Рубрика: Travel

Family Holidays

Family Holidays

Most families will be limited to when they take their summer holiday as they need to do it in line when their children are on holiday.  So of course they will have to pay the high rates that flights, hotels or resorts will charge because they will be staying in them during the peak season periods. 

However there are certain things that these families can do which should help with keeping the costs of their holiday down as much as possible.  So in order to help you with getting the best deals possible for your next family holiday we offer some tips you may find extremely useful.

Tip 1 – Whenever possible don’t leave booking your family holiday until a couple of weeks prior to the departure dates.  Instead you would be far better off trying to arrange it several months before.  As you will notice at the beginning of the year this is when most holiday companies will offer special deals, such as children under 7 will stay for free. 

Tip 2 – Although you may enjoy speaking to someone in person with regards to arranging your holiday don’t forget that the agents are trying to sell the most expensive holidays they can.  The reason for them doing this is that they then get paid a far better commission on what they sell.  You may be surprised if you were to search online for the same holiday as your local travel agent is offering for considerably less.  Plus of course by going online you may find that you are able to get some little extras included within the cost that would make the whole holiday a much more enjoyable experience for you and your family.

Just these two tips should help to ensure that when you arrange your next holiday you will be able to get the right one that meets your requirements for the best price possible.

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Ваш отзыв , 04 Jun 2011

Рубрика: Travel

Bus Company Alliances Make the Trip

Bus Company Alliances Make the Trip

Whether you have been on a packaged bus tour or not, you probably think that the tour managers at the bus company simply pull out a map and plot out a route via interstate highways and local roadways. Trace the route in a magic marker color and give it to their drivers.
In fact, the package tours created by the bus company are very elaborate and are based upon alliances that the bus company has with a variety of entertainment attractions, restaurants, hotels and other service providers.
If you book a tour from a bus company that takes you some distance from home, then that tour needs to include restaurants where the bus can stop so that you and your group can have meals; hotels that will provide you lodging as well as meals; and even special attractions that might be a part of the tour package because they are on the way or within easy access from and back to the route.
A large independent bus company may be independent but it may have also been able to negotiate alliances or partnerships with entertainment attractions, restaurants, hotels and other service providers on their own. I feel save in saying that depending on how big that individual bus company may be may have an influence as to the reach it has beyond its headquarter city. For example, a bus company in Montreal, Quebec, Canada may have reach only into the suburbs of Montreal. So it can provide you with a great tour of Montreal taking advantage of alliances or agreements it may have worked out with restaurants and sites of attraction, but is unable to go beyond that boundary.
Other companies are large and have offices in many regions of the country so they have a longer reach and can provide you with a choice of more restaurants, special entertainment attractions, hotels and other service providers.
Then there are alliances like International Motorcoach Group. International Motorcoach Group is an alliance of 50 bus companies in Canada and the United States and each has access to the entertainment attractions, restaurants, hotels and other service providers that the alliance has been able to partner with.
Let’s face it. An alliance of many companies which can include large and small bus companies have more strength than one bus company. And it is an alliance that can negotiate partnerships with a better standing than say one large company.
What does that mean to you the traveler? It can mean stays at top rated hotels, meals at top rated restaurants, appearances at top rated entertainment attractions all across the country.
International Motorcoach Group partners with 41 entertainment attractions which include:
Andy Williams Moon River Theatre
Branson Variety Theater
Crazy Horse Memorial
Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre Complex
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede
Dollywood
Graceland/Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel
Grand Ole Opry/Gaylord Attractions
IMAX Entertainment Complex
Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation
Jim Stafford Theatre
Longwood Gardens
Lookout Mountain Attractions
Newseum
Quebec Casinos
Ripley’s Aquarium
Sands Casino Resort — Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The New England Aquarium & Simons IMAX Theatre
And more.
International Motorcoach Group has partnerships with 20 hotels and resorts including:
Allenberry Resort Inn & Playhouse
AmericInn International
Beau Rivage Resort and Casino
Best Western Oceanfront
Country Inn of Lancaster
Country Inns of America
Fairfield Inn Properties of the Smokies
French Lick Resort & Casino
Hiltons of Branson
Quality Inn Gettysburg
Turning Stone Resort & Casino
Wyndham Hotel Group
Then International Motorcoach Group has an alliance with Tour Operators who have access to entertainment and other special sites in their region. These Tour Operators include:
Branson Vacation Company/Edgewood Receptive Services
Northeast Unlimited Tours
Ozarks’Kirkwood Tour & Travel
Smokey Mountain Tour Connection
Sweet Magnolia Tours
The Maine Tour Connection
The restaurants with which International Motorcoach Group is associated include:
Branson Best Restaurant.com
Dandy Restaurant Cruise Ships
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre/Prather Entertainment Group
Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn
Finally, International Motorcoach Group has ties to 44 convention visitors bureaus that stretch from the East Coast to the West Coast with a large number in the middle of the country too. These visitors bureaus include:
Adirondack Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau
Branson (Missouri) Lakes Area Convention Visitor Bureau
Chattanooga Area Convention Bureau
Explore Minnesota Tourism
Gettysburg Convention Visitors Bureau
Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association
Louisville Convention Visitors Bureau
Maryland Office of Tourism Development
Memphis Convention Visitors Bureau
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Visitors Bureau
Pennsylvania Dutch Convention Visitors Bureau
Philadelphia Convention Visitors Center
Valley Forge Convention Visitors Bureau
Vermont Tourism Network
Virginia Tourism Corporation
VISIT Milwaukee
Visit Pittsburgh
So, again the question is what does all of this mean to you? Well, regardless what your interest, you can find package tours that fit it at International Motorcoach Group. Interested in gambling? As you can see, there are connections with gambling resorts. Interested in ante-bellum housing and pre-Civil War or Civil War history, International Motorcoach Group and turn you toward a bus company that can satisfy that. Interested in good old American family entertainment? You can get that too.
Go to imgcoach.com and check out their lists of entertainment sites, resorts and casinos and visitors bureaus. Click on any listing and you will be guided to the website of that listing.
It’s a great way to hone in on a particular tour you may want to take.

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Ваш отзыв , 04 Jun 2011

Рубрика: Travel

Drinking on Board of Air Mauritius Flight

Drinking on Board of Air Mauritius Flight

You are warned. Fly but don’t get drunk, says Minister.

There is an issue with the number of drunken passengers on Air Mauritius flights, says the Minister of Tourism and External Communication, Mr. Xavier Luc Duval. “They cause problems to other passengers and staff and now Government wants to put into place preventive measures. We intend to have a law that will allow us to prosecute disruptive passengers once they land,” he adds.

However, he says: “We will not ban drinking on our flights; we do not want to change the customer’s experience. Why should we penalize the majority of well-behaved passengers because of a drunken few?” The proposed Civil Aviation (Hijacking and other Offences) (Amendment) Bill, under section 5A reads as follows: Any person who, on board an Aircraft flight – (a) intimidates or threatens a crew member, whether physically or verbally, or uses abusive language against him, or lessens the ability of a crew member to perform his duties; (b) obstructs or hinders a crew member in the performance of his duties; (c) willfully refuses to follow a lawful instruction given by the aircraft commander, or on behalf of the aircraft commander by a crew member, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the aircraft or of any person or property on board, or for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline on board, shall commit an offence.

(2) Any person who, on board an Air Mauritius in flight (a) intimidates or threatens, whether physically or verbally another person or uses abusive language against another person; (b) willfully damages or destroys property not belonging to him;(c) is under the influence of an intoxicating drink (i.e. alcohol) or of a drug to such extent as to be incapable of behaving properly, shall commit an offence. One tour Operator believes that the new legislation would be a step towards the right direction. “This is an excellent initiative. The Bill would bring Mauritius in line with other countries, which have laws that offer protection on flights. It is important that at a time when we expect a rise in the volume of tourists, we can assure flight staff a safe working environment.”

The president of the Association of Travel Agencies, Mr. Willy Cheung said: “It is a good piece of legislation that will act as a deterrent. It will protect the cabin crews, and the passengers too.” One steward said: “This new legislation was long overdue. Flight crews have had enough with drunken passengers. They think that we are here to put up with their abuse and ill manners. Not only do they make our job tougher but also they spoil the mood of other passengers. I applaud the Government for this initiative.” An airhostess said: “Dealing with drunken passengers is a cabin crew’s worst nightmare. We must be very initiative to find a diplomatic ways to ask them to stop drinking. We have received training to deal with this issue, but I must confess, it can get quite tiring.

MauriTravel

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Ваш отзыв , 03 Jun 2011

Рубрика: Travel

Packing the Suitcase

Packing the Suitcase…Basics 101 for a Family Vacation

We love to go on vacation, and the experiences we share with our families are
amazing, but the packing that is involved can end up being a nightmare. It can be
a huge project and if not planned out properly will end with you needing another
vacation from your vacation.
A requirement for a well planned out vacation is an organized. Packing is an art
and a few helpful tips can make your vacation go smoothly.
How many times do we forget to pack the simple everyday items such
as toothpaste or a hairbrush? There is a way to remember such items.
A week before your planned trip, grab a pen and paper and write down all the
things that come to mind that you know you need to bring. Start with bathroom
essentials, and then move to garment essentials beginning from the head and
going to the toe. Don’t take for granted the myth that because you wear clothes
every day you will remember to pack them. Continue to add things to your list
as the week goes on. You will be surprised the things you miss each day as you
carry on with your daily lives.
Your list won’t do you any good if you don’t check things off as you pack them
prior to the big day. Make sure you check it twice!
Valuable tips for traveling families:
•
Let the little ones pack back pack with their favorite toys to keep
them busy. Plus they feel important having their own bag to carry.
•
Don’t OverPack. It is better to Underpack then over pack. Don’t bring the
closet, just visit a Laundromat. Buy T-shirts as your souvenirs that you
can wear while on vacation.
•
Pack your items in groups, like socks, pants, shirts. That way you are not
scattering through the luggage.
•
Pack clothes that are easy to care for. Stay wrinkle free; try rayon if you
need to bring a couple nice outfits for evenings out.
•
It’s ok to “mix and match.” This cuts down on the amount of outfits you
have to pack.
•
One thing you do need to overpack on…..Underwear. Believe it or not,
that is one thing you NEED to change on a daily basis and with kids
sometimes more than once
•
Days may be hot, but evenings may be cold, so always bring a sweater or
a wrap, even in the summer.
•
A trip won’t be enjoyable if your feet are killing you, so pack an extra pair
of well-broken-in walking shoes.
Pre-planning and organizing your trip in advance will save you tons of
troubles and quite a few less nightmares to bare.

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Ваш отзыв , 03 Jun 2011

Рубрика: Travel

Some Tips for Healthy Eating at Universal Studios

Some Tips for Healthy Eating at Universal Studios

Fatty hamburgers, oily fries, and greasy pizza—when you’re on a vacation, you cannot help but stuff yourself with these scrumptious and convenient but unhealthy food. It is not any different if you are visiting a world-renowned theme park like Universal Studios. Chances are, you will be exposed to various kinds of unhealthy food during your vacation to this place. But because your health is important whether you are on a vacation or not, here are some tips for healthy eating at this popular theme park.

1.         Bring your Own Food

This first tip is advantageous not only for healthy eating purposes but also to save you money. Bringing your own lunch and snacks would ensure that you are able to stay away from junk foods that are all over the place. Pack healthy snacks such as fruit juice, power bars, sandwiches, and veggie munchies.

2.         Look for Healthy Restaurants

Eating out does not have to mean eating unhealthy foods. All over Orlando, many restaurants serve nutritious dishes. If this means that you need to go out of the theme park to eat, then do so. Here are some of the best choices.

•           Crispers – Don’t be fooled by the name. Usually, crispy food is unhealthy fried food. However, this soup and salad chain actually offers healthy eats such as gourmet sandwiches, amazing wraps, tasty soups, salads with fresh ingredients and fat free dressings. In the menu, choose vegetarian dishes marked with a little red tomato symbol.

•           Ming Court – Healthy Chinese food is the specialty of this casual restaurant, which is flocked by tourists and locals alike. For freshly prepared stir-fry and delectable sushi, be sure to drop by this place for a round of healthy lunch or dinner.

•           Red Bamboo Thai Restaurant – Located on the International Drive, this healthy Thai restaurant is the perfect place to eat your lunch or dinner. Don’t miss their tofu and vegetable medley with spicy Thai curry sauce. If you’re looking for something a bit toned down, you can go for the heavy-on-the-appetite steamed meet and vegetable dishes with light seasoning and served with rice.

•           Salt Island Chophouse & Fish Market – People who crave for seafood should certainly head over this restaurant, which offers a wide assortment of healthy seafood platters such as grilled scallops, garlic shrimp, and grilled fish.

3.         Stay away from junk food

Temptation to eat junk food is hard to resist. But you can if you make it a goal to avoid these kinds of foods at all cost with the right motivation. Not only are they unhealthy, they also won’t provide you with the energy you need to do all the activities lined up for your vacation.

Healthy eating is possible even in a place like the Universal Studios. Just make sure that you find healthy restaurants, bring your own food, and stay away from junk food. To make sure that you really have a good time, consider availing Universal Orlando Packages that will make planning a cinch. Universal Orlando Packages can be purchased online but you need to find a reputable travel website to provide you with the best rate and service possible.

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Ваш отзыв , 02 Jun 2011

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