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Archive for November, 2009

Pod Hotels Can Save You Money On Holidays Or Vacations

November 30th, 2009 No comments

The next time you book air flights and travel through airports when on vacations or holidays, look around. You might just see a pod hotel. Here’s the low-down on these unique airport and city accommodations.

Pod hotels are not a new phenomenon. They have been around for many years, but most travelers have never heard of them. The concept started in Japan as “capsule hotels”, that were, and are still being used mainly by businessmen on stopovers. However, pod hotels are becoming more and more popular with vacation travelers as well, because they are convenient and cost a lot less than regular hotels. They can be found in the United States, Britain, Europe, and Asia, usually in, or near airports.

The pod hotel concept is just in its infancy in the U.S. and Europe, but is growing by leaps and bounds as more and more holiday travelers demand this unique service. Entrepreneurs are responding by creating very small, pod-like hotel rooms that are usually rented by the hour, or number of hours.

Most of the pod hotel rooms are small in size, but comfortable and convenient, and they usually have all the amenities of a regular hotel room at a fraction of the cost. They can be a great choice for budget-conscious business travelers and vacationers.

Some pod hotels are situated in airports such as the ones at Yotel.com, located in London, England’s Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

EasyHotels.com have pod hotels in London, Zurich, Basal, and Budapest. QBICHotels.com have pod hotels located in Amsterdam and Antwerp. A New York pod hotel is the PickwickArms.com.

There is a new evolution in pod hotels called Metronap Sleep Pods. These space age style pods are starting to spring up not only on airport concourses, but in prominent locations in office buildings. They are excellent for tourists and business travelers, as well as tired people and executives that just want to have a nap. Even though these sleep pods sit out in the open, they partially enclose for privacy, but will not feel claustrophobic. They also are equipped with noise canceling headphones. The rental is by the hour and is reasonably priced.

To quickly grab cheap flights and luxury cruises at really great discounts, whenever you want to enjoy a

9 Hot Tips On Making Disney World More Affordable

November 29th, 2009 No comments

On every vacation we are looking not only to spend money but to save money too. This is no different when we go to Disneyland. A single day at Disneyland can really put a deep whole in your pocket so how can we ensure this does not happen and allow us to make our vacation more affordable? Here are 9 excellent pointers to help you out.

* Get yourself a Disney Rewards credit card. When you use the card you are rewarded with points that are redeemable towards various Disney goodies such as the cost of the hotel, theme park rides, Disney merchandise and more. Having the Disney credit card is a great starting point for any Disney fan.

* Visit off-peak. If possible try to visit Disney World at off-peak times. Such times are when the kids are at school. Obviously this is going to be difficult if you are taking your own kids so its not practical for all. But its worth keeping in mind that crowd levels and visitor numbers are far reduced at off-peak times.

* Get yourself an annual pass. If you plan on visiting Disney World more than once in the year then its good going getting your hands on an annual pass.

* Register your birthday on the Disney website. If you register your birthday on the Disney website you are entitled to a free visit to the theme park that you wish, regardless of which state or country you are from. It will be mailed out to you after you register and registration is entirely free.

* Relax in a Disney World hotel. This may seem like its going to be more expensive than if you were to lodge elsewhere but when you take into account the amount of money you save on traveling back and forth each day and the amount of time too, it starts to make some sense. Not only that, if you are to lodge in a Disney World hotel you are entitled to free travel on their coaches, on their boats and on their monorail service as well as pick-up and put-down to the airport. Further, you are also entitled to take advantage of their extended opening hours, which is only available to those booked into Disneyland hotels.

* Like the thought of camping outdoors? If so, why not use one of the Disney camping sites. You can take your own camper van or tent and save yourself a lot of money while having great fun too!

* Make your food purchases before you enter the theme park. May seem a bit too much effort but when you consider that even snacks and soft drinks when purchased in the theme park will soon add up to a decent sum of money then it does make sense to make a few purchases at a grocery store before you enter the theme park for the day.

* Have a look at the Disneyland website. Keeping an eye on the website means you will pick up various tips from the experts about good times to visit the theme parks. You can also be fortunate to get some tickets at great discount prices too, just by visiting the website often.

* Company discounts. With some companies other than Disney itself, you are entitled to a variety of discounts. For example, if you are with the AAA this will get you a number of discounts from Disneyland.

The Disney credit card is a great card all round. The Disney rewards card is an ideal compliment to your Disney World trip so check out just how much it can help you enhance your Disney trip even more!

RV Parks In Saskatchewan

November 28th, 2009 No comments

Saskatchewan is one of the major provinces in Canada. Let me tell you one thing that you will find lots and lots of campgrounds in this province. The land area of 588,276.09 square kilometers is under this province. It is named after Saskatchewan River. The climate out here is quite humid and is a kind of continental climate. The province of Saskatchewan is famous for its forestry, fishing, and hunting. This place has endless big sky, pleasing background and sparkling sunsets.

There are number of provincial, private, municipal, national, and naturist parks, RV parks, trailer parks and campgrounds in Saskatchewan. Information associated to some of the renowned campgrounds situated over here is as under:

1. Hilltop Campground and RV Park Hilltop encampment and RV Park is a superb campground which is situated on the shores of Tobin Lake in Saskatchewan. This place provides a cozy, contented and locked environment to all the guests. It is an ideal place for spare time travelers. This encampment covers 20 acres of land area. There are 100 drive-through sites over here which provides outstanding facilities to the guests. This place can lodge any size of RV. This campground offers brilliant water and electricity facilities. Various facilities provided to the guests are fire pit, picnic table, and sewer, tenting sites, firewood and parking. They offer encampment amenities with authentically warm hospitality. It is great place for campers to have fun.

2. Besant Trans-Canada Campground Besant Trans-Canada Campground is an overwhelming campground over here. It is located in Caron, Saskatchewan. There is a natural swimming area over here. The guests are provided various facilities such as picnic tables, woodland barbeque, fire pit, non electric sites, pull thru RV sites, tenting sites, 15 amp service, 30 amp service, washroom, drinking water, shower, laundry, dumping station, primitive sites, group camping and parking. There are 43 non electric sites and 37 electric sites in this campground. You will be happy to know that pets are permissible over here.

3. Bellevue Recreational Board Campground Bellevue Recreational Board Campground is yet another wonderful campground over here. This campground is situated near to the Rendez-Vous Cultural Centre and Batoche National Historic Site. It offers RV sites with water and electric hook-ups, tenting area, playground, picnic tables, gazebo, kitchen facilities, showers, bathrooms, two standard ball diamonds. The guests are provided various facilities such as wood barbeque, firewood, dumping station, shower, picnic shelter and RV parking. You will unquestionably enjoy over here.

Well these are some of the RV campgrounds here in Saskatchewan. All of then are simply extra ordinary. You will definitely find them to be quite great for spending your leisure time.

Read more about Camping & RV Parks directory. Going to Saskatchewan? Know all Saskatchewan RV Parks

Taking Pets On Road Trips – What You Need To Know

November 28th, 2009 No comments

No Sticking Their Heads Out The Window: Although most pets will take great enjoyment from spending the entire road trip with their head out the window, it’s not safe. Your pet can easily be injured by flying debris from the road not to mention other cars. Along this same tip, I hope that it should go without mention that traveling with your pet in the back of the pickup truck is also a definite no-no! Some states even have laws restricting this type of animal transport because it is always dangerous.

Make Frequent Rest Stops: You should always provide frequent bathroom and exercise breaks. Most travel service areas and public rest stops will have designated areas for walking your pet. When taking your pets on bathroom breaks or short walks, try to stick to this area, also remembering to bring a bag to pickup any waste. Whenever you are outside your vehicle, make sure to keep your pet on a leash and wearing a collar that has a permanent and temporary travel identification tag.

Keep Them Hydrated: During your rest stops make sure to provide your pet with some fresh water so that they can re-hydrate themselves. Occasionally, traveling in a car can upset your pet’s stomach and keeping them hydrated will work to help prevent any ‘accidents.’ Another trick is to bring ice cubes for your pet as it’s easier than having to bring large amounts of water (plus by the time you’re done with the trip it IS just water).

No Feeding Your Pets Fast Food: It’s a safe bet to refrain from feeding your pets anything extra on long road trips. Just stick to their regular amount of food at their regular feeding time. Try to refrain from letting them eat any leftovers from your own meals, especially if they’re from a fast-food restaurant. Greasy food and pets aren’t a good mix.

Don’t Leave Them Alone In The Car: Don’t leave your pets alone in your car while you run errands. On summer days the inside of your car can easily reach 120 degrees in minutes, even if you have the windows cracked open. Pet thieves also have been known to prey on pets left alone in cars at rest stops, so prevent their attempts by keeping your pets at your side.

Don’t Let Them Run Around The Car: Always keep your pet safely restrained while in your car. Using a pet safety-harness or travel dog kennel are the safest ways to keep your pets restrained and out of harms way. These will not only keep your pet from injury, but they also prevent your pet from distracting you while you are driving. A pet safety harness works just like a regular seatbelt. Let your pet wear the harness for a while before you go on your first road trip. This will get them familiar with the harness and you’ll be able to adjust it for optimal comfort. If your dog prefers a travel kennel, make sure that it has amble ventilation. If you have a large car or SUV, you might want to consider using a vehicle barrier. Always remember that the passenger seat is the last place your pet should ever be sitting while your car is moving.

Staying Safe and Comfortable: Comfort should be a priority regardless of how you choose to travel with your pets. Just as it’s important for your seat to be comfortable on long road trips, your pet’s seat should be comfortable too (by seat we mean seating area). Usually your pets favorite blanket or travel bed will do the trick to quickly put them at ease. If you don’t mind spending the extra money, there are many different pet travel seats available that you can buy which are designed with your pets safety and comfort in mind.

To read more pet travel tips visit the Online Pet Vet and get answers to your own pet questions.

Cruise To Nowhere Travel Agents

November 27th, 2009 No comments

When you’re learning about something new, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available on cruise travel agents. This informative article should help you focus on the central points concerning cruise to nowhere package deals.

Luxury cruises rely on offering excellent service to keep its clientele happy. Within reason, a cruise ship can be classed as luxury if the service is outstanding, even though the rest of the offerings are not quite so good. Luxury cruise packages offer you a wide range of facilities with 5-star service in each of them.

Cruise prices invariably rise as demand increases as the available accommodation is taken. Be wary of any discounts that are offered. Prices shot up again at the start of this year, despite the onset of the recession. Passenger groups were furious after fares on some routes rose by more than 10 per cent.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of cruise to nowhere package deals, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Guests will experience ancient frozen glaciers and active fiery volcanoes, and view wildlife on the island of Grimsey and barren sulfur fields at Namaskard. They’ll also journey north of the Arctic Circle, south to Reykjavik, and sample the warm thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon. Guests can enjoy a wine tasting bar or casual outdoor Mojito bar and movies under the stars on an immense screen by the pool. Kids sail free – great ship for family programs!

Offers are subject to change without notice, subject to availability, and may be withdrawn at any time. Some blackout dates apply. Offer not only a cruise ship has done wonderful rooms and fine restaurants, but they also include entertainment and activities, as well as relaxing spa treatments. A cruise ship provides all of the splendor of a country hotel, but also travel to new destinations, activities on land, shipboard activities, entertainment and nightclubs. Offering lesser-known ports, going on an expedition with this cruise line can be an adventurer’s dream. Looking to see spectacular wildlife with lecturers and experts in their fields?

Luxury cruises are one of the most popular options with people at Christmas. But, the Diamond Princess incident might affect the cruising option for holidays. Luxury cruise line Fred Olsen specializes in voyages to this Spanish-owned island chain and right now the company is drastically reducing rates on a number of its cruises. This 12-night voyage aboard the Boudicca is our top pick with rates starting from just $95/night.

That’s how things stand with cruise to nowhere package deals right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news to do with cruise travel agents.

TravelAgents2U.com helps you search and compare holidays, flights and hotels. Find cruise to nowhere deals and advice from local cruise travel agents. You have total permission to reprint this article provided the links are kept unchanged.