Thursday 6 May 2010

HOME :: Travel-and-Leisure / Destination-Tips Do You Know the Best Travel Websites For Bargain Summer Holidays? By Peter Craske

Introduction
If you really want to find cheap bargain summer holidays you need to become accomplished at finding the best travel websites. Folks who really get the best deals on their holidays make this kind of thing one of their late night hobbies.
Bargain seekers will often have a list of the best travel sites saved in their favorites so they can find the best deals possible every time. In this article, I have compiled a few tips to help you search out some of the more elusive travel websites.
Tip 1 - Always research your destination ahead of your holiday.
If there is a particular place you have in mind for a summer holiday, don't wait until the last minute to do your research for that cheap vacation. Rather, go out and actively seek out the top travel holiday website for your chosen location in a proactive manner.
The advantage of taking this approach is that by the time you actually come to book your holiday, you will have given yourself the best chance of finding good value for money. Some of the lesser known travel websites offering the best deals are more difficult to find, especially if you are visiting somewhere off the beaten track.
Tip 2 - The best travel websites are full of good content.
You will know when you have found a really good travel site because it will provide you with articles and links that are rich in valuable information. As well as providing cheap bargain summer holidays, a good website should also provide you with related information like places to eat out, day trips for the kids and other essentials that you might need to know whilst you are holidaying abroad.
To get two more tips on how to find the best travel websites for cheap bargain summer holidays visit Peter Craske's website at ==> http://www.coolleisuretime.com
Peter Craske - EzineArticles Expert Author

HOME :: Travel-and-Leisure / Destination-Tips RSS Feed XML RSS Feed RSS feeds allow you to be notified whenever brand new articles are released by your favorite authors. Google Yahoo NewsGator Bloglines MSN AOL How to Find Bargain Package Holidays By Kelly Hunter Platinum Quality Author

The truth of the matter is, there are a lot of different so called bargain package holidays out there to choose from. The problem is, a lot of these holiday packages are not as great of a bargain as they claim to be. Today we are going to talk about how to find the best holiday packages, and make sure that you are not getting ripped off at the same time. There are a few dead giveaways that you should look out for before buying a package getaway!
The first rule to follow is the easiest. An offer that sounds too good to be true, normally is! Pretty much what this means is, companies have to make their money somehow. If they are pretty much giving away vacations, then they can not stay in business. Are there good bargain package holidays out there? Yes! Are they all going to be the best deal you have ever seen in your life? No! Keep in mind when searching for these bargains that not every site you come across is going to have such a sweet deal, although a lot of them claim it so.
Next, you can not be afraid to do your own homework on it. A lot of times, these companies throw numbers in your face like, âsave $300 when you buy this bargain package.â What you need to be able to do is add it all up and see how much you are really saving. For example, if they say that your package includes a rental car, hotel room, and tickets to a theme park, go back and add all of those up. See how much you would really be paying for this package if you got them all by themselves. A lot of times, you will find out that you are not really saving money.
The next problem that people have is the all around worst! Be sure to read all the fine print about your great bargain package holidays. A lot of times, they will get you with a lot of fees and restrictions that you did not know about. For example, they like to get you tickets to see a local attraction in that area. However, some of the time they put restrictions on those tickets so that you can only use them on certain days. This is something that you, of course, want to avoid.
Last, but not least, make sure that you are going some place that you actually want to go. Do not just choose a vacation package, because you are getting a good deal on it. No matter how much money you are saving, going to a place that you do not want to go to is not going to be worth it. This seems like a fact that should not have to be pointed out. However, you would be shocked to find out how many people will choose to go on a vacation that they do not want to be on, just because of the good deal they are getting. Don't let that person be you, hold out until you find a package that fits all of your needs and is to a place that you want to go!
Kelly Hunter owns and operates http://www.bargain-package-holiday.com and writes about Bargain Package Holiday

Wednesday 5 May 2010

HOME :: Travel-and-Leisure / Hotels-Accommodations Lake District Accommodation in Keswick and the Borrowdale Valley, English Lake District By Jenny Andrew

Not only is the scenery and the nearby lake, Derwentwater giving spectacular views, but the fells are some of the best in the county for walking. The most famous fell being Scafell Pike, the largest mountain in England standing at a staggering 978 meters (3209 feet). This dominates the panorama for miles around.
There are many Lake District bed and breakfast establishments in the area ranging from small b & b's to luxury Lake District hotels with leisure facilities. One such hotel is the Borrowdale Hotel which is Nestled at the foot of Shepherd's Crag in the beautiful valley of Borrowdale. This hotel has a totally unique atmosphere enveloping the visitors from the moment they arrive. Warm and welcoming fires in Winter and cool drinks and strawberry teas on the lawns in the Summer served with a smile.
Built in 1866 the Borrowdale Hotel has an interesting history and many charming artifacts adorning the walls, such as old hotel prints, Victorian coffee grinders and silver salvers, plate warmers and brass bedpans - not forgetting the original 41 room bells, which, although no longer working, are still proudly displayed outside the reception area.
Borrowdale is a steep sided glacial valley set amongst mountainous countryside. Borrowdale runs for nearly ten miles from the mighty 977m Scafell Pike down to the shores of Derwentwater at Keswick.
The Borrowdale valley is dominated by the 3 mile long lake of Derwentwater. It is very close to Keswick and with large connections with Beatrix Potter. There are easily accessible points to get down to the lake with a path that runs all around the shore. It is a very popular area with lovers of all activities and it is one of the few pieces of water in the Lake District that has retained its peaceful atmosphere. Past the impressive Lodore Falls Hotel, is the attractive village of Grange in Borrowdale. It is reached over a striking double arched bridge and is a popular destination for rest and food.
Lake District Hotels Ltd provide a choice of 6 family owned hotels in the lake District including 2 superb lake side settings at Ullswater and Keswick.

HOME :: Travel-and-Leisure RSS Feed XML RSS Feed RSS feeds allow you to be notified whenever brand new articles are released by your favorite authors. Google Yahoo NewsGator Bloglines MSN AOL The White Birds of Windermere in the English Lake District By John Dulaney Platinum Quality Author

The railway company was at a nonplus. Who'd want to go to Birthwaite? So, they changed its name to that of the nearby lake, the largest in England ... Windermere.
Visitors walked or rode about two miles down to the lake from the station, to sail on a paddle steamer called the Lady of the Lake.
In 1869, the Furness Railway finally reached the very shore of Windermere, at Lakeside, almost at the southern tip of the lake. They bought shares in the steamboat company, eventually taking it over completely. They treated the boats as an extension of the railway. Passengers got off the train at Lakeside, and simply walked across the platform to board the boat, and sail up the long, narrow lake to Bowness and Ambleside.
This is still possible, although the railway is now in private hands and operated by enthusiasts as the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. The line was cut by road improvements in the 1960s, so the trains only run about three miles to Haverthwaite, rather than joining the main line at Greenodd, as they used to.
Steam train rides are still available. The locomotive might be the recently restored No. 20, one of the few remaining examples of an original Furness Railway engine. It's claimed to be the oldest working restored standard-gauge engine in Britain; now in its original form and livery, it was rescued from a children's playground and restored, returning to service in Spring1999.
When Lady of the Lake was taken from Windermere, the tradition began of naming the boats after birds; Swan and Teal, Swift, Tern, Raven and Cygnet.
Two designs were popular. One was a long, slender, flush-decked design, such as the Swift, which was broken up several years ago. This boat was built in 1900 and transported to Lakeside in segments, for assembly on the lake.
An example of the other design is still in service. The Tern was built in 1891 and, again, brought to the lake for assembly in kit form. It's about the same length and beam, but with a canoe-type bow and stern. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy during World War II as HM Training Ship Undine. She didn't go to sea, but remained on Windermere for mine-laying training, doubling as a patrol vessel, guarding Short's flying-boat factory at White Cross Bay, just north of Bowness.
Originally steam-driven, she was re-engined with diesels in 1956.Some people missed the sight of Tern fussing busily down the lake, usually trailing black smoke from her funnel. The majority, however, welcomed the new engines. Under steam, Tern tended to cough gobbets of soot from the funnel, to the consternation of the passengers on the open deck.
Many passengers preferred to wait for the new diesel boats, Swan and Teal, which came into service in the late 1930s. These fine boats were regarded as the epitome of modernity. White, stately and above all, clean, their style recalls a contemporary art-deco poster. If a local school child of the time, who seldom saw the sea, was asked to draw a luxury liner, the result usually resembled Swan or Teal.
Sadly, an unsympathetic modernisation of these two boats has, in my opinion, almost completely disguised their original beautiful lines. Tern fared better. The awning covering the previously open deck is in keeping, and the new wooden wheelhouse on the foredeck (originally, the helmsman stood in the open, just forward of the funnel) blends into the background quite well. Sailing on Windermere in the fleet's oldest vessel is still a step into yesterday.
At Lakeside, visitors could always either admire the lake from its shores, or from its surface. Since 1997, when a new attraction was introduced, they can now get an idea of the view of the lake from its depths. The Aquarium of the Lakes is Britain's first fresh-water aquarium, and aims to show the progress of a Lakeland river from its source high on a mountain, through the lakes to its final destination in Morecambe Bay passing, on the way, the UK's largest collection of native fresh-water fish.
A tank re-creates the depths of Windermere itself, showing the underwater plant life, as well as the fish and diving ducks. There are also frogs and toads and other river- and lakeside life on display ... including a pair of playful otters. The climax is an 'under-water walk', to enjoy a 'fish-eye view' of the lake.
In a tank specially chilled to simulate the frigid depths of the lake, we can see the beautiful and rare Arctic Char, believed to be the only specimens on public display anywhere. They normally live right at the bottom of the deep lake, and potted char was an expensive and much sought-after delicacy. Fishing for char was once an esoteric art practised by a select few.... in fact, folklore once said that char could only be caught by spinning from a boat.... with a golden lure!
Cell phone use overseas. In 99% of the world the local cellular service standard is called GSM. We use this in the states as well. When combined with a SIM CARD (which usually goes under the battery of the phone) the phone is able to communicate and the SIM CARD also holds the telephone number and memory for pre-paid credit. Rates can be extremely low using this system. For example in 99% of all SIM CARDS incoming calls are free and calls to the states can cost a trifle. Such as, from the UK to the USA 7 cents/minute, from Israel 22 cents, from Australia 27 cents. Yes, USA Dollar cents! There are today even prepaid service providers in the USA offering rates of 10 cents per minute to call anywhere in the US to any type of phone. No contracts, no credit card checks, no bills. Pre-paid always means no minimums no contracts, no obligations. You only pay for the calls made. You'll need an unlocked GSM tri-band or quadband UNLOCKED phone. You can buy factory unlocked phones and sim cards for more than 170 or the 193 countries on earth from http://www.planetomni.com Tel. #800-514-2984
John Dulaney - EzineArticles Expert Author

Tuesday 4 May 2010

HOME :: Travel-and-Leisure / Pet-Friendly-Rentals What You Should Know About Pet Friendly Holidays By Simon B Rogers

We love our pets, don't we? We love to spend time with them, all pet owners do; well the responsible ones do, we are pet friendly. So it makes sense that we should want to spend time with them on our holiday.
That all makes sense doesn't it? Plus, when we have a pet friendly rental we don't have to worry about how someone else is looking after our much loved pet, have we done the right thing, are they happy without us, are they too happy without us, will they have the strop when we get back, will they be OK when we get back. Also we don't have to spend a fortune for them to be looked after, or worry about who is looking after them.
It can really be a great pet holiday when you take your pets away and they don't have to be just dog holiday or cat holiday or even a cats holiday, I know a couple who take their budget away. In fact you can take nearly any pet away, just make sure you ask pet friendly rental company if it's OK, where your going.
It may sound obvious, but you need to make sure you can look after your pet while you are away. You know you have to look after them at home, so it should be obvious that you must look after them while you are away. However it is easy to forget the things you might need while you are away, especially when you are used to having everything you need close to hand at home.
So have a good think before you go, what do you need on your pet holiday, you can always buy anything you have forgotten, but who needs that extra expense? Most pet friendly rentals will insist that you have something for your pet to sleep on or in, in the case of dogs a blanket or basket. It is good to take food and water bowls, especially if your pet is used to them.
There will be a pet holiday cottage contract, this is not unusual, you must respect the desire of the holiday owner to look after their property, after all you wouldn't want to arrive at a dirty pet friendly home, damaged by previous pet friendly holiday families, even if they haven't got pets.
Remember, we are all ambassadors for pet holiday owners, the more we can assure pet friendly rental property owners that we want to look after their properties whilst we are on holiday, the more places will be made available for us to go on cat holiday, dog holiday or any pet holiday.
It will be a condition for most quality pet holiday cottages that your pet must be up to date with the normal vaccinations, worming etc. You know this makes sense, especially as it makes sure that your pet is protected. Remember any company that doesn't insist on this is putting your pet at risk.
Look after your pet friendly rental home, make sure that your pet doesn't cause any damage. You will certainly be charged for any damage you pet causes, increasing your pet friendly holiday costs, but more importantly, we don't want to put holiday owners off providing pet friendly holidays, or there will become less available for us to us.
If your pet requires particular conditions for it to enjoy itself, make sure they will be available. If your on a dog friendly holiday, make sure you can dry it or them off if the weather is bad without wrecking your pet friendly holiday home.
If you have large dogs perhaps there is a conservatory or large kitchen area where your pets can be dried off and sleep or perhaps an individual grassed area where they can please themselves.
If your on a cat holiday or even cats holiday, make sure there is window sill or something similar, so they can watch the world go by.
There can sometimes be large tiled areas, these can be great to keep you pet freindly rental clean should the weather take a turn for the worse, don't forget it's your holiday too, you don't want to be cleaning all the time.
Pets are not usually allowed in bedrooms or upstairs. If there are restrictions on where your pets are allowed make sure you observe the rules. If you think your pet might be exempt from some or all the rules, ask the pet friendly rental company, it may be that your right. It never hurts to ask, it is better to find out first, rather than finding problems whilst you are at your pet holiday cottages.
Remember, If you find a place where your pets are welcome on holiday, you can have a great holiday and so can they, so look after it. Your will appreciate it and so will those providing your pet friendly rental holiday, you will want to go back, your pet will want to go back and the holiday owners will love to see you come back. Everyone's a winner.
Your advantages
You don't have to leave a well loved member of your family at home, with friends or with commercial carers.
Your pets love to be with you whether at home or on holiday.
You love to be with them whether at home or on holiday.
Save the cost of commercial pet care, whether it be catteries or kennels.
What you will have to do
Your pets will be parasite free.
That you will take all reasonable care of the property and its contents and leave them in the same state of repair and condition as at the start of the rental.
Domestic pets will not enter the first floor of any property or any bedroom of any property.
Pet baskets and blankets are used.
Every care will be taken to protect upholstery, carpets and the property's furnishings.
You will bag and dispose any pet fouling.
Pets will be kept under control at all times, leads used where required.
Wishing you a great dogs holiday, cats holiday or any pet friendly holiday
Simon B Rogers - EzineArticles Expert Author