The best time of the year to visit….

I can’t tell you how many times a customer will ask us what the best time of the year is to go to their destination. What’s interesting is that it isn’t just a matter of seasons being different in the tropics–there’s weather patterns that are very different in Fiji vs. Tahiti vs. Hawaii vs. the Caribbean…and I’m not just talking about hurricanes. Pricing varies a lot between low season and high season, and it’s very important to know EXACTLY when low season starts, as sometimes moving your departure date for your honeymoon just a few days can save you 20% or so on your air and hotel.

Of course we’ve written about this in each of our travel guides in a lot of detail, so here’s the links straight to those pages for your convenience:

• Best time to go to Hawaii
• Best time to go to Tahiti
• Best time to go to Fiji
• Best time to go to the Cook Islands

The Green Bride Guide

The eco trend of reduce, reuse and recycle has entered the famously over-the-top wedding space. One bride, Kate L. Harrison, as incorporated her experiences on planning a green wedding into a book, the Green Bride Guide. It’s not due out until the start of the 2008 engagement season – the holidays – but she’s blogging with plenty of eco wedding advice. My favorite suggestion of hers so far is the time-consuming but beautiful use of small-increment stamps.

Bagging A Cheap Flight

Buying a last minute flight is actually quite tricky. Many airlines require advance notice of 14 days prior to departure in order to obtain a decently priced seat. Less than 7 days and the price can many times be twice or even three times the amount. Many charter airlines will deal primarily with packages and as such the flight-only option can actually end up costing more than a simple package.

All is not lost though! There are still plenty of ways to pick up a flight bargain. Bear in mind that if you are going for a do it yourself option on your holiday, it is wise to book the flight first, as this is likely to be the largest expenditure and there is generally less of a variety of carriers meaning less room for negotiation. Almost without exception finding a cheap hotel will be easier than finding a cheap flight.

Explore the websites of those flight operators that cover the location which you wish to travel to. Join their mailing list. OK, so you may end up with endless junk mail, but you will also get to hear about all of the deals that they are currently offering.

As a general rule, the best deals are available for flights leaving Monday to Thursday and on domestic flights many bargains can be found on a Saturday. Travelers will almost invariably pay more for a Friday or Sunday flight. Most holiday operators will offer the best deals for those who purchase a set time in advance, normally at least 14 days. If it is possible to stay a Saturday night, this will also normally result in a lower fare.

When searching, if possible, entertain the possibility of a flight that involves a connection. Airlines often place a large premium on non-stop flights and if this is not vital for you, you are likely to be able to save many dollars.

A further premium is normally placed on ‘nice’ flight times, i.e. ones that will not involve a particularly early start or involve traveling over night. Again if you are prepared to compromise slightly on your flight times, you may find that you can make huge savings.

Try not to stick rigidly to your destination. It may be possible to fly into a nearby airport and drive the last hour or so; this may offer you a better price overall.

Whenever you are considering buying a flight, it is always worth going to a consolidator such as Orbitz or Expedia. This will give you some excellent background information, such as the operators that offer the destination you are after and the typical prices. By doing your homework you will be able to act quickly when you see a bargain in the future. Very good deals often only appear for a very short period of time so it is important that you learn to recognize a good deal so that you can pounce on one-off deals before they disappear. When you are doing your homework, try a search with ‘flexible dates’. This will allow you to get a good feel for the price differences that are in operation during your ideal travel period.

A few other hints that can help you to bag a flight bargain is to consider air courier travel. To be able to become a courier you will have to be very flexible, prepared to travel alone with very little luggage, but on the plus side you will get to travel to new places very cheaply.

Some countries offer air passes to tourists that allow discounts if you are planning on spending a lot of time traveling around a particular region such as Australia or Europe.

If you book an airline ticket and then find that the price has gone down, contact the airline and ask for a refund. Many of the large airlines offer to pay back the difference if the prices go down. Read the small print and ask for the refund if it applies. Even if your chosen airline does not offer this sort of refund policy it is still worth asking as with increased competition airlines are very keen to keep customers happy.

Looking for a Great Anniversary Gift? How About A Luxury Vacation in Aruba?

We are going to go a tiny bit off topic here today. However, this post can apply to a destination wedding and honeymoon, as well as, giving your parents or grandparents the gift of a lifetime.

If your parents or grandparents have an important anniversary coming up and you don’t know what to get them for a gift why not give them a luxury vacation in tropical Aruba? With the economic down turn, this is a great time to plan a trip that otherwise might appear to be out of everyone’s budget.

Tourism is suffering from the lack of discretionary income: the price of Thanksgiving flights were really affordable this year. Traditionally, the Thanksgiving holiday can be a more expensive time to travel than even Christmas.

To help them cover the cost, you could book a luxury trip that your parents or grandparents will love. Start with first class airfare to make sure that flying isn’t a hassle and then book them a luxury suite at one of the many beautiful resorts in Aruba. Listen, they’re only going to have one 30th, 40th, or 50th anniversary, so go first class when possible.

Many of the resorts on the island of Aruba are all inclusive honeymoon or vacation destinations so that your parents or grandparents wouldn’t need to worry about finding restaurants or the costs of meals and activities.

There are plenty of fun things to do for people of all ages in Aruba. Send your parents or grandparents sailing in the blue green waters or even have then renew their wedding vows on the white beaches. Or, you could rent a beautiful cottage right on the beach and give your parents or grandparents a second honeymoon.

With a private rental they can spend some quality time with each other walking on the beach or sitting in front of a cozy fire at night. Luxury villa rentals often have a private beach so that your parents or grandparents won’t be disturbed by other tourists.

Most of the luxury rentals on the island of Aruba also include important services like maid service and laundry service. Some even have personal chefs or have catered meals including a fresh continental breakfast delivered to the villas each day. Book a day at one of the many beautiful spas for your mother or grandmother while your father or grandfather spends the day golfing or fishing.

A concierge at the hotel or resort can make reservations for your parents or grandparents at a romantic restaurant at night or handle any other special requests that you have to make a luxury Aruba vacation the trip of a lifetime for your parents or grandparents.

To top off the vacation, you should end with a great big anniversary party or reception if they renewed their vows attended by friends and family at the resort or hotel where your parents or grandparents are staying. You can usually get a great deal on rooms for the entire group of family and friends who are willing to fly to Aruba for the party.

With a fun party as the end of the trip your parents or grandparents will still get to spend their anniversary with their loved ones, but they will also have had a chance to spend some quality time with each other.

A great vacation to warm, tropical Aruba and a week or two spent in a luxury resort or private villa with a great big fun party attended by friends and family is sure to make for an anniversary they will never forget.

Think that a plan like that is out of your price range? If you plan carefully and get all of your parents or grandparents friends and family to chip in some money you’ll be amazed at how much luxury you can get for an affordable price in Aruba.

Take a Honeymoon Break: Relax on an Alaska Cruise

Are you stressed out by your wedding plans? You should consider a relaxing Alaskan cruise for your honeymoon destination. If you are like most people today, your life is very fast paced. Planning your wedding is like adding in another job on top of all the other details and pressures of your everyday life.

If you observe others around you, you’ll see they aren’t much different. They often end up fatigued. They take no time to relax. They sacrifice even their precious sleeping time until their body gives in to the accumulated pressures and stress.

Many times, you skip meals or eat in a rush. Are you are always watching the clock, your  appointment pad, or planner to juggle it all and fit it all in?

Don’t you know that keeping to the fast rhythm of life without a break could result in some time you can not afford off work sick, or worse, to the grave?  Mental and physical fatigue accumulated, but ignored through the years could make you ill.

Wait! Work, call the caterer, work, call the photographer. Doesn’t it sound like too much? Why not give yourself a break on your honeymoon?

Life need not to be lived at a fast pace. After all, life is better enjoyed when regular breaks are squeezed into the day to day pressure of one’s job or chosen endeavor.

You can do plenty of relaxation activities during your spare time. If you are planning to make it more exciting and fun, Alaska could be the best choice for you.

Alaskan cruises are divided into three categories of packages. Each of the packages will give you an enchanting experience that you find only in Alaska. Here are the types of cruise packages you can expect to find available:

• Alaska Inland Cruise – you will have the chance to visit all the wonders that can be found in the inland passage of Alaska and even enjoy some kayaking destinations. You will surely be captivated with icebergs and glaciers.

• Alaska Day Cruise – here, you will have a clearer view of specific areas of Alaska. You will visit one location on a day cruise. You can come face to face with a huge wall of ice in Alaska from the warmth of the boat facilities.

• Alaska Celebrity Cruise – this is the so-called first class cruise in Alaska. You will also experience more royal treatment with the celebrity cruise. On the other hand, this is the most expensive among all Alaskan cruises.

The usual attractions that cruisers love about Alaska are the humpback whales, sailing the Fjords and glaciers. You can have an actual view of these depending on the package that you have chosen.

In addition, nothing can also be compared to the magic of Alaska cruises. This is one place where you can find mystery of ice and wildlife side by side. You also have the opportunity of go sailing amongst the icebergs.

The package that you choose will also help determine the length of your stay in Alaska. The seven-day cruise is one of the most popular choices. This is enough time for you to explore the entire variety of Alaska points of interest. However, the length of your stay can also be extended to 14 days or the two-week cruise.

You have the ability to choose the size of the ship where you can be most comfortable. Sometimes, it is more preferable to ride inside on smaller ships with lesser number of   passengers. You can have closer, less crowded vista.

On the bigger ships with more than a thousand of passengers, it is harder for you to get away from the crowd, get a closer look, and even experience the glaciers firsthand. However, the larger ship has more luxurious amenities and a slower pace. The smaller day ships can be more exciting and thrilling because of their speed.

You will need to plan ahead to have the chance of choosing the best package. Find the best package that will fit your honeymoon needs. Alaska Cruise is also offering amazing trips by helicopter that actually land on the glaciers. If you want to give yourself an adventure, you can also take a walk on the glaciers.

Your honeymoon Alaskan cruise will be an unforgettable experience and relaxing reward after all the wedding planning.

What are you waiting for? Leave your worries in life behind and enjoy an honeymoon Alaskan Cruise!

Maui Hawaii General Climate Structure

Generally, the islands of Hawaii is characterized by two seasons with temperatures that are uniform everywhere, extensive cloudy formations, trade wind flow that is dominant, geographical differences in distribution of rainfall, and a relatively high humidity in most days. Maui, Hawaii is marked by wide range climate patterns and weather conditions which are influenced by a lot of factors.

Physical factors that affect Maui are reflected by its environment in a physical sense. These are:

1. Maui’s climate is influenced by the strong marine lifestyle precipitated by the insularity of extremes of the islands themselves. Almost half of Maui is located within 5 miles of the coastline of the island.

2. Maui’s irregular and rugged topography produces to variations of marked conditions differentiated from one locality to another. Air that is swept inlands is shunted in a way by the valleys, slopes which are vastly opened and mountainous tops. Complexity of this three dimensional course results in a difference of distributed winds garnering from one place to another in a terms of rainfall, wind speed and formation of clouds. If topography is irregular and is combined with elevation variations, it marks the difference of temperature in air as an outcome.

3. Pattern of weather are usually determined by the elevation of the area and depends if it turns away or faces to the Trade winds.

These factors that seem to contradict conjugates to create a diverse and unique set of conditions in climate wherein it results to having a specificity ranging to loosely defined regions of the chain of island. Sub-regions are basically defined by location and by predominant physiologic features. Sub-regions are:

Interior lowlands

These are known to have intermediate categories sharing similar characteristics of other sub-regions. Occasional experience of having intense afternoon showers from a well-developed formation of clouds that are due to the heating of the place during the wake of day.

Windward lowlands

Considered as the area below two thousand feet on the northeast side of a specific island. The region is oriented in a rough perpendicular direction of smooth flowing trade winds. It can be moderately rainy with frequent occurrences of trade wind which induces showers. Compared to other regions, air temperature has a more uniform distribution.

Rainfalls are showers of water which are common within the vicinity although, some may experience lighter or heavier rainfall than most of the places. Some can experience only a brief sprinkle of rain and then it’s sunny again. Rainfall can have an average pour of about 300 inches along windward slopes. Because of Maui’s topography packed with mountainous details, it seldom receives rainfall in overdosage.

On the other hand, summer is the more dominant season that is why rainstorms are rare. Summer is also one of the best reasons why people dominate parts of Maui for vacations and relaxations.

Variations of daily rainfall can most likely occur on a night time or when morning comes. But variability lessens as the afternoon approaches. The occurrences of rainfall can be more prominent during winter season wherein storms may most likely prevail. Because of the swings in rainfall, there are times when drought tends to happen and affects the economic crisis severely. Rainstorms can only be counted therefore droughts may hit hard which is why Maui Hawaii tends to suffer from little or no rainfall at all.

Honeymooning in Maui, Hawaii? Exciting Activities Await You

Hawaii is a destination many people think of immediately when they begin to plan their honeymoon. But, which island? And which city? You should definitely consider Maui for your honeymoon destination.

Why Maui in Hawaii? Because of the multiple things that you can do. Maui is the next best thing to paradise when planning for your vacation. A honeymoon destination of sheer pleasure and relaxation; these are just a couple of things that Maui can offer. But wait, there’s more.

Maui is a honeymoon destination that can give you whatever you’re seeking. It can be wild adventures with a group or quiet relaxation with just the two of you. You can bring your friends, family, or new spouse to its breath-taking scenery, enjoy the fresh morning dew of a new day without any signs of neither smoke nor noisy neighbors, bathe in world-class beaches, drive through places that you’ve never seen before, discover paradise at its finest, or just sit back and enjoy the sunset while sipping your favorite ice-cold drink.

Part of what Maui can offer are activities that are good for the whole family. Here are some of the most popular activities and tourist spots where you can visit. Have fun!

1. Maui Ocean Center – this is something that you can do with your children. This part of Maui offers a lot of activities that will surely be loved by your kids or your inner child and will not bore them. This marine park has an outdoor courtyard, is able to host more than 50 interactive exhibits, a couple of restaurants ,and you can also buy souvenir items from the Maui Center Store.

2. Haleakala Biking – this is not really a feature, but a personal favorite. If you want to have a trip down Haleakala, you’ll probably have the best time of your biking life. This is one effective way to enjoy the view and embrace the moment of seeing the sun rise. You can also add this as one of your daily exercises which is good for the heart and mind.

3. Driving Down Hana Highway – This is considered as the greatest experience of your life. With its multiple sharp curves that’ll definitely put your seatbelts and faith to the test, driving through Hana highway is one worth the time and effort. Only in Hana that you see some of the most beautiful creations of nature like waterfalls, rainforests, peninsulas and you can also hold your breath with the wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean.

4. Sugar Cane Train – if the two of you would enjoy a rendezvous inside a moving train, then this is a place where you must go. You can relax while pondering on the historical days of Hawaii which will give you a nostalgic and calming effect. You can both take in the sights together. The conductor of the Sugar Cane Train will entertain you with his ukulele playing  and will definitely put you in the mood for singing.

5. Parasailing – who says people can’t fly? While parasailing, you’ll be able to enjoy the scenery of Maui from up above; say about 500 ft. high. If you have the guts to be a human kite even for a day and experience the peacefulness and silence of the atmosphere just beneath your wings, this is the activity for you.

6. Snorkeling – since Maui is the land captivated with beautiful waters, you could’ve known that snorkeling is one of their main water activities. From up above, you come deep down below sea level. Experience being in tuned with marine life and spending some time knowing how and where they live. There are many many places in Maui, Hawaii where you can go snorkeling.

Maui is a honeymoon destination that offers something for everyone. You can have excitement and adventure or peace and tranquility or both all in the same place.

Hot Air Balloon Rides in Australia

With a hot air balloon ride you will have the opportunity to experience the tranquil flight of floating above the land and seeing things in a very special way with your loved. If this is the adventure for you, you will have plenty of places to try it out. Australia would be our top pick for a honeymoon destination!

In Austraila, Balloon Joy Flights allows you to experience an airborne adventure over the picturesque Belubula Valley. You will be picked up from your hotel at dawn when the winds are calm and stable. The morning flight will take about three hours. It will end with a champagne breakfast and a flight certificate at Tom’s Waterhole Winery. The balloon will accommodate up to six passengers. You will be able to bring your family or a small group of friends for an early morning flight.

Balloon Safaris with Hunter Valley Ballooning fly every day over the scenic vines of Hunter Valley. They offer a photographer during the flight and you will enjoy a complimentary Balloonist’s Breakfast after the flight. You will dine on the terrace at Cessrock airport. Passengers will receive a personalized flight certification, a refrigerator magnet, and a gift pack with discounts to other local attractions.

They meet at the Cessnock Airport a half an hour before sunrise. The entire experience takes between three and four hours. During the winter they will only have afternoon flights.

Balloon Aloft Australia is Australia’s original, award winning and oldest balloon company. Balloon Aloft has been in business for over 26 years. They perform sunrise flights every day. The founder of the company, Peter Vizzard is a former World Hot Air Balloon Champion and twice the National Champion of Australia. He is still concerned with the day-by-day ventures of the company. All pilots associated with Balloon Aloft are very well trained and experienced. The all meet the exacting standards of the company.

On a flight with Balloons Aloft you will enjoy an experience with lifelong memories. Every flight is celebrated with a champagne ceremony after landing. You and your friends will be presented with a personalized flight certificate. Balloon Aloft books for seven different regions across Australia. Flight gift certificates are available and are valid for 12 months.

Byron Bay Ballooning welcome’s you to Australia’s Ballooning Paradise. The chief pilot Chris Dewhirst, Australia’s most decorated balloon pilot, is the first pilot to ever fly a hot air balloon over Mt. Everest. The offer sunrise flight every day. The entire experience will last about four hours.

During the early morning flight you will have the opportunity to witness the “rainbow region”. You will be high enough off the ground for you to get a scenic picture of the landscape beneath you. The sights you will have the opportunity to witness the terrain at a different angle than you would normally have the opportunity to witness. Along with the flight a traditional breakfast and a commemorative flight certificate will be included.
Cloud 9 Balloon Flights believe ballooning to be one of life’s greatest aerial adventures. The adventure begins at the dawn’s first light from one of the two locations. You will also have a choice of countryside flight or a city flight.

The city flight will give you the opportunity to enjoy the view of one of the world’s beautiful skylines. You will see the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney Tower, Olympic Stadium and the Blue Mountains in the west, and gardens and parks surround this sight, tree lined suburbs and the never-ending countryside.

Cloud 9 Balloon Flights will show you the countryside south and north of Sydney. The flight plan will take you over the vines in the district of Hunter Valley.

Cloud 9 has maintained their unblemished safety record and they have a reputation for quality. They invest in the fines personnel and the latest equipment to maintain their record. All flights are one hour in duration and to maintain your safety only one flight will be performed per day.

After the flight the champagne breakfast will be enjoyed at the historic building, homestead and wineries as tradition indicates. All passengers will receive a commemorative flight certificate to make their flight with Cloud 9 even momentous.

El Yaque on Margarita Island, Venezuela: A Windsurfer’s Dream Honeymoon Destination

Do the two of you love windsurfing? Then, El Yaque Beach on Margarita Island off of Venezuela could be your dream honeymoon destination. It one of the best South American beaches for windsurfers and families alike.

Both love to come here for the warm weather, nice winds and shallow waters. The shallow waters benefit both windsurfers as well as families. Since the water is shallow, this is great beach for families with children to swim in the ocean waters.

The winds allow windsurfers to maximize their time out on the waters off El Yaque beach. This is one of top five best places in the world that is recognized by windsurfers and kite surfers. El Yaque is home to some of the world’s best-known national and international windsurfing events that take place throughout the year.

The beach is located just five minutes from the airport terminal giving you a very short distance to go upon your arrival. Hotels are within close distance and are great at accommodating families and even the windsurfers. These hotels usually have windsurfing packages that can combine your room stay with equipment rental. By combining them, you are sure to get a better discount than if you purchased them separately.

Honeymooning at one of these hotels, you will have continuous access to this awesome beach. Not to mention you do not have to be stuck in transit for very long upon leaving the airport. You can quickly get to the hotel of your choice located along the beach and settled in fairly quickly. That leaves you plenty of time once you arrive to enjoy the beach and all it has to offer.

For those with children there is a pier located on the beach that children use to jump off of and into the water. This can offer some decent entertainment for your children as they can jump and play in the water with the other children.
The weather is sunny almost all year long. Unfortunately, there is no actual shade on the beach. You can rent beach chairs and beach umbrellas though from local rental shops that will offer you a respite from the sun while on the beach.

The sunny weather year round also makes this a great location for those that wish to soak up the sun while on vacation. With the sunny weather, you can expect some crowds out on the beach as people from all over the world flock here. The crowds on this South American beach in Margarita Island are usually European.

Restaurants, bathrooms and shower facilities are also centrally located on the beach. While your hotel is probably going to be fairly close to the beach, it is still nice to have these features offered right there on the beach.

After all, once you set foot on this beach you will have a hard time tearing yourself away from here. Remember to bring cover ups as some restaurants will not allow swimwear into the restaurant.

Even if you do not wind or kite surf, you will find the beauty and ambience here to be breath- taking and refreshing. You can spend your honeymoon people watching and relaxing on the beach.

Plan a US Train Trip For Your Honeymoon

The top US train trips can go anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and they can include lodging at upscale resorts and hotels. You might be cash strapped or looking toward meeting a budget for your honeymoon. However, a train trip can be a great experience, in that you can see a lot of the US through the windows of a train. Imagine: this was the way that people used to travel, and they relied heavily on it, so can you picture yourself traveling this way? Train trips, therefore, are not just excursions through the U.S., they are also a way for you to get in good touch with your history. You will need to invest a lot of time in order to enjoy your train trip, but not a lot of money in order to enjoy it.

So now that you have to get down and plan that U.S. train trip with your spouse to be, you may be thinking about how you should go about it. You might want to take one of the top U.S. train trips through the continent, which will allow you to see a lot of major sights, and to enjoy what the country has to offer. One of he top trips includes foliage tours of New England and Canada in the fall. This can be a great way to show your children the beautiful colors of autumn. Introduce your children to nature via the Yosemite Sugar Pine Mountain Railroad. Or you can go to the California State Railroad museum in order to show your kids how trains have evolved, and how people back then were very much dependent on them.

There are many different tours that you can take, and they can be as simple as a sightseeing tour, or as educational as a visit to a museum, natural park, or historical site. For instance, your children would probably be excited to see the Grand Canyon up close, and you could couple this with an earth sciences lesson on how the Grand Canyon came to be. There are train trips through the Grand Canyon, and your family might enjoy going through such a trip. Or you can take a trip through the country, from Chicago to San Francisco, on the Amtrak Zephyr. This two-day journey will allow you to go through different states, see different landscapes and pass through many different natural parks. Your children will come away with a better understanding of the country, as well as a better appreciation for nature.

There are many different factors that come into play as well when you start planning your trip. First, what is your budget? Are you looking at thousands of dollars in spending, or just a few hundreds? There might be discounts that you can avail of as a newlywed couple, as there are train tours that give special packages for those honeymooning.

These are only a few things that you should be looking into as you plan a U.S. train trip with your spouse to be. For more information, talk to your travel agent or tour guide so that you can have the best packages available for your needs and budget.

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