The Most Expensive U.S. Cities To Visit

If you vacationed in New York or Honolulu in 2010, chances are you got a pretty good deal on a hotel room. Room rates in North America's priciest cities declined for a second straight year in 2010. The bad news for tourists (or good news for the industry): Price declines slowed markedly last year from the freefall of 2009, and they're swinging back up in many spots this year.

Hotel prices in most of North America's most expensive cities--New York, Honolulu, Boston, and Chicago, among others--declined by an average of 2% in 2010, according to the latest Hotel Price Index from hotels.com. A soft year, but a big improvement from 2009, when prices in most of the same cities fell 10% or more from 2008. New York, which had to absorb the added capacity of about 4,000 new rooms in 2009 while dealing with the recession, saw its average room rate drop more than 20%, to $199. Big Apple prices dipped again in 2010, but only 2.4%, to $194 a night, making it the most expensive city to spend a night in the U.S.

Prices ended 2010 at roughly 2004 levels, says Hotels.com Vice President Victor Owens, the net result of a two-year slump cancelling out the four years of growth that preceded it. "There is still value (for consumers) in the marketplace, but we seem to be slowly climbing out of the ditch," says Owens. Prices outside the major markets rose a bit, he notes, especially in high-income niche areas. California tells the tale: Two pricey spots, Monterey and Santa Barbara, replaced San Diego and San Francisco in the top 10. "The first wave of leisure travelers that comes back is the affluent one," says Owens.

Others making the top 10 for 2010: Washington, D.C., ($140 a night, down a few dollars from 2009) and Miami ($139.58, virtually unchanged). Both are perennial placeholders on the list--Washington thanks to its trove of landmarks and drivable distance from many population centers, Miami thanks to its status as an international hub that attracts travelers from south of the border.

A peek at 2011 shows an early surge in demand and prices. According to Expedia.com, average prices during January, February and early March were up from last year, as much as 20% or so in Honolulu, Boston, Miami and Washington, D.C.

And what might be the story of the year in the hotel business: the recovery of New Orleans some five years after Hurricane Katrina. Hotel prices in the Big Easy rose to an average of $132.27 in 2010, from $118 in 2009, according to Hotels.com data. And Expedia's numbers show they've shot up even further in early 2011, to about $150 a night.

Both leisure travelers and conventions are making their way back to New Orleans. The Saints' Super Bowl win last year didn't hurt. What better advertisement for your city than thousands partying in the French Quarter in front of millions on national television? City officials took that ball and parlayed it into a strong promotional message, according to Owens. "It's a good growth story; they're just doing a very good job of getting out there and promoting themselves," he says.

Christmas travel

Gleaming streets, awesome aura of festivity, snow clad trees and roofs, colorful lights and decorated houses mean that Christmas travel holiday season is fast arriving. This is the time when people travel to some of the most famous holiday destinations across somewhere on Christmas then choose the destination very patiently. On Christmas, travel to places where you have not been earlier. This will make your holiday season truly a memorable one. While planning your Christmas holidays travel, keep in mind all the possibilities such as flights delays, traffic jams and other such inevitable issues. While planning your Christmas travel, you need some travel tips to ease your trip.

Christmas Carnivals provide you with some Christmas travel ideas and tips that will help you in experiencing a great time this Christmas.

Some of the Christmas holiday travel tips are as follows:

• Properly plan for unwelcome delays in reaching the airport or station. There can be many factors that can cause delays so always leave much before time. If you reach early then it is not that bad than reaching late and missing your plane or train.
• If you have difficulty in arranging the things, then Christmas travel packages are the safest bet. See through the packages available, what all things are being offered in the package and then choose the one in which you feel most comfortable.
• While on your Christmas travel, take all the necessary things along with you. These things include all those items that you might need while traveling. First aid kit, tissues, litter bag, clips, water, pen, paper, watch, compass, map, credit cards, phone numbers, cell phone, lip balm, lotion, cream are some of these important things.
• Small children usually get bored easily so if there are small children with you on the Christmas travel, then keep some games and reading material for them so that they don’t feel bored.
• If you are planning your Christmas trip on your own vehicle then it becomes imperative that your vehicle is in proper condition. For safe Christmas travel, ensure that your vehicle is fine. Get the service done few days before you have to leave.
• If you are traveling by air, then pack your stuff in transparent plastic bags, as your luggage will be checked thoroughly.
• For online booking of tickets for your Christmas travel, always make sure in advance that your seats are booked.
• Don’t forget to keep the cell charger with you.
• If you are not taking Christmas travel packages, then book the hotels online before reaching your destination, as you might not get the rooms at that time. It is always to book in advance.

work and travel

Do you want to be a Marine Mammal Care Specialist?

Are you fascinated with the sea and all of the life teaming under and soaring above its surface? Do you fantasize about working with marine animals on a daily basis? Do you love visiting aquariums and wonder what it would be like to work at one? Wonder no more. The animal care team at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, will show you the ropes on your quest to become a marine animal care specialist during a VocationVacations dream job holiday.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is an entirely salt water aquarium that features animals from the Pacific Ocean. The aquarium, which is open seven days a week, features about 600 species ranging from birds to fish to sea otters and sea lions. In total, the aquarium has approximately 12,500 specimens, according to Perry Hampton, the aquarium’s director of husbandry.

There are five animal care departments at the aquarium: water quality and laboratory; the dive department; fish and invertebrates; mammals and birds; and the veterinary department. Hampton says vocationers will get a sense of how each department works and its responsibilities.

The animal care staff’s day begins with early morning rounds, checking up on exhibits and the animals. The staff then develops a plan for the day based on what they find in their rounds. The day also revolves around regular routines and any special projects the staff may have, like moving animals from one exhibit space to another.

A big part of the day is taken up with cleaning exhibits and preparing food. Exhibit cleaning can include scrubbing algae off tanks and siphoning gravel. Food preparation is a detailed process where staff cut and prepare diets for a broad variety of animals. It’s not unusual for a staff member to spend over an hour a day chopping up restaurant-quality fish, shrimp and squid for feedings.

Another responsibility for many staff members is public presentations. Some staff host public feedings where they talk with the public about the animals, while others carry small animals out into the aquarium so the animals can mingle with visitors.

Hampton says most of the aquarium’s 40-45 employees have bachelor’s degrees in biology or a related science. The aquarium is greatly supported by 500-600 volunteers who help out on a regular basis, many in the animal care department. Many of the full-time employees started out as volunteers. The employees take personal pride in ensuring the animals receive the best care possible. But the work can also be very challenging.

“People say, ‘You work at the aquarium, that must be really cool!’ And a lot of it is, but it’s like any job, there are ups and downs. It’s good to experience what it’s really like - its warts and all,” Hampton says. “To an outsider our job can seem really glamorous until you see someone chopping fish into a fine paste for an hour and a half or scraping algae off the bottom of a tank.”

Working for an aquarium doesn’t attract people looking for really high wages, but instead people who love animals and are excited to work with them every day, Hampton says.

“People don’t tend to get rich doing this but they do it because they have a passion for it,” he says.

While on your Marine Animal Care Specialist VocationVacations® dream job holiday at the Aquarium of the Pacific, activities will include some or all of the following: 

• Help animal care staff with daily routine duties including:
• Cleaning and simple maintenance of exhibits, enclosures, life support equipment.
• Food preparation
• Simple animal moves
• Record keeping
• Participate in inspection rounds to check status of exhibits, quarantine/holding systems and their occupants
• Animal shipment arrivals and departures
• Talk with animal care staff to get personal insight into the challenges and rewards of their chose occupation
• Work and interact with husbandry staff members in one or more of the following specialized areas:
• Aquarists - assist in basic care as indicated above
• Mammalogists - assist in basic care as indicated above, learn basics of operant conditioning training
• Aviculturists - assist in basic care as indicated above
• Program Animals - assist in basic care as indicated above
• Water Quality Lab - help collect water samples, set up and run analysis, discuss implications of results with Lab Supervisor, help provide results to animal care staff.
• Veterinary - review of active cases; observe specialized treatments with Vet and Vet Tech.
• Dive Operations - meet DSO and dive teams, observe routines including gear prep, briefing, liaison with animal care staff, observe feeding, cleaning and public presentation dives. Overview of Scientific Diving program.

Because of the very special nature of this VocationVacations, the unique nature of the activities, varying daily activities, and the interaction with the public, you will not be able to participate in the following:

• SCUBA diving
• Direct physical contact with sea otters
• Speaking in public presentations
• Direct participation in activities that require specialized training such as forklift, tool, respirator or compressor operation, or fall-protection.

We cannot guarantee any firm commitments to work in specific areas due to changing daily obligations but will make every effort to involve you in activities to the extent possible. We may be able to provide some opportunities for participants to get up close and personal with some animals like Miller or another sea lion, the octopus or otter. This will always be time permitting.

The Marine Animal Care Specialist Vocation Vacations® dream job holiday with Perry Hampton and his team at the Aquarium of the Pacific includes:

• One day of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as a Marine Mammal Care Specialist
• The option to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post- VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
• A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job coming to reality
• Light lunches with your mentor

Islands

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are Australia’s best kept secret  and one of the last, undeveloped tropical island groups, in the world.  Comprising of twenty seven coral islands forming two atolls, the isolated  cluster is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, approximately  2750km north- west of Perth W.A. The northern atoll, North Keeling, is a  single uninhabited island. The main atoll is a horseshoe chain of islands  encircling a lagoon. This atoll contains five major islands, including the  only inhabited islands of the group, Home Island and West Island

The Environment:

  

Far removed from the hustle and bustle of mainland Australia, these palm clad, tropical islands surrounded by aquamarine waters, clear blue  skies and white sandy beaches, create the idyllic setting for the holiday experience of a lifetime. This pristine, island paradise is further enhanced by the number of activities on offer. Awesome marine life, pristine, gardens of hard  and soft corals, warm waters with excellent  visibility offering some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Direction Island, just a short boat ride from the main island, is a must for all water sport enthusiasts. It is an uninhabited paradise with white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees. The southeast trade winds experienced during July to October offer ideal conditions for wind surfers, kite surfers and surfboard riders, Q-Station Bay gives surfers a consistent left-hand break. Nature lovers will be attracted to North Keeling it is covered in untouched, native forest it is home to a rich diversity of nesting seabirds. The protected shipwreck of the German raider, SMS Emden, lies offshore in a watery grave after its encounter with the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney in 1914. Diving is permitted November to April.

The Climate :

Cocos enjoys a balmy, tropical climate throughout the year. Temperatures rarely exceed 32C or fall below 20C. Tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April , during this time you may encounter sultry weather and light winds. The remainder of the year is dominated by the south east trade winds. 

Some of the most popular dive sites are as follows; The Cabbage Patch

 Enter the world of  beautiful green and gold  cabbage shaped coral. Thousands of tiny anthias and chromis hover just above the coral. The pristine dive site is considered by many as a must do dive ! Fan Wall  is a spectacular steep wall dropping to 30 metres before it falls away to great depths. Gorgonian Fans cling to the sides of the walls, swaying in the gentle current. If you keep a close eye out into the blue, grey reef sharks often cruise by. This is also a spot frequented by manta rays.

Two Caves - This is the site of an illegal Sri Lankan boat that was sunk as a dive site. It has enticed a school of bat fish that call it home, along with other smaller fish. “Kat” the  dugong is often seen here along with  Manta’s and sharks. Over the drop off are two small caves where sleeping white tips are often found. 

Rose Wall - Cascading down the wall to about 50 metres is this rosy coloured hard coral. Smaller fish love it - a sanctuary for them to dart into as divers drift past. Coming back up, the scenery changes to a mixture of plates and leather corals. Schools of Surgeonfish and Parrotfish often graze here, rising in a wave of colour to sink back down into the corals to feed.

Vacationing in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is famous for its collection of small islands, warm climate, wonderful hotel resorts, and amazing beaches.  The atmosphere created by in the Caribbean is ideal for those looking to get married, honeymooners, or just couples looking to get away.  While the Caribbean may appeal to those looking for romance, it is also a great area to vacation with your family.

As with any other area of the world, selecting a Caribbean vacation destination can be a difficult task.  In the Caribbean there are so many vacation destinations to choose from and they are all similar, in one way or another.  If you experience difficulty narrowing your search down to just one destination, you are encouraged to review some of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean.  Below is an overview of five popular Caribbean destinations that attract beachgoers from all around the world.  

The Turks & Caicos Island is located in Atlantic Ocean. The two islands are not far from the Bahamas.  These Caribbean islands are most noted for their beautiful beaches and underwater adventures. The ocean water, near the Turks & Caicos Island, is home to large coral reefs.  These reefs bring in tourists from all around the world.  Aside from traditional beach activities, you can enjoy fishing, diving, and snorkeling.  

St. John is located in Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.  Many claim that the St. John beaches are the best in all of the Caribbean.  St. John visitors are encouraged to visit Trunk Bay.  Trunk Bay is owned and protected by the United States National ParkService.  Aside from traditional beachfront activities, Trunk Bay is well known for their snorkeling tours.  Trained, underwater guides and markers make the Turk Bay snorkeling adventure one of the best in the world.  

Canouan Island is located in the Grenadines, which can also be found in the Caribbean.  Canouan Island comes highly recommend from beach lovers.  Beach activities include wind surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing.  Canouan Island is most well known for its private and intimate settings.  While many beaches in and around the Caribbean fill up each year with tourist, Canouan Island is still relatively undiscovered.

The tagline for Jamaica is “no wonder hearts beat faster in Jamaica.”  This tourist slogan is accurate in more ways than one.  Jamaica is home to wonderful beaches, including Seven Mile Beach.  While Jamaica has a number of beach resorts that are so beautiful it is often hard to describe, they are most well-known for their music and fun offshore activities.  Vacationers visiting Jamaica will not leave the island unsatisfied.

The Cayman Islands is another popular summer vacationdestination in the Caribbean. All three islands, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac are home to a number of popular beaches, the most popular Being Seven Mile Beach. Seven Mile Beach is located on the Grand Cayman Island. All three islands offer numerous on and offshore activities.  With Seven Mile Beach being one of the most well-known beaches in the Caribbean, it is often packed with travelers.  Vacationers looking for more intimate settings in the Cayman Islands often vacation at one of the two smaller islands.  Of course, you could always visit all three if you wish to.
   
Millions of tourists flock the Caribbean for their summer vacations.  If you have yet to visit the Caribbean area, you are encouraged to get down there and see what you have been missing.  Whether you choose to vacation at one of the above mentioned Caribbean destinations or you select another, you are sure to have a vacation that will be impossible to forget.

summer vacation

When selecting a summer vacation destination that has a focus on teens, you are encouraged to keep your child’s likes and dislikes in mind. Just because one teenager enjoys playing videoarcade games, does not mean that yours will. Not only is it important to find a vacation spot that is geared towards teenagers, it is also important to make sure that your teenagers will enjoy or make use of the available activities and facilities. 

Amusement parks and theme parks are popular vacation destinations that target teenagers. In addition to traditional amusement parks that can be completed all in one day, there a number of amusement park resorts . These resorts may include Disneyland, Disney World, and Orlando Studios. In addition to these resorts, you may find smaller parks that offer onsite camping or hotel accommodations, such as Six Flags.

In addition to amusement parks, teenagers may find thrills while white water rafting. White water rafting tours are available all around the United States. Popular white water rafting locations include West Virginia, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. If you are interested in scheduling a white water rafting vacation, you are encouraged to keep your children’s level of, or lack of, rafting experience in mind. For inexperienced white water rafters, a guided tour is recommended.

One vacation destination, for teenagers, that often goes unnoticed is aboard a cruise ship. Cruise ships operate all around the world. Many of the most popular cruises take place in the Caribbean and in Europe. Many cruise lines operate multiple cruise ships. Many of these ships are geared towards families. Your teenager may find many onboard activities, such as swimming, dancing, playing video games, watching movies, and rock climbing, exciting. 

There are a number of well-known cities, all around the world. These cities are often famous for one reason or another. If you and your family are interested in taking a vacation with your teenager you may want to consider visiting one of these cities. New York City, Hollywood, Toronto, Ontario, and New Orleans often attract large numbers of tourists. Many of these locations often have a number of events and attractions that may appeal to your teenager.

As previously mentioned, it is important to consider what your teenager likes and dislikes doing. In addition to determining their vacation preferences, you may want to consider allowing them to help you choose your next summer vacation destination. Allowing your teen to help plan your summer vacation will not only ensure that you will pick a destination that meets their approval, but you will be able to spend time together. Finding a summer vacation destination together will be time well spent.

No matter how you choose your next summer vacation destination or where that destination ends up being, you and your family should have a memorable experience. By researching a vacation spot before you book your reservations, you can make sure that your memorable experience is memorable in a good way. 

Life on Safari Today

In this age of mass market tourism, most safari operators will show you  Africa through a dusty window. Gone are the encounters with the world’s  wildest, most ancient land, the soul-stirring bonds with the birthplace of  our kind. In their place: hordes of cramped safari vehicles, crowded lodges,  clicking cameras, the stop-and-snap itineraries of modern package travel.

This is not the Africa we want you to see. At Royal African Safaris, we believe  that the age of exploration is still very much alive. Through generations of  safari experience and a host of special relationships with local tribespeople  and private game reserves, we are one of the few safari companies that can still offer you a glimpse of the Africa of Livingstone and Selous. At Royal African Safaris, we believe that an  African safari should be the adventure of a lifetime. As you’ll be investing considerable time and money in that adventure, you should be able to relax in the knowledge that you’ll be taken to the most beautiful places, in the most capable hands, with the most comfortable accommodation that the bush can offer. The vastness of this continent calls for a particularly flexible, intuitive approach to its exploration. This is a place where life never stands still, where wildlife moves with the sun and the seasons, where  ancient cultures thrive in out of the way places. Getting to the heart of Africa requires meticulous planning – and the guarantee of unfettered mobility.It is for these reasons that the private canvas experience is at the heart of any authentic safari. It is an experience that Royal African Safaris has been refining for generations. Several days before you arrive, our trucks and crew will have arrived in a chosen spot, where they will set up your exclusive camp.

These are custom-designed tents, as comfortable as any you will find. There is the most professional crew to ensure that your showers are  piping hot, the paths well lit, the drinks chilled to perfection. We will have worked with you to design your personal menus; our guides are particularly proud of how their chefs have lifted ‘bush cuisine’ to a whole new level.

State of the Cruice industry

Based on third quarter 2009 results and fourth quarter estimates, we are forecasting that a record 13.445 million passengers cruised in 2009, an increase of 440,000 guests over 2008, with 10.29 million originating in North America. Coupled with an annual occupancy percentage that exceeded 104% in 2009, this 3.4% annual passenger growth for 2009 shows an industry where demand continues to outstrip supply, even in the harshest economic environments.

In 2009 alone, fourteen new ships debuted, from AMA Waterways, Avalon Waterways, Carnival, Celebrity,Costa, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Uniworld with guestcapacities ranging from 82 to 5,400 passengers, sailed the world’s waters for the first time. The industry’s growth is headlined by the Caribbean, which continues to rank as the dominant cruise destination, accounting for 37.02% of all itinerariesin 2009,versus 37.25% in 2008, 41.02% in 2007 and 46.69% in 2006. Despite the decrease in capacity, passenger numbers have continued to increase for the Caribbean to record numbers. In 2010, the growth of the cruise industry continues as we enter an era distinguished by twelve additional innovative, feature-rich ships, international ports-of-call and convenient departures from proximal embarkation cities. The current cruise ship order book extends from 2010 through 2012 and now includes 26 new builds (23 ocean-going vessels and 3 European cruise riverboats), with 54,000 berths at a value of nearly $15 billion. The selling environment in 2010 is likely to remain challenging for all providers of goods and services, including travel, due to the global economic environment. Recent signs of recovery are welcome and should improve the overall sales climate. Cautious optimism is the forecast for 2010 following a year whereby the cruise industry performed admirably despite difficult market conditions. Based on known ship additions and deletions in 2010, the industry forecasts 14.3 million guests in 2010, a 6.3% increase over 2009.Today’s ships offer a new generation of onboard features and a world of innovation, including surf pools, planetariums, on-deck LED movie screens, golf simulators, water parks, demonstration kitchens, self-leveling billiard tables, multi-room villas with private pools and in-suite Jacuzzis, ice-skating rinks, rock-climbing walls, bungeetrampolines and much more. Today’s new ships also offer facilities to accommodate family members of all generations traveling together, a market that is ideally suited for Caribbean cruising. More than 1.6 million children under the age of 18 sailed with their families in 2009.

Tips for Traveling With Children

Traveling with kids is not easy, though. It can be exhausting and exasperating. But despite the hassles, you here are some tips:

1) Get a portable crib and use it in your home every so often. I know it seems weird to have the baby sleep in a Pack n' Play when you have a perfectly good regular crib, but if you're going to be staying in hotels and requesting a crib in your room, it's good to get your baby accustomed to it.

2) If you want to spend a week at the beach, though, consider a vacation rental. You'll have more space and won't have to worry about the baby's crying waking up your neighbors.

3) Another vacation type to consider: cruises. You see a bunch of places and only unpack once.  Disney cruises are especially baby-friendly (and I'm living proof that a non-Disney fanatic can actually enjoy them).

4) It's worth dropping big bucks on a good stroller. Make sure it's not enormous—actually, the more compact and lighter, the better. And you'll get through the TSA checkpoint faster if your stroller folds up easily.

5) If you and/or your husband get parental leave from work, why not take a family vacation during it? My daughter slept so well in the car we drove from Boston to Washington, D.C., when she was 3 weeks old and spent a long weekend there—it was fantastic.

6) Need a changing table? Try a museum

7) The baby's schedule needs to dictate your daily itinerary. If your baby's fussy in the evenings but will nap in his stroller in the middle of the day, go to that restaurant you've been dying to try for lunch instead of dinner.

8) While airlines allow you to hold your child on your lap until they're 2 years old, this is hard on a long flight. If you can afford it, spring for a seat for the baby.

9) And if you buy the baby a seat, make sure your carseat is approved for use on planes. Some of the bigger "convertible" ones are too wide. I learned this one the hard way.

10) When flying with a baby, be friendly to the people around you and acknowledge their concern about being seated near a baby. If you say, "I apologize in advance if the baby gets cranky—I will do everything I can to quiet him down but appreciate your understanding," I guarantee they will be much more tolerant of a crying fit.

How to Travel Around the World

Traveling around the world is often a cheaper option than a return ticket to a single destination. The secret is to plan carefully and purchase the ticket well in advance. Of course, you will probably spend more than going to a single destination because of taxes, accommodation and activity costs and a longer trip but this is more than made up for by the amazing experience of seeing many places in a short time. And memories for a lifetime. Here are some tips for how to travel around the world.

Price your trip as an "Around the World" ticket.

For train travel. Amtrak is the national rail company in the United States. In Europe, consider buying Eurail (for non-EU citizens) or Interail (for EU citizens) international railpasses. In Asia the Trans-Siberian railway goes from Moscow to Beijing where you can connect to Shanghai then Tokyo.

·         For bus/coach. In the United States, Greyhound provide bus travel. In Europe, Eurolines provide a pass to cover travel between more than 45 European cities. Megabus provide intercity bus travel in North America and Europe.

·         For air travel. Air travel is generally the most expensive way to travel. Use flight comparison websites such as travelsupermarket, skyscanner and kayak. Use flight brokers such as travelocity, expedia and opodo.

If you want to go by plane, or by plane for parts of the trip, there are Around-the-World tickets. These tickets allow you to fly from city to city around the globe on your own schedule for significantly less than you'd have paid for individual tickets. Pay close attention to restrictions. Many "Around-the-World" tickets mandate that you must always be going in the same direction, ex. L.A. to London to Moscow. You could not go L.A. to Paris to London, this takes significantly more preparation.

·         For ship/ferry travel. Cruises can be cheap if you consider accommodation and meals are included. Cunard operate transatlantic cruises. TheCruisePeople compare cruise prices.