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Category Travel and Places

August 15, 2007

Top Cruise Secrets Revealed

by Joseph Ewart

There are more than 200 cruise ships that you can choose from today. But the one thing that they all have in common is that a little advance planning and "insider" knowledge can help you save time and money on your next cruise. Here are the "top ten tips":

1. Maximum flexibility = Maximum savings. Most travelers have some flexibility in their travel dates, especially if planning ahead of time. Let your cruise specialist know that you can consider alternate departure dates that may have lower rates available. Keep in mind cruise lines will offer better prices and perks on sailings that are not nearing capacity.

Tip: Shoulder or off peak sailings offer the deepest price cuts. For example, the departure right after the New Year cruise might be substantially lower.

2. Ask if guarantees are available. This requires that you have a little gambling spirit. Many cruise lines will offer a rate on a particular cabin category instead of an actual stateroom number and in effect guarantee that rate to you. Then the cruise line has the option of assigning you a stateroom in either that category or better.

Sometimes you win and end up in a cabin several grades higher and sometimes you end up in exactly the category you were guaranteed. Remember, there is both an upside and downside to this program.

Tip: Completely understand the process before booking a guarantee.

3.Upgrade programs. Often, your cruise specialist may offer a cruise line upgrade program. This means that you book and pay for category 'B' and will be moved to a higher category 'A'. Again, there is an element of risk here. The fact that a stateroom may be in a higher category does not always mean it will be a more desirable cabin. For example, you might be in a nice mid ship balcony stateroom on Deck C and get an upgrade to a balcony stateroom on Deck A.

While your new assignment may be the same size and have identical amenities you might end up in a less desirable location such as near an elevator or at the extreme end of the ship. And there are outside cabins that have views partially blocked by lifeboats or other equipment. On the other hand there are many instances of guests being upgraded several categories to wonderful staterooms.

Tip: Advise your cruise specialist that you will consider upgrades offered but you want to have final say on any changes before they happen.

4.Special Fare Eligibility - One of the reasons that savvy cruisers find a knowledgeable cruise specialist and stick with them is the fact that there are many special fare programs that may or not be visible to cruisers doing casual research on the web. These include things like regional fares that are made available to residents of selected states.

Caution: If you are offered a regional fare and you don't live in that area and can not prove residency, don't do it. Cruise lines have the right to check your eligibility on sailing day and charge for the difference before you board. It does happen. Some of the other special fares being promoted today include active duty and retired military fares, union member fares, police and public safety discounts, airline or hospitality rates and more.

Tip: If your cruise partner is a member of any of the these groups, the discounts usually apply to everyone traveling in the same stateroom.

5. Past Passenger Specials - Virtually every major cruise line has a loyalty club for its members with different levels and benefits. Joining is free and entitles you to special perks and discounts when you book on that line. For many commonly owned cruise lines such as Carnival Corporation, the offers extend across all the brands such as Carnival, Princess, Holland America etc. Ditto for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

Tip: Many cruise lines started operation before computers become common and can not easily retrieve date for cruises you may have taken several years ago. However, if you send a letter to the cruise line listing the ships and cruises you have been on, most will take your word and credit you with those unrecorded sailings. This might have the effect of moving you from Gold to Platinum level and significantly improve the benefits.

6. Check for Group Rates: Many cruise agencies hold what is known as block space on ships. That means that they have reserved space at group rates, which can be up to 20% lower than individual rates. Many agencies that reserve space for groups hold aside several cabins for individual clients who might be able to depart on this date.

While you may be traveling as a group, your cruise experience will be as an individual traveler. The downside might be that your dining time or section is affected by the group program. The upside is that you might benefit from some group amenties such as an onboard credit, free shore excursion etc.

Tip: If your cruise specialist offers group rates, understand the features, benefits and limitations completely before you book. From the cruise line perspective you are a member of the group and fall under the policies and procedures for groups.

7. On board re-booking. Most cruise lines now allow you to book your next cruise with that line while on board. They may have what is known as an on board sales consultant or even a desk. This is usually a great opportunity to save. Generally, the cruise line will throw in some strong perks to retain your loyalty to their brand. Onboard credits on the future cruise can be quite substantial. Upgrades and other benefits are usually significant.

Tip: Many cruise lines realize that you may not be sure when and where you want to cruise while on your current voyage. Not to worry, because most have a program where you can book on board with the flexibility to change to other sailings and ships via your cruise specialist when you get home and keep all the benefits. This is a truly a win win for you!

8.Seek out Value Adds. Over the past few years, cruise lines have instituted something known in the trade as The Level Playing Field. This was instituted to attempt to control the rampant rebating and discounting that occurred in the post September 11 travel slump. Basically, now the cruise lines have been partially successful in putting the genie back in the bottle by requiring cruise agents to all use the same pricing feeds.

Because cruise agents do not purchase and re-sell the cruises but are paid a commission, the cruise lines themselves totally control published rates. One of the unintended side effects of Level Playing Field pricing is that the cruise lines had to find a way to promote challenged sailing dates. And they did this by creating Value Added features. They can include benefits ranging from dollars off certificates, on-board credits, pre-paid gratuities, free spa treatments, specialty dining experiences, casino credits to a free bathrobe or camera.

Tip: Ask your cruise specialist to seek out sailings that offer value adds. They can significantly impact your bottom line.

9.Arrange your own airline tickets. If you need to fly in to your embarkation port most cruise lines have flight programs known as Air/Sea arrangements. The good news is that includes the flights and often meet and greet and transfers. The bad news is that in order to publish these add-ons the cruise lines have negotiated the fares far in advance and try to set the rates on a cost average basis.

To you, it generally means that these add-ons may be up to 50% higher than the fares you can get by arranging the flights yourself. The one exception to this in many cases are Europe cruises where many lines maintain bulk contract fares. So it is always a good idea to comparison shop. Most lines allow you to purchase just the transfer package so you are able to create your own air/sea package at significant savings. And of course if you have several thousand airline miles collecting dust, this might be a good time to try to use them.

Tip: If you are arranging your own flights, make sure to allow plenty of time for flight delays etc. Savvy cruisers will often invest in a pre-cruise hotel the night before the cruise so that they can avoid the stress caused by late arriving flights. Remember, if the airline leaves you on the tarmac for 7 hours and you miss the ship, that voucher for a free flight will not seem very appealing. And unfortunately, the airline will not compensate you nor will the cruise line refund your money as you are counted as a no show.

10. Travel Insurance: What is the one thing you must bring on your cruise that you hope never to use? Trip Insurance! As you can see in #9 above things can and do go wrong. An affordable comprehensive trip insurance policy can cover many of these contingencies including, lost baggage, trip interruption, medical evacuation and more.

Your cruise specialist can explain the various programs available as there are several. Mark sure you understand fully the coverage and limitation before accepting coverage and keep in mind that you can not get coverage retroactively. It is a small, but absolutely vital part of your vacation expenditures. Keep in mind very few medical insurance polices cover you while out of the country and basic homeowner policies often do not compensate for lost luggage or other events. Just as in land based trips, the carriers responsibility to you is extremely limited by their contract and should a medical emergency arise on board or ashore you are responsible for all expenses incurred.

Tip: Cancellation coverage is very specific. Understand what is covered and not covered. You can not decide not to go at the last minute without incurring substantial cancellation charges. And if you have any pre-existing health issues, this may or may not be a covered event. That is why it is important to actually read the coverage.

Joe Ewart is a 30 year cruise industry veteran and a member of the Cruise Lines International Association Hall of Fame. He is CEO and editor of http://www.CruiseJungle.com an informational cruise web site designed for consumers.

Article Source: Where to Find

cruises, cruise-ships, cruise-vacations, cruise-information

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Great Daytrips From Cape Town � South Africa

July 31, 2007

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cape-town, africa, scubadiving, scuba-diving, cape-town-hotels, south-africa, south-africa-vacations

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Great Daytrips From Bordeaux - France

July 31, 2007

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european-travel, france, bordeaux, bordeaux-france, france-dining, hotels-in-france

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Brazil Travel Guide

July 31, 2007

Brazil Travel Guide
by: Cesare Ambrosi

Brazil’s beaches are considered the most beautiful and funny of the world. To the discovery of the Brazilian costumes, Copa Cabana in Río de Janeiro, famous for its carnival, cuisine and the worm welcome of the local population.

WHY BRAZIL?

* For its wonderful beaches which are maybe the most beautiful in the world. Not only for its nature but also for the amusing life that encourages them. In Copacabana beach, Río de Janeiro, any sport type may be seen at any hour of the day or the afternoon.

* To attend the most impressive human show in the world that is the Brazil carnival. In the smallest town in the country all the activities are interrupted during a week for the carnival and and nothing must seem to be more imporant than this celebrate.

* To cross the Amazon River from Belem to Manaus on board of a lineal boat and this way to see how the Amazon runs on the sides

* To dive inside the Brazilian music. The guitar and the percussion are present and played everywhere in all the beaches and squares of the country.

* To see Brasilia, the futurist city made in airplane form a city that represents the braviest architectural companies of this century.

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

With a surface of 8.511.965 Km., Brazil is the fifth state of the world for its extension. Besides Chile and Ecuador, it is adjacent to another state of Suramérica. It has four geographical types of area. The long sandy coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the amazon basin that welcomes the biggest jungle in the planet; the central plateau so call Planalto Brasileiro; and the depression of the Paraguayan basin to the southeast. Brasilia is the fascinating capital, a tourist city in form of airplane within the amazon jungle.

Time Zone: -5.0 (summer); -3.0 (winter)

Duration of the days: maxim 13.5 (December); minimum 10 (June)

WHEN TO GO

Better Period: January, February, March, September, October

Good period: April, May, June, August.

Worst period. Julio

WEATHER

The whole Brazil has a tropical climate, therefore hot, humid and rainy during the whole year. Inside the Amazon jungle the percent of humidity never descend from 100% and Belem almost in the line of the Ecuador, its in the entire world the city where rainy s more.

Useful Information

Slight clothes of cotton, but also hot T-shirt if he/she goes in winter station overalls in the south. A jacket slight raincoat can be he very useful although against violent winds and cloudbursts it serves very little. Clothes of long magas against lso amazon inseptos.

CULTURE / MUSEUM

In lso museums of Sao Pablo, cultural capital of Brazil, sexisten European insospechables art collections that give of envying to muchso museums of the old continent. Also in River of Janeiro there is cultural ocaciones for not losing.

Museum of Art

Address: Brought to an agreement Paulista 1578, San Paolo of the Brasile

Schedule: 11-17.30; giovedì 11-20; monday closed. Closed during Carnival

Entrance is paid

Interesting collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiques. Squares, sculptures, ye Italian, French impressions, Englishwomen, Spanish, Flemishes, Dutchwomen. After the works cousins they are exposed Bernini's canvases, Botticelli, Raffaello, Cézanne, Chagall, Gauguin, Picasso and Modigliani.

Museum of the Folklore and Aeronautical Museum

Address: Park do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo

Orari: 14-17; chiuso lunedì

Inside the splendid park of Ibirapuera, where architects of world fame have worked, he/she can find lodging, this small, but interesting museum I divide in two parts: one dedicated to the Brazilian indigenous culture and the other one to the aeronautics being pioneer of this phenomenon the Brazilian, Santos Dumont.

Modern museum of Art

Address: Brought to an agreement Dom Enrique 85, Rio de Janeiro

Entrance is paid

Schedule: 12-17.30

Entrance is paid

The museum gathers works of the XX century, with works of Albers, Brancusi, Buthe, Him Corbusier, Mathies, Picasso, Polloch and Warhol. Interesting it is the picture section and design, overalls that dedicated to the art Brazilian contemporary.

Brazilian African-American museum

Address: Praça Terreiro of Jesus, Salvador de Bahia

Schedule: 9-17; closed monday

Entrance is paid

Beautiful museum dedicated entirely to the African origins of Brazilian nation. It proposes a trip after the hierarchy of those "orichas", the born divinities after the encounter of the Christian religion and the animist.

The Brazilian Cousine

Brazil earth of encounters and cultural crossings also since it concerns the kitchen. The products traditionally used by the first Indian cuisine to those used by the European settlers and later with the traditions African gastronomitas. The result is not more than an original and nutritious kitchen that makes great use of vegetables, of meats, overalls to the south, and of fish, overalls to north, where the plates are often particularly spicy for the abundant use of the spicy pepper. In each city it can be those "churrascarias", restaurant that serves all type of flavorful meat, Brazilian national pride, cooked to the coal and served by waiters that maintain long roasted threaded as swords. In the north the meat dries off in the sun and he/she receives the name of "meat of sun". The plate national Brazilian in all ways is the "feijoada". it is unique plate to base black beans, dry and fresh meat served with "beacon" kind of a taken out flour of the manioc. It is highly a po!

pular plate proteico and private room comes for Saturdays. In the bay region it should be proven the absolutely "siri casquinha", a lightly spicy cream, served as antipasto, has like base delicious pulp of a small called crab "siri". But the most traditional and good plate in the kitchen bahiana is the "peixe moqueca". kind of a soup of white fish, dry shrimps, vegetables, coconut milk and dendé oil, a typical palm of the area. It is served as accompaniment to a fish plate to the parilla. The Brazilian dinner begins and it often finishes with a glass "caipirinha", cocktail to base gave cachaca (distilled of cane of sugar), lemon and sugar.

FUN / SHOPPING

The worked precious stones are one of the glories of the country. On the other hand is dificult to return from Brazil without having bought at least a new suit for the beach, a pareo, and any disk of bossa nova.

Jeweler's

Brazil produces at about the 65% of the stones sold in the world. This commercial event is due to the convenient prices and the complete variety of stones coming from the Brazilian mining, there also are beautiful silver objects as jewels ingrained with the religious traditions of the country. It is better to acquire these stones in reliable jeweler's that give you receipts of guarantee and authenticity.The acquisition of these stones can be related to visits to carving laboratories, which offer them gratuitously by menas of the great international house as that one of Stern.

Music

In the land of the zamba and that of bossa nova you cannot give up to take home some original memory. Tom Jobim and Vinicius of Moraes’ classic disks, to begin with, but also a little bit ancients songs of Caetano Veloso, the Brazilian music's great poet, Chico Buarque’s or the youngs Marisa Montes and Vinicius Cantuaria. It is also Interesting the traditional musical instruments, mainly percussion.

Apparel

The Brazilian boisterous bikini can be get in business and bancarelas of any center spa. As well as a coloring pareos that can be used as beach canvas or as improvised dress. It must be remember that the Brazilian sizes are as a rule smaller than the Italians. Therefore it will be great to try them getting them.

Foods

An acquisition to be made may be at the last moment in the airport,can be that of any Brazilian product. Perhaps the coffee, also because it will found stronger and bitter that Italian because of the diverse form of being toasted and later the phlegm, a distilled from the sugar cane which afterwards can be used as base to the caipirinha.

This guide is brought to you by Europelowcost
http://en.europelowcost.com/

About The Author

Cesare Ambrosi
Europelowcost
http://en.europelowcost.com/

brazil, brazil-travel-guide, brazil-vacation, brazil-museums, brazil-dining

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Traveling with Children Learning Activities

July 31, 2007

Traveling with Children – Learning Activities for the Road
by: Teresa Mills

Traveling with children can be fun as well as very trying. Our family has been traveling with our children since the children were babies. Our children are in their middle school years now, but over the years we have come up with some fun travel activities that keep the children’s attention and teach them something in the process.

While on long trips, it can be very tempting to use the portable DVD player to provide entertainment for your children, and don’t think for a minute that we don’t use that form of entertainment…. for parts of long trips…. but there are so many simple, fun games that you can play with your children that will help make the trip smoother and more enjoyable. Here are some examples of activities that we have used to make travel time smoother.

One of my children’s favorite games is what my husband calls “Toss Ups”. In Toss Ups, my husband simply tosses questions up. For instance, “Who was the first president of the United States of America?” or “If I had 5 apples, and I gave 3 apples to Tom , how many apples do I have now?” Now, as you can see, the questions can be very simple depending on your children’s ages. If you have a larger age span between children, you might toss up general questions to all, but throw in…. Now, this toss up is just for Adam… and then ask a question tailored for the younger child. This game was a huge hit with our children when they were ages two through five, but even now that they are 11 and 13, every now and then we hear – Hey Daddy – give us some toss ups…. Believe me, trying to come up with questions for smart middle-schoolers is tough!!

Lately, we have tailored the game of “Going on a trip” to our family. “Going on a trip” is a fun game where everyone in the car tells that they are going on a trip and bringing something along. That “something” has to begin with the first letter of the person’s name. You keep going along in that fashion until everyone guesses the first letter - first name connection. Now that our children are older, we have adapted that game to a pretty intricate game of logic…. For instance…. “I am going on a trip, and I am bringing an apple, a banana, and a cat.” The next person might then say (if they know the correct connection) “I am going on a trip, and I am bringing a mop, and napkin, and an octopus.” The play continues until everyone gets the connection. In this case, it was that all of the things that I am bringing start with consecutive letters of the alphabet. The person who begins each game selects the connection.

These activities are simple and fun. The idea is for the entire family to be involved and enjoy the thrill of guessing the answers. Each of these activities can be played with just about any age group and best of all, there is no cost involved. Any piece of information can be used in the toss ups game from social studies, science, history, math, or trivia… you name it. The idea here is to have fun with your children and make travel time a little easier.

About The Author

Teresa Mills writes and maintains http://Kid-Friendly-Family-Vacations.com, a chronicle of her family's vacations. The web site's main objective is to motivate families everywhere to shake up the vacation routine and take their families on great kid friendly family vacations. Additional travel tips can be found on Kid Firendly Family Vacations' Family Travel Section.

games, kids-travel, kids-activities, kids, road-activities-for-kids,

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