discounts" href="http://travel-like-a-pro.com/deeper-discounts/"&gt;click here&lt;/a&gt; for more information on how these work) offer deep discounts on everything from hotels to car rentals to airfare, and in conjunction with some great reviews to help you avoid places you may not enjoy, you should be able to put together the perfect vacation for much less than retail.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Share rooms and/or look for hotel alternatives. In many instances, you can get fabulous deals at villas and rental suites instead of standard hotels. Many people own villas and suites in popular destinations, and in these times such owners are even more willing to be flexible on rental fees than usual. Try sites such as VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) and the 'vacation rentals' section of craigslist.com for local listings in many cities and holiday destinations.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-7106289443135157212?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/7106289443135157212/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=7106289443135157212' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/7106289443135157212'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/7106289443135157212'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2009/07/travel-on-budget.html' title='Travel on a Budget'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SmthtVYjLLI/AAAAAAAAArs/RrYYq7jIC84/s72-c/vacation.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-1235317119375647551</id><published>2009-01-11T10:23:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-01-11T19:12:01.805-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='shopping tips for cruisers'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='straw market tips'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='cruise hopping'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='cruising shops'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='buying jewelry on cruises'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='port shopping'/><title type='text'>Jewelry and Souvenir Shopping While Cruising</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SWqyYH1N49I/AAAAAAAAArE/vE0WF8kqod0/s1600-h/curacao.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290236839788930002" style="BORDER-RIGHT: #555555 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #555555 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #555555 1px solid; WIDTH: 411px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #555555 1px solid; HEIGHT: 218px"  alt="cruise_shopping" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SWqyYH1N49I/AAAAAAAAArE/vE0WF8kqod0/s400/curacao.jpg" width="410"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While there are myriad reasons cruisers love their cruises, the shopping is often at the top of the list. From straw markets in the Caribbean to fabulous fashion and jewels in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere, shopping while cruising is always a unique experience.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Not only do you have the choice of purchasing wares from a number of different ports and thus more variety, you also have a built-in bluff that isn't a bluff - you really are leaving today and not coming back, and the vendors know it. They will do their utmost to sell you something, and you can use this to your advantage in most instances.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Even if you're a veteran cruiser, the following tips can help you make the most of your &lt;strong&gt;cruise shopping.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As mentioned, unless the port is an eco-friendly little beach, it will usually offer shopping opportunities (and sometimes even little beaches have vendors). From a straw market selling locally made crafts on a Caribbean island, to an upscale promenade featuring the latest designer fashions and jewels, shopping while cruising can be tempting, and many cruisers swear by it. You can get some fabulous deals on gold, silver, and gemstones in the Caribbean and in the Middle East, and in many places you can pick up unique crafts and jewelry not found anywhere else.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;BE AWARE: Because vendors and shopkeepers on the cruise port routes are accustomed to seeing new potential customers every day, they can get quite aggressive as they know they have only one shot at convincing you to purchase. While you can use this to your advantage as mentioned above, it can be nerve-wracking if you're not prepared. Some tips for dealing with this include:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Know what your budget is and stick with it.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;Try and pay cash rather than leave your credit card info..&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;Know your exchange rates so you don't get ripped off.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;Deal with a reputable jeweler for expensive items, and preferably one that is registered with and approved by your cruise line. Some vendors use the fact that you won't be back as a chance to sell you fakes and poor quality items, so be prepared. Your ship's itinerary will list approved dealers, and by sticking with sellers on this list you will have some recourse should something go wrong. You need to be careful that you know enough about what you'd like to purchase that you can tell true value from overpriced garbage. What can we say? Cruise ships are filled with suckers in the eyes of some unscrupulous vendors, and you need to protect yourself.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;Always try and bargain, as prices are invariably higher than they should be and most vendors expect to bargain.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;Go with a sense of humor and do not let the pressure get to you. If you see something you love and the price reflects fair value, then negotiate and purchase if it feels right. It's your money and it should not leave your wallet lightly!&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;Stay away from little trinkets that are just junk and can be found anywhere. For instance, you'll find the same pieces of driftwood, little stained-glass bottles and painted turtle souvenirs on every Caribbean island, each painted with the island's name as if it is unique and was made locally.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This should get you started on being aware and prepared for your next cruise shopping extravaganza.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Enjoy, and one last tip: don't forget to check out the stores on the ship. You'll find that prices tend to get a little cheaper as your cruise nears its end, and keep your eye open for sale days if you're interested in particular items. Most cruises feature special sales on different days - watches one day, art the next, t-shirts and souvenirs another day, etc.. Your ship's itinerary and/or guest services can help you plan your shopping around scheduled sale dates.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Happy cruising!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;script src='http://adn.ebay.com/files/js/min/ebay_activeContent-min.js'&gt;&lt;/script&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;script src='http://adn.ebay.com/cb?programId=1&amp;campId=5336190147&amp;toolId=10026&amp;keyword=cruise&amp;width=400&amp;height=300&amp;font=1&amp;textColor=333366&amp;linkColor=333333&amp;arrowColor=69BAD2&amp;color1=FCF9EB&amp;color2=FFFFFF'&gt;&lt;/script&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-1235317119375647551?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/1235317119375647551/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=1235317119375647551' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/1235317119375647551'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/1235317119375647551'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2009/01/jewelry-and-souvenir-shopping-while.html' title='Jewelry and Souvenir Shopping While Cruising'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SWqyYH1N49I/AAAAAAAAArE/vE0WF8kqod0/s72-c/curacao.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-235184030788305341</id><published>2008-10-16T09:14:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-01-15T09:57:38.182-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mexican destinations'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='visit mexico'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mayan riviera'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel mexico'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel insider'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mexican tourism'/><title type='text'>Travel to Beautiful Mexico</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeLXFbnzEI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/bH1RgnymU5I/s1600-h/sombrero.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257824318689627202" style="WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 67px" height="79" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeLXFbnzEI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/bH1RgnymU5I/s320/sombrero.jpg" width="228" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mexico has always been a popular destination for tourists, expecially those from North America. Its close proximity, along with its rich culture make it both convenient and somewhat exotic, allowing for a real feeling of escape from everyday life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Most tourist destinations in Mexico are in found on the edges - Mexico enjoys some of the most spectacular coastlines in the world. Tourists flock to Mexico for the stunning beaches, majestic mountains, world-class diving, deep-sea fishing, mystical ancient ruins and even whale-watching in some places. Mexican resort areas boast a multitude of excellent quality all-inclusive and upscale resorts, as well as myriad other options such as time-share condos, rental suites and basic hotels and motels.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mexico takes tourism very seriously, and they carefully plan and monitor many of their destination areas for best use of resources. They have been busy lately with a sweeping ad campaign, enticing travelers to visit their beautiful home, and many are reconsidering their usual Caribbean destinations in favor of Mexico.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here is a list of the most popular and up-and-coming Mexican destinations:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#336666;"&gt;EAST COAST&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeDBGcsZRI/AAAAAAAAAa4/jtQAQDZbC6w/s1600-h/chichen.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257815144912413970" style="WIDTH: 308px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" height="145" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeDBGcsZRI/AAAAAAAAAa4/jtQAQDZbC6w/s320/chichen.jpg" width="274" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cancun:&lt;/strong&gt; The original planned community developed by FONATUR (Mexico's Trust Fund for Tourism Development), Cancun lies on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It quickly became popular, and in fact is Mexico's number one tourist destination. Set on an island-like peninsula, Cancun's hotels enjoy miles of powdery beach. Cancun is great for nightlife and scuba diving.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cozumel:&lt;/strong&gt; Cozumel is an actual island just off the coast south of Cancun, and is known for spectacular diving. It is quieter and offers less hotel choices than Cancun, and Cozumal fans love it that way.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mayan Riviera:&lt;/strong&gt; The area along the coast south of Cancun contains many small communities and is home to an uninterrupted line of spectacular beach. Many of these smaller communities are being purposely and carefully groomed for tourism, and areas such as Playa Del Carmen have fast become a luxury destination with world-class shopping and many elite visitors.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From all of these destinations, the Mayan ruins of Chichen Iza and Tulum are accessible. There is a water shuttle which runs from Cozumel to Playa Del Carmen (weather depending, it takes from 1/2 hour to 45 minutes).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#336666;"&gt;WEST COAST&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeEXDbRHwI/AAAAAAAAAbA/69oAMLcMa5c/s1600-h/acapulco.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257816621569875714" style="CURSOR: hand" height="193" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeEXDbRHwI/AAAAAAAAAbA/69oAMLcMa5c/s320/acapulco.jpg" width="300" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many of the popular west coast destinations are cities, with tourist areas clustered mostly on the beach.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Acapulco:&lt;/strong&gt; Popular for vibrant nightlife and a variety of hotels, Acapulco offers water-and landsports aplenty. This may be the least 'Mexican' experience you can have while visiting Mexico - it is quite tourist-oriented and msot of the cultural references are rather commercialized.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Puerto Vallarta:&lt;/strong&gt; Made famous by the move 'The Night of the Iguana,' this coastal town has grown into a full-blown tourist destination over the past 30 years. Beautiful beaches, plenty of watersports, excellent food and nightlife options, along with a vast array of hotel choices make Puerto Vallarta a perennial favorite.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Huatulco:&lt;/strong&gt; This destination is in the soutehrn Oaxaca region and is much quieter than the cities mentioned above. Situated in a series of secluded bays, Huatulco boasts beautiful hotels and timeshares and is a lovely, fairly exclusive area. The beautiful scenery, golfing and diving draw discerning clientel and its popularity grows every year.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Mayan Riviera/Costa Maya:&lt;/strong&gt; This catch-all phrase applies to a number of smaller communities which are quickly becoming world-renownedRiviera Maya&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:#336666;"&gt;BAJA PENINSULA&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeGt9iSylI/AAAAAAAAAbI/cza07ZuQv4E/s1600-h/los-cabos.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257819214148979282" style="WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 205px" height="223" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeGt9iSylI/AAAAAAAAAbI/cza07ZuQv4E/s320/los-cabos.jpg" width="242" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Technically separated into the North and South regions, Baja is on the extreme west coast, south of California. Amazing deep-sea fishing, kayaking and whale-watching are all popular activities here.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Los Cabos:&lt;/strong&gt; This area on the southern tip of the peninsula has come to the attention of international travelers in a big way in the last few years. This stunning location boasts many upscale hotels, including Four Seasons, One &amp;amp; Only and many more. Many of the high-end patrons come here for the spectacular scenery, but also for its exclusivity and relative privacy. You may have neard of the popular Cabo San Lucas in this area.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Loreto:&lt;/strong&gt; This is an up-and-coming area mid-peninsula, renowned for unrivalled whale-watching opportunities. Originally a colonial village, this community expansion is being planned and promoted by FONATUR. Look for increasing popularity and many new hotels here over the next decade.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Find out more at &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;www.VisitMexico.com&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://cancun-travel-guide.net/"&gt;Cancun-Travel-Guide.net&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=p23heudiXoY&amp;amp;offerid=136622.10000579&amp;amp;subid=0&amp;amp;type=4"&gt;&lt;img alt="Cruise Banner (300x250)" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=p23heudiXoY&amp;amp;bids=136622.10000579&amp;amp;subid=0&amp;amp;type=4&amp;amp;gridnum=19" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-235184030788305341?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/235184030788305341/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=235184030788305341' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/235184030788305341'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/235184030788305341'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/10/travel-to-beautiful-mexico.html' title='Travel to Beautiful Mexico'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SPeLXFbnzEI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/bH1RgnymU5I/s72-c/sombrero.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-3308686917685889487</id><published>2008-10-08T08:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-08T08:41:07.317-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel health insurance'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel accident insurance'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel insurance'/><title type='text'>Why You Need Travel Accident Insurance</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SOzS1V1_oZI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/WIa_oUfFteo/s1600-h/cast.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254806679073038738" style="CURSOR: hand" height="143" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SOzS1V1_oZI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/WIa_oUfFteo/s320/cast.jpg" width="171" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When planning a trip or vacation, many people neglect to spend the little extra money and time to ensure themselves the peace of mind of having travel insurance. This leads to the unfortunately common scenario of travellers who find themselves ill or hurt in a foreign country and unable to afford the appropriate care.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Imagine for a moment that you and your family have embarked on a long-awaited and planned for vacation to Europe. You finally arrive at your destination and excitedly set out on a day tour of your first city. During the day, one of your family members falls ill or falls and breaks a leg. Do you have any idea how much it will cost for an ambulance trip in this foreign country? How about doctor’s fees, hospital services and medications? Every year, thousands of travelers are left in just such situations without adequate medical coverage to pay for the emergency they find themselves in.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you are visiting foreign places there are often aspects you will be unfamiliar with, such as terrain, animals, plants and insects. Add to this possible difficulties communicating because you don’t speak the language or understand the local customs and you could be setting yourself up for a difficult time should anything unexpected happen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=p23heudiXoY&amp;amp;offerid=136622.10000562&amp;amp;subid=0&amp;amp;type=4"&gt;&lt;img alt="Orbitz_hotel_deals" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=p23heudiXoY&amp;amp;bids=136622.10000562&amp;amp;subid=0&amp;amp;type=4&amp;amp;gridnum=13" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Like any good insurance product, the premium is always worth the coverage in case of needing it, and is often overlooked by consumers. Most people have an ‘it won’t happen to me’ complex – don’t be most people!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Travel insurance, also known as travel accident insurance or travel health insurance, should include at least the following:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;• Any charges for ambulance services to the nearest hospital&lt;br /&gt;• Hospital accommodations as needed&lt;br /&gt;• Any laboratory testing and x-rays&lt;br /&gt;• Doctors, surgeons and nurses’ fees&lt;br /&gt;• Emergency prescribed medications&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In general, be sure and ask for coverage which cover at least the above-mentioned. Additional questions to ask include:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;• Specific amounts of coverage and what is excluded, if anything&lt;br /&gt;• Is there a deductible and how much?&lt;br /&gt;• Are sports related injuries covered?&lt;br /&gt;• Are any medical emergencies due to pre-existing conditions covered or excluded?&lt;br /&gt;• Is every member of your family or travel group covered in the plan?&lt;br /&gt;• Is there a provision for costs incurred if a flight is missed and a more expensive flight has to be booked? What about missed work due to illness or accident?&lt;br /&gt;• Is the cost of returning the sick or injured person home covered?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Medical emergencies can be expensive no matter where they occur. Travel health insurance is an effective and cost-efficient way to secure peace of mind so you can go have some fun!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;**Find this and other articles - and many more ways to save on your next trip! - at &lt;a href="http://travel-like-a-pro.com/"&gt;Travel-Like-A-Pro.com&lt;/a&gt;. Bon Voyage!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-3308686917685889487?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/3308686917685889487/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=3308686917685889487' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/3308686917685889487'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/3308686917685889487'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-you-need-travel-accident-insurance.html' title='Why You Need Travel Accident Insurance'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SOzS1V1_oZI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/WIa_oUfFteo/s72-c/cast.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-3268182613035147723</id><published>2008-09-22T11:13:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-22T11:30:12.217-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='vacation tips'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='top honeymoon destination'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel planning'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='honeymoon planning'/><title type='text'>Romance: Top Honeymoon Destination Tips</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SNfhdjTpYdI/AAAAAAAAAaA/3aqUybaQgCk/s1600-h/dress_crop.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248911788533703122" style="CURSOR: hand" height="112" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SNfhdjTpYdI/AAAAAAAAAaA/3aqUybaQgCk/s320/dress_crop.jpg" width="169" border="1" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;When planning your honeymoon, you are no doubt looking for somewhere romantic, fun and full of promises for the two of you to spend some quality time alone. After months - maybe years! - of planning, the honeymoon can be a well-deserved break and possibly the first time the two of you have spent alone in a very long time.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;The following points are specific to honeymoon planning, and will help you decide upon your own honeymoon destination.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;strong&gt;All-Inclusive:&lt;/strong&gt; A great option for honeymooners comes in the form of all-inclusive resorts, which means that once you step on the grounds at your honeymoon destination, there is nothing left for you to worry about except which way to enjoy yourselves next! In these resort destinations, all meals, drinks and most activities are included…so whether you and your sweetie want to hang out at the swim-up bar or stay in your room and order room service, it’s all covered…just relax and enjoy!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Á la Carte:&lt;/strong&gt; The complete opposite of the all-inclusive holiday is one where you make choices about what you want to do. At your destination, you may wish to stay at two or three different hotels, dine all over the city or visit different areas… Perhaps you will be wandering Europe and wish to customize your itinerary – either as you go, or planned out well before you leave. An á la carte vacation offers you a variety of choices and much more flexibility than an all-inclusive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Specials for Honeymoons:&lt;/strong&gt; Many companies will offer special prices and/or accommodations for honeymooners. You may find a great deal by combining the air and hotel as a honeymoon package, or perhaps enjoy a complimentary upgrade in room style (to a suite from a standard room, for example), by mentioning you are on your honeymoon. Be sure to bring proof of your recent marriage in order to secure any promised extras.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Special Treatments or Inclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; You will likely find you receive special treatment for being on your honeymoon…take advantage of this status and enjoy the perks! Extras such as fruit, sparkling wine or flowers in your room, spa treatments, complimentary dinner or day-trips for two are all typical ‘add-ons’ thrown in for honeymooners at many resorts. Be sure to mention the reason for your trip upon booking and upon arrival, and ask for any specials that may be available.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Adults-Only:&lt;/strong&gt; Let’s face it – some places are more suitable as honeymoon destinations than others. Adults-only or adult-oriented hotels and resorts will offer romantic touches such as hideaways, hammocks, and secluded nooks for two. The atmosphere will be more romantic, and less family-oriented. Your travel agent will be able to recommend some choices that cater to adults and to honeymooners in specific.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Enjoy your honeymoon planning, and don’t forget to check out the money-saving ideas at &lt;a href="http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.travel-with-a-pro.com”"&gt;Travel-Like-A-Pro.com&lt;/a&gt;, where you will find out how to save hundreds – maybe thousands – on this trip as well all your future travels. &lt;em&gt;Bon Voyage!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-3268182613035147723?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/3268182613035147723/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=3268182613035147723' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/3268182613035147723'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/3268182613035147723'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/09/romance-top-honeymoon-destination-tips.html' title='Romance: Top Honeymoon Destination Tips'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SNfhdjTpYdI/AAAAAAAAAaA/3aqUybaQgCk/s72-c/dress_crop.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-6949426663223491605</id><published>2008-07-27T01:29:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-07-27T11:22:08.554-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='priceline'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel savings'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='bidding for travel'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel insider'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel industry secrets'/><title type='text'>Save Money on Four- and Five-Star Hotels</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SIy6ZXezhkI/AAAAAAAAAYg/AhYcn9O6i-o/s1600-h/hotel-entrance.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227758212433020482" style="WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px" height="175" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SIy6ZXezhkI/AAAAAAAAAYg/AhYcn9O6i-o/s320/hotel-entrance.jpg" width="278" border="1" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As we all know, travel can get expensive...even more so these days with higher fuel and operating costs being passed on to consumers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For those of you who are always looking at 'retail' search sites for deals, there are other options.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One such alternative is &lt;a href="http://priceline.com/"&gt;Priceline.com&lt;/a&gt;. Priceline is a website based on a bidding process, and they have a unique proposition for you: if you have a set date and destination in mind, and know which &lt;em&gt;type&lt;/em&gt; of hotel* you'd like to stay in, they can get you a deal. Priceline customers need to be flexible about the exact hotel desired, and be able to travel with relatively short notice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*While we will focus today on hotel room bidding, you can also use Priceline to get deals on flights and rental cars.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many hotels, once they have sold all the rooms they feel they can within a given time period, offer their 'extra' unsold rooms to sites such as Priceline to sell. For this reason, almost all hotel deals at Priceline are found last minute; a day to within a few days of your expected travel. The deals are well worth the effort - they can often be &lt;em&gt;at least 50% off regular hotel room rates&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Priceline offers hotel rooms on a bidding system, which works as follows: &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;You decide on the dates and destination&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;You decide the &lt;u&gt;minimum level&lt;/u&gt; of hotel quality you'd like to stay at (3*, 5*, etc.)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;li&gt;You bid on a hotel TYPE based on your preferences, and then are informed of the hotel you've been appointed.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3001937-10491990"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-3001937-10491990" width="120" height="90" alt="no one deals like we do!" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With a system like this, you MUST know what you are willing to settle for, and accept what you get once a bid has been filled. Because you won't know WHICH hotel you are getting until you pay for your bid, you must be careful in your bidding, and you must accept what you get. For instance, if you enjoy staying only at 5* hotels, be sure and bid accordingly. If you are willing to be more flexible with your star level or location, your options open up further.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;Some of the successful bids I have made in the last year serve as examples:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4* Hyatt in Downtown Miami - Rack rate $179 paid $60&lt;br /&gt;4* Monte Carlo on the strip in Las Vegas - Rack rate $249 paid $69&lt;br /&gt;3* Holiday Inn Airport Miami - Rack rate $129 - paid $50&lt;br /&gt;4* Hilton Airport Chicago - Rack rate $279 paid $60&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;An alternative to priceline is &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3001937-10537712"&gt;Hotwire.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. In this sister site's system, you put in your criteria and a bid amount, and then the search engine will return with an offer or several offers. You WON'T know which hotel/s are bidding for your dollars until you accept an offer. Based on location and star ratings, you can usually have a fairly good idea which hotels are involved. I often use Hotwire and Expedia as testing gorounds to see what the going rates are, and then place my bid/s through Priceline.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color:#006600;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;IMPORTANT TIP:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; DON'T PAY TOO MUCH! Be sure and visit the forum site &lt;a href="http://biddingfortravel.com/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;www.BiddingForTravel.com&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; for further instructions and advice on using Priceline and Hotwire. You will find useful strategies discussed, as well as recent successful bid details, which can help you determine how much to bid.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bon Voyage!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/thetravelinsider/" rel="38d22ad27e5cc2e250bd6e6437b0a91004d3c343"&gt;...&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-6949426663223491605?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/6949426663223491605/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=6949426663223491605' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/6949426663223491605'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/6949426663223491605'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/07/save-money-on-four-and-five-star-hotels.html' title='Save Money on Four- and Five-Star Hotels'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp2.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SIy6ZXezhkI/AAAAAAAAAYg/AhYcn9O6i-o/s72-c/hotel-entrance.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-3583650916098093008</id><published>2008-07-09T13:22:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-07-09T13:35:57.592-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='ski vacation'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel insider'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='ski resort ideas'/><title type='text'>Resort Ideas for Your Ski Vacation</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SHUfvDj4GPI/AAAAAAAAAYI/RUG56zi1s0k/s1600-h/ski_vacation.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221114236276054258" style="WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" height="182" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SHUfvDj4GPI/AAAAAAAAAYI/RUG56zi1s0k/s320/ski_vacation.jpg" width="276" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Are you into skiing or snowboarding? If so, then you face a unique challenge when booking a vacation, as there are considerations that would not cross most people's minds...you are not just looking for a warm, sunny spot to park yourself. You're looking for somewhere cold, snowy and mountainous! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Here are three key issues to keep in mind when looking at your choices:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transportation:&lt;/strong&gt; Will you be flying, taking a bus or driving? Whatever your mode of transportation, you have your skis or snowboard and all related gear and clothing to bring with you, as well as street clothing for evenings and time off the slopes or trails. Be sure and check beforehand that your airline or bus company of choice can accommodate your storage needs, and if taking a car, that your roof rack and vehicle can handle all the extra stuff you need to bring.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Type of skiing:&lt;/strong&gt; Do you want pure powder? Then you need good-sized mountains and maybe even helicopter access. Likewise, cross-country skiing requires groomed trails, snowboarding is great at resorts which allot specific slopes or courses to snowboarders, and beginner skiers need tamer hills and maybe ski instruction. Think about your needs and the needs of those in your party when booking your resort ski vacation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Lodging:&lt;/strong&gt; Where will you stay when you get there? Your options will range from a local hotel or motel to onsite resorts dedicated to skiers, often with ski-out lodges where you can literally ski right out your front door. There are resort ski towns such as Aspen, Colorado, which are almost entirely dedicated to the ski community and offer myriad options, not only for sport but for après-ski and shopping as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Enjoy your ski trip, and be sure to use the many more tips you will find at &lt;a href="http://travel-like-a-pro.com/"&gt;Travel-Like-A-Pro.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3001937-10407811"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-3001937-10407811" width="120" height="90" alt="Airfare, Hotels, Rental Cars, Vacation Packages" border="0"/&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-3583650916098093008?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/3583650916098093008/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=3583650916098093008' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/3583650916098093008'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/3583650916098093008'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/07/resort-ideas-for-your-ski-vacation.html' title='Resort Ideas for Your Ski Vacation'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp3.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SHUfvDj4GPI/AAAAAAAAAYI/RUG56zi1s0k/s72-c/ski_vacation.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-5461580895973536734</id><published>2008-04-23T17:56:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-04-23T18:13:20.808-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='vacation'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel planning'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel insider'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel industry secrets'/><title type='text'>Travel Tips for The 'Two Weeks a Year' Vacation</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SA_dtKcKSnI/AAAAAAAAAVU/8mue2dw0DHQ/s1600-h/wing.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192612663347792498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="95" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SA_dtKcKSnI/AAAAAAAAAVU/8mue2dw0DHQ/s320/wing.jpg" width="128" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;If you are one of the millions of people who have two weeks’ vacation per year away from the office, you undoubtedly want to make the most of them. You’ll want to squeeze every ounce of fun, enjoyment and relaxation out of your vacation, and here are some tips to help you do just that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;em&gt;Know what you want:&lt;/em&gt; Don’t leave it until the last minute and then scramble around to book a vacation. You’ll end up paying more, and the destination is not likely to meet all of your needs. Especially if there will be children coming along, there needs to be some planning involved to be sure you all have a great time and your money isn’t wasted. This planning should be fun, not a chore. Grab all the travel books available at your local agency, and enjoy some time reading through them to see what piques everyone’s interest. Narrow down your choices based on what really appeals to you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;em&gt;Know what you like:&lt;/em&gt; Are you a beach person or a mountain person? Would you love to backpack through Europe, or visit the outback in Australia? The cliché ‘life is short’ exists for a reason! Don’t leave all those ‘someday’s’ on the backburner. Know what you like and what you would love to see and do, and plan your vacations around accomplishing some of these dreams. Especially for people who get very limited time off each year, the temptation to just ‘get away’ because it is a relief often overpowers the dream list. Don’t let this happen to you. If you only get so much time off, then make it count. You’ll remember that mountain you climbed for the rest of your life, while that 3 star all-inclusive you may have settled for would have been long forgotten.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;em&gt;Do your homework:&lt;/em&gt; For each trip and each destination, there are usually various ways to make it happen, and various price points for the same features and details. By doing a little legwork yourself, you will not only save a great deal of money, you may even find something nicer than you would have otherwise found. As a little proof, I offer the story of a couple with three kids who searched around following this advice, and for the price of a suite for ONE night in Orlando, they were able to find a flight and accommodation package deal that allowed them to stay in a private villa with their own pool, in a 5 star resort community. &lt;em&gt;This is not an exception – it’s the kind of deal you can expect to find when doing a little homework yourself.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; One final tip is to check out the travel insider secrets in the &lt;a href="http://www.travelindustrysecrets.com/home.html?hop=1results1"&gt;Travel Industry Secrets&lt;/a&gt; guide. There is nothing like knowing what the pros know, and it will save you money and hassle every time. After all, what’s your time worth?...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Have a great time planning your trip, and an even better time enjoying it. Bon Voyage!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307353133/104-1460505-0943966?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=smaent-20&amp;amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0307353133"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192613316182821506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 107px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" height="150" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SA_eTKcKSoI/AAAAAAAAAVc/ozLq6-Upp9U/s200/4_hour_week.jpg" width="114" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;P.S. To explore lightening your load and having more leisure time, try this infamous book by Tim Ferris, packed with brilliant ideas on how to work less and enjoy life more.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-5461580895973536734?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/5461580895973536734/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=5461580895973536734' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/5461580895973536734'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/5461580895973536734'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/04/travel-tips-for-two-weeks-year-vacation.html' title='Travel Tips for The &apos;Two Weeks a Year&apos; Vacation'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp3.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/SA_dtKcKSnI/AAAAAAAAAVU/8mue2dw0DHQ/s72-c/wing.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-1715915099520931232</id><published>2008-03-16T11:02:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-03-16T11:19:36.785-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='honeymoon cruises'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='cruise planning'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel insider'/><title type='text'>Honeymoon Cruises - Part II</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/R91jD8a0w5I/AAAAAAAAAPA/Zd5Hazb-91w/s1600-h/cruise_ship.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178404065955333010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="153" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/R91jD8a0w5I/AAAAAAAAAPA/Zd5Hazb-91w/s320/cruise_ship.jpg" width="243" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;When planning your honeymoon, a cruise holiday can be a great choice for couples who love to travel, and like some variety. Cruise ships come in all sizes and tour many different areas of the world, so you are sure to find one that is suitable for your needs, budget and wish list.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The following is the SECOND half of our general list of issues to consider when looking at a cruise honeymoon (please see Part I for the first half):&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Level of luxury:&lt;/b&gt; From barefoot Windjammer™ cruises, to very commercial mega-cruises that are sold at discounts and feature very basic rooms and food and cater to the masses, your options for level of luxury and refinement are many. At every size you will find more- and less luxurious options; it is simply a matter of taste and budget. Older, business-oriented people may prefer a higher-end cruise such as those offered by the Windstar™ cruise line, while younger people in search of a party atmosphere may not care as much about service, food and room quality and may opt for a Carnival™ cruise or something similar. Even within cruise lines such as Carnival™, there are higher-end and lower-end options, and those geared towards kids, vs. adult-oriented cruising. Do your homework, and select a vacation that suits your style and needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Ports of call:&lt;/b&gt; Are you interested in the nightlife of cities foreign and exotic, or the waterfalls and mountains of a Caribbean hideaway? Would you rather spend your days golfing, riding horses on a beach, or shopping? Do your research and/or ask your travel agents about which cruises stop in ports of call that you would enjoy. While there is much to do on board, half the fun of cruising is enjoying the land-based activities available in the various ports you will stop at. If the activities or ports are not of interest to you, then you be stuck hanging out on board and not enjoying yourself...although for honeymooners this can be less of an issue than for others!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Themes:&lt;/b&gt; Are you both vegetarians? Golfers? Waterfall lovers? Many cruises either cater to certain crowds, or have theme weeks. For golfers, for example, look for cruises that offer packages on day-trip golf games, onboard driving and putting ranges, and storage space catering to golfers. For those with food allergies or who need food prepared in certain ways, check into this before booking, as some ships do cater to such needs, and others will not as they simply do not have the time and resources required to devote to individual needs which vary from the norm.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Daytrip Packages:&lt;/b&gt; Almost all cruises offer packages for trips to be taken in the ports of call. Cruise lines try to cater to as many passenger likes as possible, while at the same time covering the bases of each location. You will usually find at least a tour at each landing spot, and sometimes more elaborate choices such as diving, hiking or guided shopping excursions. Check into whether the tuor types meet your expectations and budget if you prefer to have your days planned. While many destinations are fun to explore with no planning, you can maximimize your time in certain cases by going with the pre-planned choices.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Meal style:&lt;/b&gt; Many larger ships with hundreds or thousands of passengers organize meals by having pre-assigned seating times. In this way, they can serve a large number of people quickly, and then have a second seating and serve the same number again. The meal choices will usually be of decent quality but fairly limited as far as choice, to allow for efficiency. Most ships also offer more casual options such as buffet and outdoor grill-type restaurants and snack shops. In a smaller, more intimate setting, you may find you have the option of a 'normal' restaurant experience where they allow you to either reserve your dinner time each day or just show up when you are hungry and be seated to dine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;What's included:&lt;/b&gt; From all-inclusive - which on a ship usually means all meals but no alcohol included in the price - to a la carte, where you pay at the end of your cruise for whatever expenses you incurred, be it spa services, meals, room service or day trips, be sure you book a honeymoon cruise that meets your budget. If you need your food to be included, make sure it is!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There you have it...some of the main things to consider when booking your honeymoon cruise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;BRIDES: For tips and money-saving ideas re: wedding planning, visit &lt;a href="http://wedding-planning-makes-perfect.blogspot.com/"&gt;Wedding Planning Makes Perfect&lt;/a&gt;. Enjoy!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-1715915099520931232?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/1715915099520931232/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=1715915099520931232' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/1715915099520931232'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/1715915099520931232'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/03/honeymoon-cruises-part-ii.html' title='Honeymoon Cruises - Part II'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp2.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/R91jD8a0w5I/AAAAAAAAAPA/Zd5Hazb-91w/s72-c/cruise_ship.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745637229878246680.post-7471992030845068800</id><published>2008-03-14T18:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-03-14T18:25:04.320-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='honeymoon'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='insider travel tips'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='travel secrets'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='cruising'/><title type='text'>Honeymoon Cruises - Part I</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/R9skDMa0w3I/AAAAAAAAAOw/7Bxzzm0poo0/s1600-h/seabourn.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177771833884459890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="ship" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/R9skDMa0w3I/AAAAAAAAAOw/7Bxzzm0poo0/s320/seabourn.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When planning your honeymoon, a &lt;strong&gt;cruise holiday&lt;/strong&gt; can be a great choice for couples who love to travel, and like some variety.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cruise ships come in all sizes and they tour many different areas of the world, so you are sure to find one that is suitable for your needs, budget and wish list. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The following is the first half of our general list of issues to consider when looking at a cruise honeymoon:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Locale:&lt;/b&gt; First you will need to decide what part of the world you both want to see on your honeymoon. Would you love to cruise among the icebergs in the Alaskan waters? Maybe the white sands and turquoise waters of the Caribbean or Polynesian islands are more your style. You can cruise the Mediterranean, the Panama canal, or the west coast of North America, just to name a few more choices.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Size of ship:&lt;/b&gt; Cruise options range from huge mega-liners with live theatres, multiple swimming pools, interior shopping malls and even ice rinks and climbing walls, to intimate smaller ships for only a few couples. Your tolerance for crowds, need for privacy and shopping and leisure needs are things to consider here.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Ship amenities:&lt;/b&gt; As mentioned above, cruise ships come with a wide array of amenity options. On the larger cruise ships you will find multiple restaurants, gym and squash facilities, interior atriums of many storeys with lots of onboard shopping, libraries and lounges, disco and dance halls, live theatre shows, a variety of swimming pools and waterslides, full spa services and much more. Smaller, more intimate ships will have at least one restaurant and possibly some amenities such as gym or spa, and lounge areas. If you and your spouse-to-be love a variety of choices and can tolerate larger numbers of people, then a mega-liner cruise ship offers a huge array of fun choices included in the price and would be a good option for your honeymoon cruise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Crew/staff to passenger ratio:&lt;/b&gt; On a larger cruise, naturally you will find there are more passengers than crew, and while the service is usually fair, it is not normal to expect impeccable first-class attention as you would on an intimate, smaller cruise with a higher staff-to-passenger ratio. If top-notch service is your first priority, be sure to choose a cruise honeymoon with a reputation for attentive staff, and a high crew-to-passenger ratio. Also note the 'level of luxury' comments in Part II.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please see Part II for more considerations, and if money is an issue as you are planning your honeymoon, be sure and use the tips found in the &lt;a href="http://www.travelindustrysecrets.com/home.html?hop=1results1/"&gt;Travel Industry Secrets Guide&lt;/a&gt;. Enjoy!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3745637229878246680-7471992030845068800?l=travel-insider.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/feeds/7471992030845068800/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3745637229878246680&amp;postID=7471992030845068800' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/7471992030845068800'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3745637229878246680/posts/default/7471992030845068800'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://travel-insider.blogspot.com/2008/03/honeymoon-cruises-part-i.html' title='Honeymoon Cruises - Part I'/><author><name>High_Life</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16088595968244108741</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='23' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/Sud6hDNyA-I/AAAAAAAAAsI/xcVLwMx2CSY/S220/bp.small.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp1.blogger.com/_UhxrpnoLhaI/R9skDMa0w3I/AAAAAAAAAOw/7Bxzzm0poo0/s72-c/seabourn.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
