An inspiration to poets, and a hideout for the rich, Hangzhou is China’s natural gem. From staying in a palatial villa to biking around the gorgeous West Lake, I had a lot of fun in the city. It’s not really the best place for young people to hang out (its serenity is more attractive to an older crowd), but for a limited amount of time, it’s a great escape.
I was actually supposed to be in Shanghai the whole week, exploring the city with about 15 kids I go to school with. But someone told us about Hangzhou’s scenic beauty, and we felt that we had to go. The bus ride there was only about two or three hours, and the trip is actually pretty amazing. There’s a lot of foreign tourism to Shanghai, but the city can overwhelm you with the amount of people, activity, and pollution. On the way to Hangzhou, you pass this phenomenal agricultural landscape while keeping the water to one side the whole time.
While we were there, we stayed in this villa complex that was simply incredible. It is apparently the same complex that President Nixon and his staff stayed at during their famous trip to China in 1972 (his particular villa goes for $70,000/night). The food in Hangzhou is supposed to be fantastic, but I do have one word of warning. If you are a big fan on Chinese food here in the US, you might not like real Chinese food as much because it is surprisingly different.
No matter how long you decide to stay in Hangzhou, there is one thing you absolutely must do: bike around the West Lake. We rode out from the hotel to the West Lake on bikes, and it was surprisingly easy because the terrain in the city is so flat, and our bike salesman acted as an unofficial tour guide. But the best part was when we actually saw the lake itself.
We ended up driving back to Shanghai soon after we got back from the trip to the West Lake. If you are in the Shanghai area, and you want to see one of the most beautiful cities in China, make the trip out there. It will be worth your while.
July 13, 2007 No Comments
If you plan to travel from the United States to Canada, you should know that the unusually high price of the Canadian dollar could affect your budget and force you to sacrifice comfort over money. However, there are heavily discounted first-class airline tickets available for over 100,000 US and Canada flights. While most people have some idea of how to get cheap airline tickets, only very few know that there are inexpensive first-class airline tickets available. There are a number of reasons for which you might find this article useful:
You plan to travel from the United States to Canada. Knowing how to get the best travel deals could come in handy to compensate for a more expensive Canadian dollar and increased travel costs.
You travel from Canada. You may be in luck as the Canadian dollar’s purchase power has gone up over 10 percent in just the last two months. Why not get first-class airline tickets and save money here, too?!
You like the idea of enjoying a comfortable first-class flight for a fraction of price that you normally have to pay for a first-class ticket.
If any of the above applies to you, read on to find out more about the cheap first-class airlines tickets. The discount first-class tickets offered for US-Canada flights can be unusual. While the passengers sit in first-class, these tickets are intentionally published by the airlines to look exactly the same as any other coach ticket. The origin of these cheap first-class tickets is difficult to trace but it is generally known that they were designed to help the airlines’ most important clients on their business trips. Coded as coach tickets, they allow a handful of chosen clients to get away with skirting corporate “No First-class Travel” policies.
The discount first-class tickets can be less than $300 round-trip. For the most part, the price is approximately the same as that of business walk-up and 7-day advance purchase airfare. Therefore, with a little luck, you get all the first-class comfort when taking your next flight.
7 First-class Airline Tickets Tips That You Should Know About:
Discount first-class tickets are available for most of the United States/Canada flights, including peak days and times, such as Holidays, Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. They could also be available for last-minute trips. There are no discount first-class tickets for international coach, business or first-class air travel outside the Northern American continent.
While most of the air travel transactions happen online, it is important to know that the booking flow for discount first-class tickets does not show up in common travel quote queries based on city/date-based search.
Discount first-class tickets are incomparably more reliable than a first-class ticket upgrade lottery. The upgrade is occasionally available when the airline needs to move more passengers taking a given flight from the rear of the aircraft (Economy section) to the front (Business and First-class sections. These operational upgrades, however, rely on nontransparent and quite unpredictable hierarchy-driven principles. Premier fliers with frequent-flyer programs have a priority, ordinary members, military personnel, and passengers who paid for a full-fare economy ticket follow. Only if there is not enough people in these categories will the ground staff look for someone who is “polite and well-dressed”.
Unlike those counting on the upgrade lottery, travelers with a discount first-class ticket do not have to keep their fingers crossed. They can enjoy the luxury of being “confirmed” first-class.
Most phone agents are trained not to offer cheap first-class tickets. Ask for a discounted first-class ticket explicitly! Also, make sure that you check with the agent that the plane on your itinerary has a first-class cabin. Some of the regional jets do not have these.
Most of the discount first-class tickets are one-way. Therefore, if you miss a flight, ask the airline agent to check for first-class discounts. These might be often cheaper than the walk-up coach ticket for a replacement flight.
Since these tickets are booked in the first-class cabin, the frequent flyer mileage that you receive for these tickets will reflect a first-class ticket purchase.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Buying Airline tickets can be expensive, even when flying domestically, but it doesn’t have to be. Tickets prices can sometimes be unpredictable but there are a few tricks to make sure you don’t overpay. The first tip is to buy the ticket as early as possible. Sometimes, on an unpopular or half empty flight for instance, the airline waits until the last possible minute to sell the cheapest tickets. But usually, the earlier you buy the better. Anything less than a month in advance is going to be expensive. If you know about a trip six months in advance, book it.
Next, try to be flexible about flight times. Flying at 2 a.m. on a Wednesday is going to be significantly cheaper than flying at noon on a Saturday. Red-eyes and mid-week flights are usually always less expensive. Also, as obvious as it seems, book round-trip tickets in the same transaction, on the same airline. It is usually cheaper to do so, instead of buying them separately. When flying to a heavily populated area, such as New York City, try flying into the secondary airport. For example, instead of flying into JFK, fly into LaGuardia or Newark. Also, bigger airlines, such as American Airlines or Continental will be more expensive than airlines such as Jet Blue.
According to the AARP, the best time to book tickets from an airline is Wednesday from midnight to 1 a.m. in the airline’s original time zone. “That’s when the computer systems of most airlines get rid of the reserved but unbooked lower fare reservations. Most of us at one time or another have booked a reservation, and then let it go without purchase. Snap-up these discounted fares right after this happens and you’re likely to get a significant discount.” So, if you were to book a flight with Delta, you would wait until it is 12 a.m. Eastern Time, since Delta’s headquarters’ are in Atlanta, Georgia.
The most consistent advice about booking airline tickets, is shopping around. Don’t be afraid to book an airline you’ve never heard of if the airfare is cheaper. The more airlines and prices you look at, the more likely you are to spot a deal. Also, this will make you more knowledgeable on general airline prices for next time.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Dog sledding is spreading globally from its deep Alaskan roots. The Iditarod Sled Dog Race has come a long way since its creation by co-founder Dick Mackey over thirty years ago. While professional athletes travel the country for their respective sports, dog sled riders train arduously for an eight-day race that includes a hefty prize awaiting the champion.
Dog sledding is a sport in which at least twelve dogs pull a sled steered by a driver and a minimum of six to complete the race. Its growth has attracted people from all over the globe interested in the arduous preparations necessary for this race. While preparations for this competition may be a bit costly, watching the event is quite affordable. Alaskan adventures can also include visiting Denali National Park and white water sea adventures.
The trails and various cruises around the magnificent glaciers are additional wonderful sites in the beautiful state of Alaska. If you watch the race as thousands of viewers do each year, you will have a good story to share with friends and family. This competition is more than a win or go home victory. It is about the opportunity to venture out into the wilderness and enjoy the picturesque, unspoiled beauty of Alaska.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Do you assume that there are secrets to how to get a cheap airline ticket that the airlines try to keep from you? Do you always feels nervous and slightly dizzy whenever you are about to click on the “Buy Now” button when purchasing your flight? Your skepticism and worries are justified. An attempt to get the best airfare could be as difficult and frustrating as trying to figure out on what number to place your bets in a lottery game. But unlike gambling, there is more to airline ticket purchases than a sprinkle of luck. Knowing a little bit about how the system works and remembering a few useful tricks could maximize your chances of getting the best air travel deal possible. And although the suspicion that the person sitting on the plane right next you got his ticket for half the price of yours could never be entirely erased from your mind, there are some key rules of thumb that can put the one cheap airline ticket right into your pocket. Why should you pay more when you can get the same ticket for less, especially when the currency trends already increase most of your travel costs?
The Canadian Dollar recently approaching parity with the US Dollar is just one of many topics driving discussions of a weakening power of the US dollar. Hence, with the US Dollar pushing prices of traveling abroad and overseas up, an extra cheap airline ticket could be a welcomed way of making the trip more economical. Similarly, with a USD/CAD exchange rate possibly hitting a 1:1 ratio, knowing how to get a cheap airline ticket within the United States and Canada could be especially useful.
10 useful tricks to get you your cheap airline ticket:
Know what is a cheap airline ticket
The key to the successful purchase of a cheap airline ticket is knowing what ticket is really cheap. As far as domestic US airline tickets go, a cheap ticket should cost you around $100.00 for a short-distance travel (within or around two neighbor states), around $150.00 for a medium-distance travel and around $200.00 for long-distance coast-to-coast travel. Also, be prepared to pay additional fees and charges to these prices, such as a $20.00 roundtrip non-stop fee, a $40.00 fee for connecting roundtrip flights, or a premium for popular destinations (beaches and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, etc.). Due to a smaller competition that would keep prices low, your cheap airline ticket is likely to be more expensive if you travel to or from smaller regional airports.
Know when to travel
If you are flexible about the date of your trip, choosing the right day of travel could make the airline ticket price cheaper. While beginnings and ends of weeks and weekends are the most expensive due to a high demand (most people travel arrange their flights on these days), Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are usually the cheapest. Also, except Fridays and Sundays, flying in the evening can increase your chances of getting the cheap airline ticket you want. Similarly, taking a “red-eye” flight can pay off well, since not too many people like the idea of leaving the airport at 5:30 in the morning and arriving at their destination at 3 AM.
Use the same airline both ways
For reasons hidden from the eyes of ordinary mortals, a one-way flight is usually just as expensive as a roundtrip. Always go for a roundtrip ticket if possible.
Start searching for your cheap airline ticket early
While the airlines charge a premium for purchasing a ticket prior to four months ahead of the departure, absolutely do book your ticket sooner than two weeks in advance. Fourteen days prior to travel is considered the breaking point for business and leisure. And since most of the airlines make their profits from business travelers, avoid purchasing your ticket too close to your flight date.
Get a travel club membership
If you travel more frequently (more often than twice a year), join a frequent flyer club. Even though you are usually asked to make some initial payment, benefits of the membership will easily pay that off in the long run.
Use your age
Find out about senior and student discounts. Airlines sometimes offer them with their tickets.
Ask about alternative airports
You can most definitely save money by using alternative airports, which are often used by many low cost airlines. While a real money-saver, make sure that you consider the convenience factor. Alternative airports may account for some 2-hour drive extra.
Learn about cheap first class airline tickets
If you are big on comfort but still hope to scoop the best travel deals out there, learn more about discount first class tickets. Many airlines offer cheap first class tickets for flights between and within the United States and Canada.
Keep checking before you purchase
Like the price, the availability of flights is an incredibly volatile element. Airlines may add discount tickets without warning. That way, a flight you gave up on months ago could be suddenly available for even a better price.
Stop checking one you purchase
Prices of airline tickets are subject to a constant change and their purchasing is very similar to trading stocks. There are only a few perfect times a year to purchase. Only hindsight will show what these actually were. Checking the prices after that very online click that has dinged your credit card when you finally purchased your ticket is running a risk of seeing you ticket sold cheaper. On the other hand, keeping a record of how prices fluctuate could help you grasp how this unpredictable market works. Eventually, you might be able to make a better, more informed decision.
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Scottsdale, Arizona offers some of the country’s best resort spas. A peaceful hideaway from the fast paced city life, the intimacy of the desert-mountains scenery and understated elegance of the Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain was hard for me to resist. With the lure of Paradise Valley and the tranquil Meditation Garden, the spa offers a range of Asian-inspired treatments in fourteen outdoor and indoor rooms. Specialty full-body treatments are focused on intense moisture replenishment targeting detoxification, the metabolism, or the lymphatic system. Even a basic facial focuses on the whole body experience. With the Asian-inspired treatments, one can choose between a Thai foot reflexology massage, acupuncture, reiki (a gentle, yet powerful holistic healing technique focusing on mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of well-being), shiatsu, or luk pra kope (which literally translates to “to massage with medicinal herbs” and is aimed at soothing sore and aching muscles, enhancing circulation, reducing joint stiffness and refreshing the skin). Possibly the only downside of Sanctuary Spa is the difficulty of selecting from the wide variety of massages, body and facial treatments and aquatic experiences. Whether a relaxing and soothing Swedish body massage, a re-energizing interactive table Thai massage, a longevity treatment with thermal-water firming gel, or revitalizing tangerine scrub. You might choose a bamboo lemongrass scrub followed by a full-body massage with Thai lemongrass body lotion. The skin feels very soft and regained a youthful appearance from this treatment, and the massage experience is incredibly relaxing. When combined with hiking in the shadows of Camelback Mountains, you will find a true energizer!
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Vacations these days can be very expensive, especially when traveling with your family. The best priced family vacations now come in packages. And, surprisingly, one of the most affordable vacations is Disney World. Once one of the most expensive and popular vacation spots for a family of four, it is now reasonable compared to more exotic vacation spots. For a week, at a resort in Disney World, prices start at $2000 for a family of four. This includes room and board, all resort facilities, as well as a week long pass to Disney World. Child and Adult friendly, this package offers transportation to and from Disney World itself. It is a great price for the amount of activities that are at your family’s disposal, especially when compared to other vacation packages available, and the facilities that they offer.
The Vale spa resort in Wales, for instance, charges around $1200 for a family for four for a week. This four star hotel offers a luxurious day spa, and golf course, and is close enough to Cardiff for day trips to the city and bay.
Another popular destination for families is Mexico, specifically the Hilton resort in Los Cabos. Starting at $2507 for 5 nights (based on a family of four), this package includes airport transportation and breakfast, as well as $50 credit per day for drinks. The kids can enjoy the ‘Vacation Station’ and the Kids concierge, while the adults can relax in the pool with poolside service. Also available is a trip to the Cabo Dolphin facility which lets the family swim with the dolphins for an afternoon.
Cape Cod is also a popular destination for families that enjoy quieter holidays. At Corsair/Cross Rip, for around $2000, a family of four can stay in an ocean view suite with either one or two rooms. In addition to the Jacuzzi, the kids can also enjoy complementary beach toys. Around the resort are plenty of activities, including bike trails, drive-in theatres, whale watching and tickets to Martha’s Vineyard.
However, when you compare prices and available activities, it can be difficult to judge what is best for a family vacation. A trip to Disney World would certainly keep everyone entertained for a week, and is probably the best value for your money, but is not necessarily what you’re looking for on a family trip. What is important to remember, is reading the fine print when booking a family package vacation deal, because the true costs can often be hidden until the last minute.
July 5, 2007 1 Comment
Vacations bring the long awaited escape from everyday stress. To ensure a stress-free vacation, check off these before-you-go task to set your vacationing mind at peace:
1. Check batteries in smoke detectors
Replace the old batteries in all the smoke detectors and make sure that they are working properly. Also, turn off devices such as toasters, microwaves, TV sets, and computers. Not just a safety concern, you will also save energy.
2. Review your home insurance plan
Review your home insurance plan and update it to reflect current needs. Consider how your situation changed or what new property you acquired since purchasing your current insurance. Valuables such as jewelry or fine art are often insurable.
3. Check prescription medication
Ensure that the family has enough prescription medications for the entire period plus a few extra days. If traveling by air, remember to keep the prescriptions and refills in a plastic bag in your carry-on baggage. Have a sufficient supply of over-the-counter drugs to alleviate a headache or upset stomach. Also take sunscreens, repellents and after-sun lotion.
4. Inform your security system provider of the dates you depart and return
Make sure that your security provider knows that you will be away and that they have a number at which you could be reached in an emergency. Also, have a relative or a friend designated as an emergency contact in your hometown.
5. Have land line calls forwarded to your cell phone
Check if your coverage area extends to your destination. If so, your service providers may also forward your landline phone calls to your cell phone at no additional charge.
6. Don’t forget batteries and power adapters
Make sure you have all the connectors, batteries and power adapters for your camera, cell phone and other devices. You may end up paying more for batteries in hotels and resorts or not finding the type that you need. Remember that in some countries you may need a specific power adapter or voltage converters.
8. Pay bills
To avoid late fees, check what bills will be due while you are on vacation. A quick phone call to set up payments ahead of time can save you vacation worries and a post-vacation hassle.
9. Put mail on hold
You can easily arrange putting your mail and newspaper delivery on hold online. Otherwise, a pile of newspaper sitting on your front step or a stuffed mail box may send an unwanted signal that the house in empty.
10. Take care of home and garden
Another way how to avoid leaving your house with an abandoned look is to have the garden taken care of shortly before you go. With a nice exterior, your home will keep its lived-in feel. Last but not least, keep your regular housekeeping service on the job. It will keep your home fresh, and you will feel better coming back to a clean and tidy house.
June 28, 2007 No Comments
Seeking a destination to celebrate an anniversary, a honeymoon or even just a relaxing vacation? Finding an inexpensive destination without making any sacrifices can be difficult. Hawaii is among the more popular choices because of its beautiful beaches, tropical jungles and luxuries hotels. However there is another side of Hawaii that is not as popular but worth seeing. The Haleakala Trail on the island of Maui runs through a large crater with active volcanoes, although the last was in 1790. This majestic trail is a must-see because of its stunning panoramic views that can only be enjoyed first hand.
Waking up early in the morning is difficult for me most days, but the first time I hiked this trail waking up could not have been any easier. As we made our ascent towards the summit in the wee ours of the morning, the view was limited because of the dense fog. After some time we reached the summit and realized that we were surrounded in a sea of clouds. Other than the plateau we were standing on, no land was visible because of the density of the clouds. Slowly the sun began to rise as we were able to see a hint of light below the surface of the clouds. The sun slowly inched its way above the surface while we savored the moment. Shortly after half the sun had risen above the clouds I then realized we were actually witnessing a sunrise above the clouds. That moment was heaven on Earth and best to share with a loved one.
Along this trail there are over 30 miles of well-marked paths to explore in and around the crater. Park Rangers consider the level of this hike as moderate; it provides a bit of a challenge to novices while not exactly a stroll for the more advanced. The great expanse of this National Park also provides spacious grounds for picnics. There are also several waterfalls and natural pools for swimming, and beautiful jungles to explore. The expense for this dramatic excursion is a $10 entrance fee to enter the park. There are also various low-cost hotels within 15 miles of the park that go for as low as $111 a night, with all the usual amenities.
June 28, 2007 No Comments
The tropical rainforests of the Amazon and Africa are among the most beautiful natural creations in the world. Visiting these destinations, however, requires large sums of money. Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami offers a unique tropical experience with a rare collection of exotic plants on 83 acres. For a $20 dollar entrance fee, you can explore the world’s tropical plants in a single, convenient location.
On one of the many daily tours, we were provided a detailed account by our tour guide of how people around the world benefit from rainforests and the impact of destroying the rainforests in the Amazon. For instance, the 16,000 square foot conservatory is home to more than 1,900 species, just a sample from the incredible diversity of the tropics, including cycads, aroids, bromeliads and many more.
The trickling streams and quiet ponds recreate an authentic experience, without the dangers of tropics, of course, such as disease and other natural hazards.
The Fairchild Tropical Garden is located in the suburbs of Miami, allowing for quick and easy transportation. Another benefit to its location is Miami’s world class beaches, shopping centers, and other tourist attractions. Inexpensive accommodations should be easy to find among the numerous deals that are offered with each season. Fairchild Tropical Garden is an attraction that condenses various locations into one, allowing visitors to explore a world within a world.
June 27, 2007 No Comments
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