http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/travel/inland-alaska-the-wildest-place-in-america.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/inland-alaska-the-wildest-place-in-america.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:06:07 -0600
"Unspoiled." "Untouched." "Wilderness." These are just a few of the words that accurately describe the state of Alaska. While Alaska cruises are one excellent way to see much of what this amazing region has to offer, they typically don't do justice to the magnitude of nature found here. It takes venturing inland to unlock the magic that is truly Alaska.

A full 15 percent of this state is legally designated as wilderness areas. And, because the citizens of Alaska reside primarily in a few compact cities, much of the state is occupied solely by wildlife. It's not desolate; it's natural, filled with intriguing animals of all sorts that live freely in this rugged landscape.

Denali National Park

Denali means "Great One," and the name fits! Home of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, this giant stretches over 20,000 feet into the sky. But this isn't the only great sight in the park. Equally as impressive are the glacial landscape and the "Big Five" wildlife inhabitants: grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and moose.

This park is truly "organic" in that it has been maintained to serve its original residents: the animals. One road moves vehicle traffic in and out of the park to preserve order. Look around. Take a deep breath. "Back to nature" has never been a more appropriate saying than when you're standing in the midst of Denali National Park.

Kluane National Park

One of the largest international land preserves on earth, Kluane National Park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A frozen tundra; Kluane boasts the highest mountain in Canada - Mt. Logan - as well as some of the largest and thickest glaciers in the world.

With rivers of ice, vast ice fields and massive glaciers, Kluane is typically blanketed with a solid layer of frozen water including glaciers that are up to one mile thick. It is truly like walking into a land before time.

Alaska Railroad

Cruise ships are the best way to visit numerous destinations however, they have one drawback. They do require water in order to operate. Since inland Alaska is far from the ocean's shore, you'll simply need to transfer to another delightful form of transportation: The Alaska Railroad.

Reaching from Seward to Fairbanks, you'll enjoy the view of incredible scenery as you gaze through large picture windows. This form of luxury rail travel is complete with dining car, viewing deck, upper-level dome area, restrooms and comfortable seating.

With multiple tours with varying prices, it's easy to escape to the inland areas of Alaska that you would have otherwise missed.

When you're planning your next Alaska tour, look for cruise lines that offer inland Alaska excursions. You'll experience the wonder and excitement only discovered by those who venture into the depths of this land that is still wild at heart.



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Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com offering the best deals including
Princess cruises. © 2009, All Rights Reserved



Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/2010-vacations-the-first-with-a-baby.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/2010-vacations-the-first-with-a-baby.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:09:14 -0600
Taking a holiday with a baby is no longer as hard as it used to be. In fact, many resorts across the globe now offer baby-friendly holidays. When vacationing with a baby, the most important part of choosing the right accommodation is finding something that meets your standards. Babies may not care where they stay, but you need to ensure that the environment is smoke free and sanitary for example.

There are some things that must be considered before making a destination choice however. Some of the most important ones are:

* Ascertaining health requirements for travel with a child, such as making sure your child is properly immunised. Once the decision is made to travel with a baby, check with the child's pediatrician to find out what vaccinations are needed. Some countries require that young children have particular types of vaccines before leaving. Do this early so that you can get it out of the way and move on to planning your 2010 holiday.

* Make sure that you have a medical kit handy when travelling with babies and children. This is especially important if the baby has a special medical condition like asthma. Since you may need a special permit to travel with some types of medications, plan ahead. Call your travel agency or ask your child's doctor for information.

* Pack light for your baby. There is no need to take every piece of toy or clothing. In fact you may find that buying a few things when you arrive may be easier.

* Determine early on whether you will take the baby as a 'lap passenger' or get an extra seat. Most children under two can sit in a parent's lap on a plane. Call the airlines and make inquiries regarding their policy on carrying children on flights.

* When holidaying with a baby, don't try to do everything that is on the list of 'must see' and 'must do.' Take time to enjoy without making yourself or your baby overly tired.

There are many vacation spots in the U.S. that offer baby-friendly vacation options. Two that come immediately to mind are Florida and Hawaii. With their tropical climate, great beaches and numerous natural attractions, these locations have something for everyone. With themes parks like Disney World and Sea World, Orlando, Florida is a hit with children and the adults travelling with them.

Many of the hotels are now marketed as family friendly resorts. They have nannies and babysitting facilities to take the little ones off your hands while you enjoy the nightlife or just take some time for yourselves.

Europe also has a number of locations where babies and children are welcome. One popular holiday island is Minorca - or Menorca as it is often known - the second largest of the Balearic Islands. This Mediterranean isle caters to the entire family and actually markets its tourism product as such. Holidays in Minorca are still mainly underdeveloped as far as holidays go, but this is by design. The island's main allure is its natural beauty and fine beaches, plus the Minorca hospitality.

Finally, there are companies that can help make travelling with children easier. These companies specialise in shipping whatever you need for babies and children to you at your holiday location. They ship to almost any country in the world. This minimises the amount of things you need to pack and take with you. This service is especially helpful if you are vacationing with more than one child far from home. One such company is Babies Travel Lite. They send food, clothing and just about anything else you will need for your child. While this may seem an expensive option, in some instances the convenience is worth the price for a great 2010 vacation.

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For details about Minorca with a map of Minorca visit yourmenorca.net and for accommodation choices with babies they review some of the hotels in Minorca

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/planning-your-last-minute-holiday-bargain.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/planning-your-last-minute-holiday-bargain.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:18:33 -0600
Read up on where you are going
It is often very easy to get caught up by cheap prices when looking for a bargain holiday, and research should always take place before booking. Using sites like trip advisor, you can see what your accommodation will be like and using other travel websites you can read up what the local area has to offer. This is especially true when travelling with children as you want to ensure that the area you are visiting is family friendly.

Weather
There maybe a reason your bargain holiday is so cheap. I recently was looking to take a very reasonably priced holiday to the Dominican Republic, but after some further reading realised it was their rainy season and decided against it.

Allocation on Arrival
Quite often travel companies will offer last minute holiday bargains where you accommodation will be allocated on arrival. This can be a really fun and exciting way of travelling for some people, but if you really do like to be prepared and know what you are doing then it is best to avoid these types of bargains. Some people end up staying in great accommodation and having dream holidays when others have not been so lucky.

Hidden costs
Many late bargains might appear at first to be really cheap, but there can often be hidden costs in taxes, transfer costs, flight meals and surcharges. Before getting excited about your bargain holiday, make sure you read all the small print and conditions about any extra costs.

Insurance
It seems like something you would definitively remember when planning a holiday well in advance, but when you are booking a trip spur of the moment. Travel insurance will no doubt be in the back of your mind. Some companies will make sure you have travel insurance before travelling or offer the option to book through them, but if they don't, this is something you definitely need to sort out to make sure you are covered while abroad.

These tips aren't exactly industry secrets but it surprising how many can be forgotten when rushing to book a holiday bargain online.


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This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of Search Travel Online who provide holidays bargains and cheap summer holidays

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/malta-hotels-hit-the-snooze-button.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/malta-hotels-hit-the-snooze-button.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:02:33 -0600
Closing down for the winter is common in many holiday destinations, but for Malta it's unusual as visitor arrivals are year round, thanks largely to the good Malta weather during the winter months.

The explanation lies in that this is the second winter in a row where winter bookings are slow, and no matter how good the Malta weather is it doesn't make up for a poor economy in its mainstay UK market - or help British people when it comes to exchanging Sterling for Euros as the British Pound is doing badly against the Euro.

But does mothballing a hotel during unusually quiet times impact on its ability to do well during the busier spring, summer and autumn months?

Malta is an island that attracts the retired and older generations for the winter months, and they often return again for a week or two in the late spring or early summer - and often they have a favourite hotel.

They have no reason to change the hotel they stay in as they feel comfortable there, and get to know the local area.

But take away their opportunity to stay there in the winter they will have no choice but to find an alternative from the Maltese hotels that are open - and might like it enough to change their second trip to that one too.

So while mothballing Malta hotels this winter might make sound economic sense short term, longer term the hotels that close their doors might find their occupancy levels dropping off at busier times.

The number of people taking holidays in Malta this year has dropped, in common with most holiday destinations, but the island has fared better than some and current thinking is that it could be a drop of around ten per cent this year, and if the economies around Europe improve in 2010 next year could see a rise on the number of people who took Malta holidays this year.

In recent years the cost of taking a holiday in Malta has tumbled, thanks to the introduction of cheap Malta flights from carriers like Ryanair who started popular low cost flights from both London and Dublin to Malta in recent times.

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Malta flight information for this winter is available by visiting yourmalta.com

For those interested in promoting Malta on the internet they also have two Malta domain names for sale


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/cruising-the-mediterranean-cyprus.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/cruising-the-mediterranean-cyprus.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:59:58 -0600
The Seasons of Cyprus

Cyprus does have seasons, though cooler seasons like autumn and winter are very short-lived. Winter lasts from December to February and plays host to several varieties of bird life. Winter-visiting birds, such as flamingos, herons, glossy ibis and egrets, fly to Cyprus each year to feed at the salt lakes near the Larnaka Airport. They usually arrive in December just after the first rains. Bird watchers often flock to Akrotiri during December to view the vast array of birds and capture some great photographs.

The visiting feathered friends aren't the only 'snowbirds' attracted to Cyprus during the winter months. Senior citizens and those looking for a reprieve from long, cold winters also flock to Cyprus to enjoy a very mild winter. December is considered the coldest month of winter with temperatures dropping as low as 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spring, summer and autumn are considered prime tourism seasons on Cyprus. The beaches and other popular areas become more crowded, and prices increase. Swimming, diving and other water sports become more popular as well. In addition to honeymooners, seniors and families, the family dog is also welcome on certain beaches on Cyprus. Several of the island's hotels offer the ability for the family dog to enjoy holiday time with the family. One summer recently an entire section of beach went to the dogs, quite literally!

Benefits of Visiting Cyprus in the Winter

Most of the hotels on Cyprus lower their rates during the three winter months in effort to lure more guests. December, January and February often bring lower hotel rates, low cost airfares and cruise ship discounts. Museums and ancient sites are not as crowded, allowing visitors the opportunity to linger and focus on details they may miss during the more crowded months. Some of the most impressive sites on Cyprus date back 10,000 years and are worth the extra time to explore and enjoy.

Daytime temperatures during the winter are still warm enough to stroll along the beaches in shorts for early Cyprus holidays 2010 -as a stark contrast to the mild outward temperatures, the Troodos mountain range in the centre of the island is excellent for skiing, snowboarding or hiking. Enjoy your day skiing - then relax with a quiet stroll on the beach or end your day on the golf course. Few places on earth allow this type of diversity for one full day of fun. On Cyprus, golf is considered a year round sport. Golf courses are very well maintained and never close during the mild winter months.

Year Round Sports

Because of its location, Cyprus does not limit the ability to play sports due to seasons. While summer temperatures have been as high as 96 degrees Fahrenheit, the average temperature during the summer months is between 71 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit or 22-29 degrees Celsius. Winter on Cyprus may drop as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but the average temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius.

Whatever time of year you're thinking of taking a cruise, including Cyprus is well considering.

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Cyprus tourism information for holidays in Cyprus is available with on-line travel guide yourcyprus.info plus accommodation with reviews of cheap Cyprus hotels

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/colorado-skiing-the-race-to-be-first.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/colorado-skiing-the-race-to-be-first.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:47:51 -0600
Resort employees focus on quality work and snowmaking first. The first ski area openings always generate a lot of buzz around the winter sport loving community.

Which North American ski resort was the first to open for the 2009/10 ski season? Arapahoe Basin and Loveland, both in Colorado, had been in close competition for several weeks. Each resort was preparing to open their doors before the other.

And The North American For 2009 Winner Is...

Loveland in Colorado.

And this year Loveland not only was the first of the ski holidays resorts to open first - it was the earliest for 40 years, with Loveland officially open October 7 2009.

Last year it was a tie between Arapahoe Basin and Loveland when they opened on October 15 with both areas racing frantically to win - both resorts decided to call it a tie and open at the same time.

Several nights provided perfect below-freezing temperatures to start the snowmakers and a good base for the rest of the winter. "We're all very excited. We're champing at the bit," said spokeswoman Leigh Hierholzer at the time.

Just days before the competition ended, Loveland's marketing and communications manager, Kathryn Johnson said, "We're getting close. We have been making snow for two weeks now, but right now we don't have our 18-inch base."

But Loveland won by two days this year, with Arapahoe Basin opening two days later. Still an impressive six days advance on their 2008 efforts.

Representatives of each resort admit having a specific strategy and driving past the other to see progress. Kimberly Trembearth, marketing and interactive coordinator for Arapahoe Basin, said, "We might drive over the pass and have a look at what (Loveland) is doing." John Sellers, director of marketing for Loveland, shared a similar poker strategy, "I may drive over (Loveland) pass instead of taking the Eisenhower tunnel home... just to see what sort of activity A-Basin is up to."

John Sellers agreed with the statement by Kimberly Trembearth, "It just comes down to temperature, We can't control mother nature. We open when we can and only when we can offer the best conditions for boarders and skiers. If we happen to be first, all the better." Neither ski area was willing to sacrifice the experience of their first skiers of the season by opening prematurely.

Other Colorado resorts that have ski holidays depend primarily on pre-booked traffic have set opening dates. Dates are as follows:

* Aspen Highlands: December 12

* Breckenridge: November 12

* Copper Mountain: November 6

* Steamboat: November 25

* Telluride: November 26

* Vail: November 20

* Winter Park: November 18

Other Areas Promoting the Race to Open

Several resorts in Nevada, Canada and the East Coast are planning to open at various times in November. The races to open are highly anticipated and always considered a friendly competition. Each resort focuses on the ability to lay a good base of snow before calling success. Of course higher-elevation resorts often finish first.

Early season snow in the Alps could give some French ski resorts an advantage over their counterparts. Resorts located high in the Alps and Pyrenese Mountains are making plans to open earlier than normal, but it has not been determined if they will open in mid or late November. The ski resort race to open competition has been an invigorating opening for this year's ski holidays season, and there is a real buzz looking forward to this winter.

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If you're considering a ski holiday this year yourandorra.com has details for a ski holidays Andorra and for accommodation they have hotel in Andorra reviews.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/camping-vs-caravanning-cost-versus-quality.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/camping-vs-caravanning-cost-versus-quality.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:58:26 -0600
The best ways of doing this are to take your own caravan or tent. Which of these is better though? Caravanning or Camping? Is either better? Perhaps both have their advantages, and neither is objectively better than the other. That may well be the case, but we won't know unless we discuss the issue.

For these comparisons, I will be using what I would consider to be a typical tent and a typical caravan. I am aware that there are tents which are massive and caravans that have swimming pools and things like that, but the amount of them in use is small enough for me to consider it negligible.

First off, caravans are more spacious. You can accommodate more people in them comfortably, and still have space for storage, cooking, washing and other essentials. They're better on a rainy day, allowing you to plug in electrical appliances if the campsite has electricity for caravans. You can even get running water. Sleeping spaces in caravans are also of higher quality than in a tent, and when you're on holiday that can be a real blessing.

In the face of all of the above, it looks like camping may as well just give up and admit that caravanning is superior. Yet camping is still incredibly popular, so why is this?

The main reason is probably cost. A tent is much, much cheaper than a caravan. An onsite space for a tent is also much cheaper than an onsite space for a caravan. Transporting a tent is much cheaper than transporting a caravan; Tents can even be carried as a backpack. On top of this, some people just prefer camping.

So, outside of an individual's preference for either camping or caravanning, it seems that the main advantage of a caravan is the quality, whereas the main advantages of a tent are the cost and ease of transportation. Which of those is most appealing will vary from person to person.

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This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of John Fowler Holiday Parks, offering a cheap family holiday and family holidays.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/what-makes-a-successful-journey-to-the-destination.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/what-makes-a-successful-journey-to-the-destination.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:28:45 -0600 It is hard to imagine modern life without traveling, because the technological progress of the XX century has allowed people to travel extensively at a swift rate.
Men and women travel to see other countries and continents, modern metropolises and the ruins of ancient towns, to admire the beautiful places or just for a change of scene. It is always interesting to learn new places and other ways of life, to meet new people, taste diverse food etc. Traveling is a wonderful key to understanding other cultures, a rattling opportunity to discover more about the world we live in.

Here are a few travel tips for every traveler to think about before going on a trip.
1. It is significant to arrange a trip beforehand. It will give you more time to find reduced prices on tickets and accommodation and, thus, save your money. You can save money by picking out inexpensive accommodation and airfares.
2. Enquire about your destination and the most suitable time to travel.
3. Take care of your baggage. Check baggage requirements with the airline or the bus company you are traveling with.
4. Before leaving the house, check if your passport, plastic cards and other travel documents are in your bag. There is nothing more frustrating than leaving the documents at home when you are thousands of miles away. Keep your documents in a safe and easy-for-you-to-reach place while on a trip.
5. Make a few copies of the essential travel documents, for instance flight reservations, hotel confirmations, rental car receipts etc. Also, record important phone numbers in the address book of your cell phone for easy access.
6. Insure the place you will be staying at will provide you with the required facilities.
7. Remember to keep the principal medical information at hand. If you need to take a medication, do not put it in your checked luggage. Instead, always keep it in your carry-on luggage.
The travel tips listed above will help you make a safer and trouble-free trip.

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Before you make a trip, consider possible problems that you may face. First of all, find more travel information. Then, read first-hand information about traveling by plane. Enjoy a trip!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/bali-tourist-guide.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/bali-tourist-guide.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:19:14 -0600
Rent a hotel room for a fraction of the price that it would cost you anywhere else in the world, or splurge on a more authentic Bali villa accommodation in which you can opt for a personalized Balinese menu created just for you. Either way, your expenses will be minimal while the service you receive will prove to be exceptional.

Visit Bali any time of year and bask in pleasant weather. The temperature usually fluctuates between 20-33 degrees Celsius and 68-93 degrees Fahrenheit. Monsoon season runs from December to March, but still, the days are mostly sunny with rain usually passing through only during the night.

The magic of Bali awaits. Rich with culture and ancient wisdom, this island paradise is the perfect tropical getaway.

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Splurge on a more authentic Bali villa accommodation in which you can opt for a personalized Balinese menu created just for you.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/can-i-afford-a-gap-year.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/can-i-afford-a-gap-year.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:56:37 -0600
Of course, a gap year has long been an acceptable way to spend time after secondary school in order to build up your 'life experience' and to enjoy some well-deserved freedom. But with so much concern about debt, can you really afford one? The easy answer is probably yes, but you must plan and budget carefully.

Whether you decide to volunteer close to home, or want to fly to the east coast of Australia, it is likely that you will need to save up some money for the experience. Of course, earning is one thing, but saving is quite another and it is important that you are taking enough money from your monthly pay and putting it somewhere safe. The more research you can do on this at the moment the better as the best savings accounts available tend to be fixed term - meaning you are more likely to get good returns if you leave your savings alone for a certain amount of time.

Another positive boon to your funding could come from tax. If you are only working for a few months before leaving and not working for the rest of the year, you may be eligible for tax back. If you earn £6,475 or less over a year you do not need to pay tax.

Once your funds are in place you need to estimate how you want to access it, and the currency (or currencies) you are likely to use. Internet banking is a great way for travellers because it is free and is available 24 hours a day. After you know what currency you will need and where, it may also be worth considering a prepaid credit card - despite the bad reputation there are certain credit card options available that are free of debt risk and allow you to take out foreign currencies abroad for no charge.

The next plan is to budget the trip. If you are travelling abroad it is becoming increasingly important to take out travel insurance - and it is a good idea to research specialist gap year cover. If you are planning any special activities such as extreme sports, ensure that these are included on your policy also.

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Paul Roberts writes about finance for travellers, savings accounts and fixed term savings.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>