Florida-More Than Great Beaches

By Thomas Clarke

The beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico can be accessed at many points along the Gulf Coast. Florida is one long beach around the entire peninsula. About the only places that don't have great beaches are the island keys. It seems a little weird, but the keys are not the best beach destinations but they are great for other water sports and activities. Fishing, skiing, the traditional way and the jet version, scuba diving and sailing are all great activities while in the keys. The water is beautiful and the weather is warm and inviting.

Make sure to visit Key West and stand at the southern most point in the US and visit the Hemingway house to see all the freaky six toed cats wandering around. The other beaches in Florida are some of the best in the country. On the Atlantic side you have great destinations like the always hot and beautiful Miami Beach. Farther north there is Cocoa Beach which has the world famous Ron Jon store that is open 24/7. It is a tourist destination, but is still fun to visit. The beach is great for body surfing and surfing as well as just laying in the warm Florida sun.

Although the beaches are great, Florida also has many other great attractions. To start with you have Disney and other themed parks located in or around the Orlando area. On the east coast you can visit Daytona Beach then across the state along the Gulf of Mexico coast is Tampa and Clearwater. Both are great places for families, couples and friends.

Tampa is a fun city with plenty to do, for fine dining and sporting events, to world famous theme parks like Busch Gardens. Across the bridge is the Clearwater/ St. Petersburg area. Clearwater has one of the finest beaches in the whole state, with tons of white sand and plenty of sun and fun. There is so much to do there, that you might need more than a week to do it all.

South of St. Petersburg is Sarasota and Ft. Myers. There are so many great seafood restaurants and Sarasota is a hot spot for the artist scene in Florida boasting one of the biggest collections of fine art at the Ringling Museum. North Florida, around the panhandle and along the Gulf coast towards Alabama boasts its own set of beaches and attractions and could be its own vacation. - 31980

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Getting A Deal On Your Summer Family Trip

By Thomas Clarke

Summer is approaching quickly and many are looking to make vacation plans before there is no longer any flights or rental vehicles available. If you are considering this then you may want to consider finding a cheap car rental. You can find some of the best deals on auto rentals by following these simple tips:

1. If possible sign up as a frequent traveler with the company of your choice. When you sign up the company will ask for an email address, which they will then send discounts and promotions to. This, however, does not mean that you can only use them with that company. Many companies are know to honor competitor discounts and promotions.

2. Browse the internet for available discounts ad coupons. There are sites that are dedicated to placing any available offers or discounts for numerous companies. You can also locate coupons on many of the coupon sites and information web pages.

3. Discount travel sites, such as Expedia ad Travelocity, offer the best rates available. When doing this, however, it is important that you check with the actual company to make sure you are in fact getting the best price that the company can offer.

4. Be flexible. This is the key to truly getting any type of travel discounts. The more you can shift things around the better deals you can find. Keep in mind that many car rental companies actually charge you less if you take the vehicle for longer. Weekend and week long rentals tend to be the best overall deals.

5. Wait for the upgrade. If you want a luxury car but don't want to have to pay the extra price for one than reserve a mid-size car and then when you get to the rental place ask them if they have any vehicles that you could upgrade to. Most car rental companies will then offer you the luxury car for only a few dollars more, since that will put more in their pockets for a vehicle that would otherwise be sitting. - 31980

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How To Find Luxury Travel On A Shoestring Budget

By Morten Elm

You do not have a lot of money to spend on a travelling, but you still want to go? No problem. If you read this article you can learn to find luxury travel on a shoestring. You do actually not have to spend a fortune on a well-deserved vacation.

When you are planning you next vacation, stay away from the school vacation weeks. Those days all destinations are crowded and the airfares are very expensive.

It is not unusual that a coach seat cost more in the school vacation week than a first class ticket in the off-season. So unless you really enjoy screaming children kicking on your seat, you should avoid spring and winter breaks.

Regardless of where you decide to book your luxury travel arrangements (with an agent or on the Internet) make sure that you know exactly who you are working with. Make sure you choose the right specialist for what you're looking for.

Consider all aspects of your deal; not just the price tag. Quality wins over quantity in some cases. This way, you'll have the luxury you want on a shoestring budget. This also makes sure that you build a solid relationship with the company you're dealing with. If you are loyal to them, they will be loyal to you. Always remember, they want your business.

It is like a frequent flyer programs. If to chose to fly with the same airline several times, the will give you a free flight as a reward. When you are booking the trip, try to get some kind of free upgrade.

Your coach tickets could turn into first class; or maybe your suite could turn into a deluxe version. Don't be scared to ask for things. If they say no, then you're no worse off than before.

Make sure to take advantages if the travel company makes an error. The companies want a high level of customer satisfaction, and they want to hear how to can achieve that.

If you are critic you will make sure that you (and the following travelers) can enjoy a great luxury trip. So when you are looking for the right company, make sure that you find one which actually takes care of the unhappy customers too. A good way to do that is by looking at the review sites. Once you have finalized your travel planning, just relax and enjoy your luxury travel on a shoestring budget. - 31980

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Destination You Have Dreamed Of Visiting

By Thomas Clarke

Travel destinations can take you too many exotic and faraway places, from China to Ireland and anywhere in between. But did you know that you could visit the Antarctic?

There are special cruises available for Australia that makes the seven day trip to the Antarctic. Now, seven days on the open sea just to get to your final destination is a big commitment. Then you travel across the ice and see some of the original camps from the early explorers of the Continent. It can range anywhere from ten to forty thousand dollars for the trip, but for those people who want to see the Antarctic it is a trip of a lifetime.

There are only a few hundred people each year that get a chance to see the wonders of the eastern side of the Continent. There are also trip avaiable to the South America side to the Antartic Peninsula, as well/ These trip are a little easier and tend to cost a little less, although they are still highly priced. No matter what you choose you are seeing and experiencign something that so few get a chance to experience and it will leave you with memoories and stories for your life and your childrens lives.

With so many great destinations around the world, it can be hard to pick where to go first. For football fans, the best time of year is just around the corner. The NFL playoffs are headed our way and there are plenty of great cities on the list of competing teams. Now is the time to get your tickets to visit theses great places. Arizona is playing this weekend and the beautiful city of Phoenix Arizona is an awesome place for a weekend trip. The city is a well known travel destination and is a beautiful city with plenty of attractions and things to do.

Another city that is a fun destination is Dallas, Texas. The Big D is a popular tourist destination and boasts some of the best night life and family attractions in the state of Texas. The New York Jets are traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio this coming weekend. Cincinnati is a great city, but maybe the summer time would be a better time to visit. It is extremely cold there and during the winter can be a bit harsh unless you just love the cold weather. The last game played this weekend will be in New England and will be a cold affair. Boston is a great city and is a perfect place to visit. There are so many historical and cultural sites that it is a city that should be on any ones list. - 31980

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Things To Remember When Traveling Abroad

By Thomas Clarke

When taking a trip overseas, you are giving yourself a wonderful opportunity to broaden your horizons and experience things that are new and fascinating. In order to truly enjoy such an experience, however, you need to be able to get around any mishaps that may happen while you are traveling. Here are a few tips that will help you while you are on your overseas vacation.

You want to start planning by obtaining a valid passport at least two months before you are scheduled to leave for your destination. You should also look into the requirements for obtaining a visa, this way you will also have one ready should it be required for your stay. After this is all squared away you should then contact your insurance company to see if you are covered while visiting overseas destinations. You should also contact your physician to get a physical and any vaccinations that are required or that may be helpful. You will also want to make sure that you have a supply of medication to last during your stay, as well as information on getting refills should you happen to lose your medications.

Prior to leaving for your trip you will want to make two copies of your passport, travel itinerary and visa (if one is required). One copy should be left with a family member or friend who will be staying in the states. The other copy should be placed in your luggage, and a different location than the original. Your passport is one of the most important pieces of paper during your trip, therefore it is very crucial that you keep it protected and safe. If you should happen to lose your passport while on vacation you need to go to the American Embassy and request assistance.

While looking into various accommodations and attractions, at your overseas destination, you should also take some time to look into the area laws. This will enable you to avoid any issues with customs, and make for a smoother traveling experience. Each country has a separate set of rules on what can be brought in and taken out, therefore it is important that you understand the custom allowed and prohibited list for the area you are planing to visit.

If you are going to a country where you do not speak the language, a tour group may be the best bet. Keep your itinerary with you, as citizens of other countries do not always speak English, but may recognize written names of hotels or tourist attractions. A point-and-conversation guide is a useful tool to help you communicate.

Be knowledgeable of the currency, and be sure to exchange your money prior to making a purchase at your destinations. There is always a fee for theses transactions, therefore one of the best things you can do is utilize credit cards for all your purchases while you are on vacation. - 31980

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