Archive for March, 2011
Apen Ski Resort
Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort, in Colorado, offers more than 5,200 acres across four mountains, two of them dedicated to advanced skiers. Snowmass is 32-percent Double Black Diamond (steep and/or dangerous terrain icons, to the uninformed). Aspen Mountain offers even more thrills, with 26-percent Black Diamond runs and another 26-percent Double Diamond runs. The mountain, nicknamed Ajax, is renowned for its precipitous slopes and moguls (read “big bumps”, for the uninitiated) that can send the unwary or reckless ski aficionado flying into white space.
Aspen has 76 trails and 8 lifts, with no beginner slopes and half the terrain given to intermediate runs. The remainder is about equally divided between advanced skiers and experts. Experts will love the challenge of double-black slopes and woodland terrain. For a real rush, try the Go-Go-Gully or the Highland Bowl, pitched at roughly 48 degrees (90 degrees is a right angle, for expert skiers who don’t do math).
Killington Ski Resort
Killington Ski Resort, located in Vermont, is a superb resort for the advanced skier. Almost half the terrain is devoted to difficult trails, including a Double-Black-Diamond rated area known as “The Outer Limits” with enough moguls to make even expert skiers achieve flight. Other terrain includes woodland, or glade, skiing and steep terrain. In all Killington has 12 Double Black Diamond trails and half again as many Black Diamond runs. In all, 200 trails connect seven mountains via 33 chairlifts. Killington has the longest skiing season in the Northeast U.S. (typically November through April), an average annual snowfall of 250 inches, and 70-percent snowmaking capacity. Lessons are available without advance reservation at the Perfect Turn Ski School.
Mad River Glen Ski Resort
Mad River Glen, also located in Vermont, features a mountain open only to skiers; no snowboarding or tubing allowed. The Glen is not well known, but its motto, “Ski It If You Can” indicates the level of difficulty. Most of its snow is Nature-made, providing natural moguls. Narrow, wooded trails and 45 advanced trails offer the ultimate in skiing challenge. Five lifts provide adequate coverage to the 800 acres of skiing. For Easterners, the Glen is 3 hours from Boston and slightly more than four hours from New York.
Winter Park Ski Resort
Winter Park Ski Resort in Colorado has a variety of skill-level trails, but the most difficult ones comprise more than half the terrain. One peak, the Mary Jane, starts at 12,000 feet and runs four miles down the mountain with a 2,600-foot descent. More than half the trails on Mary Jane are listed as difficult. The Pansenne Bowl starts at a similar elevation and drops 1,700 feet in five miles. The truly expert trails are located on the Vasquez Cirque, with three-quarters of these listed as advanced and the balance for expert skiers only.
Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge Ski Resort is also located in Colorado. Half its trails are rated advanced/expert, with approximately 23 trails in the Double Black Diamond class, featuring snow bowls, woodland terrain and backcountry wilderness. Breckenridge also has a terrain park for advanced extreme skiers – the kind who have learned to fly on a pair of skis. With 152 trails and 29 lifts, including the highest chairlift in N. America, Breckenridge will delight skiers who have mastered more than a parallel stop. Breckenridge also has a ski school, and its historic downtown offers the non-skier and skier alike endless shopping, dining and nightlife opportunities.
Other Resorts
Other mature-rated ski resorts include Mammoth Mountain in California, with 150 trails and one of the best back-country ski routes in N. America. Whiteface Ski Resort, in Lake Placid, New York, offers the highest vertical drop in the East (3,340 feet), and an area known as “The Slides”, which are Double Black Diamond runs without snowmaking or grooming that form steep chutes, or gullies. If you are less than expert, think twice before attempting The Slides.
Have you always dream of going out on a cruise vacation but were intimidated by the usually high costs associated with one? Well, you can make your dreams come true. Let me show you how.
The desire to go on a cruise vacation is common enough. We come across full-page ads in glossy travel magazines every now and then, beckoning us to book our accommodation onboard luxury cruise liners. However, the biggest deterrent in making our dreams a reality is the cost involved. Let’s face it; cruise vacations can be substantially more expensive than regular vacations. When you plan to get onboard a giant cruise liner and indulge in its many pleasures and luxuries with your family and friends for days, you can’t help but be prepared for some good deal of expenditure.
The good news is, you can still set sail and see the sights of the world on a luxury cruise all within a very affordable budget. Wondering just how? The answer is, with discount cruise deals.
Whether you wish to set sail on a grand Norwegian cruise liner, or take your spouse out on a memorable honeymoon cruise, stop worrying about the cost and start packing your bags. Join the thousands who take luxury cruise holidays to travel to new lands and meet new people and see different cultures. It’s time to start feeling special.
All said and done, where do you find these deals? You don’t have to look too hard. Just run a quick search on the Internet and discover scores of online cruise companies with hundreds of tempting offers in discount cruises. Book your tickets in advance and save costs like never before. Make a bulk booking and save even more!
Much of the rapidly rising popularity of world cruise can be attributed to the increasing affordability of cruise tickets, along with extra features being thrown in without extra charges. Indeed, a trip onboard a luxury cruise liner is a memorable experience for everybody. The real reason is the cruise industry is quite a competitive one. And in order to survive in the market, cruise companies have started to offer heavily discounted cruise deals.
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For many people, nothing compares to the freedom and versatility of enjoying the open road in a recreational vehicle or camper.
There is certainly much to be said for taking your hotel with you wherever you go, and the savings on hotel costs can more than pay for the initial cost of an RV.
One of the things that makes an RV so popular among budget travelers is that it frees travelers from many of the issues typically associated with sticking to a travel budget.
For instance, traveling with an RV frees the traveler from having to shop early for the best deals on airfare, hotels and rental cars. That’s because the RV serves as the hotel room, and as transportation as well.
Many seasoned travelers even buy a trailer which they use to tow their car, or even a pair of motorcycles, along behind them.
Of course, the RV lifestyle does have some considerations for the budget minded traveler, not the least of which is the price of gas to fuel it.
Most recreational vehicles hold a lot of gas or diesel fuel, and filling one up can result in sticker shock for many new owners. It is important to weigh the cost of fuel when determining if an RV is the right choice for you.
Traveling in a recreational vehicle or motor home is often a good choice for those who want to travel to different locations, and it may be less suited to those who visit the same location year after year.
As a matter of fact, many of those travelers who visit the same location every year find that the thing that suits their budget best is buying a vacation home.
Buying a vacation home, and renting it out when it is not being used, can be a good way to both save money on lodging and build equity for the future.
For those who want to travel the country, however, there are few things to compare to doing it in your own RV. Many RV owners come to love the freedom of the open road, and the money they save, so much that they end up hitting the road full time, traveling from RV park to RV park and enjoying the country from coast to coast.
One great budget saving tip that is well known in the RV community, but less well known among the general public is the fact that Wal-Mart’s from coast to coast allow RV owners to park for free on their lots.
That is why, when you visit your local Wal-Mart, you may have seen a number of RV’s parked near the edge of the lot.
This situation is a win for both parties RV owners have a safe, well lighted place to camp for the night, and Wal-Mart receives much needed income from those RV owners who frequent the store in the middle of the night to pick up those little things they either forgot to pack or used up along the way.
Youve decided to treat yourself to a luxury cruise, but its your first time on one and youre not sure what to expect. Contrary to popular belief, they are not just for high flyers or millionaires. You are just as likely to find people who may have had a windfall or saved up to treat themselves to what theyd consider a once in a lifetime experience. Another image that tends to spring to mind is one of passengers constantly dressed up to the nines. Not so. Yes, you will sometimes have to be dressed formally, but most ships have several dining options and you dont always have to wear a gown or a tie. As for the staff, they are trained to provide the best service possible, not to look down on you. As more and more people treat themselves, staff on luxury cruise ships are used to passengers who have not experienced such first class services before, butlers for example, and are there to help you enjoy the experience.
Hopefully youre feeling a bit more relaxed now. Here are our top tips for preparing for your first luxury cruise.
Ask the Experts
Your first port of call should be the travel agent, preferably one who specialises in cruises. A good agent can discuss the different cruise lines and ships in detail, for example average age, type of entertainment, shore excursions and dining facilities. Make sure they know what you like and dont like, such as your preference for dancing in the evenings or listening to guest lecturers, and what youre looking for. Maybe you fancy glamour, in which case maybe try Silversea Cruises Silver Cloud or Silver Wind. Or for something traditional how about one of Seabourns three ships?
Dont Be Shy
Be honest (and firm) with your travel agent about your budget. When they know exactly how much theyve got to work with they can weed out the obvious nos and see if they can get you a deal. Double check what is and isnt included in the price – on some cruise liners the tips are included in the fare and sometimes selected drinks. Cruises on SeaDream Yacht Clubs ultra-luxury yachts, for example, include cocktails, tips, caviar, watersports
Have an Onboard Budget
With all those wonderful facilities onboard, it can be tempting to splash out on relaxing spa treatments, mementos from the shops or trying your luck in the casino. Difficult for first timers, but decide on a budget and stick to it. Keep a running tab of what youve spent so you can keep a careful eye on expenditure and ensure you dont get a shock at the end of the cruise. Easier said than done we know, especially if youre onboard a ship like Crystals Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity with their Feng Shui inspired spa and Caesars Palace casino.
Research
A travel agent may be able to tell you quite a bit about the cruise, but the internet is a great research tool. For honest opinions you can find reviews from people who have been on the cruise(s) youre interested in or even join a forum where you can ask other members for any tips or comments about particular cruise(s).
Relax
Dont forget, youre there to enjoy yourself. All the staff are trained to make your cruise as pleasurable as possible and are there to help. Make the most of them. Try not to think of making what you might consider social gaffes its highly unlikely anyone will notice and if they do, so what? Everyone makes mistakes.
So go on, book that luxury cruise and enjoy.
There are many things for the budget minded traveler to remember, since getting the best deal on a vacation is so important. Most workers spend the entire year working just to be able to afford a one or two week break from their workaday routine, so it is easy to see why finding the best deal is so vital.
The world of budget travel is one of the most exciting and interesting, and in today’s world traveling on a budget is becoming more and more of a necessity.
There is no doubt that airfare is one of the biggest expenses of any vacation. Airfare costs can easily represent at leas half of the total cost of a vacation, and if you do not get the best possible deal on airfare it is easy to go over budget.
The following tips are a great way to get started on making your valuable vacation dollars stretch farther than ever.
– Be sure to shop around, whether you are shopping on the internet or visiting local travel agents. Different web sites, and different travel agencies, often have access to different specials and sales, so be sure to shop around for these hidden deals.
– Consider traveling in the off season or shoulder season. The same hotels that are overbooked and expensive in the high season are often available at excellent prices once the high season has passed. In addition, off season travel offers the advantage of smaller crowds and a more relaxed atmosphere.
– Think about group travel. Many airlines and hotels offer discounts to groups, so if you can travel with your friends and family you may be able to save some money
– Don’t forget about last minute travel. Retirees, and those with flexible employment, are often able to take advantage of some spectacular last minute deals. Cruise lines, airlines and hotels often discount their offerings significantly to avoid the expense and lost revenue of an empty cabin, airline seat or hotel bed.
– Look into package deals. For many destinations, especially exotic locations to which airfare tends to be expensive, package deals can be significantly less expensive than making your own arrangements. Many travelers also like the safety and security of traveling with a group.
Being on a tight budget does not mean you have to forgo the excitement and adventure of a great vacation. There are numerous opportunities waiting for budget travelers willing to put in the time and effort to seek them out.