The travel industry is bracing for a significant downturn in profits this year with people saving their money amidst the global economic recession. There are many travel destinations that are in dire need of tourists, as their entire income is dependent on tourism. Cruises have become much more affordable, and even luxury cruise lines have slashed prices and offered great packages to appeal to more travelers. It’s a great time to take a vacation with the reduced prices on all forms of tourism. For those who do a bit of searching, it’s possible to plan out extended vacations that will wind up costing just a fraction of the price they would have in the past. Employers are also being a lot more tolerant of vacations this year as many are looking to cut operating costs wherever it’s possible.

Find travel packages from the best luxury cruise lines online, and experience a once in a lifetime travel experience on a dream cruise. Don’t expect these same deals to exist next summer!

Because of the swine flu scare, travel to Mexico has plummeted, and vacation packages are now being offered at rock bottom prices. While Swine Flu continues to be somewhat prevalent in the media, the scare is over for the most part as the summer heat reduces the disease’s ability to transmit. In addition, at this point it’s more likely to die in a car accident than it is to contract Swine Flu, so there’s nothing to worry about. For vacationers this summer, now is a great time to take advantage of the unwarranted fears of swine flu, and travel to Mexico. Cabo San Lucas vacations are now affordable to people at all levels of income. With the recession, a lot of people are saving their money, but it’s still possible to take a great vacation to Mexico and have the experience of a lifetime.

Cabo San Lucas is one of the most beautiful locations in the world, with pristine white sand beaches, a tropical climate, and hundreds of great restaurants, hotels, and attractions. In the past only the rich could afford to visit Cabo San Lucas, but now it’s possible for regular people too, but only for a limited time!

Unlike other popular honeymoon destinations, Central America is one of those places that’s more “off the grid”.  While locations like Fiji, Hawaii, and Jamaica are quite popular amongst honeymooners, the Central American countries like Belize, Venezuela, and Costa Rica can provide a more unique experience.  When visiting these countries on a honeymoon, couples will encounter far less travelers, and be able to appreciate more of the local culture and in turn, be able to focus on each other.  It’s a lot more romantic to visit a place where it’s just the two of you who speak the same language, couples will find themselves having to rely more on each other than the rest of the population.  In addition, these locations in Central America are just as beautiful as the more common island paradises, and boast a more robust native culture.  Browse Belize, Venezuela, and Costa Rica honeymoon packages for a once in a lifetime experience.

In addition to being an ideal honeymoon location, these Central American countries are often far less expensive than more popular honeymoon destinations.  Allowing for extended travel and more time spent together. 

 Here is the second journal entry in the on going series on my clients’ exploits in Southern and Eastern Africa. Enjoy:

CAPE TOWN:

 Nearly 20 years ago when apartheid still existed and was hearing the
protests of the world, I saw the broadway play Safina; (Whoopi made the
movie) and there is an incredible song the children of South Africa sing
and the chorus is, “Freedom is Coming Tomorrow”.  That is all I could
hear…I had my own soundtrack playing for the next 2 hours.

We were met by one of the many handlers our trip provided and set out to
check our luggage for our domestic flight to Capetown. Funny thing…we
could check 2 bags at 50 lbs each person flying from the US. We were
slightly over, but did not have to pay. Once here, we were only allowed
44 lbs EACH person for domestic travel for a total of 88 lbs. This is
where either our handler or my new second South African friend helped. A
beautiful South African Airways attendant responded to my compliments of
her wardrobe and a SAA’s scarf in particular by giving me her home phone
to tell her the days I would pass thru Johannesburg again and she would
meet me to give me the scarf I so admired!!! (The people you meet…).
We were allowed to travel with our luggage without paying additional
fees.

Our 90 minute airport stay was pleasant; we ate in an Irish Pub, watched
Rugby and found an older gentleman who enjoyed answering my many
questions about the game and country. We were then off to another
pleasant two hour trip on SAA where we were fed dinner again and I slept
the entire flight.

Flying into Capetown was again like flying into any beautiful city with
all of the lights, etc. We were surprisingly transported by bus to the
terminal and happily secured all of our luggage with NO problems!  Met
by handlers again, we were transported to our hotel, The 12 Apostles,
which sits near Table Mountain overlooking the Atlantic ocean. It was
approximately 30 minutes ride and the city is Spotless!  Wealth appeared
to be rampant, at least in the sections we were driving through as BMWs
appeared to be everywhere with other luxury cars. The drive up to the
hotel near Table Mountain was winding and scary as you could see the
valley or waterfront below. There were no streetlights or guard rails!!!
At 3 PM US time, 9 PM South Africa time, 25 hours after I left my home
Friday, we arrived at one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve stayed.
Truly a 5 star hotel. I will show photos later. But the room was lit
with beautiful scented candles and a wonderful fruit basket adorned the
coffee table in the sitting area. Hot tea English style was carried upon
our arrival and the bed turn down including the most decadent thing I
ever had the pleasure to eat. I will be bringing these back to the
states for sure for you guys and dolls.   Considering it is 2:30 AM South
Africa time and we are leaving the hotel in 3 hours for a day on the
water and shark diving, I will close and wish you goodnight.

Please stay tuned for the next entry by Diane. Please comment on her articles as she would love to answer any questions you might have. Let’s get a dialog going here!

Hello Every one,

Today I am going to start a series of Journal Writings by one of my clients Diane who took a safari vacation with her husband Greg to South Africa, Zambia, and Kenya. I really think you will find these writings both informative and fascinating. The first is her impressions of South African Airlines and their coach flight to Cape Town. This was originally written for her family back home so some may be personal references and I may have edited them out. Just so you know.

The Flight

Thus far, my travels have far exceeded my expectations. With the
exception of having a young child sitting behind me with a mother who
apparently had not taught her son the word ” no”, everything was quite
comfortable. South African Airways was the most gracious of hosts and I
wish all my travels could be with them. We were fed frequently, had
individual movies, news programs, American TV shows and documentaries on
Africa to select. Despite my fatigue, I spent the first few hours
watching stories about Africa and Mandela (a different perspective than
from the US - made me cry of course). There were no passengers sitting
in the two seats in front of us, which were the major row for the
emergency exit with extra leg room. That allowed for much better
sleeping as we each had the two seats to ourselves. I slept on and off
for at least 8 hours!!!

I met my first South African friend, Lionel (can’t spell his African
name), a flight attendant for SAA. He was exceptionally warm, from
Johannesburg, although his family roots were from Swaziland. I will save
the details for my book about the wonderful people I meet on my travels.

To my surprise nearly 15 hours had elapsed and we were fed a breakfast
of blueberry waffles (not like American, but tasty), fresh, sweet fruit,
yogurt, etc. And then we found ourselves in SOUTH AFRICA!   
 

My Comments:

I think you can see that this should be a very facinating look at a custom African Vacation and Safari. Stay tuned for the next episode, Arrival in Johannesburg and onward to Cape Town.

When traveling to Africa, the experience wouldn’t be complete without viewing the five must see safari animals; the buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and black rhino.  These animals are located in eastern and southern Africa, and are one of the reasons millions of people visit the continent on vacation.  The easiest method to view these animals is with a safari vacation package.  You can find south Africa vacation packages from numerous different travel services.  These packages often incorporate transportation, accommodations, and recreation all in one convenient price.  Those traveling to southern Africa will find a once in a lifetime experience waiting for them, and it’s often said that those who visit once will visit again.  Having firsthand experience with the native African wildlife is an experience to treasure, and gives one a better appreciation of the marvels of the natural world. 

When scheduling a south Africa vacation package, make sure there is a wildlife safari involved in the package or that one is scheduled during free time.  This is an opportunity that no one should miss when visiting the continent where people, and perhaps life itself, originated! 

When it comes to honeymoons, couples most often think of destinations like Hawaii.  But in truth, Hawaii and other populated areas can be some of the most expensive honeymoon destinations.  While we all want to think that cost isn’t an issue when it comes to a honeymoon, more often than not, it is.  However, with smart planning and a less well known destination, you can save a lot of money and even extend your honeymoon by a couple weeks.  Places like Thailand, Jamaica, and South Africa are not as common amongst honeymooners, but because of the prices in these places, you can spend a lot more time at a hotel, engaging in recreational activities, and sampling the local food. 

When choosing a honeymoon destination be sure to plan out your spending in advance.  There’s nothing worse than running out of money near the end of the trip and having to call a friend or relative to wire money.  In general, you can find the prices of all places you will stay in advance, and their rates.  This will be the most significant cost in all likeliness.  But you should also plan costs for recreation (including tours), as well as food. 

Let’s face it, the most important aspect of an enjoyable cruise is the weather.  Even a ship with few amenities can become a lot more enjoyable with favorable weather.  Nobody wants to cruise while it’s raining or cold outside; cruising should be in a tropical environment where there’s ample opportunity for sunbathing, swimming, and just walking around and appreciating the scenery.  When planning a cruise, it can be difficult to anticipate changing weather conditions, but even tropical locations tend to have a rainy season, and it’s best to plan around it.  Some of the best cruising destinations include Australia, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. 

Luxury cruises Australia often stop at popular tourist spots and also pass major cities.  For people who don’t want to be too far from civilization, these cruises are idea.  The Caribbean is a popular destination because of its many different islands and tropical weather regardless of the season.  There is a rainy and hurricane season however, so it’s important to be aware of that.  The South Pacific is far from the Western world, and for travelers who want to get away from it all, this is an ideal location. 

Without a doubt, Thailand is a beautiful place with a diverse culture and a rich history.  With its tropical climate and tourism friendly locale, Thailand is fast becoming one of the most popular travel destinations in the world.  In Thailand you will discover the remnants of ancient culture including Buddhist temples and unique architecture.  There are also thousands of tourism opportunities in Thailand including visiting tropical islands, hiking in the rainforest, and tasting the excellent cuisine of Thailand. 

Most Southeast Asia tours start in or cross Thailand at some point, so if you’re interested in a one of a kind travel experience, be sure to check out a tour through Southeast Asia.  You’ll also be surprised at how affordable Thailand tours are, and once you’re there, you’ll be amazed at how much the dollar or euro can purchase! 

Let’s face it, when money isn’t an issue, most every couple would prefer to travel somewhere tropical for their honeymoon.  You might think that destinations like Mexico, Trinidad, and Jamaica would be expensive, but in truth, honeymoons to these tropical locations can be quite affordable.  Every couple deserves to have a Caribbean honeymoon, and by purchasing a travel package through a travel agent or an online service, you can have your dream honeymoon even on a budget.  Imagine sunbathing on a white sand beach, swimming in a crystal blue sea, and visiting tropical rainforests! 

The Caribbean is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world, and even if traveling stretches the budget a little, it’s an experience that will last a lifetime and you’ll never forget!