South America Travel

South America Travel Planning index - Tips and Suggestions  You are here: About > Travel > South America for Visitors Travel Go South America Essentials Plan Your First Trip to South America Photo Gallery Travel Features - Countries and Culture News and Current Events Reader Participation Requested Articles & Resources Most Popular Destinations Countries and Territories Plan Your Trip Getting There Culture Events, Fiestas, Holidays Languages Geography News & Current Events History Archaeology Sports and Recreation Wildlife / Conservation Guides and Gear Cuisine Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Guide and Travel Books History and Culture Books Cookbooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the South America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search South America for Visitors Travel Planning Guide picks Tours, tour operators, trip reports, airlines, cruises, health and safety, vacations, money, useful tips and reservations, money, news, reader reviews and useful publications to help plan your travels All About Touring South America Choosing destinations, time, cruises, plus helpful info about cuisine, tipping, festivals and more travel tips. Before You Buy A Tour to South America South America is a huge continent, offering the visitor a wealth of sightseeing opportunities. Tour agencies have developed itineraries enabling you to see as much as possible in as little time as possible. How do you know which tour operator is right for you? Countries and Capitals of South America This simple chart provides countries and capitals, plus links to updated World Fact Book data, and maps. Deals Page I'm pleased to be able to share with you great travel discounts, deals, argains, special offers, packages, and other tips and insider secrets as I find them. FAQ Some answers to those Frequently Asked Questions about using this site. First Time VisitorsTravel Planner Look at this illustrated index first to plan your trip. You'll find things to do before you leave, travel planning tips, destinations, top attractions, photo gallery, plus hundreds of pages of information about the countries you'll want to visit. Reader Reviews Choose a country, then fill in the form provided for location, time of visit, comments, recommendations, suggestions or warnings, plus add your rating of 1 -5. Tour Operators Tour Operators from A-Z, specialized tours, tour operators by country and related touring resources Weather Forecasts, average ranges, and more information to help you plan your trip        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Cola de Mono - Monkey's Tail Cuzco Pisco Sour Chilean Style Falkland Islands Photos Virtual Tour Headlines New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro - Festa de Iemanj In Rio de Janeiro, on December 31, throngs of... Photo of the Week Once part of the infamous penal colony, and now... La Fiesta Grande Annually on December 24-26 thousands gather to worship the... Antarctic Wildlife Photo Gallery Summer in the Southern Hemisphere is the time for...

Russia Travel

Travel East Russia - Travel Partners Travel Partners Throughout our years of involvement in Eastern Russia, we have worked and cooperated with numerous travel companies. We have had a chance to look at their operating capabilities and procedures, their product, their management style and most importantly how they deal with their clients. We also monitor for safety concerns and client's response to their tour programs. We undertake at least two to three trips each year to monitor development and work very closely with the travel community here in the US and in Eastern Russia. We have also put in a system of ranking tour operators according to their experience with foreigners. *Extensive working experience with international travelers **Interested in working with foreigners. Great experience working with Russians These travel partners provide individual arrangements. They also can put together tour packages upon request: Buryatia Region Baikal-Naran Tour * Contact: Sesegina Rabdanova, General Director baikalnarantour@mail.ru This company has lots of logistical experience in Buryatia. The General Director is a former Intourist employee and of Buryat heritage. They offer a number of different programs with local Buryat communities. They formerly operated in cooperation with a US partner. Firn Travel * Contact: Larissa, International Travel Coordinator Info@travelbaikal.net Firn travel has long time experience in ecotourism operations in Buryatia. They started out at Firn Club, dedicating their efforts to leading volunteer youth groups on ecotours in the regions of Severobaikalsk and the Barguzinsky Reserve. They have both English and German speaking staff and have a lot of experience in operating tours for German tour operators. Irkutsk Region Baikal-Discovery * Contact: Alexei Nikorof, Manager travel@baikal-discovery.com Alexei Nikiforov has been involved in tourism in Irkutsk for a long time, about twenty-five years, first as an Intourist guide, later connected with the Baikal Business Center, Green Express and now his own company. The company has long -term experience in operating eocotours connecting the regions of Mongolia, Buryatia and the Irkutsk region. Their itineraries are well researched and include unique encounters with the indigenous populations. Alexei is a tireless supporter of ecotours in this part of Russia. He writes a lot of articles about ecotourism development, speaks at conferences and educates other tour companies on following ecotourism principles in their own operations. Ivan Ivanov who oversees the operational aspects for the company has achieved one of Russia's highest accomplishments graduating from the Presidential Management course with honors. Both Alexei and Ivan are involved in the development of interesting program spanning all nearby regions. The company also offers an interesting program of winter activities and is always interested in new ecotourism ideas. They have cooperated with a number of travel companies from Europe and the US, including TCS Expeditions. Kamchatka Region Kamchatintour * www.kamchatintour.ru Contact: Irina Sedova, Director of Tourism inform@kamchatintour.ru Kamchatintour was one of the first companies after Perestroika that took the lead in catering to international travelers. They met the first expedition ship traveling from the Komandor Islands to Petropavlovsk. They also developed the first business partnership with Japan now generating about four to five charters of ecotravelers to Kamchatka from that country. Innovative ideas and excellent operational qualities characterize this agency. ExploreKam * Contact: Martha Madsen, Director explorekam@elizovo.ru Explore Kamchatka In 1991, Martha Madsen was the Curator of the Pratt Museum of Homer, Alaska. Even at that time, Martha had a great interest in bringing cultures together and worked with both native Alaskan and Koryak and Even cultures of Kamchatka. Little did she know that she would eventually move from Alaska to a totally different environment, Kamchatka, Russia? When I met Martha, she had finished a stint as Assistant Director for Program Development and Fund Raising at the Yelizovo District Library System and just started her career in travel with Yelizovo Tour Service. This agency was way ahead of the crowd, perhaps not in experience, but in concept as it brought together many of he smaller entrepreneurs who had specific skills related to travel and used their expertise to create and manage their own tours. Not an easy thing to do, in a region where competition is frowned upon. The idea itself though, offers the traveler the best experience. Martha not satisfied with this experience alone, also opened the first Bed & Breakfast in Yelizovo, in a house she and her Russian husband are carefully refurbishing. From feedback, we have heard they serve the most wonderful meals and the ambiance brings travelers back over and over again. Martha as an extension to her hospitality efforts also now operates her own tours, continuing the principle of joint operations with those who have the greatest knowledge. Martha is also the creator and editor of the Kamchatka Explorer brochure. This brochure contains great information about the region and its tourism possibilities. The information is also available through a Web Site www.kamcahtkaepxlorer.com. Volcanolog Tour * Contact: Elena Kochneva, Director travel@mail.iks.ru This company is lead by a scientist in volcanology and a man with great knowledge and humor. He has worked with many German and French groups and has an excellent reputation. Kamchatka Travel Group Ltd. ** Contact: Yulia Nenasheva, inbound travel services yulianiko@yahoo.com This company was founded and is managed by a number of travel professionals with long term experience in tour management in Kamchatka The Climb ** Contact: Galina V. Volgina, Owner climbkam@hotmail.ru This company has been offering hiking and climbing tours in Kamchatka for at least ten years. The company has also a partner in Alaska. Beringia Land ** Contact: Inna Obukhova, Executive Manager inna@mail.iks.ru Beringia Land has been leading sled dog races over the past years. . Beringia is a philosophy as much as a company, offering unique experiences beyond the conventional for the last twelve years. Itineraries offered include remote wilderness travel to general sightseeing and activities from hiking, river rafting and sea kayaking to dog sledding. The company focuses on tours off the beaten path an entrance into what makes Kamchatka so special. Khabarovski Krai Unitravel ** Contact: Ivan Kazzenov Ivan@unitravel.com We have not worked with this company before. They did attend our training and have been excellent in following through with our recommendations. The company has established several ecotours in the region. Bon Voyage * Contact: Svetlana Cherkasova, Director svetlana@mail.kht.ru The company has an excellent record in operating complex logistics and has shown a aptitude for working with foreigners. Primorski Krai Dalintourist * Contact: Olga V Bekhtereva, Director Inbound Department dalint@mail.primorye.ru This company has good experience with international travelers and offers programs all over the Primorski Krai. One of their new efforts includes the development of community tourism in a small village north of Vladivostok. The village still offers travelers a look at the traditional way of life during the soviet years. Dalintourist offers accommodations in its own lodging facility. Villagers are employed in all activities and benefit economically from them. Intourist, Nahodka * Contact: Natalia Kucherenko, Head of International Department natalia@intourist.nahodka.ru Intourist has both an office in Nahodka and Vladivostok. Mirabel Tour Company ** Contact: Elena Andreeva, General Director mirabel1@vladivsotok.ru An established, innovative tour company in Vladivostok offering a variety of tours in the region. They are one of the first agencies offering nature oriented tours to the local population and foreign travelers accompanied by a specialist. The agency is very supportive of new tour development and is always looking for new tour product. "Nika tour - 2000" Co., Ltd** Contact: Tatyana Kalinina, General Director nikatour@mail.ru Terratour ** Contact: Anastasiya K. Kaushinskaya, Manager terra-julie@mail.ru This company has not had much experience with the international market place. However, they are very experienced in handling logistics all over Russia. They just finished managing a motorcycle race from Moscow to Vladivostok. Also recommended by WWF/Russia. Vladivostok Travel & Excursion Bureau** Contact: Elvira Khodounova, General Director globus@vlad.ru Vzmorye * Contact: Svetlana Lozovskaya, Leading specialist vzmorye@mail.ru This company is lead by a team of scientists in the field or ornithology and biology. They also have set up a network of B & B's throughout the Primorski Krai. The company is very knowledgeable about birding tours in the Far Eastern Marine Preserve and also nature oriented tours to other areas of the Primorski Krai. The company has excellent relationships with WWF/Russia and the local government. Maik-DV Contact: Natalya Nosyreva Maik-Dv@yandex.ru This company has quite a bit of experience handling conferences andmeetings for the regional government. They also have a number ofspecialists they work with specifically on programs focussing on theAmur Tiger. Magadan Region DVS Tour * Contact: Victoria Belger, Manager dvs_tour@sferacom.ru DVS-TOUR has been organizing ecological, fly fishing and rafting tours for many years. Clients include both Russian and foreign clients. Last year the company managed expedition cruise clients of Zegrahm, a well know US company. Virginia ahs spend about four months in the US as an intern with several ecotourism companies. Yakutia Region Tour Service Center. Co. Ltd. * Contact: V. Ipatiev, Director contact@yakutiatravel.com This company offers exciting and well-managed excursions of Yakutia. One of the main reasons they can do this is because they work with a number of tourism partners in the region who have expertise in specific activities. Arctic Travel * Contact: Guerman Arbugaev, Director g-arbugaev@yandex.ru arctic@sakha.ru This company offers excellent experience in one of a kind tours around Yakutia, specifically to off the beaten places, such as reindeer herding camps, both in the summer and winter. They also offer birding tours in the north. The company has excellent contact with all indigenous communities. Join our mailing list be informed of tours as they become available: Email: Subscribe Unsubscribe World Wise Ecotourism Network 1321 W. Emerson #6 Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206-282-0824 Fax: 206-281-4417 E-mail: Info@TravelEastRussia.com 2000 All Rights Reserved

European Vacation / Christmas

Amazon.com: Ultimate Vacation Collection (Vacation / European Vacation / Christmas Vacation / Vegas Vacation): DVD: Vacation Gift Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew Listmania! Funniest Movies "1994-2000" in... : A list by Alex Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 61 used & new from $39.28 Have one to sell? Ultimate Vacation Collection (Vacation / European Vacation / Christmas Vacation / Vegas Vacation) (1983) Rating: See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $52.98 Price: $39.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping . See details You Save: $12.99 (25%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Thursday, December 29? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 61 used & new available from $39.28 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (DVD) List Price Price Other Offers: DVD Police Academy / National Lampoon's Vacation $39.98 $35.99 14 used & new from $19.93 DVD National Lampoon's Vacation (20th Anniversary Special Edition) $19.98 $7.97 92 used & new from $5.55 DVD National Lampoon's Vacation (Full Screen Edition) $14.98 27 used & new from $5.49 Movies Summary Vacation See more info   See less info Stars: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Imogene Coca , Randy Quaid , Anthony Michael Hall Directors: Harold Ramis Theatrical Release Date: July 29, 1983 Rating: R Genres: Adventure, Comedy Plot Outline: The Griswold family's cross-country drive to the WallyWorld theme park proves to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated. European Vacation See more info   See less info Stars: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Dana Hill , Jason Lively , John Astin Directors: Amy Heckerling Theatrical Release Date: July 26, 1985 Rating: R Genres: Comedy Plot Outline: The Griswalds win a vacation tour across Europe where the usual havoc ensues. Christmas Vacation See more info   See less info Stars: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Juliette Lewis , Johnny Galecki , John Randolph Directors: Jeremiah S. Chechik Theatrical Release Date: December 1, 1989 Rating: R Genres: Comedy Plot Outline: The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster. Vegas Vacation See more info   See less info Stars: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Randy Quaid , Ethan Embry , Marisol Nichols Directors: Stephen Kessler Theatrical Release Date: February 14, 1997 Rating: R Genres: Comedy Better Together Buy this DVD with Planes, Trains and Automobiles DVD ~ Steve Martin today! Total List Price: $65.96 Buy Together Today: $48.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought Planes, Trains and Automobiles DVD ~ Steve Martin Caddyshack DVD ~ Chevy Chase The Great Outdoors DVD ~ Dan Aykroyd Chevy Chase Collection (Caddyshack/Funny Farm/Spies Like Us) DVD ~ Chevy Chase Explore Similar Items : in DVD Product Details Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, Ntsc Rated: (Not for sale to persons under age 18.) Studio: Warner Home Video DVD Release Date: October 7, 2003 Average Customer Review: Based on 11 Reviews Note on DVD sets: During shipping, discs in multidisc sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase. ASIN: B0000AVH9P Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,673 in DVD Editorial Reviews Product Description: 11 million VACATION franchise videos and DVDs sold to date! "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is the #3 holiday movie of all time by E!Online! Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Funny Farm DVD ~ Chevy Chase The Naked Gun DVD Gift Set DVD ~ Naked Gun Uncle Buck DVD ~ John Candy Police Academy - The Complete Collection DVD ~ Police Academy Gift Set Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Books , and in Video Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: On Holiday With The Griswolds....In Widescreen! , January 12, 2005 Reviewer: L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews This review refers to the "Ultimate Vacation Collection" ( 4 DVD set Warner Bros).... Look out world..the Griswolds are coming! To Walley World, Europe, Vegas and Christmas at home...all 4 together, and in all in widescreen! What a treat this package deal is...and all at a reasonable price. Wherever you go with this goofy, but fun family, you are in for one hilarious time. Spreading their own kind of love and joy, taking out Stonehenge, Hoover Dam, Aunt Edna's dog, a few cars, the neighbor's house, Wayne Newton's living room, and basically all of Europe along the way. Clark, Ellen, Rusty, and Audrey know how to show you family style vacations, and will have you laughing out loud every step of the way. Chevy Chase is the definitive easy going Dad, trying to make memories with his family. It's not his fault if nothing ever goes right..is it? Beverly D'Angelo is always wonderful as his loving wife, always at "Sparky's" side, and is as beautiful in "Vegas Vacation" as she was in "Vacation", shot 16 years apart. The kids, played by different actors in each(Anthony Michael Hall, and Juliette Lewis among them), are always fabulous, the way they know how to handle Mom and Dad, and create their own mischief as well. There's always a great sprinkling of legendary guest stars in each film as well. Imogene Coca, John Candy. Eric Idle, Wayne Newton, Sid Caser, Eddie Bracken,E.G. Marshall, and Wallace Shawn just to name a few. And how fortunate we are to be able to see an act with Siegfried and Roy preserved on film. Christy Brinkley adds her charms to the fun, and then of course, lest we forget "Cousin Eddie", could we ever even think of anyone but Randy Quaid in that role? This is a great package deal and a must have for the "Vacation" series lover. Each film is in their own individual snap case, as mentioned above, all in widescreen, "Vacation" is the 20th anniversary special edition, they all look and sound fabulous, each has their own special features, 3 have commentary, "Vegas" has production notes, and all have subtitles in English, French and Spanish. So have some fun Lampoon style, have lunch with Cousin Eddie, and tour the world with the Griswolds. 5 stars to Warner Bros for putting together this package for fans of these classics! I laugh just thinking about them...enjoy...Laurie Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 1 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Classic National Lampoon Comedies , August 8, 2005 Reviewer: Julian Fonseca (Okinawa, Japan) - See all my reviews Great movies, very funny, just simply classic National Lampoon fun. Comedies don't get much better than these. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 0 of 21 people found the following review helpful: The Terminal , January 11, 2005 Reviewer: Dominic Riehl "dom" (grand forks, ND) - See all my reviews This movie moves a little slow, but all in all, a good movie. I would definately recommend it as a renter. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 5 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Love Them , October 24, 2004 Reviewer: Sal - See all my reviews These Vacation Movies are the best! They are soo funny and never get old. There a must have. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 9 of 17 people found the following review helpful: Half Great, Half Not , September 19, 2004 A Kid's Review National Lampoon's Vacation: This was, is, and always will be a classic. Chevy Chase's best performance ever (next to 'Fletch') as the good-natured Clark W. Griswald. You feel bad for the poor guy who always tries to keep people's spirits up and make the best trip for his family, but keeps screwing up. Beverly D'angelo is awesome and beautiful, Aunt Edna is awesome, and Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall ('Sixteen Candles') are also the best Griswald kids ever. Plus, the movie has an awesome mean streak (the fate of the evil dog and the demise of Aunt Edna, for example) and a great cameo appearance by John Candy. This new DVD features "I'm So Excited" in all the scenes with sexy Christie Brinkly flirting in the car with Chevy Chase instead of "Little Boy Sweet." I don't know which song is in the theatrical version, but my video from the 80s has "Little Boy Sweet," which I REALLY prefer. 5/5 A+ National Lampoon's European Vacation: YUCK! This boring sequel is way to mean spirited and offensive to even come close to equaling the beauty of the first film. A new writer and director replaced John Hughes and Harold Ramis, and the movie suffers because of it. All the jokes fall flat and the Griswald kids suck. Plus, Randy Quaid is absent and you'll notice. This movie definatly brings this collection down. 1/5 F National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: The series gets back on track with this great entry. The Griswald's stay at home for this one, but the movie's just as funny as the first. The in-laws are awesome, and the entire last 45 minutes (after Randy Quaid shows up) are non-stop hysteria. The kids change again, and Rusty shrinks into 'Roseanne's' Johnny Galecki. FYI, 'Roseanne' is the best show ever, and the man who played Roseanne's dad on the show is also Clark's dad here. A+ Vegas Vacation: Meh. Randy Quaid is hilarious and brings the movie up, but they definately should have ended with a big bang with Christmas Vacation. The kids aren't funny, and Chevy Chase is too old at this point. Also, the spark is burnt out and seeing Chevy Chase trying to have a fun vacation but only having disaster is, by now, a little old. 2.5/5 C I would suggest buying buying Vacation and Christmas Vacation separately and saving the money for two movies you'd never watch. Plus, European Vacation and Vegas Vacation don't even get special edition treatment, so they're pretty much useless. Either way, one and three will forever remain classics. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 9 of 11 people found the following review helpful: Hilarious Collection , March 2, 2004 Reviewer: dylan "supcan" (USA) - See all my reviews This is one of the funniest comedy series ever to be made. Chevy Chase is really on top of his game in these films. You can probably enjoy most of these films with your family, but number 2 has quite alot of nudity, and number 1 has some swears but i'm sure your kids will be able to watch them with you. In every film, they change the kids to make them stay around the same age, that's what chevy chase said in the commetary in the second one. Vacation- very funny with great plot and actors. This by far would have to be the funniest of the whole series. Since this is a special edition, they put in alot of features which was great because the non special edition version of this dvd had barely any features. The commentary in this is nice. The whole family does the commentary. European Vacation- this is a hilarious sequel to the classic comedy. It's not as good as Christmas Vacation or the original Vacation but don't let that fool you, it's still a movie that will make you laugh all the way through it. The special features do lack on this disk for all we get is a trailer and a commentary by Chevy Chase (which sucked, i'm not kidding). Anyway, this is still a hilarious film. Christmas Vacation- this is just as good as the first one. It will make you howl with laughter. This is the perfect Christmas comedy and the family could watch it. Now, warner bros box sets usually make the first one a special editon, but it this box set, the first and this one get the special edition treatment. This has the most features out of all the disks Vegas Vaction- what can i say, this was a funny movie, but wasn't that strong. mostly because national lampoons didn't make it. But it's still a funny movie and is really a family movie. This is an ok disk when it comes to features, but what can you do. So, buckle up and get ready to ride with the Griswalds in a non-stop pack of laughter. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 11 customer reviews... Listmania! Funniest Movies "1994-2000" in... : by Alex My DVD collection VIII : by "cjovignot" Funny Flicks : by "girlyhome1" So You'd Like to... More Suck Skiping Movie Edition : by Keith Whitener , Fun fun silly willy laugh 'til your sides hurt? : by C. Cade Brenchley , Classic comedy critic have a DVD collection IV : by cjovignot , Entrepreneur For more information about "Ultimate Vacation Collection (Vacation / European Vacation / Christmas Vacation / Vegas Vacation)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Chase, Chevy DVD > Formats > Boxed Sets > Comedy DVD > Genres > Comedy > General DVD > Genres > Music Video & Concerts > General Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. If you need help with an order, please contact Customer Service . Please mark as many of the following boxes that apply: Product information is missing important details. Product information is incorrect. 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Family Vacation Ideas Winter

family vacations - family travel deals & family vacation ideas  You are here: About > Travel > Travel with Kids Travel Travel with Kids Essentials Family Vacation Ideas Winter and Spring Break All-Inclusive Resorts Ten Latest Family Travel Deals Family Resorts: top places; photos Articles & Resources Family Travel: What's Hot Top Vacation Spots VT, ME, NH, CT, MA, NY, PA Mexico Family Vacations Caribbean Vacations More Beach Vacations Florida Family Vacations Resorts with Water Park More Family Resorts Fun Places for Kids Disney Vacations Family Cruises Babies;Teens;Single Parents Lots More Destinations Family Travel TIPS, GAMES Buyer's Guide TAKE ALONG: Christmas books Christmas flicks Activity Kits more CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Travel with Kids newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Travel with Kids From Teresa Plowright , Your Guide to Travel with Kids . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Bunch of family travel deals Latest deals added include a January Travel Special at the one-of-a kind Atlantis Bahamas (with 14-acre "waterscape", shark lagoons, subterranean giant aquariums with Atlantis theme, lazy river, and waterslides-- not to mention spa, dining, and casino.) Also: Alaska Airlines Vacations has announced the return of its Kids Fly Free to Disneyland deal: a great promotion that both Alaska and United Airlines repeat every year for travel after New Year's. Alaska's travel dates extend through most of June. Check out these promotions and more of the Ten Latest Travel Deals : then check back frequently, as new deals get slotted in. Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink First Nights! "First Night" events celebrate New Year's with family-friendly festivities-- and as if that weren't good enough, they're low-cost, too. Read more about First Night events , and find celebrations in many cities. Wednesday December 28, 2005 | permalink Top Family Travel Trends in 2005 It's that time of year... to pause the mad dash of daily life, and try to figure out, how the heck did all those months go by so fast, and what the heck did it all mean? Family Travel Trend Number 1: Splish, Splash Our pick for biggest family vacation trend for 2005 is Big Splashes at Family Resorts : a whole bunch of resorts opened private water parks for their guests this year -- such as Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn (aka NickHotel), pictured right, in Orlando, which added not one but two water parks. Trend Two: new major players on the family vacation scene In this flurry of water play in 2005, one can see some major new players muscling their way up and out of the local scene. Great Wolf Lodge , for example -- one of the main resorts in waterpark super-town, Wisconsin Dells-- leads the pack in expanding beyond the Dells: its new Great Wolf Poconos resort (left) joins properties in Niagara Falls, Virginia, Sandusky Ohio, and more. Meanwhile, The Atlantis was already a behemoth in the Bahamas, with it's amazing 14-acre "waterscape". Now, it's not only expanding there -- with an upscale new Tower and a major new waterpark area -- its also about to replicate. The Atlantis The Palms Dubai is being built half-way around the globe, with 50-acre waterscape, a Ziggurat Temple with eight waterslides, 2-kilometer river ride, and much more. These brand-building resort openings make one wonder: what about NickHotel ? Can a concept this good be confined to one place? Trend Three: So who's your animated character? NickHotel is a good illustration of another trend, with its celebrity residents SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, the RugRats, and other animated characters from Nickelodeon tv. Animated characters have of course long been a feature at the Disney theme parks,but these days, they're popping up in more and more places. SpongeBob has done guest appearances at a number resorts. Elmo and Cookie Monster hang out at Beaches Resorts , thanks to a multi-year deal with Sesame Street. So will we see bidding wars, among resorts desperate for cartoon mascots? Stay tuned, in 2006... The big(gest) picture There were of course many more Grand Openings etc. in 2005 -- see Family Travel Newsmakers for a few. All the above paints a picture of a burgeoning time for family travel. Families are traveling more together, a trend that grew after 9-11. Also, it's so easy to "bring the kids" when virtually every resort has a kids' club, and some take kids' programs to soaring heights. But perhaps the most important travel story of 2005 is an invisible one: no news is good news, as, thankfully, another year of travel has proceeded peacefully with no trauma of terrorist attacks. Yet 2005 did see destruction: the tsunami and hurricane season battered many tourist zones, not only causing immediate damage but reminding everyone how important tourism is for local welfare. So please remember these areas as we open up the old hearts and wallets, in the last days of 2005. See also: Family Travel News-makers in 2005 2005: Big Splashes -- new indoor and outdoor water parks at Family Resorts Sunday December 25, 2005 | permalink Bookmark the NORAD Tracks Santa site! It's not a family trip, but it's certainly a trip that fascinates families... Every year, the official NORAD site gives a bit of magic to millions of kids: they can watch Santa's flight tracked by an official aerospace agency. Make sure you have the website-- and the right plug-ins-- all lined up for the big night. See: Track Santa on Christmas Eve at the NORAD web site . Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Christmas at Hershey - & Holiday Season countdown Three hours from NYC, 1.5 hours from Baltimore, "Chocolate Town USA" has several attractions, most notably Hersheypark and a historic hotel. In December, Hersheypark turns into Christmas Candyland. Even better, Hershey PA has a bunch of holiday getaway packages. Read about Christmas at Hershey . And lots more, in the Holiday Season Countdown: Gift ideas for traveling kids : baby gifts, stuffies, Leapfrog Leapster, activity kits, and more Ten Holiday Packages : "Home for the Holidays" package in Vermont with Christmas trimmings, including your own tree to decorate in your room; The Polar Express train in New Hampshire; 12 Days of Christmas at Sea Island... new : Holiday Package in the White Mountains, NH Disney Christmas: special events at Disney World include Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights; Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party; Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional... and that's not all. more Holiday Season in Orlando : it's the uber -destination for families, and the fun keeps escalating many more Holiday Season events in many cities Christmas Eve: on the big night, don't forget to track Santa's flight! Every year, the official NORAD site gives a bit of magic to millions of kids: they can watch Santa's flight tracked by an official aerospace agency. Make sure you have the website-- and the right plug-ins-- lined up and ready to go, to Track Santa's Flight on Christmas Eve. Kwanzaa : many cities have Kwanzaa celebrations , from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 New Year's Eve: finally, wrap up the year with a First Night : family-friendly and affordable New Year's Eve celebrations, staged in many cities. Read more... Saturday December 17, 2005 | permalink 2005: Big Splashes -- new indoor and outdoor water parks at Family Resorts Looking back at the year that was: in 2005 a trend become a tidal wave as multiple family resorts made major splashes with on-site water parks for their guests. For example: Sunset Beach Resort & Spa -- a value-priced all-inclusive in Jamaica-- opened the Pirate's Paradise water-park, above. Click to read about new water parks at Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn, Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark, Sunset Beach Resort in Jamaica; and a major planned waterpark at the Atlantis Resort. See also: Family Travel Trends in 2005 Family Travel Newsmakers in 2005 Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Visit an Ice Hotel It's like the essence of winter: so ethereally beautiful, so crystal cold, so melted by spring. There are two Ice Hotels, one in Sweden, one in Quebec. Far more people do tours than stay overnight; but those who do stay sleep in warm mummy-bags on top of reindeer skins on top of sculpted-ice beds: is this cool, or what? 28 degrees cool... read about the Ice Hotel in Sweden and Quebec take a photo tour of a past Ice Hotel in Quebec Note : check out a Happy Frosty Holidays promotion at the Quebec Ice Hotel Saturday December 10, 2005 | permalink Family Vacation Idea: Marien Coral by Hilton Coral by Hilton is a brand of the giant Hilton chain that should pique the interest of families: these four resorts in the Dominican Republic are all-inclusive, have kids clubs and are family-friendly, and offer a good price point. See photos of the Marien Coral by Hilton , and a profile for families , too. See more resorts in the Dominican Republic See also these other recent resort profiles: NEW: Natura Park Eco-Resort , DR: in Punta Cana, Bavara Beach area Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman : Ambassadors of the Environment Kids Program created by jean-Michel Cousteau Great Wolf Poconos : brand new; rustic chic and indoor waterpark Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark : also brand new, and the first hotel with indoor waterpark in NY state Hilton Los Cabos : sheltered cove for swimming (a plus in Los Cabos) Riu Ocho Rios : brand-new all-inclusive in Jamaica Dreams Los Cabos : all-inclusive in the popular Los Cabos area in Baja, western Mexico Grace Bay Club : luxury resort in Turks & Caicos; suites, kids program Monday December 05, 2005 | permalink Family Vacation Idea: Ski Utah Think Utah's out of the way? Think again: hop a direct flight (on an economy airline like Southwest) to Salt Lake City. Just an hour after you land you can be airborne again: on a ski lift. Solitude has a "village" that's great for families, with outdoor pools, game room, mini-movie theater. And there's six other resorts less than an hour from the airport. Click above for Solitude, or read about Alta terrific skiers-only ski resort , or other Salt Lake City skiing . More Ski Resorts: Colorado, Vermont, etc. Saturday December 03, 2005 | permalink "Snowland" at Great Wolf Lodge Great Wolf Lodge is one of the top resorts with indoor waterparks in that top town for indoor waterworks, Wisconsin Dells; and Great Wolf Lodge is leading the pack in building new properties in other states. Latest opening is in the Great Wolf Lodge Poconos , pictured right: with great-looking rustic chic, all-suite guestrooms, and a 78,000 sq. ft waterpark. As if the waterpark wasn't enough fun, Great Wolf Lodge has launched a new holiday tradition: from Dec. 2 to Dec. 31, "Snowland" will transform the resort's Grand Lobby with snowflakes, icicles, and indoor snow (though guests can still sit by the fire and sip hot choc.) Snowland also means many themed holiday events... Other Great Wolf Lodges -- in Sandusky OH, Wisconsin Dells, and more-- have Snowland too. Read more... Monday November 28, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Charades -How To Play Charades Family Vacation Spots The Atlantis Resort Great Places to See Santa Disney Christmas Magic Kingdom What's Hot Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Related Topics Florida for Visitors New England for Visitors Theme Parks Hotels / Resorts / Inns Parenting of K-6 Children        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Grand Floridian Chinese New Year - 2006 Poconos Great Wolf Lodge photo Dog Friendly Hotels, inns, lodges -- find dog-friendly vacat... Kwanzaa Headlines Bunch of family travel deals Latest deals added include a January Travel Special at the... First Nights! "First Night" events celebrate New Year's with family-friendly festivities-- and... Top Family Travel Trends in 2005 It's that time of year... to pause the mad dash... Bookmark the NORAD Tracks Santa site! It's not a family trip, but it's certainly a trip...

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