Jeep Safari

Make your way down windy dirt tracks and secluded beaches on a Jeep Safari. The safari leaves from the town of Cala en Porter and is suitable for anyone over the age of six. The jeep darts through dense forest and sheltered woodland, before taking a slower pace through traditional picturesque villages and country lanes. This excursion is perfect for children, and nature enthusiasts will love the chance to hear more about the island’s wildlife population. The safari makes for the perfect excursion whilst on your Menorca holiday and there are plenty of stops en-route for swimming or exploration.

Mountain-Biking

The island’s spectacular scenery means that mountain-biking is a popular choice of excursion whilst on a holiday in Menorca. There are numerous cycle friendly routes offered by companies and the choice of half-day or full-day excursions. Most companies will provide the bikes, as well as an assistance vehicle that trails behind with your rucksacks. If you are a mountain biking aficionado then you’ll be pleased to hear that there are also companies which provide five day excursions exploring the entire island.

Trekking

There are numerous caves and ravines to explore whilst on your Menorca holiday and trekking with a guide that knows the island like the back of his hand is the best way to see what may otherwise remain a hidden side of the island. One of the most beautiful treks offered in Menorca borders the Balearic coast from Alocs al Pie de la Montana Mala. This takes you through the ancient town of Ferreries and the historical ruins of the Colina de Santa Águeda fortress.

Kayaking

Kayaking is an excellent way to explore the many sea-filled caves and clear water inlets of Menorca, and excursions take place every morning at 10am from Fornell’s Bay.

The popular coves trail takes in the hidden English and Orguel’s Coves, before stopping for lunch on S’Arenalet, a beautiful sandy beach that is only accessible by kayak or boat. There is also the option of taking a sea kayak route on your Menorca holiday, and this takes in windswept lighthouses, rugged cliffs and wild beaches. The Exodus from Dagger kayaks are used and these are five metres long, stable and very fast.

Wood Rafts

If you are on a Menorca villa holiday with a group of friends then this excursion will provide the perfect bonding experience for you. During this day you will work in teams to create your own wooden raft using only natural materials. Once your raft has been built you will race it along with the other teams raft in a river race. The winning team is the first to dismember their raft.

Horse-Riding

Horses are pretty important in Menorca, and the distinctive black Menorcan horse can often be seen performing in local fetes and fiestas. These horses are held in high regard and are therefore broken in carefully. The town of Cala en Porter is the best place to go horse-riding on your Menorca holiday and Stables Farm is well known on the island. You will have the option of taking a ride into a sheltered wooded area, alongside bronze-age megaliths. An alternative route takes in the beautiful Calas Cove, but is only available during the first few months of the year, when the wild flowers of Menorca are in bloom.

If you enjoy watching race cars or you have always wanted to race them, planning a vacation with a race car theme is a great way to learn more about the sport you love. This fun filled vacation can include a wide variety of activities including visits to famous race car museums, trips to famous race car tracks, and the ultimate thrill for any race car fan, lessons on how to drive a race car. If you are planning this vacation for someone, make sure you include tours of the race tracks during one of the races. This will be very exciting, especially if they have not been to the track before.

Fun holiday visiting museums and shops can increase your passion for race car driving. You will learn about the history of racing and where it will be going in the future. You will be able to see old photographs, read interviews, and learn more about cars and how they are made. This is an exciting vacation for any fan of racing.

There are race car tracks in various places across the United States. Visiting famous tracks in Atlanta, Georgia and Daytona, Florida is the dream of most NASCAR fans. If you plan this type of vacation theme, you need to include stops at one of these two tracks. Other tracks in Pennsylvania and North Carolina are also possibilities. Find out more about racing schedules so you can choose a weekend when races will be taking place. You should also book hotel and rental car in advance as these weekends can be very busy for tourism.

The best gift that someone who loves racing could receive would be race car lessons. You can choose from one to two week training periods where you will learn everything from the basics to taking care of a car. These courses are taught by trained professionals and you can expect to learn a lot during these lessons. For most people, this is one experience that is not easily forgotten. In order to qualify for lessons, you will need to have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

When planning your racing vacation, contact ravel agents to see if package vacations are available. You may be able to get hotel accommodations, tickets, and tours of tracks and museums. This package may include rental car and airfare if you have to travel to get to the race track. Since these packages are popular, you should book your trip as early as you can. This will ensure that you will enjoy your vacation without have to worry about any of the details.

Asia is home to fascinating cultures, ancient sites and an abundance of adventure travel opportunities. From wildlife watching to biking and trekking there is something here to suit everyone. Perhaps the most visited is South-East Asia, with some of the friendliest people, best beaches, most dramatic scenery and most amazing food in the world, it’s no wonder that South East Asia keeps us coming back for more. New travellers to the region are rewarded with opportunities to try many new activities, such as hill tribe trekking, diving on a coral reef or kayaking by limestone pinnacles, whilst those on a repeat trip will always find something new to see such as Angkor Wat or lovely, laid back Luang Prabang.

However, for the ultimate Asian adventure travel opportunities you can also visit Central Asia with its off the beaten track adventures, North-East Asia with its dramatic landscapes and colourful South Asia.

Below are some of the top Asian adventure travel destinations:

1. See orang-utans in Malaysia – Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary attracts travellers and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to get face to face with orang-utans up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area.
2. Explore Angkor Wat – There are countless temples at Angkor but some of the main one of course, is Angkor Wat itself, regarded as the masterpiece of Khmer architecture; the walled city of Angkor Thom; The Baphoun, an 11th century temple with a 131 ft reclining Buddha; the Bayon, famous for its superb bas reliefs and mysterious faces and Ta Prohm, still cloaked in jungle
3. Volunteer in Borneo – Immerse yourself in the culture and live and work with the local communities and wildlife of Malaysia.
4. Cycle in Vietnam – 30,000,000 Vietnamese can’t be wrong – handle-bar height gives you the best view of Vietnam. Cycling through this beautiful country provides opportunities to meet the local people and experience the local culture in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
5. Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines – Swimming with a whale shark, locally known as Butanding (scientific name: Rhincodon typus) is the epitome of wildlife encounters – an experience of a lifetime, an experience not to be missed! The sheer size of the largest fish in the ocean will start your adrenaline pumping.

With so much on offer it is little wonder visitors return to this part of the world many times over!

What is so great about adventure travel? Perhaps you have heard it called leisure travel too. It pays to consider what the difference is in the standard or regular type of travel and this more adventurous type. There is much more to consider that just what meets the eye and in fact you will find that regular travel is dwarfed by what adventure can provide to you. Consider taking your next vacations in this form and you are sure to impress all those you left at the resorts.

Tips For Traveling

One of the first things to consider about adventure travel is that you do have help along the way. Usually a tour guide is available that will know the location perfectly well enough to show you around. On the other hand, with a standard type of travel, this is not likely to happen at least from the same vantage point. Your travel agent may help you before you leave but they are not likely to offer help after you depart for your trip. Guidance, then, is something that adventure travel can offer you more of.

Not all but some forms of adventure travel do require that you spend some time in risky situations and activities. If you book this type of experience for yourself, you still have an operator that is able to help you to perform as you should. They are going to be able to handle even the worst of situations for you. If you do this type of activity on your own in a regular traveling situation, chances are you do not have anyone’s experience and know how to help you out of a bad problem. Adventure travel, then, offers more safeguards for the things you want to do.

Plenty To Do And See

Another benefit of adventure travel is that you will not be bored. When you arrive in a normal travel situation, you likely have to keep yourself busy with plenty to do. On the other hand, with adventure travel, this is not the case as they will have plenty for you to do and see as you go along. You are pretty much guaranteed an activity to keep you busy.

Adventure tours are something else to take into consideration in terms of what it provides to you. With a quality company, you will have travel tours that take you everywhere and provide you with bilingual services. This means going, doing, and talking to people that speak a different language than you and being able to communicate effectively with the help of your guide.

There are plenty of benefits to be hand in the standard form of traveling, but far more toe experience in adventure travel. You are sure to find people from various cultures, situations and lifestyle that interest you and with the ability to do and be more to them than a simple tourist, you are sure to experience much more than you thought you could. Adventure travel may soon become the only travel you do.

Everyone in California knows that the best beaches in San Diego are on Coronado Island. Being linked to downtown San Diego by the Island Bay Bridge, Coronado is home to the SEALs training center and the Naval Air Station Coronado. A military powerhouse, the island of Coronado always has something going on.

One of the best features to Coronado is the world famous Hotel Del Coronado. This Victorian style seaside hotel was established in 1888, and was easily one of the biggest and best hotels of that era. The hotel was hosted in the past by the infamous Marilyn Monroe and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

The Hotel Del Coronado has some of the best service in California, along with breathtaking views of the San Diego area. The restaurant here is one of the best around, and even if you aren’t staying here, you can enjoy a great meal. Each and every year, thousands of people visit Coronado just to stay at this world class hotel – yes, it’s that good.

The Ferry Landing is also a great addition to what Coronado Island has to offer. The Ferry Landing Marketplace offers you 30+ shops, restaurants, and art galleries. You can walk around and check out what the marketplace has to offer, or enjoy a visit to the Tidelands Park.

There are great places to walk and bicycle here, with awesome views of skyline San Diego. At sunset, this is one of the best places to be. On Tuesdays, you can find a farmers market here as well.

The Coronado Beach is located here as well, along the Travel Channel. North of the beach there’s the Best Weekend Getaway Beach. Even in the summer, the Coronado Beach isn’t crowded, giving your family plenty of room to enjoy the splendors of one of California’s best beaches.

From the Glorietta Bay Inn in Coronado, you can take a walking tour. Tours leave several times a week, showing you everything the area has to offer. This is a great way to learn more about the area. Or, if you like, you can let someone else do the driving and try a pedicab tour.

For the romantic, the Gondola Cruise helps to take the pressure out of life. A romantic spin through the canals of Coronado Cays can be quite the break from the ordinary.

You can reach Coronado Island from San Diego by taking the Coronado Bay Bridge exit off I-5. By water from San Diego, you can take the Coronado Ferry that runs hourly from 9 AM – 10 PM. Walking from the Ferry Landing to Hotel Del Coronado is a little over a mile.

Everyone loves beach holidays! The little ones can dig in the sand and splash in the lapping waves. The older ones can swim, get a tan, or just relax. The inquisitive types can explore for sea life, tide pools, and drift wood. The warm breezes and natural beauty are invigorating and restorative. Any trip, however, can cause discomfort if you do not plan well. Here are things you can do to make your beach holidays easier, safer, and more meaningful.

In many parts of the world, people head for their beach holidays in the family car. When planning a trip, it’s always a good idea to give the car a good cleaning out first. This will give you more room for your luggage. Stock you glovebox, too, with a few first aid and comfort items, such as sunblock, acetominiphen for headaches, a roll of antacids, a few cough drops, and a few bandaids. Don’t forget a couple of scrunchies or pony-tailers for long hair. Get the tires checked and replace any that are likely to go flat. Get an oil change if it’s getting close. Road trips are not much fun when they include breakdowns. And whatever you do, make sure you have a map and a place to keep it handy.

Travelling with kids is always a challenge. They may be particularly excited and impatient when they know they are going on beach holidays. Make sure they have cool water bottles and healthy snacks to munch. Try a simple car game to make the time pass. Many kids like looking for letters of the alphabet on signs. If several people get involved it can be quite fun.

With beach holidays particularly, there is always a need to provide for skin safety. Be particularly careful about being in the sun for long stretches of time between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Use a sunblock with a high SPF rating and replace it after getting wet or drying off with your towel. The towel you choose can make a difference too. Thick towels get heavy and tend to trap a lot of sand. You may find you like thin towels at the beach. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and some sort of foot protection to keep your feet from being burned on the hot sand.

With a little preparation your beach holidays can be enjoyable and problem-free. When you arrive home you will be relaxed, refreshed, and ready for work. Take a minute to unpack and get your laundry going. It won’t belong until the kids will be shouting, “When can we go on beach holidays again?”

U.S. online travel agencies, hungry for business in an economic recession, may extend or make permanent the booking fee cuts and waivers they implemented this year on a promotional basis.

The companies like Orbitz Worldwide and Expedia Inc suspended or reduced some of their booking fees recently to spur demand during the peak summer travel season.

The moves, which lag Priceline.com’s airline booking fee waiver by nearly two years, were intended to be temporary. But experts think they could become permanent as the agencies compete for customers. Industry leaders have hinted the same.

“The combination of measures that we’ve taken … certainly give us the flexibility to sustain the actions if we choose to do so,” Orbitz Chief Executive Barney Harford told Reuters last week, referring to cost cutting and revenue-generating steps.

Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity waived airline booking fees as part of promotions that extend through May. Orbitz and Expedia also temporarily cut hotel booking fees.

Priceline eliminated fees for published-price airline bookings in 2007 and reduced fees for published-price hotel bookings in 2008. The fees were unchanged for Priceline’s name-your-own-price auction.

“Our competition has cut fees on a promotional basis this spring, and all are matching, resulting in a material hit to our competitors’ profitability,” Priceline CEO Jeffery Boyd said Monday on a conference call with analysts and reporters.

“If the fee reductions are made permanent by our competition, we expect a reduction over time in the domestic market share gains we have experienced,” he said.

Travel businesses are wrestling with an economic recession that has drained both leisure and business travel budgets. Online travel agencies hope they can boost demand with sales, fee waivers and price guarantees.

Of the three publicly traded online travel agencies — Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz — only Priceline saw bookings growth in the second quarter.

Morningstar analyst Warren Miller it is possible that the agencies may reinstate their fees slowly to avoid attracting attention.

“We’re not going to see big ad campaigns about the fees being reinstated,” Miller said. “They’re going to just kind of creep in there, and one day they’ll just be there.”

“They’re going to wait until they actually see the demand uptick before they reinstate them,” he said.

I’ve monitored trends, industry news, and sale patterns to point you in the direction of places that offer the best bargain value for the coming season. Below you’ll find examples of deals presently available for summer trips. Like all deals, these are sure to expire; however, a little research on your part can yield similar results when you’re ready to book.

Los Angeles

The winning combination of new air service, solid deals, and fewer visitors make the greater Los Angeles area a bargain hotspot this summer. L.A. airports have seen a drop in passenger traffic this year, but airlines are still adding new service, which means more choice and less competition for travelers. Need more convincing? The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) just named Los Angeles a top budget-friendly destination. And, Disneyland is offering free admission to visitors on their birthday.

So about those new routes. Virgin America just started service between San Francisco and John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Meanwhile, Delta has expanded service between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. There are so many sales on domestic air travel this summer, it’s hard to keep track of them all. AirTran (book by May 12), Alaska (book by May 14), Delta (book by May 18), Southwest (book by May 14), United (book by May 14), and Virgin America all have flights on sale to Los Angeles airports. No matter when you book, you can always check the latest domestic airfare deals for your dates.

On the ground, there are more ways to save. Santa Monica has a Sun, Sea, Save promotion that offers travelers a third night free and a variety of free attraction passes when booking at participating Santa Monica hotels. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau lists current L.A. discounts on restaurants, tours, and more. And, Disneyland deals are available directly through the park or via providers such as Expedia and JetBlue.

Dominican Republic

With this many deals and discounts, the Dominican Republic could convincingly rename itself the Deals Republic this summer. But deals aren’t the only reason to consider the DR: Two low-cost airlines are starting new service to the island, and industry publication Travel Weekly named the Dominican Republic the number one Caribbean destination late last year, a testament to its broad travel appeal. However, bear in mind that summer is hurricane season, so if you do plan a Caribbean vacation, be sure to get trip insurance and consider traveling outside of the late August and early September peak storm season.

New service from low-cost carriers puts the Dominican Republic within reach for more travelers. Starting on June 18, Spirit will begin service between Ft. Lauderdale and Santiago, and on June 19, JetBlue kicks off service between Boston and Santo Domingo.

Options abound on the vacation package front. CheapCaribbean.com is offering discounted air-and-hotel packages such as four-nights and airfare from $560 per person (at press time, this deal was set to expire on May 11, but may be extended or replaced by a similar offer). JetBlue had an air-and-three-night package at the Riu Mambo all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata for $405 per person. These are just a few of the vacation deals you should be able to find to the Dominican Republic this summer from online travel agencies and airlines.

At resorts around the island, discounts are the norm this summer. Club Med Punta Cana is offering 50% off the second person on stays of three nights or longer, or free stays for kids 15 and younger for seven-night stays. The Excellence Punta Cana Resort has 15 to 25% off summer rates, and the Puntacana Hotel has 40% off rates to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

National Parks

If you’re within driving distance, on a budget, and enjoy the outdoors, a national park (or state or regional park) can be an ideal summer bargain destination. Accommodations are as cheap as you’ll find them (though you’ll have to pack your own bed … or sleeping bag) and you’ll be surrounded by free activities like hiking, bird watching, and swimming. If everything but the sleeping on the ground sounds good, you can forgo the camping in favor of an in- or out-of-park hotel or motel. However, unless you’re planning on staying at one of the no-reservations campgrounds in a park, don’t wait until the last minute to book your accommodations; this bargain option is one many summer travelers will likely take advantage of this season.

Not sold yet? Here are some numbers that illustrate the sorts of vacation costs you can expect at national parks. At Yellowstone, for example, the entrance fee (good for up to six people) is just $25. Campsites for up to four people range between $12 and $25 per night. And early summer room rates near the park start at $59 per night. If you’re not within road-trip distance of the park, you might consider flying into Salt Lake City, where you’ll be able to take advantage of U.S. summer airfare sales from many major airlines. For more tips, Priceline.com blogger Brian Ek has a detailed and money-saving post on the best way to visit Yellowstone on a budget.

Other parks offer similarly good value. In Yosemite, you’ll pay $20 per car and $14 to $20 for a campsite. And at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, entrance is free and campsites cost between $14 and $23 per night.

Australia

This summer is a particularly good time to save money on an Australia vacation. The U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA) is reporting that travel to Australia is 20% cheaper now than it was a year ago. Plus, competitive pricing from airlines and other promotions such as discounted vacation packages and air passes make Australia an intriguing choice for travelers who can spend a little more but are still on a budget this summer.

The flight time from Los Angeles to Sydney is about the same as between L.A. and Rome. And this summer, it may actually be cheaper to fly to Australia than to Europe. A spot-check of flights from San Francisco in July puts a round-trip flight to Sydney at $763 versus $1,040 to Rome. Even from the East Coast, Australia flights are competitive with airfare to Europe.

Sale fares and vacation packages bring Australia’s affordability into better focus. Qantas is running a sale with round-trip flights between L.A. or San Francisco and Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney from about $620, or from New York starting at $820. V Australia recently ended a similar deal, and may offer more sale fares to stay competitive. Qantas also has a four-city Australia air pass from $999, which allows travelers to visit multiple cities on a single airfare. For $999, the airline has an air-and-hotel package with six nights’ accommodations as well.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville earns top-five status by being an already affordable destination with new low-cost airline service. AirTran will begin flying between Orlando and Asheville starting June 11, with introductory fares of $69 one-way. You might also check flights into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (about an hour and thirty minutes away) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (about two hours away) to compare fares if the lowest price is a priority.

In the Specials and Deals section of ExploreAsheville.com, you’ll find savings such as 50-percent off a second night at the Four Points by Sheraton, $25 per night gas rebate card from the Crowne Plaza, and discounts at museums around town. You can also take advantage of the site’s Asheville budget travel planner, with free activity ideas and more savings opportunities. Plus, Asheville is an ideal jumping-off point for a visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway, known as “America’s Favorite Drive” and a can’t-miss (and free) activity. For more information, the Asheville Travel Blog offers a current look at events and activities in town.

Bonus destinations

Want more budget destination ideas for travel this summer? How about:

• Virginia: To mark the 40th anniversary of the Virginia is for Lovers promotional campaign, Virginia has launched a 40 Off Travel Deals program. Look for $40 off, 40% off, or buy three get the fourth free at participating lodgings and attractions around the state.

• Bermuda: In honor of its 400th birthday, Bermuda is offering visitors staying four nights or more $400 back this summer.

• Scotland: Summer airfare sales and an exchange rate that will save Americans hundreds of dollars compared to years past are just part of the value equation. This year marks Scotland’s Homecoming 2009, a year-long collection of festivals celebrating golf, whisky, Robert Burns, and other Scottish cultural cornerstones. Many events are cheap or free.

• Jamaica: Additional Air Jamaica service from Ft Lauderdale, Orlando, and New York make the Caribbean favorite more accessible this summer. Low-season rates at resorts offer extra affordability.

• U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI): The Sizzlin’ Sampler Package includes a free fourth night, $300 off your vacation, and $100 in gift certificates for stays through October.

• Branson, Missouri: A new airport and service from Sun Country and AirTran make this music and leisure destination easier to get to than ever before.