Vacations for Animal Lovers

There are ways to work your love of animals into your next vacation. You can use a vacation to help animals in need, or spend your time off watching animals if you’d rather not go for the “hands-on” approach.

Volunteer vacations give animal lovers a chance to get up close and personal with creatures that they only see on TV or in zoo enclosures. If you’re interested in a volunteer vacation, consider lending a helping hand at organizations such as Farm Sanctuary, with locations in New York and California. Farm Sanctuary provides refuge to cows, pigs, chickens, goats, turkeys and the like. Volunteers perform tasks such as cleaning enclosures and get to spend time with rescued farm animals. Seeking a volunteer experience at a more far-flung locale? Encosini Eco Experience offers a number of volunteer wildlife conservation programs at game reserves and sanctuaries in Africa. Projects include feeding cheetah cubs and tagging fish species.

For those who’d rather just watch, opportunities abound to view animals either in their native habitats or in zoos. The World Wildlife Fund, or WWF, sponsors a number of domestic and international tours to locations including Wyoming’s Big Bend National Park and an excursion to Southern India & The Maldives.

If you want to go to a zoo, consider the Philadelphia Zoo–the nation’s first zoo is home to more than 1300 animals. In Washington, D.C., the National Zoo houses some 2,000 animals and is a leader in giant panda conservation and breeding efforts. On the West Coast, more than 4,000 animals call the San Diego Zoo home–visitors can also visit the Zoo’s Wild Animal Park to see rhinos, gazelles and giraffes roam in herds on 1,800 protected acres.

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Renew Your Vows in Mexico

Renewing vows is a special occasion that can be as exciting yet harrowing as your wedding day. How exciting would it be to renew your vows in a foreign location such as Mexico? With breathtaking sunsets and pristine beaches, Mexico is a top destination for tourists and you can easily renew your vows there for a one-of-a-kind experience.

Choose a city in Mexico. There are many locations in Mexico that offer wedding packages and most all of them include renewal of vows. Check with the different resorts in places like Cozumel, Cancun, Playa Del Carman and Belize. It’s an excellent idea to check online reviews before you start. That way you have a heads up on what others have experienced and can avoid places where others have had issues or problems.

Once you determine a location, inquire about costs and package deals. Most resorts that offer weddings will have a variety of options to choose from such as whether or not you’ll have guests, if you want to include food or a cake, decorations and ceremony length. You can make your vow renewal an extravagant affair or a simple ceremony that is perfect for all budgets. The concierge at the resort might even be able to recommend someone to create you a piece of designer jewelry for the ring.

If you feel that a package deal is too expensive, find an officiate. Usually you can find a Justice of the Peace or an officiate at a resort to perform the ceremony. Since you are already married, there is less paperwork and legal documents. You will obviously have to bring your marriage license but otherwise, there are no legal documents that have to be completed.

Include your travel arrangements in your budget. Since you are traveling to another country you’ll have to include your travel plans and this can be the biggest part of your budget. A best case scenario is if you have already planned your trip and have decided to renew your vows while in Mexico. In that case all you have to add is the ceremony and whatever package you choose.

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Napa Valley Wine Tours

Napa Valley is a popular destination for wine enthusiasts. The region is home to some of the world’s best vineyards. Napa’s proximity to San Francisco makes it an ideal destination for a day excursion.

-Wine Country Tour Shuttle takes visitors across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge en route to Napa Valley. Guests make a stop for a wine tasting at Domaine Chandon, and then enjoy a picnic lunch before visiting two additional wineries in the valley. The tour culminates with a cruise of the San Francisco Bay; the cruise provides guests with a great vantage point for photographs of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz island.

-Viator Tours offers tours to Napa Valley and Sonoma. The tour is eco-friendly; the company uses minivans and buses powered by biodiesel fuel. The itinerary includes a visit to a family vineyard that uses organic farming methods. In addition, guests get to sample wines at up to six wineries in the Napa Valley area while on the 9-hour tour. Guests are picked up and dropped off at their respective hotels.

-All San Francisco Tours also offers a 9-hour tour of Napa Valley. Guests visit two area wineries, and a sparkling wine house where they get to sample vintage wines. Guests enjoy a picnic lunch that overlooks the vineyards, if the weather permits. The tours are led by drivers who discuss the winemaking process to guests; tours can be conducted in Italian, French and German for foreign visitors upon request.

-Napa Wine Tours offers tours of Napa Valley via bus or limo for its guests. Limo tours can accommodate up to 14 passengers; and the tour includes wine tastings and lunch in Sonoma. Guests visit wineries large and small during the tour.

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Helpful Things to Pack in a Carry-On Bag

Whether you are taking a cruise or flying to a travel destination, carry-on bags are essential in having everything you need when you need it because unlike luggage, you will have your carry-on bag with you at all times. When you get to your room on a cruise ship or to your hotel room after a flight, your carry-on bag has all of your essentials in case of wait times on luggage for your cruise or lost luggage after your flight.

A few of the most important things to keep in your carry-on and with you at all times are passports, identification and medication. These are items that will be needed at any given time and if you don’t carry a purse or aren’t with someone who does, a carry-on bag is perfect for these items. Medication is especially important since it has to be taken at a certain time typically and you won’t have to wait for your baggage to arrive. Even if you don’t require medication it’s a good idea to take various types of OTC items such as aspirin or pain relievers and medications for an upset stomach. If you are flying, these items if in liquid form, are required to be in small sizes but this is where sample sized items are perfect. These can be found at any large retail store or grocery store. They’re also perfect for trips since they don’t take up a lot of room.

Toiletries are another type of carry-on necessity. You may want to freshen up after your journey and while most hotels and cabins have the basics, you will still have access to your own toothbrush, soap, cologne or perfume, and other toiletries that you need. Sample sizes are also available in toiletries so that you have more room in your carry-on bag for other necessities such as a cell phone charger, hair brush or comb and contact information or itineraries.

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Budget Travel Tips

Want to save money on your next vacation? Try these helpful tips:

1. Baggage fees are costly. Try to avoid checking bags as much as possible. If you can’t book your flight with carriers such as JetBlue (first checked bag free) or Southwest which does not charge for checked baggage, you can still save money by seeking out carriers which spread out the charges for checking multiple bags. In some cases, shipping your baggage to the hotel ahead of time will be cheaper than the total cost of baggage fees.

2. To save on airfare, read the fine print. That low fare may seem like a great deal, but if you look closely at the additional fees and charge, that great deal may not be so great anymore. Examples of additional fees include U.S. Security Fees (up to $10) and Federal Excise Tax of 7.5 percent.

3. Cruising? You can save up to 50 percent on the cost of a cruise by traveling during off-peak times. Select an inside cabin for even more savings, and don’t buy packages that include airfare. You’ll save by purchasing airline tickets separately.

4. If you’re flying overseas, you can save money by not traveling on major holidays if possible. It’s also in your advantage to fly on weekdays instead of weekends and be open to book a flight to a location near your destination–the savings will often be more than enough to cover the cost of a shuttle or taxi to your destination city.

5. When traveling to major metropolitan areas, there are a few things you can do to make your dollar go further. Buy a transit pass, some cities offer one- or two-day passes perfect for travelers. Go to free attractions that are frequented by the locals. And for those tourist destinations that require tickets? Go online and get tickets in advance–it’ll save you money and lengthy waits in line.

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Galapagos Vacations

The Galapagos Islands is home to more than 9,000 animal species. Some of these species won’t be found anywhere else in the world. It was on Galapagos that Charles Darwin carried out the research that laid the foundation for evolutionary theory. Visitors to the Galapagos see a wide variety of animals, as well as beautiful beaches and volcanoes that lend to the island chain’s popularity for nature/adventure travelers. Activities available to Galapagos vacationers include camping, hiking and snorkeling. Many trips start in Ecquador, from there guests take a short flight to reach the Galapagos Islands.

-Celebrity Cruises to the Galapagos expose guests to activities such as snorkeling and bird watching. They also get to see green turtles lay their eggs at Las Bachas. On a seven-day cruise to Galapagos, travelers can partake in local cuisine, go shopping and take nature hikes. Packages are inclusive, with room service, food and beverages as well as gratuities.

-Lindblad Expeditions hosts a 10-day adventure trip to Galapagos. Guests get a cahnce to go snorkeling and hiking. They also visit locations such as Espanola, home to an albatross species that can’t be found anywhere except on the island. Lindblad tours are staffed with expert guides that can answer guests’ questions about the wildlife encountered during the tour. Travelers’ home base during the trip is an expedition ship equipped with a library and lounge. The ship also has kayaks and gear for snorkeling.

-Amazing Galapagos tours kick off on the island’s Charles Darwin Research Center. There, guests attend an orientations session. While on a 4, 5, or 8-day tour, guests can enjoy hiking, mountain biking and snorkeling. They get to see the animals that have made the islands famous, such as giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies.

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Get the Best Out of Your Hotel Stay

When taking a vacation or traveling to a different location you’ll most likely utilize a hotel during your stay. It’s a good idea to know the ins and outs of getting the best out of your hotel visit.

One of the most important things to remember is to get all of the information you can on the individual hotel. This includes cancellation fees (if applicable), deposits if needed, location of your room and check in and check out times. These may sound like obvious things to know but sometimes it is the most simple things that can cause issues later on.

Emergencies can always crop up due to no fault of your own. It’s imperative to find out if you will lose a deposit if you have to cancel your hotel stay. Some Internet deals will have very fine print stating that rooms booked online with a particular special are subject to a cancellation fee or in some cases, the loss of your entire deposit. Even if you don’t see this stated, it is a good idea to call ahead to be sure before you give out your credit card information.

Make sure you find out about loss prevention as well. When you fill out the paperwork to retrieve your room, most hotels will state that they are not responsible for lost items. This can come back to haunt you if you leave a piece of jewelry or something expensive in your room and go back later to get it or file a claim. It may be in the lost and found at the hotel but if not, the hotel is not required to compensate you. Some may do it on good faith if they know that the item was lost but most of the time it is going to be your word against theirs and you most likely have already signed the paperwork stating that you are aware of this.

Simply use good judgment and always get the facts before you book so that your vacation or travel experience is the best that it can be.

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