(Balloon rides) When and Where to get Budget Travel Deals
No commentsBy Sai Vallejos
The two key things that can have a huge impact on the cost of your vacation are the destination and the time of year. In fact, the single biggest saver is likely to be when you travel, not how successfully you manage to haggle for that last minute hotel bargain!
Don’t overlook the importance of considering these two factors together. Some destinations will be extremely cheap at one time of year yet finding a bargain four months later may be impossible. Traveling to a popular destination at a peak time will never be cheap. For example staying at a luxury hotel in a party city on New Year’s Eve is not likely to be a budget holiday; however, traveling to a traditional summer resort over New Year’s may be a very different story.
One thing that is very important to realize is that low seasons are low for a reason. A classic example of this is hurricane season in the Caribbean and Florida. Other low seasons to be wary of are the extremely hot areas such as Egypt during the summer months, when the heat can be so oppressive that it makes the holiday less enjoyable. Summer resorts are often so quiet during low season that there is quite literally nowhere open. This can be great for a retreat, but when it comes to a raging nightlife you may be sadly disappointed!
Shoulder Season
Shoulder season is the perfect time to be trying to travel for those who want to find a happy medium between low and peak seasons. Identifying where is in shoulder season when you want to travel or when your favorite destination is in shoulder season can save you literally hundreds of dollars.
Take a look at the guide books. Whilst they will not tell you when the shoulder season is, they will tell you when peak and low seasons are. The time in between, is, by definition, the shoulder season.
With almost every resort there is a period where the prices become low, not because the location is now poor but because all of the hotels and flights are still servicing the area but the demand is simply not there. Examples of shoulder seasons are Europe in the fall and the Caribbean during late spring.
Winter
Winter is an interesting time of year to travel. Before Christmas, most individuals are trying to make last minute shopping trips. After Christmas, people are dealing with their credit card bills. As such, holidays on far off beaches are often incredibly cheap during the winter period.
A wonderful destination for the winter months is Asia. Flights are losing popularity, however, availability is still good, meaning that there are plenty of discounts on offer. Weather is variable in Asia during the winter which could mean that you are surrounded by snow one minute and then basking in glorious sunshine. This lack of dependability is something that puts a lot of visitors off and can mean that there are some excellent bargains for those prepared to take the risk!
Spring
If you are looking to travel to Europe, this is the time to do it! Flights are a lot cheaper during the spring months when temperatures are still relatively low.
Mexican beaches and the Caribbean islands start to see their prices drop from mid April as the weather becomes hotter. However, during the spring months, the water and air temperatures are still pleasant and the resorts less crowded.
During later spring, for example May, the traditionally hot and dry countries are not in their peak seasons but have not yet become intolerably hot. So if you want to visit Morocco, Jordan or Egypt, plan a spring vacation.
Summer
Finding a bargain in summer is tricky. Americans, Japanese and Europeans are all on the move and this is also the time of year that most weddings take place, so honeymoon destinations are in a great deal of demand.
During the early part of summer, through June and July, Caribbean destinations are still good to get a deal, provided you try to book before the Europeans start to flood in during their school holidays at the end of July.
Safari holidays are a good option between June and September. High season ends in May, but the weather is still relatively dry.
Flights and hotels are still quite reasonable in Southeast Asia during the summer months, but temperatures can be quite hot, so if you can’t stand the heat, avoid this destination during the summer months.
Fall
This is the time to head to Europe. Flights to most major European destinations will be cheaper from October onwards, mainly because the schools are no longer on holiday and families are not traveling as much. Temperatures are normally perfectly pleasant until mid November, so grab yourself a fall bargain in Europe.
Learn more about budget travel deals at http://budgettraveldeals.blogspot.com
Phuket Is A Perfect Getaway Destination
By Dan Wallace
Phuket is one of the Island’s most perfect destinations for honeymooners and people vacationing with family. Located about 860 km south of Bangkok and surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Andaman Sea, Phuket is the largest island is Thailand. Sometimes acknowledged as ‘the Pearl of the South’ or ‘the Pearl of the Andaman,’ Phuket is an awe-inspiring destination, bestowed with stunning landscape comprising rocky as well as palm-fringed white sandy beaches, dazzling island-dotted seas, glorious coves and bays, lush forested area, amazing tall cliffs, wonderful waterfalls, and ancient shrines. The destination is also much favored for its splendid turn of the century buildings, reflecting Indo-Portuguese and Chinese architecture.
Phuket is credited to be the only island in the country with provincial status, and is made up of three administrative regions: Mueang Phuket, located in the southern region of the island; Kathu District, which is the center of tourist activities in the destination; and Thalang, consisting of the northern area of Phuket.
Phuket provides a feast of attractions for people of age groups and tastes. For people interested to have a peep into the historical past of the place, a great option would be to take a tour to the museums in the region such as Thalang National Museum with artifacts related to the Battle of Thalang.
A visit to shrines such as Chalong Temple would also be a great option for those interested in exploring the historical past of the area. Located about eight kilometers from Phuket town, Chalong Temple is a highly revered temple enshrining the statue of Luang Por Cham, a pious monk who helped the people of the region to stop the rebellion of Chinese Coolie in 1876.
If your choice is different, then head to such places as Phuket Sea Shell Museum, which has on display an astounding collection of shells and museums. For vacationers who want to gain knowledge on marine life of the region, one of the best choices would be to take a tour to the Phuket Aquarium located within the Phuket Marine Biological Center, where interesting info marine life as well as natural preservation are available.
Nothing would be better than climbing atop the Khao Rang Hill to savor the panoramic views of the island. Some excellent options are also available for wildlife lovers including Phuket Snake and Monkey Farm where snake shows as well as monkeys performing various stunts can be seen; and Phuket Butterfly Farm with an incredible variety of butterflies.
In short, Phuket has something for everyone. For instance, Phuket has some superb choices for golf freaks in the form of Banyan Tree Golf Club, Blue Canyon Country Club, Loch Palm Golf Club, and Phuket Country Club. Likewise, there are endless choices for leisurely travelers such as Phuket water-ski cableways, Phuket Fantasea providing incredible shows, and Simon Cabaret Shows.
Other activities that can be enjoyed in Phuket are bungee Jumping, Shooting Range, ATV offroading, go-karting, Horse Riding, Muay Thai boxing, bowling, Thai Dancing, and Thai cooking.
A sightseer’s tour to Phuket would be incomplete without taking a tour to Old Phuket Town, which stands as a testimony of the glorious past of the island. Its attractions cover Heroine’s Monument and a range of Sino-Portuguese mansions, among many others.
Despite these attractions, perhaps the focal point of the island is its incredible coastline with beaches ranging from tranquil white sandy beaches to rocky beaches. Perhaps the most popular among the beaches in the area is the Patong Beach, which is a hot spot for nightlife and dining.
Equally fabulous are beaches in the area such as Bang Tao beach, Kata Noi Beach, Bang Tao Beach, Kamala Beach, Surin Beach, Pansea Beach, Kata beach, Nai Yang beach, and Rawai Beach. Each of the beaches in Phuket has its own uniqueness and provides opportunities to enjoy a range of water sport activities from scuba diving and sailing to sea canoeing and kayaking.
With these umpteen attractions and aplenty of options to enjoy a range of activities, Phuket draws holidaymakers from every nook and corner of the world. Phuket has accommodation options to suit every budget and taste.
For those who can spend extravagantly for their Phuket vacation, some excellent options are available in the form of hotels attached with high-end facilities and amenities. For those seeking solace and privacy, one of the best options would be to go for accommodation choices such as rental villas inclusive of superb accommodation, transportation facilities, dining options, and maid servants.
MyAsianVilla.com provides accommodation options in various locations around Thailand and features some of the most beautiful villas available. Book your vacation today at www.myasianvilla.com
See The World While Riding A Hot Air Balloon
Saturday, August 30th, 2008 at 12:30 am and is filed under travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
