Latest Travel Articles

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

We all “feel” better getting away on vacation. Did you know it really is not just your imagination? Science and statistics show it is true.  Vacations can reduce risk of heart disease, depression and even slow down the aging process. How about this statistic… Two vacations can cut your risk of heart attack by 50%.

Vacations help reduce stress, which will always help your health. 

Here are some other  tips to reduce stress during travel.

• Get away long enough time to let go of your daily grind.  A week is recommended.
• Watch your time zones – too many time zones actually increase your stress on your body’s natural rhythms.
• Don’t over schedule your trip – Make sure you have quiet time each day.
• Be social – making new acquaintances has a restorative power.
• Enjoy physical activity – moderate exercise like swimming and walking are great energy boosters.

How sad that a third or us do not use all our vacation days!  Hopefully this will inspire you to take some time to better your health with travel.

Ready to research a trip?

Here is our network of travel destination sites for travel planning made easy!

Africa Tours | Alaska Tours | Antarctica Tours | Asia Tours | Atlas Cruises & Tours | Australia Tours | Canada Tours | Christmas Market Tours | England Tours | Escorted Family Vacations | Fall Foliage Tours | France Tours | Greece Tours | Hawaii Tours | Ireland Tours | Italy Tours | Luxury Tour | National Parks Tours | Oberammergau | River Cruise | Russia Tours | Scandinavia Tours | South America Tours | Spain Tours

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

There is no need to enroll in French, Italian, German and Spanish classes for your European Tour. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on how to say some of the basics (eg. hello, please, thank you) in the native tongue of each of the countries you visit. It is often not only useful, but also polite to know a few of the basics in the local language and it’s a good idea to try and remember and uses these basics.

English is a widely spoken and understood as a second or third language amongst many Western Europeans, particularly those of the younger generations.

Western European Language Basics

These Languages are of use in….

French – France, Southern Belgium (including Brussels) parts of Switzerland

Spanish – Spain (Spanish will be understood in most parts of Spain, however Catalan and Basque are spoken in Barcelona and the North of the country)

Italian – Italy, parts of Switzerland, Albania

German – Varying dialects throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Greek – Greece

Dutch – Dialects throughout the Netherlands and Northern Belgium

Here is our network of Europe travel destination sites:

| England Tours | Escorted Family Vacations | France Tours | Greece Tours| Ireland Tours | Italy Tours |  River Cruise | Russia Tours | Scandinavia Tours | Spain Tours

We also have specialty European Tour Operators sites:

Collette Tours | Contiki Tours | Cosmos Tours | General Tours | Globus Tours | Insight Tours | Tauck Tours | Trafalgar Tours

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

How far would you go to get the ultimate rush, and how much are you willing to pay? In the past few years, the extreme adventure travel market is growing.

Experiencing nature's most demanding landscapes can reveal exactly who you are, testing your physical, psychological and maybe even spiritual selves. Extreme adventures cover a breadth of activities ranging from mildly demanding to profoundly challenging. These adventures can take you from the world's highest peaks to its most remote terrains, from the polar ice caps to the sun-bleached deserts of Africa and all points in between.

Brave the planet's harshest environments, come face to face with its most exotic wildlife and blaze paths where humans rarely venture. Return from your journey a different person from when you embarked into the power of nature and your ability to overcome it.

In man versus machine, you can experience the rush of speed from the driver's seat of a Formula One racer to the cockpit of a supersonic fighter jet. Go to the edge of the earth visiting the North or South poles. Reach the South Pole on skis or find the polar bear in its Arctic habitat on rugged polar adventures. Land within 50 feet of the emperor penguin nesting areas in Antarctica to see as many as 3,000 Emperor Penguin chicks. Take an extreme safari. See Africa's wildlife by canoe, on foot, on camelback or even from a helicopter. Reach Mount Everest Base Camp or the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, two of the world's most challenging mountain treks. Dive into the waters off Belize for up-close encounters with its extraordinary sea life, including the elusive whale shark. Explore the rainforests via ATV, riverboat or by foot. Track the elusive puma and jaguars. Experience life in the unforgiving desert following the path of Lawrence of Arabia in Jordan or exploring Egypt's White Desert.

Luxury tour operator, Abercrombie and Kent is banking not only that people will want to go to the extremes, but that they are willing to pay big bucks for the right experience. Prices start at around $5,000 up to $14,000 per person, double occupancy depending on the length of the trip and the destination.

Whatever extreme adventure you choose, just make sure you book with a reputable and knowledgeable tour operator, so that you are ensured the best experience for your money.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Adventures by Disney just released their tour vacations for 2010.

Entering its fifth year, Adventures by Disney designs tours with the family in mind and provides educationally-enriched experiences so even younger travelers understand, appreciate and have fun in their new surroundings. These hassle-free vacations, rooted in the service and quality of family travel leader Disney, provide distinctive opportunities and special touches to make memories that last a lifetime.

“We are able to offer vacation experiences to some of the most fascinating places on earth, literally bringing history to life for our guests,” said Don Gross, Vice President, Adventures by Disney. “Each itinerary is carefully planned, creating a vacation that includes the most iconic and must-see sites as well as off-the-beaten path excursions. In fact, guests often tell us the hardest part about the trip is choosing the adventure.”

The Disney Difference

From snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galapagos to discovering Europe’s classic history, each itinerary is as matchless as its surroundings. Yet one aspect holds true for every trip: the special touches that are collectively called “the Disney difference” .

Adventure Guide: Part storyteller, ambassador, concierge and role model, Adventures by Disney’s highly-trained Adventure Guides are the friendly hosts and travel specialists who lead guests on every trip. With two guides assigned for every group (of up to 40 people), travelers receive individual attention to ensure a fun and enriching vacation.

Junior Adventurers: Young travelers are transformed into Junior Adventurers – seeing, hearing and tasting things that they might otherwise not have experienced. The immersive activities created just for kids allow young travelers to learn and have fun in places like museums that aren’t always as entertaining for the younger set. For example, at the Louvre in Paris, the Junior Adventurers play an Art Detective game throughout the museum with their Adventure Guides, while adults take a privately guided tour with an art historian. In addition, the Adventure Guides are expert storytellers and are trained to create fun and unique, locally-based experiences for the kids. On almost every departure, there is also a Junior Adventurers night, in which the kids have a special evening experience with their Guides, while the adults get a quiet evening on their own at the resort.

Local Experts: An authentic Tuscan chef, a naturalist from Costa Rica, a Chinese tai chi master – these local experts share a passion; they live and breathe the local history and culture of their destination. They are an integral part of every Adventures by Disney vacation. They join guests to share their stories and provide an “insider’s” perspective to each destination.

VIP Access: Travelers vacationing with Adventures by Disney receive VIP experiences that are practically impossible to schedule on their own. Special entry to otherwise crowded sites, unique accommodations (like castles in Ireland and Germany, a dude Ranch in Yellowstone and at the base of a live, active volcano in Costa Rica. Guests also get backstage access of celebrated performances like “The Lion King“ in London. These are just a few of the exceptional moments woven through each itinerary, promising expedited service and a broader knowledge of each destination.

Adventures by Disney’s 2010 destinations include 19 global itineraries:

Asia & Pacific

• Enchanted China - China: Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai and Hong Kong
• Safari to South Africa - South Africa: Cape Town, The Garden Route and Kapama Game Reserve
• Discovery Down Under - Australia: North Queensland, Ayers Rock and Sydney

British Isles & Europe

• Cities of Knights and Lights – England and France: London and Paris
• The Emerald Isle – Ireland: Dublin, Killarney and Shannon
• Once Upon a Fairytale – Germany: Heidelberg, Trendelburg, Rothenburg and Munich
• Alpine Magic - Italy and Switzerland: Stresa, Zermatt and Lake Lucerne
• Viva Italia - Italy: Rome, Tuscany and Venice
• Bella Italia – Central Italy: Sorrento and Florence

Latin America

• Path to Pura Vida – Costa Rica: San Jose, Arenal and Manuel Antonio National Park
• Treasures of the Galapagos - Ecuador and Galapagos Islands
• Sacred Valleys and Incan Cities – Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley and Cusco

North America

• Spirit of America -Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pa., and Williamsburg, Va.
• Quest for the West – Wyoming: Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
• Southwest Splendors – Arizona and Utah: Sedona, Grand Canyon and Moab
• Backstage Magic – Southern California: Hollywood and Disneyland Resort
• Golden Path to Yosemite – Northern California: Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco
• Taming the Last Frontier – Alaska: Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Kenai Peninsula
• Rocky Trails and Mountie Tales - Montana and Canada: Glacier National Park and Banff National Park

For Family Tour Vacations visit EscortedFamilyTours.com. For more on Adventure by Disney & other family tours, we invite you to visit  www.luxurytour.com.