Travelling Studies

If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ve probably heard about Yapta, the online travel site that helps consumers find discount flight tickets, plus track their flights for drops in prices. Yapta (Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant) is an innovative and very handy tool. It can be used in a variety of ways to help you save on flights, but it is primarily aimed at U.S. flyers.

If you regularly fly out of Heathrow Airport in London, you can still take advantage of Yapta to receive bargains and discounts on certain flights and airlines – especially if you’re flying to the U.S. The savings can be substantial and Yapta is so easy to use, there’s really no reason not to try it.

Tracking Flights Pre-Purchase

The first way to save on airfare with Yapta is by monitoring the price of flights you’re interested in before you buy. If you know you want to fly from Heathrow to Barcelona, you can search for available flights for your travel dates on Yapta. You can browse the possible flights that are returned in Yapta’s results, and then decide which flights you would like to track. When you choose to track a flight, Yapta will automatically alert you if the price of that ticket drops, so you know how airfares for your potential flight are trending.

The obvious benefit of tracking flights with Yapta is the ability to be informed about price drops you can take advantage of when making a purchase. Yapta will let you know if the ticket you’re tracking drops in price, but it’s still up to you decide when to make a purchase.

The majority of airlines that fly out of Heathrow are not yet supported by Yapta, but several major International airlines are. This means you can find and track flights from Heathrow on these airlines. Heathrow airlines that are currently supported by Yapta include:

American Airlines
Continental Airlines
United Airlines
Lufthansa
Air France
British Airways
Singapore Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Japan Airlines
SAS
Virgin Atlantic
Air Canada

Tracking Flights Post-Purchase

There’s another way you can potentially save on flights out of Heathrow with Yapta, and that’s by tracking flights post-purchase. The advantage of tracking flight prices after you make a purchase is that some airlines offer travel vouchers, credits or refunds if your ticket price drops. Not all airlines offer these types of refunds – in fact, most of Heathrow’s airlines do not. However, if you are traveling on American Airlines, Continental Airlines, or United Airlines, you could be eligible for a refund or credit voucher if your ticket price drops after purchase.

In order to be eligible for a refund or credit voucher from an airline, you essentially need to cancel and then rebook your flight at the cheaper price. Continental and American Airlines charge a fee of between $150 and $250 U.S dollars to rebook, depending on your destination. However, Yapta will take this rebooking fee into account when alerting you of price drops. United Airlines does not charge a rebooking fee at all.

Although Yapta will only be of limited use to Heathrow travelers in terms of post-purchase refunds, the pre-purchase potential savings on airfare is impressive. Since Yapta is free and very easy to use, you have nothing to lose by signing up and tracking your flights with Yapta-supported airlines. It takes just a few minutes to visit Yapta.com, create an account, and choose your alert settings. You’ll be amazed at how efficient this service is, and when you see your first airfare price drop – you’ll be delighted, too.

Christmas is fast approaching us and it will soon pass by in a flash of a second. Schools will be breaking up soon as well as people getting a hard earned break from work. Christmas is a great festive season for more than one reason to be honest, lets just take a brief look at why:

1) You get to spend time with the family, time that has been lost throughout the year.
2) You get to have a break and relax. You have probably been working hard all year and a lot of companies only close over the festive season.
3) Catch up on all your favourite programs and movies over the festive period.

But once Christmas and New Year is over people start to go into a state of depression again. They look outside and it is cold and dark and they really have nothing to look forward too. But that’s where everyone goes wrong. There is plenty to look forward too. Let’s just take a look at a few things that you can potentially do to cheer yourself up.

1) It’s a new year meaning a new start; all of your favourite times of the year will come around again such as summer, Easter and Halloween not to mention your preferred TV shows.
2) Book your Holiday, whether your booking it for Christmas or Summer, now is the best time to book. You can get great deals on Caribbean holidays, cruises and many more luxury holidays.
3) Your birthday will come around again, a new year means a new birthday for you, start making plans early on so everything falls into place.
4) Shop for Christmas! Yes that’s right, do your Christmas shopping in the January sales, you are bound to save yourself a fortune on gifts. You could also pick up a new Christmas tree or decorations on the cheap.
5) Plan more family days together. If the reason you love Christmas is because all the family get together, then what’s stopping you organising a weekend together. I am sure that once you plan things correctly
6) If you are a tech fanatic then you can look forward to a whole new set of gadgets and gizmos in the upcoming year, ranging from mobile phones to sound systems and more.

As you can see there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful for the New Year, once Christmas day has finished do not get upset, open your eyes and look forwards.

Watching the children grow and mature, seeing the wife having fun, and I must admit a little selfishness for myself because I like to fish a bit and explore with the sail boat; are the most important things to me. We live and work in a congested city. Even relaxed times are punctuated with some tension. We traveled to the beach one summer week end and found a different living style and a different pace.

We bought a house and enjoyed it for two years. Then the deterioration of the house and equipment from ocean corrosion, and the crowded congestion reminded us that we had accepted conditions at the beach that are all too similar to our urban living.

A friend from college days called and invited the family to spend the week end with his family at “the lake”. I was not thrilled with the thought of a day at the lake when I had the whole ocean. Our two daughters thought it would be fun. I knew that was because my college buddy would have his daughter and handsome teen age son there. So, we agreed to spend the week end at “the lake”.

His house was modest, but the water and the view were spectacular. I was surprised at my first impression. His house was nine years old and looked like it was two. No corrosion and very fine landscaping. The first morning there we just sat and caught up on the past while the children giggled. That afternoon we sailed a bit. The next morning we fished. I found that I was relaxed and did not look forward to leaving. Some friends came over the previous evening for a chardonnay party, but crowds were non existent.

The next week I thought about it all. My wife said “why do we drive to the beach and that confusion, when the lake is so comfortable”? That was all I needed. We sold the beach house and built a house we really like at the lake. We spend many week-ends there, and I am even more pleasant at work.

By the way, our house is in North Carolina at Kerr Lake. We may even retire there when the time is right.

Hainan Booths Attracted 80,000 Visits in China International Tourism Fair (Shanghai).

The 4 days China International Tourism Fair 2008 closed on November 24th in Shanghai. Hainan’s booths characteristic of plentiful tropical elements attracted a total of 80,000 people. Some of the Hainan Tourism enterprises participating the fair got booming business.

During those two fair days open to public, Shanghai citizens and tourists collect tourism catalogues, brochures and interested travel information for home and abroad tours. According to incomplete statistics, by the close of trade fair, Hainan’s dozens corporate exhibitors given out of totally 25 million copies of the travel information to businessmen, buyers, as well as tourists. 280 potential travel contracts are signed, covering 600,000 tourists. One of the Hainan exhibitor Pearl River International Travel Service and Chenda International Travel Service signed the tourism contract with the Russian enterprises, the contracted potential groups number reaches tens of thousands of people; Hainan Kang Tai International Travel Service’s signed contract involves a number of 5 million potential domestic tourists.

The Hainan Provincial Tourism Administration was awarded the “the Best Booth Award” and “Award for Outstanding Organization” in the trade fair summary meeting in the afternoon.

From the current trade situation, Hainan tourism resources’ development has two obvious trends: First, pay more attention to the depth development of tourist resources, enhance the tourism-oriented product brand of characteristics. For example, turned the tourism resources into the “eco-tourism.” Second, take full advantage of the increasingly mature tourism resources in Hainan Province like those in Sanya, Haikou and so on; and attractions such as hot springs, Hainan fish treatment, Sea View line, golf tours, and so on.

You don’t get far into December without people starting to complain about how they are sick of all the Christmas talk. It’s mostly families with small children that, although they will feel the pinch more than others, will also be the most excited. For them, Christmas is all about the hype until Boxing Day.

Boxing Day is when all the build up is suddenly over and it all fizzles out like a sad, deflated balloon. However, it is exactly this time of year when thoughts turn to your next summer holiday. It is the nature of humans to need something to look forward to – it helps us through the difficult times. So, come January, this is when travel agents will have their biggest boost in sales.

Holiday destinations seem to go in trends depending on the age range or family arrangement you find yourself in. Of course, there are the 18 – 30 clubs, the under 25’s trips, the family trips and the OAP holidays and singles arrangements. Unless you decide to diversify and arrange your own, there is something for everyone.

Young people may favour somewhere like Spain, where the concentration is on lots of sand, sea and sangria. Families will no doubt opt for a hotel complex that contains most of their needs within or possibly a self catering holiday so they can organise themselves without schedules.

However, there is one group of travellers not yet covered – the intrepid explorers. These are people that like to make the most of their holiday in the way of learning a foreign culture, meeting foreign people, maybe learning a little about the history of a place. They see the whole thing as an experience as opposed to a time to simply lay in the sun.

Brazil holidays are just the type of experience that would offer a true taste of culture as well as the added benefits of gorgeous weather and if you wanted to take the family, there are options to help as this country is very family orientated.

As for what a Brazil holiday has to offer – well, let’s take a look.

There are 27 states in Brazil with a truly diverse nature to many of them so you are bound to find something that appeals to you. Of these states, seven of them are covered in by the Amazonian National Park. This is one for the nature lovers that surely can’t be missed. Brazil has a variety of the most colourful wildlife you will ever see.

Thirty per cent of the world’s wildlife species hail from the Amazonian rainforests. This means that Brazil holidays will show you the densest concentration of birds, mammals and fish that you could ask for.

Family holidays at this destination can be anything you want them to be. From full on, luxurious, all inclusive trips with round the clock entertainment to something as simple as a beach holiday where you can watch the kids enjoy a game of footie on Copacabana beach.

For couples holidays to Brazil, the choices are endless. Hole up in a little beach side love shack for the duration or take in all the vibrancy and buzzing nightlife of Rio de Janeiro. With its colourful people, its colourful buildings and it’s non-stop atmosphere, this is the place for people that love life.

The road trip is a classic American vacation. While higher prices for gas in the summer months can deter some, the savvy traveler can find ways to budget this accordingly. Renting smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles is a great way to keep gas prices low on a road trip. Renting a car for a road trip also avoids putting costly miles on your own vehicle. It is also just enjoyable to drive a different car while you get away with your family, significant other, or even by yourself.

One of the fastest ways to travel to your destination is by air. Millions of travelers rely on the airlines to get them to their destinations quickly and safely. While this may be a choice method of travel due to its speed, it can be costly. Another thing to consider is if your final destination has an airport close by. A good idea is to travel on an off day like Tuesday or Wednesday so you can achieve lower prices and less busy airports.

Finally, rail travel is becoming more popular again. For the same price as most would pay for a decent vacation destination, a couple can travel in a private car on a train through the United States. Some train vacations are even coupled with cruises through the shores and wilderness of Alaska and Canada. These mobile vacations allow the travelers to see wildlife and untouched scenery that is hard to find anymore.

Remember, the vacation isn’t just about the destination, it is about how you get there that can make it an adventure. Take the time to plan what you will be doing along the way to your destination. If driving, stop off at scenic landmarks or monuments. These not only have historical value, but can also give people a change to stretch their legs and get out of the car for a few minutes.

If traveling by plane, look at a map, travel guide, or other book to see which activities you want to participate in once you arrive. While you don’t have to plan your entire vacation, having a few ideas never hurts, especially if you run into bad weather or places that are closed.

Your summer vacation should be about bonding together as a family. Planning your vacation and giving everyone a voice when it comes to making decisions will allow people to enjoy the entire vacation. It will also give people a chance to appreciate each other.

To travel towards the Cuban capital and the rest of the country, that is, to the east of Cuba, and always by the coast, after leaving Cayo Levisa, one should take the highway that leads to Havana by the north littoral, the prettiest of them all where monotony is almost nonexistent as the route crosses many small picturesque towns. Just a little before reaching the town of Bahia Honda we are already in a coastal segment different from the route fragments left behind.

No longer will you find cays, mangroves and low coast lines, but, instead, high coast lines, where mangroves do not grow and cays are no longer present. It is the second segment of the north coast which extends almost to Varadero. The route till Havana City is entertaining and pleasant , alomng the north coast line and by the blue waters of the Florida Straight, which is always visible.

When asking a Cuban for addresses the word “oriente” should be used carefully. In Cuba by “Oriente” many only refer only to the 5 most eastern provinces in the Island: Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo, those that, in the ancient Cuban political – administrative division formed the ancient province of “Oriente”. This is why in the common language it is best to ask for directions using the names of the provinces instead of the cardinal points.

In Havana City, you may stay at any of the multiple available Havana Hotels to visit any of the beach groups that surround the Capital. These are commonly known as the Playas del Oeste ( Beaches of the west ) and the Playas del Este ( Beches of the east) or the Havana north littoral beaches, in reference to its hosting city or province.

The first are commonly rocky and narrow beaches, deep and next to the new hotels in Havana. These are not continuous but are formed by segments interrupted by the coastal rocky groups. They are bordered by the urbanization. In some of them, a marine atmosphere is breathed and it is common to see small boats in the rivers that cross them. That is the case of Playa Jaimanitas and , a bit further down, the beach of Baracoa. Other like the Viriato and Marianao beaches , not very well known, are small mainly used by the neighbors of the close-by urbanizations. These are not very popular and basically visited only by very small groups.

Very different is the case of the Playas del Este or North Littoral beaches. These form a continuous sandy space, with mainly low depth waters and where the rivers that there connect can be easily crossed. Best example is probably the Boca Ciega River or Justiz River, which can be crossed shore to shore with under the knee waters which originate a by-the-coast lagoon system.

The beaches in the area receive different names and ar all crossed by small rivers. West to east you can find the Cojimar Becah, crossed by the River of the same name and that gives origin, just before reaching the coast, to a deep canyon to reach the sea due to fact that in the north coast are found the heights knows as the Habana – Matanzas heights.

Unfortunately, this river is somewhat contaminated although plans exist for its purification. In this site is located the small town that carries the same name of the river and its beach, Cojímar, famous after being immortalized by the north American writer Ernest Hemingway in his novel “The Old Man and the Sea”. Clearly a place to visit here is the museum of the Finca La Vijía, Hemingways farm house located just nearby in San Francisco de Paula.

Passing Cojímar, the route borders the shore, and can bee seen from the highway. The first beach you encounter is the Bacuranao Beach crossed by the river of the same name. As a curious detail, it should be mentioned that in both rivers small fortresses can be found which were built by the Spanish to protect the newly born City of Havana against the attacks of pirates and corsairs, like the attacks occurred in 1762 when the English, under the commands of naval Commanders Albemarle and Pocock when trhe City of Havana was occupied for a period of nine months

Next to Bacuranao is the beach called Playa Tarará with its small river forming a small entrance that resembles an estuary locally known as the Itabo. Next are the beaches of Santa María del Mar and Brisas del Mar, which are the best known of all. They are really one single and very large beach with two names.

These beaches are both protected to the south by the mentioned heights which obligues you take the highway of Via Blanca in order to be able to reach them. This highway communicates the City of Havana with the province of Matanzas, the “Athens of Cuba”, a city located by the Bay of its same name. The beaches can only be reached by four intersections from the Via Blanca. The fisrt is located by Playa Tarará, the second in Boca Ciega, the third by the Restauran Gato Verde on 462 nd street which descends to the sea in a step-like manner crossing a terrace system of marine origin, similar to the one found in G street in the Vedado District, where four of these formations are distinguished while reaching the Malecón Seawalk, and the fourth on 506 th street, at a point knows as “La Conchita”.

It is a really beautiful view if you stop at any of the high points of the mentioned elevations, especially at about 100 mt after passing 462 nd street, nest to the viewpoint knows as Bellomonte. This can be done at any time of day, although the best time is definitely in the early hours and the late afternoon when all can be clearly observed and exceptional conditions are available to view the beach, its wave trains, the different blue shades of the sea, vegetation and the construction sites of Guanabo and neighbor sites.

All these beaches, as in the rest of Cuba, are public. They communicate with each other easily from Tarará to Guanabo and it is common to see people begin the day at one extreme and end at the other. Almost 10 km are covered by these beautiful beaches. It is quite common to see groups of people and youngsters walking by the beach at any time of day.

There are several spots where you can obtain the necessary to enjoy of the sunny day. As to lodging, there are several Cuba hotels from Tarará to Guanabo like Villa Tarará, Villa Armon;ia, Mirador del Mar Villa Los Pinos, Hotel Atlántico and Hotel Las Terrazas. The best know, but now under repair is the Hotel Arenal or Hotel Itabo built atop one of the lagoons formed by the River Boca Ciega or Itabo without altering its vegetation, something similar to what is found in La Moka, in the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve.

But if you wish to stay in Havana City, just a some 20 km away, numerous uba hotels are available. The trip back by car is pleasant because the route by the sea actually offers different views when using the highway in either its two directions.

Continue East and other surprises will be found. >>> Coming soon!

More often than not, booking a honeymoon takes a backseat to planning your wedding, but don’t let it be an afterthought. After tireless months of planning, this is your chance to finally relax and spend some alone-time with your new hubby. With some careful planning, your honeymoon will be equally as memorable as the wedding itself.

The first step in planning your honeymoon should be to sit down with your beau and discuss what type of vacation you’d like to embark on. Do you see the two of you soaking up the sun in a tropical locale, venturing on an African safari, exploring a bustling city, or simply shacking up in a remote location with nothing but a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door? Here’s a rundown of vacation types to help determine which getaway best suits your interests:

Beach Bums

If you fall asleep every night to a stress-relief CD of gentle ocean waves playing in the background, perhaps a tropical retreat is in order. A vacation to the beach can be as secluded as a private-island sanctuary or as interactive as an all-inclusive couples resort. Choosing a remote location gives you the flexibility to do it all or nothing at all-spend the day snorkeling around a coral reef, escape to an intimate location for a romantic picnic, or simply sprawl out in the sand and enjoy each other’s company. If you are social butterflies, flock to an all-inclusive resort to mingle with other newlyweds while engaging in a little friendly beach volleyball or obstacle course competition. Either way, a few steamy nights in a tropical location are sure to ignite romance.

Adventure Fanatics

You don’t have to be a seasoned globetrotter like Bear Grylls to crave a little excitement in your lives. Pack your bags and head for the hills…or the jungle…or the rainforest…or wherever your adventuresome hearts desire Newlyweds looking to take a walk on the wild side on their honeymoon have a world of options, from an African safari or trip down the Nile River to a cross-country excursion with nothing but your backpacks and a map. Exploring new places together will help to strengthen your relationship and fuel your libido.

Relaxation Addicts

What better way to unwind after a whirlwind of planning than with a soothing couple’s massage? If an invigorating yoga class and a therapeutic mud mask are part of your daily regimens, perhaps a trip to a wellness spa is the perfect remedy to rejuvenate your spirits and relax your souls. Take a leisurely hike through the mountains, treat yourselves to a couple’s massage, then dine on a wholesome meal of fresh organic cuisine over candlelight. Start your life together the right way with honeymoon travel that’s soothing to the soul.

Two if by Sea
Can’t decide between adventure or relaxation? Why not have it all? Cruise ships give you the luxury of limitless on-board activities and the convenience of being transported to an exotic location. Sip margaritas while lounging on the deck between buffet lines and gambling, then jump ship at your destination and steal a moment away on the beach with your sweetie.

City Trekkers

For couples always on the go, a vacation to a new city presents endless opportunities for entertainment. Brush up on the city’s history prior to your visit and map out some must-see sites. Quench your thirst for knowledge with a visit to an area museum; discover the local art and music scene together; savor delectable cuisine and wine by candlelight at a renowned restaurant; or satisfy your need for excitement with a night out on the town. A trip to the city can be as exciting or relaxing as you desire.

Incurable Romantics

TomKat wannabes should take a cue from other hopeless love birds and opt to spend a honeymoon in total seclusion. Flee to a cottage on the beach or a cabin in the woods and spend nights cooking a romantic dinner together after watching the sun set. Turn off your cell phones, unplug the TV, and escape to an exclusive locale where your only agenda is to spend some one-on-one time with your hubby.

If you are planning on breaking with the traditional stay-at-home Christmas but you are looking for a Christmas family vacation where you can still experience the spirit of Christmas, here are 2 great ideas:

Christmas Family Vacations: Enjoying The Spirit of Christmas in Lapland

Lapland in Scandinavia is the home of Father Christmas and there are plenty of Christmas family vacation packages available for the season there. Things to watch out for include the Aurora Borealis in the clear skies. Finnish Lapland hosts Santa Claus themed activities, and many hotels have a Christmas family vacation spirit.

There are plenty of activities for all of the family, from winter sleigh rides to skiing trails. Some package deals will feature these activities for free, so once your money is paid up front, you don’t have to worry about paying for the activities for the rest of the trip. There are various options open when it comes to accommodation too, with log cabins among the places to stay at the hotels. Some of the log cabins even have their own saunas. It is strongly advisable to bring your thermal clothing with you on any trip this far north.

Both reindeer and husky sleigh rides are available. Some Christmas family vacation packages will feature a visit to a reindeer farm. Snow boarding and downhill skiing are also available at some locations, as well as more challenging cross country skiing for those eager to stay in shape. There are also opportunities to learn about the Sami people, the indigenous people of Lapland.

Christmas Family Vacations: A trip to Northern Canada

A trip to Lapland or elsewhere in Europe may seem a luxury too good to afford but what if you want a Christmas family vacation featuring plenty of Christmas spirit that won’t break the bank?

If you live in a region that has plenty of snow come Christmas time, you may feel that a family sleigh ride is something you can do every day. But what if you don’t get snow as often as you’d like? How far do you have to travel to enjoy a white Christmas?

There are plenty of places in Canada that market themselves as traditional Christmas getaways. White Christmases in northern Canada are common and a white Christmas family vacation at a Canadian ski resort can bring a little more Christmas cheer than you might get at home in a chilly but snowless environment. With snow mobile and husky rides, you can have a great Christmas family vacation that won’t cost as much as a trip to Europe. Ice skating and skiing can feature too.

Indeed, some Canadian destinations market themselves as celebrating an Old World traditional Christmas. White Christmases are far easier to come by north of the border. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, Quebec City has a 100 per cent chance of a white Christmas each and every year. As Quebec is a Francophone region, it may just add that Old World tinge to the Christmas family vacation that you’re looking for and you won’t have to travel across an ocean to get it.

Other Canadian cities likely to see snow on Christmas Day include Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg. So why not take the family to Canada for that Christmas family vacation you’ve all been dreaming about?

Summer is the traditional traveling time for many families as they work around school schedules. But sports and camps are now crowding into those few weeks formerly known as the Lazy Dog Days of Summer. If you don’t plan a time for your family to get away together, “POOF!” that window of opportunity will slam shut!

Why is it important to have family vacations? Those times away from the daily routine build chapters into your Family Story. Each family has a Story. Each time you spend time together you build memory upon memory.

My husband performs a lot of funerals. Does the family sit around talking about the latest book they’ve read? No! They talk about their Family Story. They share memories about when Uncle Joe pulled the wool over Cousin Bob’s eyes!

Don’t have time for a week away? Then create pockets in your schedule for day trips. How about hiking in the woods behind your church? Or a picnic at the lake? Or pizza at the Drive-In Theater? Recently, hubby and I had a date playing Putt-Putt. Not his preferred style of golfing, but a good one to do together, nonetheless. Yesterday, Hubby and Son went to an afternoon Matinee. Just the two of them.

Okay, are you inspired yet? Take time for the people in your life and make some memories today! One of my favorite passages to look up in the hectic time of getting ready to travel is found in 2 Samuel 16:14. David and troop had an exhausting trip. But then, they were refreshed. Yes, vacations are refreshing!