Posts Tagged ‘Family Vacation’

The Vacation Market

Friday, July 31st, 2009

 

In this day and age there are actually a wide range of vacation possibilities. Cruises, adventure vacations, specialty vacations, are all just a few of the many options that are available. The difficulty arises when you want to take a vacation with your whole family. One person going on a trip can often get a special deal. Even two people can travel and receive substantial discounts on packaged vacations. Families on the other hand have no such luck. It is assumed that families have children and that children are noisy.

 

Resorts often use children as an excuse to charge premium prices on the grounds that they need to have special services available to cater to the specific requirements of the children. Some resorts actually do go to great lengths and substantial costs to accommodate these young guests. They may have daycare facilities, children’s programs, perhaps even special menus to better serve those kids that are picky eaters (like me when I was 5).

 

These last few years have seen massive changes in the vacation market. There are new options available for families that wish to vacation together that do not require huge infusions of cash. It’s a new market and it represents a complete shift in the way we think about our vacation time.

 

The timeshares, all inclusive resorts, and villa rentals now have to compete with destination clubs, exchange programs, points programs, a wholesale vacation market, and what is now a hugely competitive cottage rental real-estate market. Did you know you can actually rent a cottage and get it as an “all inclusive” package? This was not possible 10 years ago but it is now.

 

The important thing about planning and having a family vacation is to be prepared and always keep in mind the following:

 

· What happens if you are hurt while on vacation? Is there liability coverage in the unlikely event that it is needed?

· Is your booking or rental guaranteed to be available?

· What happens if you are not happy with the place? Refunds?

· What are the hidden costs (groceries, boats, or things that are not covered in the basic rental agreement?

 

So long as you keep these simple questions in mind you should have a fun and happy vacation. Enjoy your vacation and spend the time with your family and your friends and make sure that you get your well deserved break from work. Enjoy!

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Lionel Wayne is an Industrial Engineer and is certified as a Master Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He has interests in: computers, music, writing, and travel and operates these sites:http://www.musicmediaentertainmentgroup.com – Music Protection & Promotionhttp://www.lastminutefamilyvacationrentalnetwork.com – Vacation Rentals (MLM)

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Have You Ever Tried A Cruise Vacation? 10 Reasons Why You Should

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

I will admit it, I love cruise vacations. I have been on several cruises including a cruise for my honeymoon, for New Years, and for multi-generational family vacations and I have loved each one.
More and more people are finding out about the pleasures of cruise vacations including singles, families, couples, honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends or families. Last year alone approximately seven million people enjoyed a cruise vacation and here are some reasons why:
1) Cruise Vacations Are A Good Value
The price of your vacation includes all of your meals and in-between snacks on-board; your accommodation, activities, children programs and entertainment. Throw in the exciting journey to some of the most fascinating and charming places in the world and you have yourself a deal! You will also know what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. Typically, your only extra expenses are alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, optional shore excursions, and personal services such as a spa treatment.
2) Cruise Vacations Have Amazing Dining
You have so much choice and variety of cuisine on a cruise, you will not be disappointed. From gourmet meals that showcase renown chefs to pizza parlours and buffets. The choice is yours whether to sit down for an delectable five course feast or grab a hamburger at the bistro. The only thing that is guaranteed is that you will not go hungry on a cruise.
3) Cruise Vacations Will Pamper You
Regardless of which cruise you choose, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock. Staff is there to make sure you needs are met. From chocolates on your pillow to your favourite drink waiting for you at your dinner table, you will feel like you are being spoiled day and night!
4) Cruise Vacations Have Tons of Variety
A cruise ship is a floating resort, with all the things a fine resort has to offer and more. You can go non-stop. Enjoy one great show after another, enjoy daily tour excursions, visit the spa, listen to a lecture, shop and then dance the night away. Or you can lie back and just read a book on deck and just let your cares float away…..do what you want to do.
5) Cruise Vacations Are For Everyone
There are over 150 different ships, dozens of cruise lines and over 1800 ports-of-call with hundreds of places to see and things to do. Small, large, formal, relaxed, budget, luxury, there is a perfect cruise out there for you.
6) Cruise Vacations Make Vacations Simple
The hassles of an ordinary vacation are completely eliminated because a cruise vacation is one convenient package. You don’t have to worry about making dinner or nightclub reservations, running to make flight connections as you travel from one destination to another, or packing and unpacking. Once you’re on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid… it just does not get more carefree than that.
7) Cruise Vacations Are Great For Family Vacations
Families love cruising and often there is a reduced rate for children. Traveling with Grandparents? Even better, they will love it as much as the kids! With a variety of children’s programs geared from little ones to teens, kid-friendly menus, swimming, sports, games, movies, and exploring new places, your kids will not be bored for a second. The experienced child councillors will keep your children happy, while allowing you some time alone. And speaking of some adult alone time…. 8) Cruise Vacations Are Great For Couples And Romance
During the day you can enjoy secluded beaches or romantic villages, enjoy en suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean or spa services for two. At night, enjoy dancing, musical shows, gaming or a quiet evening watching the moon bounce off the ocean as the warm breeze drifts over the two of you….do I need to say more?
9) Cruise Vacations Are The Most Satisfying
Cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience, once people try it, they come back again and again. It me 10 years to convince my brother and his wife to try a cruise vacation, they finally took one last year and they have already booked another one this year!
10) Cruise Vacations Are The Ultimate Vacations
You can see the world on a cruise. Feel free to completely unwind or take a walk on the wild side. If you want you can dance the night away or go up on deck and steal a kiss from your love. Make new friends, feast on sumptuous cuisine, learn something new, or just hang out and bond with your family.
Whatever your heart desires, it can be done on a cruise so be sure to “choose to cruise” for your next vacation.

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Jolana Klobouk is a former travel agent who travels extensively and now writes about her experiences. She is currently the editor of Best Family Beach Vacations and Best Romantic Vacations

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Africa Family Vacation-best Africa Family Vacation in Kenya

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Family Vacation Africa Kenya Highlights

Family vacations in Kenya are packaged to suit the needs of a family group traveling with kids to Africa. Family safari vacations in Kenya usually visit the Kenya famous national parks and the famous Kenya beach. Kenya national parks have different rates for family members.

Masai Mara Family Vacation of Africa Kenya

The most visited family vacation animal park in Kenya is the Masai Mara. MasaiMara game reserve is located to the southwest of Nairobi Kenya. The Masai Mara wildlife safari park in Kenya is popular for its large diversity and populations of game/animals. The Masai Mara is an undulating plain of grass that offers good food for the millions of giraffes, antelopes, gazelles and wildebeest. The Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya is a continuation of the more vast Serengeti national park in Tanzania. It has recently been named as among the new 7 world wonders together with the annual wildebeest migration in Masai Mara Kenya.

The Masai Mara family safari begins from Nairobi and includes at most three nights, which are enough to see all the wildlife of Africa safari. In most cases Kenya family safari groups stay in a single lodge for the 3-4 day duration. Game drives are offered from the lodges in a 4×4 open safari vehicle owned by the lodge or in the pop-up-roof-top minivan safari vehicle. Most family vacation groups to the Masai Mara arrive by road safari in a minivan and use the same for game drives. Mostly, family tour groups that visit the Masai Mara in air charters from Nairobi will in addition hire the lodges 4×4 open safari vehicles for game drives.

Kenya Family tours to the Masai Mara are usually offered an option of 2 game drives in a day (early morning and evening) or a full day game drive option. Either way, the Masai Mara will ensure that your kids get the most fun from watching the plentiful animals. Lodges in the Masai Mara family safari vacation have a characteristic of large compounds that affords the children enough playgrounds and are usually fenced off to keep the wild animals off -and the kids in. Not all of the Masai Mara lodges however accept children, so your Africa Kenya family tour operator in Nairobi should advice you on the available lodges. In some lodges children are not encouraged, not because of their noise, but due to the dangers from wildlife. These are mostly the open Kenya bush camps and wilderness safari tent camps. Food in the Masai Mara family Kenya vacation lodges is a buffet affair and meal times are advised by the Masai Mara lodges on arrival.

Famous Masai Mara family safari lodges offer good rates for larger family safari groups. Some have Kenya kids safari games and activities including swimming pools. Some of the most popular Masai Mara family safari lodges include;

Keekorok Masai Mara family wildlife safari lodge

Mara Serena Masai Mara family animal holiday wildlife lodge

Fig tree family vacation camp Masai Mara

Mara simba family Kenya jungle tour lodge

Mara sopa Kenya family wild safari lodge

African safari club family travel lodge

Governors camp Kenya family vacation camp among others

Lake Nakuru Kenya Family Safari Vacation Park In Kenya

The other famous family safari in Kenya Park is the lake Nakuru national park. Lake Nakuru family safari is mostly combined with the Masai Mara. Lake Nakuru park is usually added in the itinerary as an attraction before or after a visit to the Masai Mara. Lake Nakuru national park is most famous for its pink flamingo that forms a pink ribbon on the lake shores that can be seen from kilometers away. The flamingo in Lake Nakuru are over 2.5million at any one time. The flamingos are filter feeders of algae and the lake Nakuru is a superb feeding ground due to its alkaline nature that supports growth of blue-green algae.

Lake Nakuru national park is combined into the Masai Mara family safari vacation as a one night transit or at most two nights. The park is completely fenced off and has such Kenya safari wildlife as the flamingos and other 450 species of birds, the giraffe, the black and white rhino (it’s a noted rhino sanctuary),the leopard, the African lion, the mean looking-mud clad buffalo, the hyenas, impalas, hippos, among many others. There are no elephants in Lake Nakuru family safari park. Adult park entry rates at the time of writing this article were at $40 per person while those of kids below the age of 13 are at half price. Infants and toddlers are exempted from park entry charges in Kenya. Lodges that offer family on Africa safari accommodation in Lake Nakuru national park include;

Lake Nakuru lodge-family vacation accommodation in Kenya

Sarova Lion Hill family safari lodge in Lake Nakuru Park

Kenya wildlife service self contained family safari bandas

The Aberdares National Park-The Mountain Africa Family Safari Park In Kenya

The Aberdares national park is a mountain family vacation in Kenya destination. The park offers very sublime scenery akin to those or rural Ireland. Heavily wooded mountain forests with liana and climbers cycling their diameter and moss filled stems are common here. The open glades are equally sublime with large vista amidst the montane forest. Clear cool waters trickle from the hundreds of streams in breathtaking lush green valleys. The streams are also full of trout fish and are a haven for Kenya wilderness angling safari tours.

Aberdares Park is a favorite family vacation spot in Kenya due to its 2 main raised lodges. The treetops hotel is a wooden log cabin family safari lodge tucked away on a hill side of a very lush and salient park of the park. The treetops lodge has a watering hole and family safari groups can view wildlife at day and night as they drink and lick salt from the hole. A well constructed game viewing lounge fronts the hotel at the watering hole offering kids on safari to view animals at their pleasure. Kenya family vacation lodges in this park include;

Treetops family wildlife safari lodge

The ark family animal vacation

Kenya Beach Family Vacation

The Kenya beach located on the south eastern corner of the country. Family Kenya beach holidays at the coast are mostly at the end of a long wildlife safari parks tour in Kenya Africa. The Kenya beach coast is the ultimate climax of a Kenya safari as it offers relaxation and peace at the rush of waves and whispering of palms. Mombasa Kenya is at the centre of a Kenyan family tour of Africa and most beaches are located either to the south or north of Mombasa island town.

Diani Kenya beaches in the south coast offer the best unparalleled family vacation spots. Most days of an African family vacation in Kenya are spent at the beach. Families opt for a Marathon run through the wildlife safari parks of Kenya and then have 3-7days of relaxation at the coast. Lodges in Diani Kenya that offer family Kenya vacation accommodation have a multitude of water sports and activities for the parents and kids to engage in. most hotels at the Diani Kenya coast offer air conditioned spacious rooms, room service, kids entertainment, free form swimming pools, pool bars, 3-4 restaurants to choose from, an in-house shopping arcade, internet services, excursions from the hotel, airport and town shuttle services, satellite TV, minibars, room safes, ensuite bathrooms among many others.

There is a whole world of family water sports offered at these Kenya beach hotels. Some of the most popular family beach vacation activities and water sports include;

Swimming in the Diani beach hotels swimming pool

Kayaking in the ocean

Wind surfing on Mombasa beaches

Jet skiing on Kenya beach

Dhow trips

Family Safari Snorkel in coral gardens

Swimming with dolphins on Kenya family beach vacation

Diving lessons PADI on Kenya coast

Kite surfing/surfin on Kenya family beach vacation among others.

Other Africa Kenya family vacations on the beach hotels are located to the north of Kenya coast. These offer family beach vacations in such popular Kenya beach places like Lamu Kenya family vacation spot, Malindi Kenya family vacation spot, Kilifi family vacation hotels, Bamburi beach family holidays spot, Nyali beach family tour spot.

So next time you are going on your Africa family vacation in Kenya be sure to include some of these places and you won’t be disappointed.

Have a fun family Kenya holiday!!

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Robert is a family vacation consultant with landmark safari ltd in Africa Kenya. To tailor your own Africa affordable family vacation, fill in a simple form here: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/planner or send them a quick email @ info@landmarksafaris.com or better read more safari fact at a blog http://www.eastAfricasafari.blogspot.com

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Family Vacation-managing Cost of Family Vacation in Africa Kenya

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Cost of Family Vacation in Africa

Family vacation air ticket to africa deals

A family vacation in africa usually involves air travel over long distances. Family vacation Air tickets from Norway, Netherlands, Bulgaria, russia, norway,sweden, netherlands and other countries can be exensive due to long distances involved. Booking your family vacation air ticket in advance helpd reduce the cost of family travel to africa. Africa Kenya air tickets alone can amount to a half of the oveall cost of a family vacation in africa. It will do you good to book them in advance as prices increase and availability reduces as you approach the africa summer vacation high season.

The average family vacation cost of a plane ticket from europe varies between $700-1000 per person return flight. The earlier the booking the better to save on inflated prices of africa vacation air tickets in summer.Some kenya airline and charter flights that offer good air ticket prices for family vacation safari in africa include;

Air kenya –discounted family tour in africa flights

Safari link- wilderness low cost family vacation air tickets in kenya

Flight 540- new kenya bargain family vacation cost air charter to mombasa

Kenya airway- kenya carrier and comfortable family vacation flights to Lamu,Mombasa and Kisumu

Africa kenya family vacation lodges & hotels cost

There is a wide range in prices of family vacation hotels and lodges in africa. Prices of Lodges in kenya catering for family travel in the national parks depend on the luxury level, the lodge star rating, the exclusivity of the lodge and the size of the africa travel family. Depending on the vacation luxury lodge you want for your family, you have manouveerbility to decide on the most cost saving facilitity in Kenya. affordable africa family vacation lodges in kenya are ususally the large complex lodges in parks.

Affordable kenya family vacation lodges for example have between 150-200 rooms and are equipped with a swimming pool, kid vacation games in kenya and other facilities for young children travelling with their parents. The best way to save on family vacation accommodation in africa kenya is to visit during off season periods when the lodge prices are reduced by half. Most off season periods are usually between february and may.

Some time this is not possible because it falls outside the family summer vacation travel period in europe. The second best way of saving the cost of a family vacation safari tour in africa is by buyying all inclusive discounted family vacation packages from tour operators of kenya. This way the tour operator sells to you’re the accommodation in africa lodges at cost price and you are able to save some money which cumilatively would be over $ 3000 for the entire vacation stay in kenya africa. Family vacation homestays is also a better way to save cost and also enjoy the hospitality of a kenya vacation rental in a home setting. Good lodges that offer discounted family vacation safari and travel in kenya include;

Keekorok lodge-the masai mara reduced cost family wildlife vacation spot

Serena lodge- affordable masai mara Kenya family animal holidays lodge

Sarova mara camp-the luxury family vacation accommodation at discounted rates

Sarova shaba-the good family vacation lodge in shaba reserve

Kilaguni lodge-the tsavo west kenya safe family vacation tour lodge

Ngulia lodge- comfortable kenya family travel to africa lodge among many others.

Saving on Road and Air Family Safari Cost in Kenya Africa

The cost of moving from one national pak attraction to the next in keya can be quite high and contribute to a higher priced family vacation package. Most of the parks are located atleast 3-5 hours from one another and the main means of local transport is either by road travel in a 4 x 4 safari vehicle or a tour mini van or by air using caravan airplanes that can take 12-30 passengers in kenya. The air safaris are the most convinient travel for a family vacation in africa but also the most expensive.

An air tickekt from Nairobi to the masai mara costs abour $130 one way per person while that to mombasa will cost you $ 100 one way per person. If you can afford this mean of travel, then compae prices for several africa kenya family vacation local air line companies and charter planes.

Alternatively take the road family safari in an 8 seater minivan. Where else this is a tiring option with atleast 3-8 hours spent on the road in a family vacation tour, it is the cheapest and also affords you the cnhace to see the rural kenya people and country side. You are able to make stop overs in the great rift valley and other special sightseeing areas for a family vacation in africa.

Your tour operator will be able to advice you on cheaper and affordable family vacation packages in Kenya africa. The tour operator will be able also to advice you on which is the best way to reduce cost of family vacation in africa through offering you reduced cost family tour packages in Kenya.

Have a cost saving day in africa family safari.

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Robert is a Africa Family vacation cost advisor with landmark safari ltd Kenya. To plan a discount and reduced price family vacation safari tour in Kenya, fill in a simple form here: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/planner or send them a quick email @ info@landmarksafaris.com or better read more safari fact at a blog http://www.eastAfricasafari.blogspot.com

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