Cause The World is The Place to Explore
Five Kid Friendly Vacations
Aug 26th
Traveling with your kids can be tough to plan. When searching for the perfect vacation spot for your family there are many things to take into consideration. Finding a family-friendly vacation destination can be the difference between a fabulous vacation for everyone to remember and a total nightmare.
The top family vacation in the world is located in central Florida. Walt Disney World is filled with fun for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Staying in a Disney Resort gives you and your family a chance to feel as if you are in another world during your stay. Watch the faces of your children light up as they meet Mickey Mouse for the first time or laugh with them as they enjoy their favorite ride in the theme park. Walt Disney World in Florida offers guests four theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom) and two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) that are open year-round.
If you are want a more tropical destination, the Atlantis Resort located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Offering tons of attractions to keep everyone in the family having fun, the resort features eleven pools and a number of water slides and rides from kiddie pools to the Mayan Drop which plunges riders down a six-story slide into the water. Children under twelve years of age can visit the Discovery Channel Camp, which includes lessons about indigenous sea life, arts and crafts, aquarium visits. It is guaranteed to be a favorite of any child visiting the resort. Everyone is sure to find something to do at Atlantis.
If your family likes the snow rather than sandy beaches, then be sure to plan a visit to Snowbird Resort in Snowbird, Utah. Children under twelve ski free, but the amenities do not stop at the slopes. Families will enjoy a range of activities during winter months such as snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice skating and snow tubing. Ski schools and camps are offered for children and child care services are offered for children under twelve. For adults, the resort offers a spa and fitness club.
For the even more adventurous family, the Treesort in Takilma, Oregon is the perfect family vacation spot. The Treesort offers a unique type of vacation high above the ground in the trees. The resort offers 18 different tree houses for your family to discover. The resort also includes swinging bridges, wooden swings, forts and platforms for climbing and fun. Families can enjoy the fresh water swimming pool, one of few attractions located on the ground, and the campsite area as well.
For a vacation that offers both activities and educational value, families may want to consider visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The Kingsmill Resort offers family vacation packages that can be put together to suit any family. The resort offers both golf and tennis courses, as well as a marina. At the resort’s Kids Camp children will enjoy activities like swimming and yoga, as well as time in the resort’s game room.The city of Williamsburg and the Kingsmill Resort offer a family vacation full of relaxation, activity, excitement and education.
Speeding Skiers Face Jail Time
Aug 24th
Reckless skiing is a real problem in some areas. Those disobeying the speed limit signs in Utah may face jail time and fines.
The speed limit was put in place in certain areas where less experienced skiers are trying to learn the sport. Reckless behaviors of others have caused 10 percent of all collisions in Park City and Deer Valley. A report in the Salt Lake City Tribune states that reckless skiing is now considered a Class B Misdemeanor.
Ski patrollers will be monitoring the slopes in search of people disobeying the speed limits or skiing recklessly. The ski patroller can now call the police, and the offenders may find themselves in court. If a reckless skier is called to court, the patroller will be called in as a witness to the incident. If skiers are found guilty of reckless skiing, they will be fined 1,000 USD and face a six-month jail sentence.
Some ski resorts in Europe are also adopting the ski speed limit, including Switzerland’s Grindelwald and Verbier. Pierre-Yves Deleze with the Verbier Tourist Office said, ‘The idea is to allow beginners to learn without people skiing by them too fast and frightening them.’
The problem isn’t simply fast skiers. Other reckless behaviour also endangers other skiers on the slopes.
‘We did it because that’s what people wanted’, said Susanne Daxelhoffer at the Grindelwald area tourist office. ‘The project is based on complaints of people skiing too fast and therefore fulfills a need’, Daxelhoffer added.
Swiss ski resort Grindelwald was the first European resort to introduce a speed limit on one of its slopes. A growing number of high-speed collisions on crowded slopes helped fuel the decision to implement the 30kmph speed limit. France reported several deaths in the 2006-2007 ski season due to high-speed collisions.
Resort owners hope to combat deaths and injuries by decreasing speeds on crowded and beginner slopes.
Richard Slater, a British skier and father of three told reporters, ‘It’s particularly good if you have young children and want them to be able to ski without being hit by out of control skiers going too fast.’
According to BBC News, a study of 24 resorts reveals that all are keeping an eye on the experimental speed limit enforcements.
Speed limits for skiers and snowboarders might soon become commonplace on slopes around the world. The resorts of Park City and Deer Valley, both in Utah, are the first to implement a fine and jail time. Grindelwald and other European resorts that are adopting the ski speed limit do not plan to fine offenders. There they are simply warned to slow down.
When the proper amount of care and respect are given, skiing in general is a relatively safe sport. Some members of staff and skiers at the affected resorts are torn. They can see the importance of safer skiing, but some feel the punishment far exceeds the crime.
Some skiers see the new law as a way for authorities to control what they do in their leisure time. These skiers feel the law imposes unfair restrictions on a fast-paced, thrilling sport.
Skiers on the other side of the fence believe the law will stop some skiers from recklessly skiing and putting others in harm’s way. This law gives less experienced skiers hope that they can safely enjoy their time on the slopes.
A Swiss insurance group is installing timers on certain slopes. These timers allow people to see their speeds and should encourage them to ski within set limits. Ski resorts world-wide hope the implementation of timers and patrollers will help make the slopes safer for more inexperienced skiers.
Take A Gambling Break and Enjoy Six Las Vegas Activities That Can Leave You Breathless
Aug 23rd
One of the biggest reasons people go to Las Vegas is to gamble but the city has much more than that to enjoy. So when you get tired of gambling, be sure to take in the other sights that Las Vegas has to offer.
Six Non-Gambling Activities You Can Enjoy While In Las Vegas
1 – Mirage Hotel Pool
When you first walk into the Mirage lobby, you’ll feel as if you stepped into a tropical rainforest. It’s got lots of exotic birds, waterfalls and trees. Go through the atrium, into the casino and out the back to the pool area and what you’ll find is an outdoor retreat. The Mirage pool winds through thick flora and you’ll be greeted by the sounds and sights of the hotel’s waterfall. What can you expect when you finally get to the pool?
You’ll get excellent service from the cabana boys and you can receive cocktail drinks from the waitresses who wear sexy sarongs. You can take part in the water aerobics class, which is offered two times a day. Under the pool manager’s leadership, people can enjoy a 45-minute workout that’s sure to burn off the breakfast buffet they consumed. However, if you’re looking for a more relaxing time, you can enjoy the beach that run the pool’s inner perimeter.
Read a book or enjoy the sun but make sure you use plenty of sunscreen and a hat to keep yourself from getting burnt while you enjoy the prettiest pool in Las Vegas. Keep in mind that the pool is only open for guests but staying at the Mirage is a pretty enjoyable experience overall.
2 – Coyote Café Dessert (inside the MGM Grand Hotel)
If you have a hunkering for dessert, regardless of when it is, then consider the Coyote Café dessert at the MGM Grand Hotel where Chef Mark Miller is in charge. Miller has published many cookbooks and has brought a Southwestern flair to Sin City. Be sure to try a variety of desserts.
3 – Wynn Las Vegas
If you want a hotel room that’s got luxury and class to it, then you want to try the Wynn Las Vegas. Each standard room is 640 square feet with lots of amenities like a full television set and movies. Most hotels don’t go all out on in the rooms because they want you spending your money in the casino. Take in the La Reve, a Franco Dragone Cirque du Soleil circus flavored show that’s received amazing reviews. The restaurant chef is on the premises, which allows you to enjoy any one of the on-location restaurants including:
- Red 8
- SW Steakhouse
- Okada
- Wing Lei
4 – Liberace Museum
Want some culture while you’re visiting Las Vegas? Then enjoy a short cab ride to the Liberace Museum. Here, you’ll see a tribute to the man responsible for bringing Las Vegas its popularity. It’s also got press clippings, cars, jewelry, costumes and lots of photos. This isn’t your run of the mill museum; you’ll leave it… adoring it.
5 – The Las Vegas Strip
Many people call the famous Las Vegas Strip just the Strip or a Boulevard of Dreams, as it’s got all the glitz and glamour one could wish for. Most top name Las Vegas hotels and casinos can be found here and during the nighttime hours, lots of neon adorns the skyline. Take a walk on the strip at night when the temperatures are much cooler.
6 – Stratosphere Tower
This is the United States’ tallest freestanding observation tower and the view is just inconceivable. You can view every part of Las Vegas and even the stretching desert. Of course, it’s much more than a view. It’s also got a roller coaster you can enjoy or, if you’re really daring, a bungee jump that shoots rides up to 45 miles per hour up and down. Survive these and enjoy the bar and restaurant at the top.
Advice On Locks And Locking Systems For Luggage
Aug 22nd
If you have ever had the misfortune of having your bag stolen, or an item removed from your bag, you will know how horrible this is, and how much it can ruin a holiday very quickly. Whether it involved something really drastic such as the loss of your passport, your credit cards, keys or money, or whether it was easily replaceable, doesn’t always matter. The sense of personal intrusion can make you feel miserable for a long while afterwards.
There are ways in which it is possible to increase the level of security of your possessions, although it is always best to use a wide range of methods rather than relying simply on one alone.
Of course, the most effective method of making sure your possessions stay safe is to keep them with you at all times. If you are travelling by plane, this is not always possible because of your luggage being handed over to the baggage handlers. However, as many people have discovered, it is very possible, with enough planning and honest effort, to reduce your luggage requirements to a single carryon. If you can achieve this, then your luggage is far safer, and you will also be able to move through the airport much faster.
A word of warning about locks and locking mechanisms for cases. If your case has a lock on it, and you are sending this via the luggage handlers, you need to make sure it is unlocked. This seems strange, but most airlines these days require your bags to be unlocked. If they have reason to check your bag, and they find it locked, then they will force it open. This could mean damage to an otherwise good and possibly expensive bag, for which the airline will not compensate you, or the damage to your bag could mean it won’t close effectively. This is another reason to consider reducing your needs down to a single carryon.
Of course, even carryon bags that are with you at all times can prove subject to theft or tampering. There are travel bags with a number of security measures built in to them, Read the rest of this entry »
Traveling Single and Happy in Italy
Aug 20th
Want to travel to Italy but nobody you know wants to go? Have specific dates for your holiday in Tuscany but none of your traveling friends can get away then?
You’re not alone–you’re part of the fast growing single traveler market. As a frequent single traveler in Italy for many years, here are my tips on companionship, safety, money matters, and quality of life for traveling solo in Italy.
Companionship
1. Look for restaurants or hotels with communal tables. Sit down, relax, eat with whoever is there, smile and start a conversation. Sharing food and wine around the table opens people up and conversation flows easily. Also look for restaurants with tables close together so it’s easy to strike up a conversation with fellow diners.
For example, I’ve enjoyed staying a family-run B & B in Sorrento where I’ve happily chatted to people from all over the world around their big dining tables.
2. Offer to help other travelers as a spring board to start a conversation. For example, while traveling on the Amalfi Coast on a bus to my hotel in Praiano, I overheard a man asking about the area. Read the rest of this entry »
What To Do About Lost Luggage At Manchester Airport
Aug 18th
Standing at the carousel at Manchester Airport after a long or short haul flight hoping and praying that your luggage will appear. After what seems to be an eternity of waiting, you finally decide that your luggage has not arrived back with you and wonder what you are supposed to do next. This article describes what you can do to get your luggage back as quickly as possible.
First of all we need to understand why luggage goes missing in the first place. Missing luggage can usually be put down to human error. There are many different people who will interact with your luggage during its long journey and you are dependent such people as baggage handlers, check in personnel and security staff all getting their individual jobs absolutely right. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world and things will go wrong and unfortunately it could be your bag that gets lost.
Once you have realised that your bag is missing the first thing you need to do is report it missing at the lost baggage desk. At Manchester Airport these desks can usually be found in the baggage return areas but. Any member of staff will be able to direct you to the nearest desk should you have difficulty in locating them.
When reporting your lost luggage be sure to give as detailed a description as you can as it is much easier to locate a bag if they know what they are looking for. You may also be asked for a description of your luggage contents, again as much detail as possible but not totally necessary as nobody will expect you to know everything you have packed in your luggage.
Unfortunately there is no set time limit for finding lost luggage and airlines will more than likely not declare your luggage as officially lost until approximately 21 days so with any luck it will turn up naturally before then. There are various agencies that can help with lost luggage and are not difficult to find. they are off airport companies and more than likely a member of staff will give out their details. After the twenty one day period if your luggage still has not turned up you are entitled in most cases to claim compensation from your airline for your losses. I realise that this really is not what you would like but at least if you are aware of this fact you may get something back, then its not a total loss. In some cases airlines may be obliged to pay up to eight hundred pounds per person for lost luggage.
A very important note that everybody should know and not many people do, is that most airlines will try and persuade their customers to claim for any lost luggage through their own personal travel insurance. You are well within your rights to push the airline for direct compensation as under the Montreal Convention if an airline accepts any item as checked baggage it must accept liability for it. Most travel policies do not cover lost luggage but if they do they will no doubt be claiming the money back directly off the airline anyway.
The long and short of lost luggage is, that there really is no hard or fast or even guaranteed way to get your luggage back. Only ways and means to try. Armed with this information you will stand more than a fighting chance of getting your luggage back or at least some money to help ease the pain.
Book Your Accommodation In Rome In Advance
Aug 16th
As such, it has a large variety of accommodation options available for those who are visiting the city.
There are a variety of different quality hotels that are available. You can find anything from a luxury hotel to a bargain budget hotel room. The budget hotels may require you to pay extra for a private bathroom otherwise you will need to share. If you have a shared bathroom, the room may not include their buffet breakfast. It is worthwhile to check all of these facts and to consider paying extra for the bathroom and breakfast. The cheaper, budget hotels can often be found in the area surrounding Termini station. This makes them highly accessible and convenient. You may find that they offer special deals so ask about this when you book. They may also give you a discount if you pay in cash.
If you are looking for a luxury hotel, head for the area of Via Veneto. Here you will find many grand and glamorous hotels. The area around the Aventine or a classy hotel near Villa Borghese Park will provide you with a peaceful and comfortable stay in Rome. You can stay at a camping site although these tend to be further out of the city and are not convenient if you want to spend a lot of time visiting the attractions within the city itself.
You can find holiday apartments for rent in Rome. These can be found over the Internet or through agencies. They are generally a good option for larger groups (such as families) who would like a bit more privacy and freedom than you can find in a hotel. They also provide the opportunity to feel like you are living in a Roman home. They generally have all the self catering amenities such as a kitchen and terrace. Villas are also available. A more recent addition to the hotel accommodation options in Rome, are bed and breakfasts. These are as simple as people opening their homes and renting out a spare room. These will be much cheaper accommodation options than hotels. You can also find a vast number of Roman hostels which are also a good budget option for visitors to the city.
An interesting form of holiday accommodation that you can find in Rome that is not available in other cities is convents. There are a number of convents in Rome that put up paying guests. The convents are strongly Catholic. Some of them will only accept Catholic guests who book their accommodation through their church, but most will accept guests of any religion as long as they are happy to stay in such a Catholic environment. The amenities are generally fairly simple, but they are well priced and generally a peaceful place to stay. They are also a good choice for a budget traveler, but they may not suit the backpacker as they generally have curfews of around 11 pm.