Great Hotels Cater to Families in Las Vegas by Jay Moncliff

There are many fine hotels in Las Vegas to choose from, but parents traveling with the children are looking for a different kind of experience than the seasoned gambler. Luckily, there are several fine hotels in Las Vegas that cater to the younger crowd, ensuring that the entire family has a great time.

Circus, Circus is a great choice for a family vacation in Las Vegas. The facility is comprised of three towers with a connecting sky shuttle, viewed by most children as the first attraction. The Adventuredome inside the complex is the world’s largest indoor theme park, and a perfect destination for some fun with the children. Circus themed shows and wandering performers abound, and everyone will enjoy the miniature golf, bungee jumping and choice of over 200 carnival games. Of course, parents will enjoy the 100,000 square foot casino and great restaurants.

Another family oriented property in Las Vegas is the Excalibur. Designed to replicate King Arthur’s Camelot home, Excalibur gives children and experience similar to walking into a fairy tale. Families walk across the moat to enter the property, and every detail is charming. The first floor of the hotel is designed especially for kids, full of carnival games and arcades and themed entertainment. The large pool areas feature a waterfall and several waterslides, and a popular dinner attraction is the Tournament of Kings, a show with dragons, jousting, wizards and great food. The large, themed casino is a treat for parents, as are the other great restaurants on property.

Another exciting family hotel is the Luxor, an Egyptian Pyramid set down in Las Vegas. This great hotel is actually larger than the pyramids in Egypt and is guarded by an authentically styled Sphinx. The kids will enjoy the two story video arcade and IMAX theater. All of the rooms have sloped walls, inviting a geometry lesson, and furniture decorated with Egyptian symbols. Kids love exploring a recreation of King Tut’s Tomb and the accompanying museum, said to be quite authentic. There are five pools on site and a motion simulator ride with an Egyptian theme. Of course, a spacious casino and several spas join world class restaurants for the parents to enjoy.

If you’re traveling with younger children and need a little “alone” time, consider the Orleans Hotel. They’ve created a parent’s dream with Kids Tyme, an onsite daycare facility with an impressively large jungle gym, arts and crafts activities and movies. The center is open 7 days a week and serves children from 2 ½ years to 12 years old. Also on site is a huge bowling center with 70 lanes, an 18 theater movie complex and Tyme Out video arcade. The property also has a pool, spa and fitness center and a great showroom. Of course, the adjoining casino offers plenty of opportunity for the adults to enjoy themselves as well.

Consider these fine hotels and make your next trip to Las Vegas a family affair. Everyone can have a great time in Vegas!

Posted by RJ in Articles on April 7th, 2006 | No Comments

Budget Travel Tips 101 by Peter Cullen

Everyone loves to travel (almost everyone). I certainly do. Believe it or not, doing it right and doing it on a budget takes a little skill, knowledge and practice. But the required skills are not difficult, the knowledge required is easy to obtain, and the fun is in the practice!

This past spring my wife and I were lucky enough to be able to spend 10 days in Italy. We didn’t spend a fortune, we scrimped on a few things and spent on others, and the net result was a very pleasing travel experience. Planning, of course, is key. We had agreed to our general itinerary and had a limited amount of time to spend, so the general outline of the trip was pretty clear from the start. We flew to Rome, spent a few days taking care of the biggies like St. Peter’s, and the Vatican Museum, and did lots of strolling around the city.

Where did we stay? At a “budget” hotel. How did we find it? The Internet. There are so many choices of reasonably-priced hotels, that the biggest problem is narrowing down the list. If you have even minimal Web-surfing skills, finding your accomodations this way is really pretty easy to do. Many establishments even offer a discount for reservations made online. Oh, by the way, when we paid the bill on the way out, we paid in cash - another discount!

How did we get from the airport in Rome to the hotel? (Hint: not by taxi.) We took the train! Much cheaper, more fun, and in fact, easier. Even if you can’t actually read the signs in the airport, finding the station is very easy. How did we really know it was so easy to get to the city from the airport on the train? We cheated. We read a travel guide before we left! I’m not pitching a travel book here, and I honestly don’t remember which one it was, but the point is, a little research in advance can save you a lot of money, time, aggravation, fear, uncertainty and all those other negative emotions brought on by arriving in a foreign place and suddenly realizing you have no idea what to do next. And finally, from the train station in the city to our hotel was a short walk because we planned it that way - no taxi fare. The walk to the hotel was made even more pleasant by the fact that we were not over-burdened with luggage, which brings us to the next practical tip - packing.

Ten days in Europe (or anywhere else) doesn’t require a mountain of baggage - at least not for two adults. Bags with handles and wheels are essential. Walking to the hotel with our luggage was a breeze. Packing, like the other parts of a trip, requires a little planning. If you’re careful, and are clear about your plans for touring and socializing, you can get by with less than you think.

Keeping your travel documents and money secure is always a concern. I learned an important lesson a few years ago during a trip to Europe. Having done a lot of business travel all over the world, I made the mistake of thinking I was immune from pick pockets. I won’t mention the city the event took place in, but afterwards I was stunned at the skill demonstrated by the “team” that got my wallet - out of a jacket pocket that was zipped closed! It happened in a revolving door - and thinking back on the episode, I realize that I was expertly sized up for the “hit” beforehand. In short, realize that anyone can be “fooled” even if you think you’re an expert. Lesson - I NEVER travel now without a money belt. On our last trip to Italy, all valuables were in the money belt at all times, and there were no incidents. Even the “gypsy kids” at the Coliseum were not a threat (if you go to Rome, be sure to read about the area around the Coliseum - you must see it, but it’s prime territory for expert young thieves).

In summary, a little thought and some careful planning can make a huge difference in the level of pleasure you derive from your next trip - whether it’s a European jaunt or a car trip with your whole family to mountains. I think letting someone else do it all and spending your days sealed up in a tour bus or following someone else around all day deprives you of half the fun. So plan your next trip carefully and you’ll enjoy it a lot more.

Posted by RJ in Articles on April 7th, 2006 | No Comments

Great Holidays and Vacations by Dakota Caudilla

If you’re asking yourself where to go for a vacation and holiday, you have to ask yourself what kind of holiday and vacation you’re looking for. No point visiting ancient cities if you’re not into digging bones and historical stuff! Also take into consideration whether you’re taking your family along or not, are the kids going to be coming along? Are you thinking of going on a holiday and vacation with your close friends or colleagues? Do you share similar interests? What is your purpose of going for a holiday or vacation – for relaxation or exploration?

Once you’ve answered all the questions above, you will find it easier to find the perfect holiday spot to go to.

If you and your family members are into camping and finding some fun adventurous activities to indulge in, one of the finest private camping destinations is Acres of Wildlife. Acres of Wildlife is fast gaining its footing in the holiday and vacation industry. it is a completely private sanctuary for nature lovers in the midst of 300 acres of privately owned land and surrounded by 4,000 acres of luscious greenery.

If you’ve never been airborne (apart from being in an airplane) before, perhaps you can fit ballooning into your holiday and vacation plans! And not to mention, if you’re going with the love of your life, imagine being proposed to in mid air. And if you’ve never been to Barbados before, perhaps, this could be just the time to plan a vacation there. Barbados is indeed a land rich in culture, music, good food and breathtaking beaches. This is a good place for people who are looking to detach themselves from everyday life and just de-stress. By the way, you can find pretty good pampering spas and massage parlors there too – go indulge yourself. If you want to pamper yourself while you’re on a holiday, go all the way!

Another amazing way to spend a holiday is to spend it out in the sea, on a luxurious yacht. Although vacationing on a yacht is not for those who get easily seasick, many others find it tranquilizing and absolutely spectacular. Watching the sunset in the middle of nowhere, cruising peacefully and calmly past boating people, watching the busy city and knowing you are out here doing deservedly nothing! For sure, spending a vacation on a yacht is quite unlike anything else – the experience is undoubtedly unique.

You will never forget the holiday, not during this lifetime, if you swam with dolphins before. And this is precisely what you can and SHOULD plan to do on this holiday! And there is only one place on this planet where you can get to swim with the rarest and smallest dolphins (the New Zealand dolphin) and that is in Akaroa Harbour in New Zealand’s South Island. I promise you this…you’ll never forget this experience. And if this is what you’re planning to do during your vacation, don’t forget to bring the camera along!

Posted by RJ in Articles on April 5th, 2006 | No Comments

It wasn’t in this list of Top Ten Beaches in the World, but I would add Barbados. In Barbados, all of the beaches are public, so if you find the beach is a little crowded, just walk down the beach a little ways. And the water was warm like climbing into a bath tub. -RJ

Top Ten Beaches in the World by Dakota Caudilla

The sun, the soft sand sifting through your toes and fingers, the salty wind blowing in from the sea, the sound of waves…the ultimate holiday and vacation! If you’re like everyone else in this world, you should be looking for some of the top beaches in the world. And lucky for you, we have done the research on the world’s most popular beaches and have listed them here for you in no particular order.

The first one is Poipu Beach, Hawaii. If you believe in Paradise, this is it. In terms of a beach, this is definitely a world-class beach and should not be missed. Absolutely breathtaking! Poipu Beach is recently named America’s top beach by The Travel Channel with the most extensive golden sand and provides a host of activities for travelers and beach-lovers.

The second on the list is Matira Beach, also another not-to-be-missed beach! Matira Beach is one of those magical islands of Bora Bora that makes up French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Long and lazy stretches of beach with whispering shores is what you can expect from Matira Beach. In fact, Matira Beach is as magical and enchanting as it comes. It’s not called the world’s most romantic beach for nothing. People flock to Matira Beach to make proposals – imagine that!

Just when you thought there is nothing more to Mexico but Tequila and snakes, in comes Maroma Beach. Maroma Beach is more like a holiday resort getaway destination offering a combination of luxurious resorts and spas; and 500 acres of beach and rain forest.

Next on the list of top ten beaches are Pink Sands and South Sands – nestled on the edges of Salcombe. A contending beach would be the Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The beaches are filled with beach-goers almost all year round and who can blame them? Inexpensive accommodation and traveling makes these beaches the top few beaches in the world!

If you’re hooked on surfing, don’t forget to drop by Biarritz Beach on a holiday. It’s an absolute haven for surfers with 2 large beaches and a myriad of smaller beaches in between. And France also offers holiday-goers and beach-lovers a gem of a beach in the form of the St. Tropez beach. Who doesn’t know that St. Tropez is well known for its bikinis and beachwear groundbreaking fashion rules? St. Tropez is a hot favorite among Hollywood stars and is nestled along the French Riveria. It pays that St. Tropez beach is also a short drive from Nice and Cannes.

Coming up next is the Clifton Beach on Cape Town, South Africa. One of the most amazing sceneries can be found there. Imagine enjoying the beach with the gorgeous Table Mountain as a backdrop. There’s never anything quite like that on a beach. And if you’re looking for a natural and exotic beach, you might want to try out Anse de Argent beach in Seychelles. For nature-lovers, Anse de Argent is heaven!

Posted by RJ in Articles on April 5th, 2006 | No Comments

Traveling and Playing Golf Today by Dakota Caudilla

Taking the family out for a holiday and you play golf!

If you’re a golf enthusiast, you will know that golf is all about who you play golf with and where you play golf. It makes a world of difference! In fact, it’s a good idea for you to take your family on an outing or a holiday in a golf course. Although not all your family members will like to play golf with you but you get to kill two birds with one stone. You get to play your golf and your family gets to enjoy the luxurious hotel and resort setting and visit from travel destinations.

The golf courses will keep changing to give golfers a fresh layout

Before you start looking for a golf resort to play golf in, check whether the golf course is actually a public one, a private one or a semi-private one. The classifications determine whether you’ll get to play golf there or not. A private golf course is reserved and is not open to the public. The semi-private golf courses are a membership-based golf course that allows certain public to play on their golf courses, for instance, hotel customers. Bear in mind that re-design and renovation of golf courses is an extremely common thing. Hotels and golf course owners usually renovate their golf courses consistently because people get bored playing in the same golf course over a certain period of time. So, to make it more attractive for golf enthusiasts, they will renovate or improve on the layout of the golf courses. It’ll also be more challenging for return golf enthusiasts.

Keen on improving your golf? Enroll in a golf school, of course!

And if you’re keen on improving your golf, you can even enroll yourself into a golf school. A one-on-one golf course is probably going to cost you an arm and a leg – especially if you’re talking about engaging the services of a professional golf instructor. Budget and time may become an obstacle to a golf enthusiast. So, what is the next best thing to do? To enroll yourself in an affordable golf school, of course. You’ll get to play and have fun at the same time – and if it’s a crash course, it won’t take up too much of your time because the syllabus is cramped into a certain period of time. And because these golf schools give golf lessons in small groups and not on a one-on-one basis, the cost of enrolling in the schools is much more affordable. The newer and broader types of packages offered from some of these golf schools can accommodate golf enthusiasts with all kinds of abilities – from amateurs, beginners to expert golfers.

Posted by RJ in Articles on April 5th, 2006 | No Comments