palm-travel.com

izalgudchic asked:


The guy im dating and I want to take a vacation, but I dont want it to be too expensive…where can we go for a few days and still have fun?

Tonya

Carl asked:


It seems as if Vacation Rentals are becoming more and more popular. With the rise of the world wide web, you are able to communicate with a vacation rental owner anywhere in the world. Years ago your only option was to visit your local travel agent and book a hotel. There were no vacation rental directories or portals in the past. Now you can surf the web for the perfect vacation rental house. No need for a travel agent as you usually negotiate directly with the owner of the property. Since vacation rentals are slowly becoming the preferred method of booking a vacation, I decided to create an article to give renters some tips about finding the perfect vacation rental.

First, let’s define what we are talking about when we say vacation rental. We call it a vacation rental when a renter rents a property directly from the owner (or representative of the owner). The property usually has it’s own kitchen, living room, bedrooms, etc. They come in many shapes and sizes including condos, single family homes, townhouses, cabins, chalets, and more. Vacation rentals are usually near resort locations and activities such as theme parks, beaches, and skiing. A hotel or motel room is not a vacation rental!

What makes vacation rentals different from hotels? The comfort is the main difference. You have all of the same luxuries that you have at home. Most vacation rentals have kitchens and most of the other amenities that you have at home, plus many have additional amenities such as hot tubs, pool tables, etc. With larger groups there is definitely a cost advantage. A 3-bedroom vacation rental usually hosts more visitors than 3 hotel rooms. Make sure to keep this in mind if you do any cost analysis. Also make sure to include meal savings in your analysis since you may not dine out as often in comparison to a hotel vacation. These items alone could be substantial savings.

Imagine this scenario: Yourself and two other families pay a visit to a popular tourist destination. Your touring of the destination is complete for the day at about 3 pm. From 4pm - 6pm you dine together. It’s now 6pm with still some time remaining in the day. If you have a hotel, what do you plan to do? You can waste all of your money at numerous tourist traps (activities such as spending $3, to try to throw a ball into a bucket or $2 to throw a plastic ring around a bottle). With a vacation rental there is no need for that stuff! You can have family game night sitting in a nice comfortable home or take advatage of all the other amenities your rental has to offer. This is why it is important to learn about the amenities of the rental before you enter into a contract. As stated earlier some have hot tubs, pool tables, movies and many other activities.

Tips for Renters:

1. Bookmark as many “vacation Rental” websites as possible. This way when you are searching for a rental, you have all of the portal sites at your fingertips.

2. Always make sure to find out what items are provided and what is not provided by the owner. For example, in some rentals you may need to supply your own linens. It would be unfortunate to show up with no towels/sheets, etc.

3. Always book early. Many of the popular destinations get filled quickly.

4. Check for references if possible. The exception to this rule is if the owner is just starting out.

5. If you enjoyed your trip, try to negotiate a better price for next year. The owner would probably love to start filling his/her calendar for next year.

6. Make sure you have the owner’s contact information with you while on the trip. If there is an emergency, you may need to call.

7. Read the fine print and make sure to read all fine print on any leases or documentation that you are asked to sign. Also, read any fine print on the vacation rental web listing.

8. If you’re trying to save some money, scroll to the bottom of the list. Many vacation rental portal sites have hundreds of listings. Many times, the listings at the bottom of the list are just as good as those at the beginning. The listings at the bottom don’t get as many page views so you may find some better prices and some owner’s looking to fill a quick vacancy.

9. Make sure you ask any questions you may have before making a reservation. Questions about the amenities, pets, smoking/non smoking, handy capped accessibility, and cribs for children are some questions that come to mind.

10. Lastly, have fun on your vacation and please respect the owner’s property and follow all of his/her rules and regulations. Please remember this is someone’s personal property that you are renting.

About the author:

The author is in the business of assisting vacation rental owners in promoting their rental properties. He designed and owns the following vacation rental websites: Jersey Shore Rentals, Beach House Rentals, and Destin Vacation Rentals.



Brittni

Dhiraj Bandurkar asked:


Best Vacation Packages

Planning a vacation ahead with your entire family but don’t have enough time for the tits and bits of planning, then the vacation packages come as a great help in such a situation. You always wanted your vacation to be the best planned with enough time for sight seeing, adventure, recreational activities and most important of them, enough time for relaxation. But if you are on a family vacation and if you are the one who is responsible fro the planning and execution, then you can simply forget the word relaxation from vacation dictionary. This is so because you will always be busy in managing small details which will end up consuming your whole time spoiling your entire vacation.

To give you that edge in successful planning, infact to relieve you of the hectic vacation planning, many travel companies offer hundreds of vacation packages. A vacation package is a completely planned affair of events right from accommodation to sight seeing. The vacation packages are the best way to save on money when you are going with your family for vacations. The vacation packages normally include package cruising, meals and entertainment along with hotel rentals and other major expenses. Although the vacation packages help you to save a considerable amount on your vacations it is advised that you should go through the package deals carefully before paying and get definite information regarding add-ons. The vacation packages help in making a holiday more enjoyable, without having to worry about the small details and their arrangements.

There are many of us who would happily opt for the vacation packages for a specific destination. The reasons behind utilizing the vacation packages are more than one. The majority of travelers who usually are accompanied by the family think that the best way to enjoy vacations is by taking up the vacation packages. Among the top reasons behind the popularity of vacation packages are, first of all it can save you money especially where family is concerned. Secondly the vacation packages add convenience which have every amenity they can think for a perfect holidaying with the family. With the growing popularity of vacation packages you can find hundred of offers which sometimes can actually confuse you while making a choice.

There are many ways of choosing the best vacation package for your favorite tourist destination and one of them is to follow some basic steps. First of all know all about the company offering the vacation package and keep an eye on the fine print before finalizing your vacations package, even if you think you have found the perfect option for you. Many of the vacation packages do not include all the costs which you may have to pay later. Also make sure that you are offered the best quality of food and beverages and the right kind of accommodation as promised. Carefully consider the excursions offered and the schedule of the travel. For the best vacations choose the right vacations package and enjoy with everyone as long as you want.



Willy

Sarah Avery asked:


Have you recently decided that you would like to take a trip to Kauai? If you have, you can rest assure knowing that you will have a great vacation. Kauai is a Hawaiian Island that is not only known for its beauty and its great vacation activities, but Kauai is also known for its beautiful vacation rentals.

If you are interested in booking a stay at a Kauai vacation rental, but if you are also concerned with price, you may take comfort in knowing that many Kauai vacation rentals are affordable. Yes, you will likely find a number of vacation rentals that are out of your price range, but the good news is that it is relatively easy to go about finding and booking a stay at an affordable vacation rental. To help you do so, five helpful tips are outlined below.

1 - Know What You Can Afford

Knowing what you can afford is a great way to find an affordable Kauai vacation rental. What you can afford or what you would like to spend on a vacation rental is important. This is because not everyone has the same views concerning affordability. What you may consider to be an affordable Kauai vacation home may be too expensive for other vacationers. That is why your first step should involve creating a budget for yourself.

When creating a budget for your next Kauai vacation, it is important to examine your other travel arrangements, including your airline reservations and car rental reservations. How much you would like to spend on entertainment should also be a factor, as it will have an impact on the overall cost of your next trip to Kauai.

2 - Use the Internet to Research Kauai Vacation Rentals

When it comes to making your Kauai travel arrangements, you have a number of different options. Many vacationers use the assistance of travel agents, others book their vacation rentals directly through the property owners, and others use the assistance of online travel websites. If you are looking for a quality, yet affordable Kauai vacation rental, you will want to examine online travel websites, namely those that deal specifically with Hawaii vacations and Hawaii vacation rentals.

3 - When Using Online Travel Websites, Search By Price

As previously stated, you can benefit from examining and booking Kauai vacation rentals through online travel websites. Not only are most easy to use, but they are convenient and time saving. When using an online travel website, you should be able to perform a vacation rental search based on a number of factors. Two factors that you will want to focus on include location, which would be Kauai, and your price range, which was touched on above.

When performing a customized search on an online travel website, your Kauai vacation rental results should only include rentals that are located on the great island of Kauai, as well as those that are within your budget. This approach can save you time, as you are able to automatically eliminate vacation rentals that you are unable to afford.

4 - Take All Extra Fees into Consideration

When examining Kauai vacation rentals online, you will find a wealth of information. Most reputable online travel websites will provide you with location, rental fees, features, and much more, including any additional fees. These additional fees are important, as they will have an impact on the overall cost of your Kauai vacation rental and its affordability. Most commonly, you will find a cleaning fee. This fee will likely vary depending on the size of the vacation rental in question.

In addition to additional fees, it is also important to examine security deposits. Most vacation rental property owners do charge security deposits. Although your security deposit will likely be returned to you in full, you should still include this security deposit in with the overall cost of your Kauai vacation.

5 - Be Sure to Examine All of Your Options

Examining all of your options, in terms of Kauai vacation rental types, is another great way to go about finding an affordable Kauai vacation rental for your next trip. What you need to remember is that vacation rentals come in a number of different formats, including Kauai vacation homes, vacation condos, vacation cottages, vacation apartment rentals, and vacation villas. Some of these rental properties are more expensive than others.



Freya

Troy T asked:


This will be our first vacation together and I want to take her someplace fun, yet romantic in the United States. We are planning a 5 day vacation. Any ideas?

Giles

Maria Sanchez asked:


Are you one of the millions of Americans who enjoys playing the game of golf? If so, there is a good chance that you enjoy golfing on the weekends or even after work. Have you ever thought about taking a golf vacation? If you have yet to do so, you may want to think about taking one, particularly in Hawaii. If you are interested in saving money at the same time, you can easily do so with Hawaii vacation golf packages.

Before examining the benefits of Hawaii vacation golf packages, you may want to take the time to learn more about them, namely what they are. After a close examination, you will likely see that Hawaii vacation golf packages are just like traditional vacation packages. Essentially, the only difference between a traditional Hawaii vacation package and a Hawaii vacation golf package is the fact that golf is involved. For instance, instead of booking a stay at a traditional resort, a vacation golf package will likely include overnight accommodations at a resort with an onsite golf course. These Hawaii vacation resorts are sometimes referred to as Hawaii vacation golf resorts. It is also common for free or discounted golf cart rentals and games to be included.

Now that you know exactly what Hawaii vacation golf packages are, you may be thinking about whether or not you should buy one. Honestly, whether or not you can benefit from the purchase of a Hawaii vacation golf package will all depend on your hobbies. For instance, if you enjoy playing the game of golf, you could definitely benefit from the purchase of a Hawaii vacation golf package. The whole point of a Hawaii vacation golf package is to make sure that you enjoy your vacation. If you enjoy playing the game of golf, there is an excellent chance that you could benefit from the purchase of a Hawaii vacation golf package.

In addition to you benefiting, there is a good chance that the rest of your traveling party could also benefit from the purchase of Hawaii vacation golf packages, especially if those that you are traveling with also love the sport of golf. The good news is that it is possible, often with a small amount of research, to find vacation golf packages that even accommodate to those who don’t enjoy golfing. For instance, if you are traveling with your family, there is a chance that some of your family may go for a game of golf, but others may prefer to do something else. In Hawaii it is possible to find Hawaii vacation golf resorts that offer discounts for guest who will not be enjoying the extra golf benefits. This may help to save you, your family, or the rest of your traveling party money.

As previously mentioned, it is possible to save money on your next Hawaii vacation with the purchase of a Hawaii vacation golf package. All vacation packages, including golf packages, are known to save travelers money. However, with a Hawaii vacation golf package, you are given even more chances to save money on your next Hawaii vacation. As it was stated above, there are a number of Hawaii vacation golf packages that include free or discounted golf games and golf cart rentals. If you are planning to spend the majority of your vacation golfing, a vacation golf package can save you a fairly large amount of money. In many cases, you will find that the more you golf, the more money you will end up saving.

If you would like to not only save time, but also save money on your next Hawaii golf vacation, you are urged to, at least, look into Hawaii vacation golf packages. You can easily do this yourself, online, or with the assistance of a travel agent.



Nang

Andy Felke asked:


Are you looking to take a Hawaii vacation? If you are and if you have yet to decide on a destination, you may want to examine Kailua. This popular shorefront town is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. There, you will find an unlimited number of things to do, places to see, as well as places to stay.

Of course, when taking a Kailua vacation, you have the option of staying at a vacation resort or a traditional hotel. While these are both great options, especially when it comes to affordably, you may want to take the time to examine Kailua vacation rentals. Kailua vacation rentals come in a number of different formats and they are ideal for all sorts of travelers. Popular Kailua vacation rentals types that you may want to examine include vacation homes, vacation villas, and vacation apartment rentals.

Since you have a number of different options, when looking to book a stay at a Kailua vacation rental, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed. To reduce the number of vacation rentals you need to examine, you may first want to decide whether you want to rent a vacation home, apartment or villa. With that in mind, this is not necessary to do. There are a number of factors that you can quickly take into consideration, which should enable you to examine a large number of Kailua vacation rentals in a relatively short period of time.

One of the many factors that you will want to look at, when quickly examining all Kailua vacation rentals, is the view. Many vacationers want to experience all that Hawaii has to offer, namely its beauty. What better way to do so than with a vacation rental that gives you a view of the ocean, the Oahu mountains or a combination of them both. Even with vacation rentals that do not provide you with ocean or mountain views, you may find a scenic patio or garden view.

In keeping with the view, you will also want to quickly examine the appearance of all Kailua vacation rentals that you come across. While beauty and appearance may not be of great important to you, it is still something that should be examined. It is important that you choose a Kailua vacation home, villa, or apartment rental that you feel safe and comfortable in. When examining appearance, you can easily do so with pictures, although all detailed descriptions should be properly examined.

Size is another important factor that you will want to quickly examine, when looking for a Kailua vacation rental. What is nice is that many online travel websites outline on their main pages how many bedrooms a specific Kailua vacation home, villa, or apartment has. This means that you shouldn’t have to spend minutes weeding through long descriptions just to make sure that the vacation rental in question is able to accommodate you and all of your guests.

Ratings are another great way to quickly examine Kailua vacation rentals. Many reputable travel websites will allow internet users to rate rentals that they have stayed at. If you are able to review these ratings, you can easily get a good idea as to whether or not the rental in question is right for you. With that in mind, it is important to remember that you may have different tastes than those doing the ratings.

Perhaps, the most important factor to take into consideration, when examining Kailua vacation rentals, is your preferences. In fact, you may even want to sit down and decide what you want to get out a vacation rental or what you want or need to have before you start your searching. For instance, would you like a Kailua vacation home that comes with a swimming pool or high-speed internet access?

The above mentioned points are all points that can help you quickly examine Kailua vacation rentals. While it is okay to quickly examine all vacation rentals to narrow down your list, it is important that you take the time to thoroughly examine a vacation rental before making any reservations. Make sure that your chosen rental is beautiful, stocked full of features you want or need to have, the right size, as well as the right price.



Tavis

Andre Best asked:


Arizona Vacation Safety - Stay AWARE to Stay SAFE by Andre D. Best

Why? To save yourself grief. And pain. ENSURE your Arizona vacation safety. Learn about safety issues NOT found in the travel brochures or vacation websites.

You see, when on vacation in Arizona there are a few things that one should be aware of when visiting here. These are the type of things that you won’t read about in those slick brochures you find in the travel agent’s office.

These are the only things that one will learn about by living here for an extended period of time.

Let’s face it. It’s a real downer to not have a safe vacation. It’s not fun to spend a night in the local emergency room with the kids when they get sick from eating some bad local food or have an accident. Not fun indeed.

But, these vacation safety tips I’m going to share are not about the infrequent accidents that do happen on vacation. The vacation safety tips I’ll be sharing here involve things that are totally preventable.

As long as one is aware of them first.

So, let’s get started with vacation safety tips that’ll help you have a safer vacation here in Arizona.

1. The first of these vacation safety tips is for you to be aware of where you go when you’re vacationing in Phoenix. Phoenix is a big place and like most big cities it has areas of the city that are not too upscale.

Now, what are you to do about this?

Well, just realize that there are certain places within a big city like Phoenix that one should be extra careful about visiting.

If you find yourself in a part of town that has a lot of run-down houses, properties with garbage strewn around them, and abandoned cars parked along the streets - then common sense should tell you that these neighborhoods are not too safe.

Trust that instinct. I’d suggest you find other areas of the city to visit or drive around.

You see, Phoenix has, in my opinion, a high crime rate.

I moved here from Canada twelve years ago. What truly shocked me when I moved here was that Phoenix had more murders occur in two months than where I used to live had in a year. And I lived in, at the time, the ‘murder capital of Canada’.

So, just do yourself a favor with this vacation safety tip and stay aware of your surroundings. If it doesn’t look like a good place to be - it probably isn’t.

Trust your gut and get out of there.

2. The second of these vacation safety tips involves somewhat of a local health issue. I’ll explain…

The entire metropolitan Phoenix area is located within a large valley. It’s surrounded by mountains and mountain ranges. And within this valley is a certain type of ‘bug’ that lives in the soil.

Actually, this bug issue is similar to most other country’s bugs (e.g. Canada’s Beaver Fever bug, Mexico’s ‘don’t drink the water’ type bug) because it’s a bug indigenous to Arizona.

And what does this bug do? It wreaks havoc on a persons health when a vacationing visitor is infected with it. In our case, this bug causes what is known as Valley Fever.

And how does one get infected with Valley Fever? By breathing in the microscopic spores that make up this nasty bacteria.

And what does this bacteria do to a person when breathed in? Well, it can cause flu-like symptoms that grow all the way up to pneumonia, internal bleeding, and very, very rarely… death (gulp).

Now, I’m NOT trying to scare you. So don’t go cancelling your vacation plans to Phoenix…

….Because we need your sales tax revenues.

You see, this Valley Fever bug usually only becomes a problem when a person who hasn’t had Valley Fever comes in contact with it.

And a person comes in contact with it by breathing the bug in.

And the bug is found in soils that are not old and dried out, but rather soils that are newly disturbed.

So, how can you protect yourself with regards to this vacation safety tip? Easy.

Do all you can to stay away from soil disturbing activities.

* Like to visit new construction sites on your vacations? * Like to do local gardening? * Like to take up archaeology as a hobby when you’re on vacation?

One word of advice… DON’T.

Essentially, don’t go digging around places or near digging activities that you shouldn’t be around. At least not while on vacation here in Phoenix.

I know, I know, why would you go on one of your southwest vacations in Arizona just to dig in the soil, right? Silly me.

Well, just so you know. I got Valley Fever the first year I moved here. It progressed on to walking pneumonia and left scars on my lungs. I was lucky that that’s all that happened to me.

And what was I doing to be exposed to the bug? Just some simple landscaping in my desert landscaped yard.

See? It doesn’t take much.

So, just do your vacation planning while keeping this vacation safety tip in mind. Let’s not have you getting sick on us. Okay?

3. The last of these vacation safety tips applies to most of Arizona. This one is about bugs too. But this is about a different type of bug.

The real thing…

Scorpions and Black Widows.

Why is this one of our vacation safety tips? Because these little critters can be a nasty safety issue when you vacation here and get bitten by one of them.

You see, these two bugs are extremely common here in the state. Not quite as common as cockroaches, but almost. Why? Because it’s a desert here and they’re desert creatures.

They like the heat and they like dark cozy places. So, when you vacation Arizona just be aware that these little critters do like to live in places that the kids may go probing around in. Don’t let them do that.

Keep probing hands away from dark crevices both inside and outside the house, rental, villa, hotel or apartment.

And if someone does get bit, err on the side of caution and call the local poison control center ASAP and ask for help.

Oh, and by the way, unlike the Hollywood horror movie depictions, these bugs are NOT half the size of a horse. They’re SMALL. Black widows are maybe half an inch long. And scorpions get ‘as big as’ two inches. But… scorpions are FAST. And both can HURT you big time.

So, please ensure vacation safety for your family. Stay away from places these critters habitate. And when you get up in the dark in the middle of the night to get a drink of water - wear slippers. Just in case.

So, to sum up…

Don’t get paranoid about these vacation safety tips.

Go vacation.

Have fun. Just keep your eyes open to possible vacation safety concerns. Simple, right?.

Anyway, I hope these vacation safety tips prove helpful to you. Do have a safe trip here to Arizona. Just improve your vacation safety by ensuring you remember these vacation safety tips I’ve shared with you.

Good luck.



Kaylyn

Ben Jordan asked:


Coastal vacation scam artists take people’s money with promises of phony vacations. Many of these offers use words like “cheap Hawaiian vacation” to lure travelers.

Most people dream of taking a coastal vacation. They may hope for a cheap Hawaiian vacation package or dream of a coastal vacation resort weekend.

But many coastal vacation scams disguise themselves as legitimate offers. Police report an increase in coastal vacation scams in recent years.

The Internet spawned a new breed of coastal vacation scam artist wanting to cheat honest consumers out of their money. Anyone who types in cheap Hawaiian vacation package into a “Google” search engine will find over one million his.

The Federal Trade Commission reported 3,600 consumers scammed in 2002, amounting to $3.5 million. How can consumers tell the difference between a coastal vacation scam and an honest cheap vacation package?

1. Many people operating coastal vacation scams will ask for a credit card or other financial information early in the conversation. Many of these so-called vacation companies want consumers to give their financial information online for a “cheap Hawaiian vacation.”

The desire by the company to receive financial information before the consumer feel comfortable doing so should indicate a red flag and a possible coastal vacation scam.

Many cases of identity fraud started with coastal vacation scams. Consumers receive their bank or credit card statements and find that in addition to their “cheap Hawaiian vacation,” charges of cash advances and purchases of high-dollar merchandise.

Consumers who fall prey to identity fraud should contact their local law enforcement immediately about the coastal vacation scam.

2. The company operating coastal vacation scams will offer the consumer very little details about the planned trip. The person on the other line, on the phone or on the Internet, will offer constant assurances the hotel in the cheap Hawaiian vacation package features Oceanside views, luxuries rooms and private balconies—very broad descriptions.

The “seller” of the coastal vacation scam may claim they stayed there many times but cannot give specifics.

The company asks the consumer not to contact the hotel or resort directly about the vacation package, another sign of a coastal vacation scam.

If the consumer cannot confirm the reservations with the hotel directly, the consumer should look elsewhere for a cheap Hawaiian vacation. Consumers should get the details and take charge of their coastal vacation and not fall prey to coastal vacation scams.

3. Coastal vacation scam artists use word like “free” or “vacation offer.” Often these so-called “offers” include a daylong presentation before families can use their free tickets–a common coastal vacation scam technique.

If consumers cannot see the islands on their cheap Hawaiian vacation and must sit through lengthy presentations, the vacation may not seem so “cheap.”

4. The Better Business Bureau and other government agencies maintain lists of coastal vacation scams. Smart consumers check these lists and report any contact by these coastal vacation scam artists.

One of the more popular ruses offers a cheap Hawaiian vacation or a cheap family vacation package.

Fear of a coastal vacation scam should not keep consumers from seeking out great vacation deals, like a cheap Hawaiian vacation.

Many companies offer legitimate family vacation packages and an honest travel incentive program that saves families even more money on their vacation costs. Coastal vacation scams should not discourage travelers.



Manoj

Derrick G asked:


When it is two weeks paid vacation, does that mean 14 whenever vacation days, along with thanksgiving, christmas, labor day, and the 4th of july? How do you handle sick days - are they counted as vacation days?

Rocky