Wealthy Travelers

The 4th of July is a time of celebration of our independence from England 234 years ago.  And what better place to celebrate than a vacation in Washington, D.C.  July 4th is also a half way point in the warm months of summer.  Just the mere mention of the holiday conjures up childhood memories of picnics in the park, running through the sprinkler on that hot summer day, homemade ice cream, and the highlight of the day….fireworks at dark in the backyard or at a community display that brings with it all the anticipation and excitement of a child waiting for Santa Claus at Christmas. 

I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area in Virginia.  I had the privilege once of sitting on the lawn around the reflecting pool on the grounds of the Washington Monument to watch fireworks in our nations capital, with the Marine band playing Stars and Stripes Forever and many other famous John Sousa marches.  And what a display it was!! 

I highly recommend that, if not this year, next year, you plan a vacation to our Nation’s Capital during the 4th of July celebration; plan at least a week to take in as many of the historical sites, monuments and museums as you can, including  the Capital, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the World War II and Viet Nam War Memorials, the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery with the statue of the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima as well as visiting John F. Kennedy’s grave; Robert E. Lee’s Mansion, the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Museum….JUST to name a FEW!  Enjoy the celebration of this wonderful holiday!

Summer!  Vacation!  Where can you go?  What do you want to do?  Can you afford it?  Well, the answer to that last question is….YES!  You CAN afford a great summer vacation!  And to help with the vacation budget, a travel club membership is also a great answer.

The reason is that a travel club membership gives you a chance to take a vacation in fantastic resorts at average hotel rates or cheaper!  There are thousands of destinations available.  But one of the best benefits to a travel club membership is that you pay one price up front, for a lifetime of discounted rates on resort condos, villas or cottages.

Of course, a lot of people think of the beach when they think of summer vacation.  But what if you could stay in a beautiful mountain resort/retreat with the green Ponderosa pines surrounding you with that outdoorsy clean pine smell in the air, a cool burbling mountain stream with rainbow trout just waiting for you to cast out the bait on the hook.  Or the warm summer sun dancing through the “quacking” aspen trees with their leaves swaying to the summer breeze.  Are you ready?  Well then, go get that travel club membership and enjoy your summer vacation!

No matter whether you go in the winter or the summer, or the in between seasons of fall and spring, Europe vacation destinations give you a choice of wonderful, relaxing and interesting destinations to choose from.  You may want to consider planning your trip around certain country’s festivals or celebrations which will add interest to your trip by helping you be part of that country’s culture and heritage; so it can also be an educational experience as well.

If you can, learn some of the basics of the language of the countries you intend on visiting.  To help, there are many programs, on CDs or books, that will help you, as well as the trusty dusty interpretors dictionary.  And there’s a good chance you will find a local who speaks the local language as well as English who can help you. 

Explore the history, the shops and villages and historical sites of the countries you visit.  If you can, get off the beaten “tourist” route and eat at a local restaurant and visit the locally owned quaint shops with their unique wares. 

Some of the destinations I would visit are the British Isles, France, Germany, will save you a lot of money on your accommodations to make your European trip more enjoyable.

Everyone these days has a tight budget.  So to help you gain a bit of wiggle room, we will highlight some of the cheapest vacation destinations available.  First, what kind of vacation do you want?  A relaxing one on a beach with the relaxing waves coming to shore?  Or would you prefer to visit a city bustling with activities, with plenty of museums and historical sites to explore?  Or do you want an outdoors adventure that will take you to the heart of nature?  Once you’ve decided on what interests you, it makes it easier to plan a destination.

If you choose to fly, consider destinations that the airlines might offer discounts for on your tickets.  If you decide to drive, you might consider a place near your home, or choose a destination where they offer discounts on your lodging.  An inexpensive travel club membership would be a great way ahead of time to find those destinations and get the lodging discounts. 

Let’s look at some of the cheapest vacation destinations available.

• Phoenix:  Airfares, car rentals and lodging have been, and remain some of the best for discounts.  There is much to do in Phoenix whether you’re a golfer, a shopper or enjoy outdoor activities of any kind.
• Washington, D.C.:  If you want to explore history, museums and monuments, this is the destination for you!  This destination gives you all of this in a concentrated area with the added bonus that most are free of charge or have a nominal fee.
• London:  Since London is the most popular destination over other European sites, it has the least expensive airfare.  London also has a wide variety of dining and lodging options to make it a lot more affordable.  Then you’ll be able to enjoy the sites that much more.
• Mexico:  If you love the beach for a relaxing vacation, then this is one of the best destinations for you.  Check out resorts that offer All-Inclusive packages, since in the long run, you’ll be saving money by buying a package that includes all meals, all drinks, and depending on the resort, some activities.
• Las Vegas:  If you want bling, glitz and action, this is the ultimate destination for you.  Gaming, shows, shopping and activities, (even for the kids!) are all available here.  And the best part, because the economy is down, there are less tourists visiting Las Vegas, allowing the hotels and resorts to offer great discounts and perks on your lodging.

So start planning your vacation!

No matter what time of year you take your vacation, to go to one of the many Bahamas vacation destinations is like a dream come true.  The Bahamas is one of the best vacation destinations, with some major popular tourist spots available to suit just about any interest.  And contrary to popular belief, it may not be as expensive as you think to plan a trip to the Bahamas. 

The two main islands are New Providence Island and Grand Bahama Island with about 11 smaller islands, also with prime vacations spots.  With temperate weather, beautiful crystal clear blue water and endless white sand beaches, it all adds up to a vacation that will be memorable and just can’t be beat.

The Bahamas are easily accessible by plane or by cruise ship.  If you take a plane, it’s a short flight from Florida directly to your Bahamas destination.  If you take a cruise to the Bahamas, you’ll cruise from Florida to one of the most popular cruise ship destinations; Nassau. 

Whatever your interests, the Bahamas can accommodate you.  If you want to relax and sunbathe, there are endless beaches that you can take advantage of, where the white sand beach melts into the cooling, clear blue water.  For the golfer, there are several world class golf courses available.  Or if you want some gaming action, there are casinos that rival the best in Las Vegas.  

You’ll find the people of the Bahamas to be friendly and helpful.  You can’t leave the Bahamas without shopping for some of the abundant hand made wares. 

Whether it’s your first Bahamas vacation or not, you owe it to yourself to relax and enjoy a premier vacation in the Bahamas.  You won’t regret it and will probably plan to return again.

If you’re considering a trip to Europe, one of the top desitinations is Paris, France.  And vacations in Paris will give you a wealth of place to see and things to do.  Paris is the capital city of France and is a mixture of culture, history, elegance and modern times.  There is so much to offer visitors that it’s no wonder a universal tourist attraction.

One place you must see while in Paris is the Eiffel Tower.  It was built in 1889 for the World’s Fair and at that time, was the tallest building in the world.  You can take an elevator to the top with breathtaking views of the capital city.

Another recognizable architecture is the Arc de Triomphe.  It is very easily spotted because of it’s elaborate sculptured, massive arch formation.

Napoleon is one of the most famous French leaders, but he died while in exile on St. Helena Island in 1821.  His body was returned to Paris and a tomb was constructed shortly afterwards as a memorial to Napolean.

If you want a true “taste” of Paris, where fashion sets the standard for world fashion, and famous French cuisine to delight your pallete, an absolute must see before returning home is the Avenue des Champs-Elysees where you’ll find many excellent shops and restaurants.  

And if you brought the kids with you on your Paris adventure, visit Euro Disney which is the premier European theme park that attracts millions of visitors every year.