Alternative Spring Break Destinations
Believe it or not, Spring Break, or March Break, isn’t all about partying the night away anymore. Many college students are now opting to partake in alternative Spring Break trips. Alternative Spring Break can still mean sun, sand and surf, but usually involves volunteer work or travel to a remote destination clear of bikini clad co-eds, making the week without classes very rewarding and relaxing experience for all participants.
Students can find information about alternative Spring Break volunteer programs directly from their college or university outreach programs. In addition to programs affiliated with a college or university, numerous private organizations offer alternative Spring Break programs. They are moderately priced and usually include room and board and transportation at the destination in the program cost.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
If you’re interested in a relaxing spring break at a sunny location, but want to skip the co-ed wet tee shirt contests, check out Playa del Carmen, Mexico. A calm, yet beautiful alternative to the crazy Mexican spring break destination of Cancun, Mexico. A popular destination port for cruise ships, Playa del Carmen offers all-inclusive hotels each featuring daily activities for students and families alike, travel opportunities to secluded beaches and local restaurants. If you arrive and Playa turns out to be too relaxing for your taste, Cancun is only an hour away and transportation is available by shuttle.
Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an international nonprofit organization. Habitat works with local donors and volunteers, experience not necessary, to build sustainable housing for families in need. With locations throughout the United States, students have the opportunity to travel domestically during spring break, volunteering and interacting with locals while simultaneously exploring a new city. Additionally, Habitat for Humanity offers volunteer opportunities internationally in countries such as Myanmar, China and the US Gulf Coast. For more information about this alternative Spring Break, visit their website.
For a Spring Break that doesn’t include a two-week hangover, check out alternative Spring Break destinations. Your wallet, liver, and conscience will thank you.
Read More»Top 10 Wedding Travel Destinations
A destination wedding is not only the dream of many women, but also that of men too. They just don’t know it. When you think about it, a destination wedding usually means less people, less small talk, and more fun. Destination weddings will also save you the stress of that recurring nightmare you have of miss your flight for your honeymoon and having to skip the whole thing. Here is the top 10 wedding travel destinations which will help cross destination off your growing to-do list.
1. Paris, France
Nothing brings out the sparkle in your sweetheart’s eyes like the city of lights. Arguably one of the most romantic destinations in the world, we just couldn’t leave it off the list. Want to up the ante? Get married in a castle, they’re all over France and they all are unique and amazing in their own ways.
2. Riviera Maya, Mexico
Aside from the views, what makes this spot particularly convenient for wedding-goers is the large amounts of all-inclusive resorts which make accommodations a breeze. The wedding party and their guests can rest assured that the only thing they’ll need to worry about is what fun activity to do next.
3. Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Another destination where you can get married in a castle, this time with a little less historical significance and a little more magic. Theme weddings at Disney allow fairy-tale dream weddings to become a reality, with everything from carriage rides to professional actors.
4. Venice, Italy
You don’t have to speak a romance language to enjoy the naturally romantic atmosphere of Venice. Whether you relax in an Italian villa or explore the city’s rich history and follow it with a gondola ride, there’s no doubt you’ll succumb to the charm of the city.
5. Bermuda
Everywhere you turn, an incredible view and pink-sand beaches await you. Besides the incredible opportunities for relaxation, you’re also guaranteed to have no complaints about the back drop for your wedding photos.
6. Oahu, Hawaii
With lush mountainscapes just minutes from vibrant city life, Oahu offers something for everyone. Whether you opt for a simple beach wedding or a luxurious big wedding at a world-famous resort, you and your guests won’t be disappointed.
7. Sydney, Australia
As the capital of New South Wales, the harbor city has a lot to offer, especially if the art scene is your thing. Besides the obvious Sydney Opera House, several museums and art galleries will make sure you get your art fix for years to come.
8. Edinburgh, Scotland
Thirteenth century castles and rolling green hills will leave you feeling like a king and queen of the land. Even though you’ll feel like your hundreds of miles away from your worries, you’ll be just a few miles away from the convenience of the city.
9. Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Ideal for any season, Massachusetts offers beautiful fall foliage in autumn and warm quaint beach and lighthouse scenes in the summer and spring. Take your pick of scenery, as Martha’s Vineyard offers 7 lighthouses and over 127 miles of shoreline for your choosing.
10. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
About as close as you can get to a wedding in paradise, Punta Cana is home to bright blue waters and pristine white sands. Add this to the one-of-a-kind character provided by the locals, and you’ll have an event to remember.
No matter where you go, the most important part of planning a destination wedding is that your destination matches the couple’s personality. It’s all any guest can ask to see their loved ones happy, and knowing the event was tailored to the lovebirds’ every whim will accomplish just that.
Read More»Hot Travel Deals On A Budget
Hot Budget Travel Deals For 2010
If your New Year’s resolution was to keep better track of finances, more power to you. Not only did you start your financially vigilant year off at the stoke of midnight on a day that boasts the most inflated prices on everything, from dinner to drinks, and even getting into a bar ($40 cover…really?). You’re also starting your journey following one of the hardest-hit fiscal years in decades.
Even a fiscally-minded, impressively-disciplined, hard-working person like yourself needs a break, and here comes the good news.
It just so happens a bad economy can lead to great travel deals, especially in luxury markets such as travel. Suddenly, those vacation plans aren’t looking so unattainable.
While many travel experts admit that deals in 2010 aren’t going to be quite as astonishing as those of 2009, there are still several deals to be had as marketers in the travel industry try to get people to vacation again.
United is running a deal starting at $694. which not only includes round trip airfare from select locations, but also includes free accommodations for three nights and three days’ worth of tickets to Disney theme parks when you book using the promo code “GIFT.” With a deal like that, it sure does sound like the happiest place on earth.
For those looking for a more relaxing adventure, there are several options. Granted, going the beach route in spring is not traditionally the cheapest way to go. On top of that, if you don’t watch where you go, you could end up amongst a bunch of rowdy college kids. If that scene’s not your cup of tea, don’t worry, there are other options. CheapCaribbean.com has a special that runs through the middle of February that offers round-trip airfare as well as a five-night stay at the Coral Costa Caribe Resort in the Dominican Republic, along with included activities, all for under $500.
Want to ditch the rules for a few days? There’s only one place to do it, and at the moment, you can do it dirt cheap in Las Vegas. A package deal from FunJet Vacations will get you a round-trip flight, as well as a two night hotel stay starting at $159 through March 29. And with luck you could win the cost of your vacation back with only a few rounds of blackjack.
There you have it, with a little diligence you really can have it all, a well-kept budget, the vacation of your choice, and money left over for those tacky souvenirs you know will only end up in a shoebox, but can’t help but purchase anyway.
Read More»Top Valentines’ Vacation Spots
Top Spots to Take a Valentines’ Vacation
Valentine’s day is the prefect time to plan a vacation. Your coworkers most likely used all their vacation days on family oriented holidays, so why not plan a romantic escape with just you and your significant other? February is a cold time of year in many places, but if you plan your trip around the weather of your destination you are sure to have a good time.
Many cruises have specials just for Valentine’s Day. The Caribbean is nice year round, and would be a great choice. There are a few places that they leave from, but Miami would be a great place to spend a few nights as well. You can choose a trip that lasts anywhere from three to ten days, or more ,depending on how long you are looking to relax. They usually stop at a few ports, depending on the length of your stay, but nobody will force you to leave your room. If you do choose to head to shore, you can do things like shop, scuba, golf, take tours of the local area, or just relax on the beach, among other things. The possibilities are endless on a cruise, as long as you don’t mind traveling by ship.
If you are worried about getting seasick but still want to relax on the beach, Hawaii is a great destination. There are many islands to pick from, but all are beautiful. You can stay in a crowded area and meet new people, or choose or a more secluded resort for a more intimate setting. Hawaii has some of the best beaches in the world, with some of the nicest scenery you can imagine. You can tour the local wildlife, or even visit any one of the three active volcanoes on the islands. The islands also offer a nice sunrise or sunset view over the ocean, which any mainlander is sure to appreciate. There are many world class restaurants on the islands if you are looking for a once in a lifetime dinner. If you are looking for nightlife, there is live music and entertainment to be had just about every night of the week on the islands.
February is the perfect time of year to head to Las Vegas if you are looking to take a chance. The weather should never go above the mid sixties which can’t be beat when you are looking to visit a desert destination. If you are looking to see nature for a bit while on your stay, the Grand Canyon is not far away and is sure to have a great view at sunset. Vegas is meant to attract tourists from the world over, so there is one of the largest collections of resort hotels in one area. You can stay in a giant pyramid at the Luxor, visit an indoor rain forest at the Mirage, or enjoy a great view of the strip at night from the Eiffel Tower in Paris Las Vegas.
If you looking for winter weather feel free to head to Aspen or the Alps, but to me Valentine’s Day is best spent in warmer climates after dealing with winter at home. Wherever you choose to vacation, make sure you bring the one you care about and be prepared to have a great time.
More naughty Valentine’s Day gift ideas and much more please visit the sex and relationship section on GKMen.
Read More»Biggest New Year’s Eve Parties Ever
The Biggest New Year’s Eve Parties in the World
Some of the craziest parties happen on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is the favorite excuse for every large city to throw a party. We have identified some of the largest parties from all over the world.
There are many incredible ways to celebrate the New Year, including the following ten:
10 – Bangkok: Bangkok, Thailand offers a 52-foot tall Greeting Ball Tower signaling the arrival of the New Year. More than 500,000 revelers come together so that they may all join hands with one another to count down the coming of the New Year.
9 – Berlin: Despite the fact that the temperatures are close to freezing at this time of year, Berliners take this opportunity to host a completely open-air bash for New Year’s Eve, and the city says to have the largest New Year’s Eve party in the entire world. Approximately one million people gather in a quarter-mile long stretch to celebrate the New Year.
8 – Cape Town: In Cape Town, the party starts on the 2nd of January rather than the 1st, as Twseede Nuwe Jaar, the Second New Year, is hosted on this day. Crowds of greater than eighty thousand people gather, clad in face paint and bright colors for this vibrant and colorful celebration.
7 – Edinburgh: Here you will find the Scottish night lights, a four day long festival known as Hogmanay. Indie rockers gather for New Year’s Eve, blasting music into the streets and performing at Princes Street Gardens. There is also a Scottish traditional party where a piper plays and locals dance, known as a ceilidh.
6 – Hong Kong: There is a waterfront promenade known as Tsim Sha Tsui that provides an excellent vantage point for watching the fireworks which are launched above the tallest building in the entire city at midnight. Shining Star Ferry offers a two hour long cruise across Victoria Harbor which provides an excellent place to ring in the New Year.
5 – Las Vegas: There is no doubt that Vegas provides one of the biggest parties of the year as the entire city is lit up with events, lights and more. There are performances by famous musicians, a variety of parties, fireworks and Tribute Palooza which entails bands imitating major musicians all night long.
4 – New Orleans: The party in New Orleans involves a spotlit gumbo pot which drops down from Jax Brewery when midnight rolls around, prompting a bar crawl that lasts the entire night and spreads through the entire French Quarter.
3 – Reykjavik: The law in Iceland allows for what is essentially a free-for-all with fireworks, turning the city into a truly raucous play land. Folk songs and bonfires are scattered across the city and local clubs and bars open up at midnight.
2 – Rio de Janeiro: More than two million partiers fill the 2.5 mile long stretch of the famous Copacabana Beach. Everyone is decked out in white and white gladioli and red roses are offered to Iemanja, who is a goddess of the water and this kicks off a night-long whirlwind of live concerts and dancing commences.
1 – Sydney: Because of its geographical location, Sydney is one of the first cities to ring in the New Year. Pyrotechnics are synched up with colorful lighting on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
For more great articles about New Year’s eve parties and much more please visit the Travel section.
Read More»Traveling On a Budget in the New Year
New Year’s Eve Travel Tips on a Budget
Looking for a party on New Year’s Eve, but just don’t think you’ll have enough cash to travel somewhere? Think again. Believe it or not, travel rates are decreasing due to the low booking rates on cruise ships and airlines due to the recession. If you are looking to escape the cold winter New Year’s Eve party this year, then you need to look at these great New Year’s Eve travel tips for a tight budget. Before you know it, you could be boarding a flight wearing a pair of sandals.
If you want to get the best deal online, your best bet is going to be the internet. There are plenty of online travel sites that are giving away airline tickets and hotel packages at rock bottom prices. If you can look quickly for these deals, and book ahead of time, you are going to save a lot of money. The only snag that you may run into is a limited amount of flights leaving on the busiest travel days, but if you travel on an “off day” you can increase your chances of a new destination to celebrate the New Year.
Another tip that you might need is simply choosing a location. Look at currency rates and find out which countries will have the best vacation areas with the best exchange rates for your currency. There are some people who travel down to Mexico for the parties, and they thrive on the cheap beer, food and hotel rooms. You just need to think about where you want to go and what you’ll want to do while you are there. Your activities will affect your budget, so make sure that you plan for that as well.
If you have a larger group traveling with you, you can take advantage of the group rates that are available. These rates can be found online as well, and they will generally accommodate groups that are composed of 10 people or more. Group travel is typically better when you’re on a budget, because everyone can pitch in and enjoy great vacation locations, and even vacation home rentals. You may even want to check online classifieds to find out if anyone is renting out an empty home for New Year’s Eve. Renting out homes is more common than you may think, and it will help save you money.
There are other ways to save money when you travel. Try to eat smaller meals when you dine out, and take advantage of any free meals you can get from your stay at the hotel. From there, make sure to see the sights and have as much fun as you possibly can this New Year’s. Just because you do not have a lot of cash coming in, does not mean that you cannot get out of your ice cold hometown for the season. Just use these great New Year’s Eve travel tips that will have you counting down to midnight with cash left in your pocket!
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