You have probably heard the term "all-inclusive" applied to cruises every so often. Sure, a voyage at sea is one of the best values around, because all major expenses (lodging, meals, snacks, activities and entertainment) are included. However, there are some items, mostly of a personal or optional nature, that are out-of-pocket expenses. And those extra purchases can quickly run up your bill on a supposedly "all-inclusive" cruise.
With some planning, you can keep your cruise expenses down.
Beverages
On most ships, alcohol, soda and bottled water aren't free, and the barrage to indulge starts as soon as you board, with offers like the Drink of the Day. Although cruise lines ban you from bringing your own booze, most let you pack soda and bottled water. You might also save money with an unlimited drinks package. For free booze, grab a cocktail at the captain's parties, and, if you buy a bottle of wine, drink half and have it corked for the next night. If you chug soda, find out if your ship offers soda packages that feature unlimited sodas during the cruise.
Gratuities
Tips for the crew who keep your accommodations clean and make sure you're well fed are now typically automatically added to your shipboard bill at a rate of $10 to $12 per passenger, per day, depending on the line. Bar bills might also include an automatic 15 percent gratuity. That's a substantial addition to your cruise costs. Although you probably won't want to scrimp here, you can adjust the amounts up or down at the purser's desk.
Shore Excursions
Booking shore excursions through a cruise line is easy. But these tours, which run from $29 to $150 and higher, are priced to make money for the cruise lines. Planning can pay off. It's nearly always cheaper to book through an independent local operator and to use taxis or other local transportation for trips to the beach.
Alternative Dining and Treats
You'll find plenty of selections in the ship's dining rooms and casual buffets. But the lines also offer alternative, gourmet venues which cost an additional $10 to $75. Eliminate this as a hidden cost by budgeting accordingly for a special night out or planning to forego it altogether. And watch those extra charges for name-brand ice cream, specialty coffee drinks like espresso, and other treats.
The Spa
Spas on most ships aren't cheap. Those who pay $22 for a pedicure at home will be shocked by a $70 shipboard tab and a 50-minute massage will run at least $119. Look for spa specials on port days. Beware, too, of extra charges for some fitness classes.
Photos and Camera Equipment
Cruise travelers are often lured into dropping big bucks at the onboard photo gallery, where an 8x10 photo can easily cost $20 or more. Buying additional batteries, memory cards and other camera supplies will not only cost you more money than they do back home, but will eat up precious vacation time, as well. Take your own pictures, and rely sparingly, if at all, on the ship's photographers. On the equipment side, buy plenty of batteries and other camera supplies at home and bring more than you think you will need, just in case.
Internet
Whether you bring your own laptop and take advantage of shipboard Wi-Fi or park yourself at the computer center onboard, you will pay extremely high rates for often slow Internet connections. Most lines charge about 75 cents a minute for pay-as-you-go plans and offer packages that reduce the cost to around 55 cents a minute for buying Internet time in bulk. You can usually find cheaper Internet centers in port, if you don't mind using some of your onshore time to check your e-mail and surf the Web. If you bring your own laptop, look for cafes and other establishments with free Wi-Fi.
Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The steamy waters are part of a lava formation.
The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulphur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 98-102 °F.
The lagoon is a man-made lagoon which is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi and is renewed every 2 days. Super heated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat exchanger to provide heat for a municipal water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in..
The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwestern Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is situated approximately 8 miles from the Keflavik International Airport and 24 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik. That is roughly a 20 minute drive from the airport and a 40 minute drive from Reykjavik.
Also to see while in Iceland is Seljalandsfoss. Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls of Iceland. A unique waterfall in the river Seljalandsá, about 75 miles east of Reykjavík. It is 60 meters high with a foot path behind it at the bottom of the cliff, but with a thin cascade. It is the only known waterfall of its kind, where it is possible to walk behind it. The waterfall is very picturesque and therefore its photo can be found in many books and calendars.
Than there is Gullfoss. Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view, so that it appears that a mighty river simply vanishes into the earth.
Glacial water is brownish, since it carries lots of sediments that the glacial ice has carved off the earth. Gullfoss is called the "Golden Falls", since on a sunny day the water plunging down the three step staircase and then tumbling in two steps down into the deep crevice truly looks golden.
To stand at Gullfoss and wallow in the beauty and the wonder of nature is an uplifting experience. One feels more energetic when leaving Gullfoss than when arriving. That's the impact these unique nature sites such as Gullfoss have on us.
Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
The spring and summer travel season is upon us and it's time to be thinking about what's been going on in the world of travel for 2013. Here's a look at some trends you may want to consider as you plan vacations and getaways for the rest of the year.
Airline ticket prices will go up
More mergers are planned, which means a consolidation of routes, fewer seats and more expensive tickets. Northwest has merged with Delta, Continental with United, AirTran with Southwest and, US Airways with American. Experts say to expect fare increases of about 7 percent . But here comes the good news: A lot of air carriers, including American, United and Delta, are updating their older fleets. Among other improvements, the new planes have a lot more room for your carry-on luggage: American's Boeing 737-800s, replacements for the MD80s, have space for 48 more bags.
Hotels will 'pop up'
Pop-up hotels are accommodations quickly assembled and easily taken down or temporary hotels located in an existing building. They're created for a special event, such as a festival, or at a destination with a relatively short high season. While pop-up shops and even pop-up restaurants seem to be the domain of the in-the-know urban hipster, the hotel version is more inclusive and authentic not to mention affordable While some established hotels keep you at a distance from the locals, the pop-up hotel is meant to offer you a bed at the center of the action. These temporary digs are mostly found abroad. they've shown up everywhere from Cornwall, England, to Mykonos in Greece but the hope is to see a greater presence in the U.S. in 2013.
You'll find more ways to live like a local
If while traveling, your goal is to feel like a local, and a cookie-cutter hotel with no personality makes that really difficult. You can find unique places to stay, whether it's a room in someone's home, an apartment or even a treehouse or a castle. In world-class cities such as Paris, London and Rome, rooms are often exorbitantly expensive and tiny. You can rent an apartment at half the cost, with twice the space and a kitchen?
Airports will try to impress you
At New York LaGuardia, a tired food court formerly featuring bad Chinese and pizza by the slice now has a huge salad bar and refrigerated shelves stacked with hummus and carrots, fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits. The waiting area for flights now has seating zones to suit everyone's tastes, including comfy booths with tables and individual lamps, high stools at counters, and even a section with iPad rests at every seat. Other airports are sprucing up as well: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Los Angeles International, Dallas-Fort Worth International and Las Vegas' McCarran International are all in the midst of multibillion-dollar improvements that include more airy and welcoming terminals and better dining and shopping options. Travelers may actually want to lengthen their time between connecting flights.
Anywhere touched by Abraham Lincoln
Move over, "George Washington Slept Here" in 2013 is all about Abe Lincoln. Movies have a way of shedding a new light on a destination, and what The Da Vinci Code was for Rome and The Lord of the Rings was for New Zealand, Steven Spielberg's award-winning Lincoln will be for Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky.
Richmond, Va.: The state capital (and former capital of the Confederacy) has a "Movie Trail" tour marking the sites where Lincoln was filmed, as well as places where the real Lincoln once visited.
Hodgenville, Ky.: Here you can visit the iconic cabin at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, a National Historic Park, and 10 miles away see his rustic boyhood home in Knob Creek.
Gettysburg, Pa.: This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place on the spot now known as Gettysburg National Military Park also the site of Lincoln's historic Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863.
Rio de Janeiro
With the World Cup in Brazil in the summer of 2014 and the Rio Summer Olympics on its heels in 2016, this city, which has always been a top destination, is set to become a tourism tour de force. But why wait? It's only going to get more expensive and more crowded, so this is the year to visit. From June 15–30, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) holds the Confederations Cup, a sort of a preview of the World Cup where you can experience "football" (as Brazilians call their first, second and third sport) without competing with the entire planet for tickets, hotel reservations and airline seats. Even if you can't get tickets to a game, you'll feel the excitement of soccer in the air while you see everything else that Rio has to offer.
Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
Today we gaze through the windows of the past into one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.
Come marvel at this enduring legacy of the Sinagua culture and reveal a people surprisingly similar to ourselves.
Spend a few hours and discover the incredible legacy of an ancient people. Montezuma Castle National Monument.
A self-guided, 1/3-mile loop trail leads you past an incredible 5-story cliff dwelling, through a beautiful sycamore grove and along spring-fed Beaver Creek, one of only a few perennial streams in Arizona.
Visit Montezuma Castle National Monument and witness the incredible legacy of a people who struggled to survive in the Verde Valley 1,000 years ago. Set aside an hour to explore the museum and roam the trails through a scenic sycamore grove at the base of towering limestone cliffs.
On December 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt celebrated the passage of the Antiquities Act by declaring four sites of historic and cultural significance as our nation's first National Monuments. Among these was Montezuma Castle, which the President identified as a place "of the greatest ethnological value and scientific interest." Although very few original artifacts remained in the structure due to intensive looting of the site, Roosevelt's decision assured the continued protection of one of the best preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in North America.
Montezuma Castle National Monument quickly became a destination for America's first car-bound tourists. In 1933, "Castle A", a 45-50 room, pueblo ruin was excavated, uncovering a wealth of artifacts and greatly enhanced our understanding of the Sinagua people who inhabited this riparian "oasis" along Beaver Creek for over 400 years.
Now, approximately 350,000 people a year gaze through the the windows of the past during a visit to Montezuma Castle. Even 600 years after their departure, the legacy of the Sinagua people continues to inspire the imaginations of this and future generations.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
Our little tree has decided that it is time for a vacation. So this month it is off for some rest and relaxation.
But the tree and the folks at Rawhide Travel and Tours want to wish all the mothers a "Happy Mothers Day!".
Did you know that Mother's Day recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well the positive contributions that they make to society. Although many Mother's Day celebrations world-wide have quite different origins and traditions, most have now been influenced by the more recent American tradition established by Anna Jarvis, who celebrated it for the first time in 1908, then campaigned to make it an official holiday. Previous attempts at establishing Mother's Day in the United States sought to promote peace by means of honoring mothers who had lost or were at risk of losing their sons to war.
In its present form, Mother's Day was established by Anna Jarvis with the help of Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker following the death of her mother Ann Jarvis on May 9, 1905. A small service was held on May 12, 1907 in the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia where Anna's mother had been teaching Sunday school. But the first "official" service was on May 10, 1908 in the same church, accompanied by a larger ceremony in the Wanamaker Auditorium in the Wanamaker's store on Philadelphia. The next year the day was reported to be widely celebrated in New York.
Jarvis then campaigned to establish Mother's Day first as a U.S. national holiday and then later as an international holiday. The holiday was declared officially by the state of West Virginia in 1910, and the rest of the states followed quickly. On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and requesting a proclamation. On May 9, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring the first national Mother's Day as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.
In 1934, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved a stamp commemorating the holiday.
In May 2008 the U.S. House of Representatives voted twice on a resolution commemorating Mother's Day, the first one being unanimous (with 21 members not voting). The Grafton's church, where the first celebration was held, is now the International Mother's Day Shrine and is a National Historic Landmark.
Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
Baggage insurance
Many trip cancellation and interruption policies also provide coverage for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen bags...And this is especially necessary if you're flying overseas and checking bags. Why? Because of a nasty little thing called the Warsaw Convention.. The old Warsaw Convention limits liability to approximately $9.07 per pound for checked baggage and $400 per passenger for unchecked baggage. Do the math. If you're only allowed 44 pounds of baggage as a coach passenger, you're not getting a fat check.
But if you're just flying between U.S. cities and think you have no need for a larger trip cancellation and interruption policy, you may think you are simply covered by the airlines' published limits of liability when it comes to lost, stolen, delayed or damaged bags.
Indeed, at least on the surface, it seems like you're covered. As of Feb. 28, 2007, U.S. airlines' liability for lost or damaged luggage increased to $3,000 per passenger from the current limit of $2,800. Sounds good, right? Well, let's talk about that limit in realistic terms: First, there's an entire list of excluded items not covered (jewels, furs, negotiable financial documents, et al), and then there's something called....depreciation. The airlines may have a $3,000 liability limit, but that limit is not per bag, it's per incident, and it's all based on depreciated value. Hardly anyone in the history of aviation has ever received $3,000.
But there's a little known insurance provision you've probably never heard about. And the airlines aren't exactly rushing to tell you about it. In fact, not one single airline even advertises this provision, even though it's available to every single passenger. It's something called "excess valuation."
When you get to the airport, ask the counter agent for this little known option called“excess valuation.” It provides up to $5,000 additional coverage, at a rate of about $1 per $100 in value. If you purchase excess valuation, you will be asked to describe the contents of the bag. It’s well worth it if the airline does lose your bags.
Non-refundable insurance
Some policies also offer straight coverage if you buy the non-refundable airline ticket and then can't use it and don't want to be hit with the minimum $100 change fee. This runs about $13 per $100 of coverage. An expensive premium, but still worth it if you really think you might have to change your trip once you purchase your ticket.
Golf travel insurance
Some travel insurances provide golf equipment loss, golf equipment delay, golf fee refund.
Adventure/extreme sports travel
In most cases, there are exclusions on basic travel insurance when it comes to adventure travel. That means specifications on how high is the mountain you’re climbing, and how far are you scuba diving. However, third-party travel insurance can offer additional coverage for adventure and extreme sports, even professional sporting events can be covered, but it will cost you.
Credit card coverage
If you book your trip on a credit card, you may already be covered in many cases. But more often than not, your basic credit card coverage will be limited to flight accident insurance, rental car insurance or limited baggage insurance. Be sure to read your card's terms and conditions, or call your credit card provider's toll-free line for guidance.
Terrorism tips
Read the policy wording carefully. If war breaks out, or there is a terrorist act, are there clauses that essentially void your policy? Very few policies cover trip cancellation for reasons of any kind. Most policies now include "force majeure" clauses. For example, most policies now still cover trip cancellation if the U.S. State Department issues a travel warning. Also many policies only cover you for your trip if an act of terrorism occurs in the specific country you're traveling to or from. And they set limits on how close an attack has to be to your destination before it goes into effect. You generally must buy the policy before violence erupts to be covered. But almost all policies will not cover any losses caused by war or threat of war.
Call and talk to the agency personally, ask them the specific questions you have before your trip, to put your mind at ease. Some insurance plans cover you only if a travel company formally files for bankruptcy protection. (Not every policy covers every bankruptcy.) Other policies leave it up to the U.S. State Department, law enforcement agencies or news media outlets - not you - to define what constitutes a terrorist attack, foreign or domestic.
Understand that most insurance policies won't cover last-minute anxiety. After the Sept. 11 attacks, for example, some insurance companies reimbursed customers who canceled trips because they were afraid to fly. While the companies felt it was the right thing to do, it's unlikely the insurer will do it again.
To buy, or not to buy?
Compare the cost of the trip versus the cost of the policy. If you just bought a $200 airline ticket, is that worth covering? If you paid for it with a credit card, and the airline ceases to operate before your flight, you're already covered - under federal credit laws - by your own credit card company, since you bought or contracted for a service which you didn't get.
Look for a policy with a travel insurer that is independent from your tour operator and is licensed by your state. Many cruise lines and tour operators offer insurance, often at lower premiums than those charged by outside insurers. But if the cruise line or tour company goes out of business, there may not be money to cover your claim.
If flight or cruise delays make you want to cancel, you may be out of luck. Read the fine print, as with some policies, more than half of your vacation has to be delayed before you can cancel and be covered.
Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
One of the most unusual looking mountains in the world, Brazil’s Mount Roraima is completely flat on top and vertical on all sides.
With some of the most incredible waterfalls in the world, Mount Roraima is an incredible formation of land and an inspiration for such stories as “The Lost World” by Arthur Conan Doyle, and even appeared in films such as ‘Up’, by Pixar.
The plateau itself is composed of rock formations more than 2 billion years old, making it one of the oldest mountains in the world.
Many of the species found on Roraima are unique to the plateau. Plants such as pitcher plants (Heliamphora), Campanula (a bellflower), and the rare Rapatea heather are commonly found on the escarpment and summit. It rains almost every day of the year.
The Mount Roraima is a huge and high plateau (over 8,800 feet), located on the border of Brazil, Venezuela and the French Guiana, hidden between the Amazon Forest and the Venezuelan Grand Savanna. It is part of the Tepui Mountains, which are a rare type of rocky tables where lay some of the highest peaks in Brazil.
Adventure to explore this region that is one of the most exotic and mysterious places on the entire world, described by Arthur Conan Doyle as “The Lost World”. A trek through the Grand Savanna until we reach the plateau in the top of the Roraima Mount is unbelievably beautiful and certainly unforgettable.
The steep trail to the top is the most challenging part, providing amazing views from cascades dropping from deep-vertical precipices, surrounded by the lush Amazon Forest. The top of Mount Roraima is a gift after the ascent. Explore its 52 square mile plateau with unique rock formations, clear rivers and the exotic Crystal Valley.
Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
